Should I give my newborn formula?

[Firsttimemumma11]

Hi all! I’m a first time mum with a baby who’s 17 days old, I’m currently breastfeeding and also pumping into a bottle, so I can see how much he’s getting and to help increase my supply.

Baby boy was born 3082kg, dropped down to 3070kg and after 2 weeks he was 3100kg which isn’t much of a difference. He’s really skinny and I’m worried he’s not getting enough from breastfeeding only he always seems hungry again after a feed.

I heard some people breastfeed and also give formula, will this maybe help baby gain weight a little weight.. I won’t stop pumping though because I don’t want to lose my supply!

I wouldn't, your body will catch up to demand.

Just keep feeding, it will settle after a while.

He’s regained his birth weight, so that’s really good.

How many wet and dirty nappies are you getting?

Pumping isn’t a good indicator or how much milk he’s getting directly from the breast - he’s far more efficient at it than the pump! I’d consider stopping pumping and feed him directly more.

Do you have any breastfeeding groups locally? May be worth popping along so they can help and see if you need to tweak anything to improve his latch.

Also consider trying breast compressions when he’s feeding, which would help transfer a bit more milk.

kellymom.com/health/growth/weight-gain_increase/

Keep him on the breast even if it’s empty, the body will get the signal more is needed.

www.breastfeedinginc.ca/informations/breast-compression/

Also get rid of the pump until supply is established

Keep feeding and feeding and feeding. Even if you feel empty this is telling your body that the baby needs more so you will produce more. Are you pumping to get a store of milk so you can have a break as pumping is not very efficient at keeping your milk up, neither is skipping feeds with bottles until your supply has really settled.

No need to pump to see how much he’s getting - just stresses you out and isn’t a reliable indicator. You will know by wet nappies and weight gain (but it’s unhelpful to weigh too often).

Just put your baby to the breast as often as he wants it - your body will work out what he needs and produce milk accordingly. Have faith.

Milk supply is a river, not a pond. You won't ever be "empty". If he's hungry, put him back on. You measure how much he is getting from how much he wees and poos, how alert he is and his weight gain.

I only give him expressed milk once or twice a day so I mostly breastfeed him.

As for his nappies he’s poop is very small I don’t know if it’s because he’s still very young?

Also he doesn’t stay on the breast for very long and falls asleep I tried to give him my breast again but he locks his lips
I think he has a small appetite and prefers to be fed more frequently but for a shorter amount of time.

Quite normal, OP - breastfed babies often don’t poop loads (they absorb lots of nutrients), and often like to feed little and often. Just go with it. As he gets bigger he’ll feed more but for now he’s stimulating your supply and that’s great. I’d try to only do 1 expressed feed if I were you.

Relax. It’s a learning curve for you and baby but he sounds really normal and you sound like you’re doing a good job.

I had a skinny baby too, and then a chunkier one. Same parents, same breastfed etc. Both perfectly healthy. Some babies are smaller and put on weight slower but breast milk really is brilliant if you can feed no problems and relax about it.

Feed on demand. At that age they can stay latched on for ages but it’s ‘putting in an order’ for more milk. I wouldn’t worry too much about expressing, as long as he’s gaining weight you’re doing ok. Don’t add formula, just feed whenever he is interested to establish a good supply and try to relax.

You're doing great. You don't need to know how much he's getting- wet and dirty nappies are an excellent indicator of how well he's feeding.

Breastfed babies tend to 'snack' to increase supply, you might find he wants to feed lots at night when prolactin is higher.