Hellobee Boards

If it were me, I would probably supplement with formula, and pump after feedings and start supplements (more milk tea, oatmeal, fenugreek), because that weight loss sounds very concerning to me. Do you have any sense of how your supply is? Have you done a weighed feeding with LO? Do you have an IBCLC you can meet with?SO sorry mama! this sounds stressful!

Same as Hilsy85, have you done a weighted feed to know how much she is eating? If it is your supply, I would supplement formula. I would avoid waking her up to eat at all costs.

So sorry! It is hard. My 9 month old eats all the time, and didn't gain anything in the last month and half. So we are trying to fatten her up.

@illumina: if you offer her the breast more frequently during the day will she take it (even if she isn't fussing/doesn't seem hungry)? I feed M every 2-2 1/2 hours during the day and a majority of the time she isn't fussing or crying at all before a feed, but she latches on and gulps it down. Some babies are just too interested in everything around them to make a big stink when they're hungry but will eat if it's offered. If I were you I'd probably add one nursing session during the day and maybe a dream feed at night. I'm sorry...I know it must be tough to hear!

Personally I wouldn't supplement formula but I would add feedings. When I needed to up my supply I'd nurse before and after every nap plus a few other times a day and at the peak we were nursing like 10 times a day. Once my supply caught up I could cut back on the number of feeds, but DS would get more with each feeding.

I would add a feeding before you go to bed. You are so lucky that she sleeps through the night! My pediatrician said they are ready to go that long without eating around 4-5 mo. 13 weeks might be a little early? Plus your night milk is a lot thicker and creamier, might help pack on the pounds.

@illumina: I also agree with PP about milk being higher in fat at night, so in addition to adding feeds during the day, I think a dream feed would help, too. What time do you normally go to sleep at night? I would try and make it as late as possible before you go to bed (so if you go to bed at 10:30, maybe do the dream feed at 10:15). She nurses almost exclusively at the breast, right? (You don't feed her expressed milk from a bottle?)

It's great that she's sleeping 12 hours but that does seem like a long time to go without a feeding at her age when you don't know how many ounces she's taking in during the day. My best friend's baby was sleeping through the night at that age, too, but he was FF so she knew he was getting enough ounces during the day. Hopefully she'll start packing on the weight soon!

Have you considered block feeding to make sure LO is getting ALL the fatty hind milk?

@illumina: yeah. And you pump a little off the other side if it gets engorged.

I had similar supply issues. It was really hard for me to supplement with formula mentally, but really it is formula not alcohol. I did what I could with supplements (MMP, fenugreek, oatmeal, flax see) and pumping and when it came down to it I just couldn't make enough. I eventually lost to my under-supply, but I was back at work full time. I think if you're staying with your daughter and only offering formula after a full nursing session you'll be OK. We put too much pressure on ourselves when sometimes there isn't really anything you can do. Good luck with what you decide!

I agree re: adding another feed during the day, or perhaps very early in the morning (4 am-ish) to keep your prolactin levels up there.

I guess the question is, is keeping your LO EBF your goal, or are you open to formula? If it's the former, then supplementing with formula might be counterproductive, as you aren't stimulating you supply when you give baby a bottle of formula. More time at the breast should = higher supply = weight gain. No judgment against formula intended at all...as I said it just depends on what your goals are.

Also, like some PPs, recommend consulting with an IBCLC if possible.