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I'm still pregnant with #2, but I have already decided that I can't wait it out for my supply to come in since it was so brutal and LO was inconsolable the entire waiting period. I think I'm going to start pumping pretty early and give formula.

I had to supplement with formula with both kids right from the beginning honestly. It took over a week for my milk to come in, and I wasn't able to produce enough from the beginning.

@rattles: That would be great! Here's hoping that's the case for me!

@Freckles: I had twins, so it was a little different for me, but I did start supplementing in the hospital. I was at a "baby friendly" hospital and they would only give formula after the pediatrician ordered it. My daughter was down 13% of her body weight (and my babies were small to start) so we got the ok to begin formula on the day we were leaving the hospital. I started pumping (hospital grade pump) 24 hrs after birth, which is the earliest the LC could see me. I wish I had started sooner!

As far as our supplementing routine, we would nurse then offer a bottle. We started very small - an ounce I think? Hypothetically they would refuse the bottle if they filled up on breastmilk, but that never happened with my kids. They always guzzled the bottle down. I'll never forget how satisfied Alice became after that first bottle. She screamed 24-7 in the hospital until we have her that bottle. I think she was just hungry and frustrated!

My milk came in on day 5. I think it took so long because I lost a lot of blood during delivery (delivered one vaginally and one csection). Also my kids were small (4 lb 15 oz and 5 lb 15 oz) and their mouths were tiny. I sort of wonder if my boobs were under stimulated by their itty bitty mouths so it took too long to get the message that I needed milk flowing. But who knows. I was hoping to stop supplementing, but we had major weight gain issues and at the LC's weighted feeds they didn't get very much from me, so we continued supplementing. It's hard to stop once you get going because it is SO nice to see exactly how much your LO is taking. We never had issues with nipple confusion and at 6 months we actually have more issues with my DD refusing bottles instead of preferring them to the breast. My supply is extremely low though. My kids eat mostly formula and nurse for comfort, naps, bedtime, etc. But they have gained 10 and 11 lbs since birth and that's always been my greatest concern!

I had a similar experience... My colostrum was not enough for dd and she ended up in the nicu for 10 days due to jaundice and dehydration.

I will not have this happen again. I will pump in the hospital and also begin giving bottles of formula. But longterm BFing is not a goal of mine - if it interferes with that I won't be upset. I will probably end up EPing/supplementing again anyway.

I wish someone had warned me about dehydration. The first night home with DD was AWFUL. Colostrum was not enough and she was dehydrated. Her lips were chapped and she was CRYING ALL NIGHT LONG. The next day I called my pediatrician and she said to give formula right away until my milk comes in. Once I have her formula it was like magic. She was so happy and calm. Poor girl was starving. I definitely plan to have some formula and supplement right away if I see any signs of dehydration.

@Freckles: I started pumping right away in the hospital... both my kids were jaundiced. They gave me pumping parts, and I pumped out colostrum several times a day, and continued to put her on the breast. With DS I mainly nursed and my milk came in faster. We never needed to supplement with formula.

This is an interesting read.. http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/articles/jaundice-in-the-breastfed-baby

DS was yellowish until about 12 weeks because of breastmilk jaundice.

We still nursed but had to supplement with formula because my milk didn't come in until late day five.

@Freckles: I would say just keep on nursing (you will need to stimulation to get your milk to come in) and just suppliment with 5-10mls until your milk is there.

You can ask an LC to teach you "finger feeding" so you can avoid bottles if you're interested in that. Basically you tape a little tube to you pinky finger and LO sucks on your finger to get the milk. So a bit more like breatfeeding and helps avoid baby getting used to a plastic nipple. Plus bottles flow so fast, which is not how bf'ing works.

We had the exact same experience as you with our first, and now for #2 (due in January) I am planning to EP from day 1 and give formula at the hospital if I'm not pumping enough colostrum. I definitely don't want to go through an ER visit with a 4 day old again!

Just wanted to say like Rattles with my first it took 5 days for my milk to come in but with DS2 it came in less than 24 hrs after birth and supplementing was not necessary. Good luck!

I am absolutely supplementing this time around if I need to. I mistakenly listened to the LCs (who I know meant well) that "babies are more efficient than pumps". My baby was not. I wasted so much time letting my son both starve and torture me for weeks. It did some pretty amazing damage to my psyche in those first few weeks. Hell yes, I'm giving this kid formula if he/she needs it and I'm going to start pumping early and often if he/she is not latching properly.

I know in many cases, it is important to let the baby nurse to stimulate supply, but I should have listened to my gut feeling and ditched the guilt.

just reading through this thread bought up memories of feeding my daughter while in the hospital. ohhh the pain of squeezing out colostrum into syringes for the nurses to feed my jaundiced baby. honestly, that squeezing and prodding destroyed my nipples much more than nursing baby every hour and then pumping. paediatrician ordered the nurses to give baby formula overnight on 3rd night, and by the morning my milk had come in but my gosh my nipples were in agony.

@HappyBaker: this was us. By that point she was so distraught she wouldn't take a bottle from us. When the ER nurses gave her a bottle she guzzled down 3oz in no time flat. By the time we got home she guzzled another 3. That experience made us both completely comfortable with supplementing.
By our second, every nurse or doctor that had something to say about formula, we told them what happened and they shut right up. There was one particular nurse who kept harping on it and DH basic had to tell her to f*xk off.

I wished the colostrum was enough for all babies advice isn't there. Because it's just not true.
I wish more Los had the goals to help and make sure baby is fed, period, and not just maintain breastfeeding.

Fwiw @freckles my milk still came in a day earlier the second time around. We still nursed round the clock and on demand boobs got plenty of stimulation. DD 1 had no issues going boob to bottle, BM to formula. DD 2 actually won't take formula or bottles right now!

@regberadaisy: yes I agree - "colostrum is enough!" is not great advice when applied as a sweeping statement ... For 3 days people (LCs, Drs, nurses) kept telling me "just put her to the breast.... Put her to the breast..." Over and over...and so I did.

When I expressed concern that she was hungry and not getting enough (constant crying) they assured me "your body knows what to do, her stomach is so small she only needs a few drops"

When I asked for formula I was told "one drop and your BFing relationship will never be the same... She doesn't need it". One kind nurse finally snuck me in a tiny bottle of formula. My daughter gulped it down and slept for 5 hours. The next morning I was lectured by this extremely rude nurse who saw the empty bottle on my bed that it was "unnecessary and detrimental" to my daughters health. When I asked for more formula the LC was sent down to try to discourage me from taking it. When I insisted, she took the bottle away and started using a ridiculous finger contraption without even washing her hands first. (I know it's a great tool for some women, but I wanted a bottle dammit and no one would listen to me!!)

Then, as we were packing up to be discharged, I was told my daughter would have to be admitted to the NICU for severe jaundice and dehydration. I KNEW something was wrong but everyone kept telling me "your colostrum is enough! Just put her to the breast!" I think it's a dangerous message that gets overgeneralized and applied to too many women in too many different situations. I will be much more firm and listen to my intuition the second time around.

OP I hope you have a great experience this time around!

@wonderstruck: sorry I posted while half asleep on melatonin!