Urgent. Have I given my baby the wrong thing

[elephantsarenotfat]

Hi

I have a newborn baby who is breastfed. He now needs to have formula top up due to weight issues. I have been giving him cow and gate first milk ready made bottles but ran out. I went to three different shops and couldn't get it anywhere so bought aptamil first milk ready made bottles. Upon inspection it states
Infant milk is suitable from birth when babies are NOT breastfed and should only be used on advice of a doctor....

Any experienced mums know why I can't use aptamil while breastfeeding?

It’s just a message they have to put all formula on as “breast is best” - don’t worry!! :)

It’s just an odd word choice OP, it just means it’s suitable for newborns as an alternative to BM.

hugs OP, hope you’re enjoying your babe.

Agree with PPs that it sounds fine, it's just wording designed to encourage breastfeeding.

Hope you and your little one are doing well!

It's safe to give just not as good. Is there a reason you're not pumping?

Are you aware of the formula top up trap? Unless you are pumping you are very likely to get into a self fulfilling cycle whereby you doubt your supply to the point where you give less and less boob, more and more formula so eventually just give up breastfeeding altogether after just a few weeks.

It's incredibly rare to have medical low supply. It's incredibly common to have tongue tie or thrush or some other very treatable issue that once resolved allows you to continue to breastfeed. I really hope you're getting specialist breastfeeding support. Midwives and health visitors have almost no breastfeeding training at all.

Thank you both. I noticed on the cow and gate bottles it says it's fine for combi feeding but for some odd reason on aptamil it says the above. I text the midwife and she didn't reply, I rang the health visitor she didn't answer and I called the pharmacist and the person who answered said it's not a question pharmacist. Also on the bottle he says to seeks advice from the doctor, dietician, pharmacist or other professional for maternal care so I had hoped at the minimum the pharmacist could have helped

https://www.facebook.com/kathrynstaggibclc/photos/a.139427820092645/602613393774083/?type=3

Breast of luck.

It’s just the company’s way of saying “breast is best”.

You haven’t done anything wrong.

Relax! It’s fine!

They have to put that because they can’t be seen to discourage breastfeeding - it’s very complicated.

My now nearly 11yo had top Ups when she was a week old and I actually managed to go back to full time breatsfeeding. She was fine.

I did a week of top ups and increased feeding then ditched the top ups.

Fenugreek helps with supply

Thank you for your reply. I'm only been asked by the paediatrician to give 2 bottles a day for one week to see if it will kickstart my babies weight gain. I'm still breast feeding my toddler but only one feed a day which will help keep my supply up. I asked about pumping but the doctor said try the formula to see if that will get the weight up quicker

Oh bless your heart. I remember the days of worrying about this stuff, it’s not fun.

Do you have a friend with an older child who breastfed or combi-fed? Someone with advice on standby is invaluable as a new mum.

Sorry if I sound in a panic. This is my third baby and never had a problem with weight gain with the first two so have never used formula before it's new territory for me

You will soon see your baby gain weight and in the meantime if your supply is increased through more breastfeeding it should go back to a healthy level.

Formula top ups aren’t anything you have to justify. Your baby isn’t gaining the weight they need and a medical professional has advised this is the best thing for your baby. So you are doing exactly what the label says anyway and following medical advice.

@YaMuvva
It's horrible worrying when they are so small. I haven't had any friends combi feed they have either breastfed or bottle fed. It's just a minefield out here

I’m quite sad to see that nothing has changed in terms of advice when my DC were little - it was all so bloody conflicting and confusing back then and still seems to be!

Youre doing the right thing. Pumping is great for some but I found it so so tedious.

@YaMuvva
Me too I was hoping even Google could let me know if apatamil is safe enough but it's just not clear. I'm going to stop panicking now and give him some aptamil now for his next feed and then will breastfeed in 3 hours time. Then I will call the doctors if I can't get hold of midwife/health visitor in the morning.

Eat things with oats, e.g. flapjacks, Alpen etc. I took two boxes of flapjacks into hospital with me when I had DC2, after bf issues with DC1.
I had tons of milk and the midwives were amazed.
I ate loads of Alpen when I got home, and also flapjacks.
I expressed and bf. Oats help you produce milk.

Fantastic I will start eating lots of oats from tomorrow and also fenugreek that @YaMuvva suggested

Thank you to those that gave helpful advice yesterday.

It has been confirmed by a midwife that aptamil first milk ready made formula with teats are 100 percent safe for combi feeding despite the odd wording on the bottle.

Hopefully this will help someone else out in the future