"You have to stop breastfeeding." Breastfeeding Message Board

Dopey406 · 04-01-05, 01:19 PM

This is what the pediatrician told me today.

Charlotte is more than 3 weeks old and still an ounce under her birth weight, so the ped wants me to formula feed her over the weekend to see if she gains more. UGH! She's gained 7 ounces in the last 7 days, which is what they originally said they wanted to see--an ounce per day.

BUT--I'm not really following it to the tee. I'm going to bf throughout the day and at night, DH is going to give her a bottle a couple times, so to get the 11-13 ounces of formula per day. I'll supplement with The SNS throughout the day if I can, but I'm not going to kill myself to do it. I feel comfortable that she'll gain enough in plenty of time, but the doc has to abide by standards, I guess.

I'm so frustrated. I called DH on the way home while I was SOBBING my eyes out. It wasn't this hard with Sarah--but I just can't bring myself to give up altogether before the full 6-week trial is up.

Feeling sad today...wishing my baby would gain weight on my milk--not formula.

ethanandsydsmom · 04-01-05, 01:57 PM

Know exactly how you feel. Keagan had jaundice in the beginning, and he stayed under his birth weight until he was a month!

The dr asked me if I would consider formula, and I said I really wanted to bf. So we started to supplement like you. It worked!!

He now weighs 13 lb 6 oz, he started gaining like crazy when we started to supplement.

I have actually been able to cut down on the formula some.

I wouldn't quit bfing entirely, at least she will get your bm some of the time.

Right now, I usually bottlefeed everyother feeding. I still have a pretty good milk supply too, which is amazing.

Hang in there, and don't let the ped talk you out of bfing.

Sheeeva · 04-01-05, 02:36 PM

Supplement until she is gaining and then you can eventually BF exclusively. I'm sure that things will improve. Don't forget to look after yourself in all this either, Deanna.

NicholeMatthew · 04-01-05, 02:56 PM

Hmm.. maybe you should call back and ask what she wants to see... As since she originally said an ounce a day, and now is gaining that (although not up to the birthweight yet, but that is probably because of the rocky start) you may not need to supplement. BUT if you do supplement, why not nurse her, then supplement afterwards. if she is hungry she'll take it, if not, she won't.

I mean you can only feed her as much as she will eat right?

skyqueen · 04-01-05, 03:22 PM

well it sounds to me like she's finally making progress -- so you can at least give it one more week the way you are and if there still isn't progress, then maybe start supplimenting a little here and there.