https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 05 May 2026 16:03:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supplementing-with-formula-1#post-762111 Sun, 05 May 2013 17:09:49 +0000 kml636 762111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to start leaving some formula w LO at daycare because I can't pump enough. BUT I think they are over feeding her at daycare. Sigh... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supplementing-with-formula-1#post-761568 Sat, 04 May 2013 23:17:50 +0000 sera_87 761568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 8.5 months &amp; dont pump since im a SAHM but on an ideal day, LO nurses 8-10+times (including two night sessions) and gets 1 4oz bottle of formula at night. We just use the parents choice brand since he's fine with it. We use slow flow nipples and playtex nurser dropin liners.</p> <p>On a bad day, he nurses 4-6x &amp; I think the most we've given him is 3 4oz bottles. (When this happens its a long frustrating day of him distractedly nursing and then being cranky because he's hungry, but won't settle down long enough to have a proper feed. Then i get frustrated and stressed and "take a break" by giving him a bottle. Most times after a bottle I finish him on the breast anyway.)</p> <p>I agree with pps of replacing a pumping session with a nursing one. Baby will always be more efficient than a pump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supplementing-with-formula-1#post-761498 Sat, 04 May 2013 21:43:18 +0000 cascademom 761498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do more breastfeeding like adding a morning session or a night one. I always relish the feedings before/after work. On the weekends, I also do more feedings and no pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supplementing-with-formula-1#post-761494 Sat, 04 May 2013 21:34:24 +0000 78h2o 761494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with swapping out a pumping session with nursing if at all possible. Also, maybe pumping after your one current nursing session? Pumping for 10 min after nursing and adding a pumping session helped my supply and allowed me to avoid supplementing. It did take about 3 days before I saw increasesd output. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supplementing-with-formula-1#post-760352 Fri, 03 May 2013 16:36:39 +0000 Kemma 760352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Firstly I want to say that you're a rock star for being EBF for so long and for all the pumping - what a great job you're doing!!</p> <p>Is there any way you can swap out a pumping session for a nursing session? Baby will always be more efficient than a pump and theoretically the more breastmilk she has at home the less she'll need at daycare.</p> <p>Also, how many hours is your LO in daycare? A good rule of thumb is to allow 1-1.5 ounces of breastmilk per hour that LO is in care so if you we're away eight or nine hours then 8-12 ounces would be the estimated requirement for your LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supplementing-with-formula-1#post-760141 Fri, 03 May 2013 14:47:58 +0000 mrs. tictactoe 760141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From what I've read, supplementing will only make your supply issues worse. Can you wake up just 20mins earlier in the morning to pump?</p> <p>Also, make sure your caregiver isn't using the bottle as the only way to soothe your LO. Use the slowest flow nipple and ask that they hold the bottle parallel to the floor and the baby more upright to slow the flow of the milk so the feeding takes longer. This means that the baby will be sucking longer, but not taking in as much milk so fast, which is more like how the breast works. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supplementing-with-formula-1#post-760078 Fri, 03 May 2013 14:21:10 +0000 blackbird 760078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well LO is only 4 weeks old but we give 3 3 oz (same amount as breastmilk) formula bottles at night. She was on Similac Advance but we switched to the Sams Club one that it is comparable to. </p> <p>Some babies will refuse formula because breastmilk is yummiest but mine drinks it no problemo. You could mix them together, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/supplementing-with-formula-1#post-760062 Fri, 03 May 2013 14:15:56 +0000 smocks 760062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So DD is 13 weeks old and she's only had breastmilk thus far. I'm finishing up my 2nd full week back at work, and I feel like my supply is barely keeping up with her hunger. I usually pump 5-6x a day and BF 1x a day. I estimate that I produce around 18-22 oz per day right now. </p> <p>Thing is, I hate pumping. I am committed to pumping 5-6x a day, but I will go insane if I have to pump more (she STTN, and I do not want to wake up in the middle of the night to pump again b/c I'll be a zombie at work). I know that's really the only way to effectively increase my supply. I've been eating oatmeal, flax seed/meal, gatorade, heaps of water, brewer's yeast etc with no increase or decrease in production (I do not want to take fenugreek). </p> <p>Does anyone supplement with formula? I don't even know where to start. What kind? When to give it? How much? I'm thinking that I may just give her an additional 2-3 oz per day, because I do want to continue to feed her predominantly breastmilk.</p> <p>Has anyone been through this? Has it totally backfired on you and your supply dropped even more, even if you continued pumping the same amount? Please help me :( </p>