At Baby Marker’s 4-month visit to the pediatrician, we found that her weight and height had both dropped from the 50th percentile at 2 months to barely the 5th percentile at 4 months. I knew she was tiny – obviously she wasn’t growing out of her clothes at a rapid rate and was still able to wear some of her newborn sizes.
Looking back, the signs are obvious. For about a month, our routine was brutal. She never napped (which I lamented here on Hellobee) and she nursed constantly, sometimes every 90 minutes. She never seemed particularly fussy and I can’t recall a time where she screamed or cried from hunger, so I just assumed she wasn’t a particularly hungry baby. I also suspected that my supply had dipped, since I never felt very full anymore, hardly ever leaked (even first thing in the morning!) and I couldn’t pump more than an ounce per session.
So at our doctor’s office that afternoon, she confirmed what I suspected: Baby Markers was not getting enough to eat. Cue all the tears and guilt – my baby was hungry and I hadn’t been feeding her enough! Although everyone I spoke to assured me this wasn’t my fault and I had done everything in my power (and to my knowledge) to feed her properly, I still felt horrible.
I didn’t have much time to sit and lament, because I had to figure out what to do next. Should I try to increase my supply to keep exclusively breastfeeding? Should I start pumping between sessions around the clock? Should I just give her formula and call it a day? Of course I was all, “But breast is best!!!” and was at first horrified by the thought of giving her anything but breastmilk.
Later that evening, I breastfed as usual but knew she must have still been hungry. I had picked up some formula earlier that day, and we decided to give her a bottle before bed. I fed her a 6oz bottle of formula with tears streaming down my face – she ate so voraciously that it broke my heart!
But enough with the tears already – I needed a new plan. I wanted to continue breastfeeding but wasn’t sure how to start supplementing. I had never established a pumping routine, so I was clueless about what to do next. I reached out to our Lactation Consultant, and she provided me with 2 separate plans of action:
The Breastfeeding Plan:
- Nurse for 15 minutes on each side, at each feeding
- Supplement with 1-2 oz of formula or pumped breastmilk after each feeding
- Pump both breasts for 10 minutes after every feeding, as soon as possible
- Consider waking up at midnight to pump both breasts for 15 minutes
- Take Fenugreek 3 times per day
- Eat oatmeal once per day
- Pump both breasts 7-8 times per day for 20 minutes each time
- Massage breasts while pumping
- Take Fenugreek 3 times per day
- Eat oatmeal once per day
Both plans felt daunting, but I decided to go with the pumping plan, mainly because I felt more comfortable knowing exactly how much she was taking in at each feeding. For the first few weeks, I was able to pump about 18-20 oz per day, and she was drinking 24-28 oz each day. For each feeding, I gave her 3-4 oz of breastmilk, then gave 2 oz of formula (or more if she still seemed hungry). She ate on average 6 times per day.
Then, the most magical thing happened… Baby Markers began to take naps! Real naps, longer than 20 minutes and sometimes over an hour! Now that she wasn’t snacking all day long, she was staying full long enough to last 3 hours between feedings, which allowed her to get the rest she needed during the day. And of course, this allowed me the downtime I was desperately missing during our days together.
Now, I will tell you that we’re slowly weaning – I’m producing less and less each day which means she’s getting more and more formula. But (and here I must thank Mrs. Confetti for her AMAZING post on why formula is so great) I have to say, I’m ok with it. Baby M is full, happy and growing, and I am getting the much-needed mama’s downtime.
My growing little peanut, soaking up some sun in her pool!
If you supplemented with formula, when did you start? Was it a difficult transition?
guest
I was in the same situation as you. My daughter wasn’t gaining and so we went on a plan of bf, supplement, pump. It was draining. I did it for almost 4 months and then gave up because I was so tired (and she was sleeping more than I was!). Since we made the switch to formula (a month and a half ago), we’re both more relaxed, happier, and she’s gained weight! She’s never going to be a chunky monkey, but she finally has some healthy looking rolls
apricot / 495 posts
Completely off topic but…..I spy Vera with my little eye.
pomegranate / 3401 posts
She’s adorable! We started supplementing with formula near the end of her 57 day NICU stay…I just couldn’t keep up with her appetite. Then after she came home, I tried to EBF…but she wasn’t gaining weight the way the doctor wanted her to…so I started topping her off with 1-2 oz of formula after each feeding. She then turned into a Chubby Checkers.
Now I just go off of her cues…if she still seems hungry after breastfeeding, I’ll top her off. Usually in the afternoon and evenings. In the mornings I seem to produce enough for her. Good for you for supplementing, she looks like a healthy, happy, beautiful little girl. 
blogger / nectarine / 2600 posts
Dont beat yourself up over this mama. When I had Drake this is exactly what happened, he would eat for hours and never sleep and eventually I had to move to pumping and supplementing as I watched him drop off the charts for weight completely. Breast might be best in some cases but formula isnt the end of the world either and nothing is as good as a happy growing baby and a happy stress free mommy too! Drake is a happy growing 3 year old now and thats the most important thing to me now not how much breastmilk I was able to get in him the first year. Your doing a great job dont let yourself forget that. And Im so jealous as our feeding issues Im sure are what led to Drakes sleeping issues that persisted til he was close to 1 at least Baby Markers is sleeping better for you so you know you did a good job!
persimmon / 1026 posts
This was exactly our situation at the 4 month check-up! I remember having tears in my eyes as I checked out of Target with a container of formula, feeling defeated and guilty. But I look back at it now and know that I wouldn’t have been able to increase my supply without taking drastic measures and I’ve come to learn a happy mama means a happy baby!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
I started supplementing at 4 days old after a 3am emergency visit to the ER because of a baby who would not scream for 5 hours. I was literally starving my child.
We started supplementing that evening ( morning??) and I have ever looked back or regretted it. Not all of us make enough for our children’s intake.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
Lo got formula first thing in the hospital. I was never able to pump enough for her to have exclusive breastmilk after she started taking more than 3 ounces. So i’ve always supplemented. Now we’re one bottle of breastmilk/day and the rest formula. Formula has been great for us for so many reasons.
grapefruit / 4923 posts
i did the “breastfeeding plan” starting at 5 days old. the pediatrician just popped a bottle of formula into LO’s mouth at his 5-day checkup because of 10% weight loss (in hindsight i wish he had asked before doing it even though i would have said yes anyway) and seeing LO guzzle it down made me want to cry. for the next 6 weeks or so, i did the grueling nursing/supplementing/pumping routine, at least 8 times a day. eventually we were able to wean off the formula supplement.
now at almost 6 months, my supply isn’t keeping up with LO’s demand and i’m burning through my freezer stash, so i think we will use formula again in the next few months. i’m mostly okay with it and am preparing myself. i know we’re not supposed to beat ourselves up about formula vs. breast milk but it’s hard.
pomegranate / 3053 posts
With my oldest I started supplementing from day one b/c of supply issues (that finally resolved after 3 months!) and then b/c of allergies. In order for him to take the nasty hypoallergenic formula after I stopped nursing I had to give him some after I nursed. At first it was after every feeding but then a few months later it was just once a day until I weaned him at 8 months. It was brutal to have to feed him formula and watch what I eat (no dairy OR soy). I was sad to wean but felt so relieved having my husband help with feedings and have more free time. With my second it was a different story and I EBF him until 12 months and then took 2 months to wean only b/c I was sad. He’s our last and I just wanted to enjoy it a little bit longer so I waited for him to wean. He was ready. Just didn’t want to be stuck to me anymore. But at least he comes back for lots of hugs and kisses all day long still.
I’m glad to hear that you’re doing better. Breast feeding is, hands down, the hardest thing to do after having a baby. And not everyone can be successful in it, but it’s okay. Formula fed babies are just as healthy.
Your LO is so adorable!
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
We supplemented from day one with our twins. I was separated from them for four hours and they had some blood sugar issues so they were given formula. It took two weeks for my milk to come in so I breastfeed, pumped, gave them what I pumped then gave formula for several weeks. I eventually was able to stop the formula and just breastfeed but it saved our lives in the beginning.