We have had to supplement with formula during LOs first days of life. But now my milk is in and I really want to get to a place where she gets exclusively breastmilk. I'm already nursing frequently and pumping after each feeding but I feel like I can't get out ahead of her and get my supply up enough so that breastmilk is all she gets at a feeding. We almost always have to top her off with formula. She's 12 days old and everyday that passes makes me more scared that we will never be able to cut the formula out. How long until you could quit supplementing?
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Took us just about 2 weeks. You can do it!
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If your milk is in now, why are you pumping? Can't you cut the pump so you have plenty for her to EBF?
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@Beebug: she has some latch issues. But maybe that might be a good place to start. I just like having the pumped milk ready for her since sometimes that is enough and we can skip formula at the occasional feeding
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@highwire: Didn't even think about possible latch issues! Hopefully with more time, milk in, latch issues will resolve and it will be all uphill for you moving forward!!
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I quit cold turkey! She was never very picky about what she was drinking so, it wasn't a problem. I was doing 2 breasts, then a bottle of formula, though. Has he had any breastmilk so far? Are you worried about her not getting enough calories or just getting her off the formula? Getting her off won't be a problem if you're making enough for her to eat. If getting enough milk is the problem, have you tried pumping after each feeding to build up a supply to feed her with instead of feeding her formula? That's what we did when we had to get M's weight up. I would still feed off 2 breasts, then feed her a bottle of breastmilk.
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I just ended it abruptly..we supplemented for 6 days until my milk was in and good and basically he fussed for a little because I'm not sure he was getting enough...but I kept putting him on the breast very frequently and it seemed like a 48h turn-around and my supply met his need. We still had latch issues but that's a different story...
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@mediagirl: we have been doing all of it. Nurse, feed pumped milk, then formula. I will try and feed more often today and see if we can skip the formula.
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I quit about 3 weeks after LO was born. She never seemed noticed the difference between formula, pumped milk or boob.
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I think it may be quicker like some ppl said to just feed on demand and let LO boost your supply up to where it needs to be. You may need to take a nursing "holiday " and feed non-stop for a while though. If you already pumping though, I can't imagine that you would be too far off though.
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@T-Mom: i think that will be my plan this week
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It took us about 3 weeks to completely stop supplementing with formula. I liked having bottle for at night since we had latch problems and I didn't want to fight with that and the breast Shiels since I was already tired enough at night. I also kept the bottle in play out of convenience- we reinforced with one bottle of milk each day to give me a break, give my husband some bonding tome, and to keep the habit of him accepting both.
I would breastfeed, hand him off to my husband to top of with a mix of formula and pumped milk, then I would pump. It just got to the point that I was making enough over those weeks that we didn't need formula. More importantly, he was also gaining enough weight that we didn't need it.
Give it time, it is a pain in the butt, but it gets easier eventually and it is still early days for you guys yet.
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@lemondrop: Thanks!
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Feed feed feed! I know that La Leche recommend going to bed with Baby for 24 hours and having her at the breast as much as possible because the more she nurses, the more you'll supply.
Also make sure that you drink plenty of water and eat lots of good, nutritious food to help your supply.
Good luck!
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@lemondrop: going to try the same thing myself!
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