Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Baby lost 8.1% needing formula top up :(

55 replies

HeffalumpTheFlump · 14/10/2013 14:23

My 5 day old dd was weighed today and has lost 8.1%. The midwife has said she needs a formula top up of 2oz every other feed.

I have nothing against ff, but I had my heart set on solely bfing and i'm devastated. I'm terrified that she will now get nipple confusion and we will lose this special thing that only I can do with her.

I couldn't watch dh give her the bottle as I felt so upset and feel so sad that I haven't been able to feed her well enough to stop her losing so much weight.

I know I'm right in the middle of the baby blues but I have spent the last hour crying my eyes out about this and feel like there is no hope for bfing now as she will prefer the bottle.

I think my milk started to come in but it seems like they are slowing down with it since last night. I had a csection so knew it might take a bit longer. Dd was trying to feed all night, it just felt like she was getting barely anything at all :(

Is there anyone who has had to do this and managed to get back on track with bfing? Is there anything I can do to try to ensure she prefers the breast? Or to get my milk supply up?

Again, I have nothing at all against ff, it just wasn't the choice I made and it feels like its all going wrong. :(

OP posts:

georgie22 · 14/10/2013 15:17

Our ds lost almost 10% of his birth weight and at no time did anyone suggest formula top-up. They looked at him and were reassured by plenty of wet and dirty nappies, and I was advised that the return to birth weight can take a little longer in ebf babies. I also had a section but my milk came in after 2-3 days. Ds has gained weight with no concerns since. I'm no expert but I don't think the advice you have been given is sound. I agree with seeking advice from an expert to ensure you can continue your breast feeding relationship. Good luck.

jojane · 14/10/2013 15:29

This happened with all 3 of my children.
Ds1 was born 7lb 10oz but quickly went down to 6lb 3oz, I was permanently in tears, it was suggested I top up but I tried everything else first including going to a breast feeding clinic (only took one session and it really really helped), expressed and just fed as much as I could. I was made to fell like I was starving my child, it was awful but I stuck to my guns and after a month he gained back to more an his birth weight. we had seen peadratrician who said he was healthy.
Dd was bigger at birth and didn't lose quite as much but again peadratrician said she was healthy. I DID top up with her as I had mastitis and really really sore cracked bleeding nipples and she was a very sucky baby so it was essential for me to have a break every now and then for a couple of hours otherwise I might not have made it through. Again after about a mon she gained weight.
Exactly same happened with ds2, by which time I was confident in my breastfeeding abilities and knew that after a month he would be gaining weight etc do I was ale to ignore the "top him up brigade" and I suppose the midwife/health visitors could also see that it was the pattern with my children, whether it was in their genes or just the way my body produced milk.
Do what feels right for you but I would only top up after you have given a good feed, stay on one side for as long as possible to ensure they are getting the creamier milk BUT if you are unsure about how well baby is doing then ask to see a peadratrician to double check. Mine all had green nappies for longer than they were supposed to etc but I ended up breastfeeding them until gone 12 months and dd only had formula tops ups for about a week.

moonblues · 14/10/2013 15:41

Hi Heffalump I'm sorry your having a stressful time of it. My DS is 7 days old and had lost nearly 10% by day 3. He was very sleepy after my section and my milk didn't come in til day 5. He has been slowly gaining since then. The midwife advised me to try to express and top up with the expressed milk, but to be honest he's been feeding so frequently I haven't done it as much as I should and am concentrating on feeding frequently, at least every 3 hours, more often if he is looking for it sooner. I think because this is DC3 and my other 2 lost a fair amount and took longer than normal to regain their birth weight I'm more relaxed about it this time round. His nappies changed colour yesterday - day 6.

With my first DS I was in the same position as you and topping up with formula after every feed. My DH would do the top ups whilst I expressed. So my routine was feeding for 20 mins each breast, with a nappy change to try to wake him up in-between, then expressing 5 mins alternating breasts for 20 mins. Gradually I was able to replace the formula with expressed breast milk and then redue the top-ups as he gained weight. It was exhausting and I was very stressed by him not gaining weight, but I did get back to just being able to breast feed, but with a baby who would easily take a bottle, and my DH really enjoyed the closeness he had with being involved in feeding. I went onto breast feed him for 13 months.

The first few weeks of breast feeding are really hard work physically and emotionally, but it does get a lot easier after 6 weeks. Be kind to yourself. Whatever you decide to do, you are trying to do what's best for your baby and that's the most important thing.

HardFacedCareeristBitchNigel · 14/10/2013 15:45

Your baby is really new, your milk has only just started to come in and it is perfectly normal for babies to lose weight in their first week

I'd give it another 7-10 days of solid BFing and see where you are then. Agree with the poster who said that you, not your MW, are the boss of you xx

fishandlilacs · 14/10/2013 15:51

my dd lost 11% in hospital, I'd lost so much blood during c sec that my milk didn't come in for 6 days. I let them top her up a few times but i remember having all the fears you have now and feeling shit. I allowed her to latch onto me for 6 hours straight one night and had cracked nipples for days. I was so worried and heart sick over it. But when my milk finally did come in, we got home, I got my iron up with rest and support from home

We then went on to ebf for 11 months. No sweat, no nipple confusion, no worries. Honestly. It did her no harm or me either.

With DS it was the same, he was 13lb at birth, but this time I asked them to top him up because I knew what cured my milk coming in last time was lots of rest for me instead of persevering with the breast milk in those couple of days . Coupled with lots of feeding on demand that little top up gave me 3 hours straight sleep and a break to heal. We then breast fed til he self weaned at 20 months a few weeks ago.

Original poster

HeffalumpTheFlump · 14/10/2013 16:06

Thank you so much for all the advice.

I think mw is worried because dd is having so few dirty nappies (1 per day). Also she is taking herself off of one of my breasts as though there isn't anything happening. She's a lot better with the other breast though, so I'm hoping it will catch up. The mw saw a feed on the not so good breast.

I'm offering the breast every 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the day, and feeding pretty much all night. My nipples aren't getting too sore so I'm pretty sure I've got the latch right.

I am reassured to hear that those of you who have used top ups have managed to get back to breastfeeding on its own if that was what you wanted to do.

I hope you are right and that the mw is being overly cautious, as I'm really worrying that something is wrong. Again, baby blues may be making me a bit anxious at the minute.

I think I will see what dd weighs on wednesday and go from there. Hopefully if dd has put on weight I will be able to confidently go back to bf. I will show this to dh though to show him that the top ups might not be essential after all. He is as committed to bf as me, but very much feels you must follow the advice of the mw.

Thanks so much, I'm feeling much less stressed about the 8.1% at least. Thank you.

OP posts:

tiktok · 14/10/2013 16:13

Heffa, you have a plan, and that's great. It seems the midwife has assessed things - nappies and observed a feed. All good. If you top up now, it really does not mean breastfeeding is lost, and you will be able to return to full bf on Wednesday from the sound of things.

Familyguyfan · 14/10/2013 16:15

DD1 lost 13% and was admitted to hospital for phototherapy as she had jaundice. DD2 lost 9% after being born by EMCS. Both were exclusively breast fed, no-one ever suggested formula and DD1 is now a fabulous 3 year old. DD2 is now 9 weeks old and over the 90 percentile.

If you don't want to give formula, don't. Time feeds and feed every two or three hours, day and night. You can do it!

jojane · 14/10/2013 16:15

I would offer breast more often until she gains weight, it will help up your supply and the more she gets the quicker she will gain weight. It will mean you are tied to the sofa for a week or so and sod the housework etc!

Original poster

HeffalumpTheFlump · 14/10/2013 16:19

Thanks tiktok :)

Jojane - as for now we are doing the topups every other feed, offering the breast more often than that would mean more formula topups. Do you think I should still offer more often? Oh and don't worry, the housework is pretty much dh's job right now!!

OP posts:

Familyguyfan · 14/10/2013 16:20

Sorry, meant to add , one dirty nappy a day for a breast fed baby seems okay to me, not that I'm an expert. BF babies tend not to poo everyday, but save it up a bit, at least mine and my friends babies did.

Original poster

HeffalumpTheFlump · 14/10/2013 16:22

Oh that's reassuring familyguy. One less thing to panic about!!

OP posts:

crikeybadger · 14/10/2013 16:22

That does sound like a good plan Heffa, and don't forget lots of skin to skin to get all those breastfeeding hormones going.

May be worth checking for a tongue tie too, I know you say you've got pain free breastfeeding but you never know...

Wonderful that you are offering the breast so frequently, if you can lie down to feed at night all the better for your sanity.

If dd comes off the breast, you can put her on the other one, then go back to the first so that they are getting a lot of stimulation.

Hope you have a good couple of days and you have lots of people to look after you while you are feeding dd.

Gentleness · 14/10/2013 16:28

Been where you are - just typing 1fingered while she is battling to get her hands on the laptop - super-strong, fine in all development factors, just really really tiny. At 10 months she is below every line on the graph, but is just fine. Some babies stick to accepted patterns of growth, others do it all their own way.

Anyway - more to the point, have you tried massaging your breasts before feeding her? That could really help...

blueberryupsidedown · 14/10/2013 16:29

I gave formula, only for three days, and it was absolutely fine. Formula is not the work of the devil. I was knackered, DS was loosing weight, crying all the time, I was stressed out by it all. I just gave him I think a total of 8 small bottles of formula after BFding and then I carried on with BF until he was 9 months old and it was absolutely fine. Don't beat yourself up about it so much.

mrsmartin1984 · 14/10/2013 16:34

My DD lost 10.8% and she didn't need top ups. If your midwife jumped straight to telling you to top up without suggesting anything else then she isn't doing her job properly

PlatinumStart · 14/10/2013 16:52

Would also say if you use disposables it is very hard to judge whether a nappy is wet. They are so absorbent and little babies pee so little you wouldn't necessarily notice. My MW suggested sticking a cotton wool ball in the nappy as this will make it easier to tell.

tiktok · 14/10/2013 17:03

No, one poo a day isn't normal for a newborn - this is only the case for a baby of a few weeks or more.

It is always a sign to check the baby, his weight, and milk transfer.

Your midwife was right to be concerned about this, Heffa.

PieceOfTheMoon · 14/10/2013 19:10

Heffa, sorry you're having a rough time. DS was readmitted to hospital at 3 days old as he'd lost more than 10% and was jaundiced. They made me give formula top up from a cup (to avoid nipple confusion)and I spent hours expressing. Although I hated it, he did need the extra help.

After a couple of days he gained weight and my milk came in and we were sent home. I was told to keep topping up, but didn't and we went back to just breast feeding with no problems.

Although it seemed like the end of the world at the time (I cried and cried!), looking back 3 years later it really was just a tiny blip and in the grand scheme of raising your child having a bit of formula is ok.

Hope weigh in goes well on Wed.

Original poster

HeffalumpTheFlump · 14/10/2013 19:39

Thanks so much for the advice and reassurance.

I will try massaging my breasts before the feeds.

I haven't been able to feed lying down yet as lying on my side has been hurting my csection scar. It's so much better today though so will try again tonight.

And yes I am being looked after extremely well by dh and family thanks :)

It's funny, she is now refusing the bottle from dh, but will take it from me. It was like a little 'I'm still loyal to you mummy!'. She must already strongly associate me with food.

Thanks again.

OP posts:

mummybare · 14/10/2013 19:59

My DD also lost more than 10% in the first week and I was not advised to top up (I had already given a few little top-ups in the hospital for unrelated reasons). Of course, the MW could be taking other factors into account (poo, frequency of feeding, etc.), but there really is no harm in getting extra support and a second opinion from a lactation specialist, bf support group, NCT/LLL counsellor. As pps have said, there could be tongue-tie/latch issues that can be sorted out.

And please go easy on yourself. Whether you are bf or ff, you are nourishing your baby. Try all you can to bf if that is your preferred feeding method, but, you know what, formula is absolutely fine if it doesn't work out. Good luck and congratulations on your new baby, OP.

mummybare · 14/10/2013 20:06

Wow, x-posted with, like, everyone

Glad you have a plan and it sounds like a good one to me :)

Original poster

HeffalumpTheFlump · 16/10/2013 12:28

Hiya, just an update to all of you who gave me advice.

Mw weighed dd this morning and she has gained 4oz in two days. My milk came in properly yesterday and she has been refusing some of the formula feeds which is awesome. We are now dropping down to just two top ups each night with a view to stopping it next Monday.

I feel a lot happier about it all and so relieved that dd is putting on weight.

Thanks so much for all your reassurance and advice. I really appreciate it.

OP posts:

crikeybadger · 16/10/2013 12:39

Wow, great gain heffalump, well done !

PieceOfTheMoon · 16/10/2013 13:18

Great news Heffa

Flip

1 2 3