My pediatrician recommended adding formula to her breast milk but suggested reducing the water ratio to make her milk thicker since she isnt gaining as much weight as they would like. Has anyone done this before. I'm worried she will be constipated if I do this.
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What has her growth curve been doing? Has she been tracking along at a certain percentile? Has she been dropping? I ask because this is usually the kind of intervention that is done with a nutritionist supervising... babies can have electrolyte disturbances from messing with concentrations of formula and we usually mix to a specific calorie density ie 22 cal/oz or 24 cal/oz.
I guess what I'm saying is it sounds like you need more clarity and specificity from your pediatrician and if they are truly worried about failure to thrive, then a referral to a pediatric nutritionist to supervise weight gain and formula concentration... but if it was just a "hey, you could try this for fun..." I'd be a little wary.
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I would definitely recommend getting more information. When we upped our formula ratio it was 7 scoops to 5 oz (up from 5 to 5 we were on neocate). When that didn't work (he refused the bottles) we tried adding formula to the breastmilk. We were told it was 1 teaspoon of formula to each 4 oz of breastmilk.
I also wonder about the weight gaining targets they are trying to get to. Our story is we started at 50% and plummeted to the 0.5% by our 6 month appointment. He wasn't gaining weight. So we had to do something which included formula, solids and removing his antacid medication. He has since gained 1 pound per month since 9 months old. He is now at the 2% mark. But he now looks and acts healthy. His stools are good (one of our concerns). So we are trying to gain weight but are not all consumed by it anymore.
I found some interesting avocado recipes if you want them. Avocado is good fat.
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@brownie: See, that just sounds right... like someone did the calculations and had sound reasoning to do it!
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Her weight gained slowed down because I started bottle feeding. She doesnt eat very well from the bottle but I have persisted with it since she is starting daycare in a couple of days. The ped did show me her weight gain curve etc but I dont have the numbers, she suggested giving the baby more to eat and I explained she wont drink more than 4.5 oz and thats on a good day, so she suggested adding formula to the breast millk with less water or no water at all. and she did give me specifics of how much formula to add per ounce.
@brownie: My baby is only 11 weeks old so no avocado for her yet
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@Mrsbells: Is she exclusively breastfed? Are you doing only bottles or a combination? If 4.5 oz all she eats all day long? Or only from a bottle?
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@brownie: Right now she is breastfed at night and bottle fed pumped milk during the day. I sometimes add formula but with the right water ratio just for her to get used to the test. 4.5 oz is what she eat at one feeding on a good day. It varies from 3oz- 4.5oz
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@Mrsbells: It sounds like she is getting the right amount of food. And breastfed babies grow differently than formula or mixed fed babies. So she may not (you know her best and should follow your mommy instinct) need the extra calories.
La Leche recommends 1 to 1.5 oz for every hour you are away from your baby. So I think 3 to 4.5 for an 11 week old is great. Also, your milk changes for the baby so it will become more caloricly dense if that is what your baby needs. It can take a little more time than usual if you are pumping. I found this when I worked. If his growth spurt was on the weekend he would be fine the next week. If it was during the week it took almost a whole week to catch up my supply.
Again, I did have to supplement with formula as well so I am in no way against it. I know that my doctor wasn't as well versed in breastfeeding as formula feeding. You may be interested in contacting La Leche League. In my area they have been a tremendous support for me.
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@brownie: Ok thanks I will look up the La leche league in my area
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@brownie: You are on fire today! Really good advice.
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Have you tried using a different kind of bottle. It could be that she doesn't necessarily like the nipple shape/size/etc on the one you are using and that is why she doesn't eat much from the bottle.
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@purrpletulips: Oh yes we have tried different bottles, she will only drink out of the playtex nursers with drop in liners and she will only drink from latex nipples, she has refused everything silicone from pricey dr browns to affordable avent.
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@mrsbells - wow she is so picky and good luck
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@Mrsbells: did you try mam?
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No we didnt try anymore silicone nipples, after she refused dr browns someone suggested it might be the silicone she doesnt like and once we tried latex we realized they were right. she drinks out of the latex nipples like a champ but just wont drink a lot. But anything silicone she just keeps pushing it out of her mouth
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@Mrsbells: you know what's funny about M? She drinks fine from a bottle if it's breastmilk. But if it's formula she fusses like crazy! She knows too if I mix the two...
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@Mrsbells: I just asked because the silicone is textured differently in MAM nipples... but I know you guys have been through a lot and understand why you wouldn't want to spend more on pricey bottle sets that she'll probably refuse! You are doing great
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i guess if the doctor suggested it... but i was always to always make formula according to how they say to make it.
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Thanks everyone. yeah its a bit confusing, but when I mentioned it to my mom she said she had done that as well. I will give it a try one bottle a day and see what happens.
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