Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
At what point do you start supplementing with formula?
With my first born, I never produced enough breast milk for her to exclusively nurse. In fact, when she was being checked 2 days after I'd checked out of the hospital (so she was 3-4 days old already) she was already showing signs of dehydration so we had to start supplementing with formula. I worked with a lactation consultant to help her with some minor latching problems and did everything I could to increase my supply (bf'ing before supplementing, pumping after every feeding, fenugeek, blessed thistle and domperidone) and was never able to produce enough milk to satisfy even half of her needs.
I'm worried the same thing will happen again with my second. I know now that I'm going to keep very close track of wet diapers and we should be seeing 1 wet diaper in the first 24h, 2 wet diapers on day 2, 3 on day 3, 4 on day 4, then 6 or more daily from there on in, but at what point do you start supplementing if you don't get enough wet diapers? If you don't get a single wet diaper on the first day do you start supplementing right away? Or maybe on day 2? I felt like such a failure for not realizing that our daughter was dehydrated the first time that I don't want to let it get to that point again. Nor do I want to give up to easily.
Ellen - this situation was not "easily avoided" last time - She was latching within 15 minutes of birth, doing plenty of feeding in the hospital where she was in-room the whole time. Stools were never a problem with our first, and I'm puzzled how you managed to earn 4 thumbs up when you didn't answer my question - you say to call the doctor if I'm concerned about number of wet diapers, but my question was WHEN SHOULD I BE CONCERNED. If I miss having 1 wet diaper on the first day should I supplement? If I still get no wet diapers by the second day? I do not want to have to wait until my second daughter is showing signs of dehydration before I start supplementing.
Mica.dance - "the baby would just have to learn" is pretty damn crummy advice - did you miss the part where I said my first daughter was dehydrated? She was almost readmitted to the hospital for dehydration. This is not something I want to repeat.
4 Answers
- DLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
I think it is okay to give an ounce or two in the first few days, at the end of the day and after you have already breast fed. I did this with my second one - my milk is slow and didn't come in until day 4 - the poor guy was just hungry and crabby. It did help get him over the hump without disturbing my milk supply. I have never heard the count up of wet diapers you describe - I have always heard 6-8 wet diapers a day, period. Good luck.
- EllenLv 71 decade ago
You can easily avoid the situation you were in the first time by cradling the baby skin to skin after birth so she can latch within an hour and keeping her with you for rooming in so you can hold her and feed her frequently at the hospital.
While you are monitoring her wet diapers, also count her stools. All should be a quarter size or larger. She should have one the first day, two the second, three or more the third and fourth, and four or more every day after that.
When your colostrum transitions to mature milk the baby should be swallowing, and nursing more than 8 times in 24 hours, around the clock. if you feel the diaper count is not adequate or there are any other problems, call the doctor's office and insist that you come in for a weight check. That is the only way to know for sure if the baby is gaining weight.
Source(s): hospital IBCLC and mothers' group leader 20+ years mom to 3 - mica.danceLv 41 decade ago
I know this doesn't really answer your question, but you really need to eat a high, high vitamin rich food diet and drink TONS of water to keep a good milk supply. Seriously tons...i mean more than the recommended eight glasses per day. Eat veggies like cabbage, bok choy, spinach, broccoli, etc. Beans, whole grains, fruits, meat, etc. I had some latch problems with my baby at first and the nurses had me using a nipple shield which i think prolonged a good latch. Babies will learn to nurse, just think, women have been having babies forever and back in the day there wouldn't be any doctors or formula, the baby would just have to learn. Everything will be ok! Just try and relax, that helps you milk supply. There is also a tea called 'Organic Mother's Milk" it has fennel in it and helps a lot too. You can find it on Amazon.com if not in your local healthfood store.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
I had the same issues in a way with my first daughter and was told i could give her a little bit of formula. i was always pumping though and eating a diet that was high in vitamins and healthy foods. I avoided certain foods, and i too went to a lactation specialist as my daughter just was not latching on all together. i feel BF is the hardest thing to do, and you should be OK to give her a little formula just make sure you pump or keep up with that so you can stimulate more milk production.
