As in “formula.” we’ve had a run of bad days here–nursing for up to 2 hrs at a time, lots of fussiness, little sleep. The lactation consultant at Meriter said she thinks this is a growth spurt, which explains why Henry keeps wanting to nurse, doesn’t seem satiated, and most painfully, isn’t falling asleep at the breast as he had previously done.
After several hours of inconsolable crying and marathon nursing sessions this weekend, Dave suggested we give the forumla a shot. I was reluctant, b/c most of what you hear/read from the breastfeeding community doesn’t really support use of formula, but by 2 am I was willing to try anything.
We mixed up 2 oz, I held my breath and handed Dave the bottle, the kid sucked it down and was out like a light for the next four hours.
Same thing happened on Sunday.
What can I say? I’m sort of confused but I’m assuming that we are in the midst of a growth spurt and even though I’m producing enough he wants more. And if the formula helps fill him up and helps him (and me!) sleep, I’m all for it. We’ll see what the lactation consultant says when I talk to her today.
Sorry to hear that you guys have had a rough couple of days — but congratulate yourselves for being so resourceful. If giving Henry formula keeps you from going completely insane, then I think it’s a good tradeoff. We switched to soy formula early in our son’s nursing days, and he did not turn into a serial killer (well, yet, anyway — we’re at 20 years and counting). Hope you got some encouraging news from your lactation consultant today.
Tricia — I’m guessing that unless you have one of those wacko lactation consultants — the kind that advocate sleeping in the bed with your baby until he’s 33 — she’ll tell you to supplement with the formula. Both my boys nursed very well AND used formula — the soy kind, I remember. I don’t remember why soy, but we used soy. You’re not doing anything wrong, you’re doing what makes sense.
A word about “irrational” worrying about your baby. That never goes away. Get used to it! My current worries include will Michael be able to manage big-boy algebra? Don’t all these digital devices shorten one’s attention span to nothing? What if Zachary never wants to leave home? And of course, what if there’s a pervert in the men’s bathroom? Worrying is one of those nasty little secrets of parenthood, the kind you are not able to appreciate until the baby’s born. Evolutionarily speaking, it’s brilliant.
Can’t wait to meet that yummy hairy baby of yours. The boys and I are in Indiana visiting grandparents. I think we get to visit when Vicki gets back from her current sojourn. We’re back in a few days. Do you get to have a margarita while nursing? If Henry gets to supplement, do you? I love reading your blaby bog. xo.
Tricia -
Kyla’s lactation consultant told me that babies get 100% of the benefits of breastfeeding if they get at least 50% of their calories from breastmilk. Information I would have really liked to have had when I – with great guilt – let Michael have formula a few times a week at 6 and a half months. (Yes, at 6 1/2 MONTHS. ) I hope you have a good lactation consultant who helps ease your mind – but Kyla’s was a top notch person from the special care nursery so I am very confident that what she told me is true. Bottom line – you and Dave did the right thing for all three of you!
- Kristi
Hi Tricia,
Let me add my encouragement to the others who’ve commented on the use of formula. As I’m sure I’ve told you, I had more than my share of nursing difficulties with both Sam and Aaron. Sam had a mouth anomaly that made it very hard for him to nurse. In the good old days, after a C-section you could stay in the hospital nearly a week. When he hadn’t started nursing by day 5, we turned to a bottle and eventually soy formula. With Aaron, I developed a very painful staph infection in one breast in about the 3rd week, and although the La Leche folks urged me to tough it out, well, I didn’t. As you know, both kids are happy, successful adults with childhoods free from anything but ordinary illnesses. (OK, Aaron’s developed a shellfish allergy at 25). Sure, it wasn’t the picture I had before they were born, but as you’ve already found out, sometimes things don’t work out as you planned. The important thing is to enjoy your baby. If he’s sleeping (and you’re sleeping) and he seems content, it’s a gift. Another benefit of the bottle,is that it allows the baby to look straight into your eyes while he’s eating — I remember loving that.
Your blog is wonderful. While your personal grooming may be suffering in these first weeks, be assured that your writing style is not.
Love,
Norma
Tricia!
First of all – congratulations! We can’t wait to meet little Henry – he’s adorable. Of course being a brand new mother myself, I have almost all of the same feelings as you do. Your blog is wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
Ah, lactation and formula, I have so many opinions on the whole subject (I won’t bore everyone with all my opinions), so I’ll just share a little of our experiences. We (should I say I) struggled for six weeks to get Jacqueline to breast feed. By the fourth of July I decided either we were going to get the breastfeeding thing down, or we were done. I had been pumping for the entire six weeks. After struggling with some of the advice that was given by the lactation consultants I decided to trust myself and figure it out on my own. Somehow, someway all of a sudden both of us got it right together. It was the best feeling in the world!
All I know is there is nothing wrong with choosing formula and/or breastfeeding or a combination of both. Eric loved his opportunity to bond with his daughter over a bottle (and was quite sad when she learned to breastfeed), as have her grandparents and aunts. I really don’t think that there is a right or wrong way – just trust yourself. Learning to trust your instincts is often scary, but rewarding all at the same time. Feel free to e-mail or call me if you want to talk or to go for a walk!!!!!!!!
Julie
you lasted a helluva lot longer than the Harms clan. Our first night home with Carter ended up with me shoving my dagger of an elbow into Eric in bed, telling him to get to an all-nite Walgreens and get some formula. it filled in for those odd spurts/times when i just couldn’t fathom nursing/pumping over the span of carter’s 11 nursing months. mama’s lil helper.
sounds like you’re doing well, seeing light at the end of the tunnel. it’s a long tunnel – you’re halfway thru and each week will get better. screw counting days, weeks are nice milestones. 6weeks, my friend Becky B. told me – and it held true – was the big one. about that time, carter smiled too. which proved he was really in there and was happy. smile came 7/25/05 – that’s what a big deal it was for me. he was almost 8 weeks, and i was almost ready to check out – pooped. but he smiled, and he’s not stopped.
best to dave. and the young gent too.
suz