Probably a very stupid question for all you pros

[fannycraddock]

was told that i didnt have enough milk, can i supplement formula with breast milk?

I have been told by many that the best things to do for low supply are drinking lots of water, eating oatmeal, taking fenugreek supplements and nursing more, not less. Supplementing with formula will only make the problem worse as breastmilk is produced on a demand basis. If your personal goal is breastfeeding, giving formula will only set you back.

Good luck, I know it's hard.

i actually cannot feed him solely with what i have - he has been on formula for a week ow -he is newborn but i still have some milk and want to give him

My best advice would be to breastfeed first, have a bottle ready and finish him on the formula. Then he gets your milk and your body gets the command to make more of it but he doesn't go hungry while the supply is low.

thank you
xxx

Fanny, who told you that you didn't have enough milk and recommended topping up? How old is your baby? How often does he feed from you and how much formula is he having?

The only sure fire way of increasing your supply is to feed, feed, feed. Formula will fill him up and make him feed LESS, which is the opposite of what you want him to be doing ideally. The more he is at the breast the more milk you will make.

Have you tried babymooning with him? Basically just spend 2 or 3 days snuggled up in bed, skin to skin, feeding as often as he wants to. The more frequently he feeds, the more of the filling, fatty hindmilk he will get so let him feed as much as he wants.

fanny - your situation can almost certainly be helped without using formula, which risks hastening the end of any breastfeeding at all. Have you had a chance to get more info about this, from one of the breastfeeding lines, perhaps, or from a midwife who doesn't think the answer to a questionable milk supply is formula?

Having said that, if you are using a lot of formula, then of course you can't just stop....you'd need a plan to help you wind down. If you want more info, just ask