Common "medical" reasons for hospitals to push formula?

[MerelyGod]

I'm curious about what medical issues will cause hospitals to recommend formula. My SIL was told to give formula for jaundice. A friend had the hospital give one of her babies formula while tube feeding (she pumped, but they claimed it was not enough) and was told to give formula to her third because he was born with low blood sugar (at 9+ pounds). She said she didn't feel it was necessary, but they claimed that if she didn't give the formula they'd have to test his blood sugar before and after feedings (or something like that) and they said they would keep him in the hospital a few extra days for monitoring.

The last two especially concern me, because she delivered at the hospital where I will be delivering in a couple of months. I did have my second DD there, and they seemed breast friendly, but I guess you never know.

Anyway, I am planning to put together some information about why formula feeding is not necessary in these situations and was wondering if there were any other common things I would be prepared for. Also, if anyone has any links to specific information that states that formula is not beneficial in these situations, they would be very much appreciated.

I'm just NOT giving the baby formula, but I'd like to have sound reasons and I'd like to have them with me because who knows if I'll remember immediately postpartum. I also really don't like the idea of them "threatening" to keep the baby longer because I won't give her formula (should it become an issue).

[KristyDi]

Have you searched Kellymom? That's where I'd start.

[Lindsay1234]

I put No Formula on my birth plan and they didnt push the issue at all!

When I couldnt keep up with her and pumping, they recommended formula to fortify it to give her more calories and I agreed.

Are you expecting any "problems" that would "warrant" formula?

[alegna]

low blood sugar
jaundice
baby not gaining fast enough
baby loosing too much weight
milk not in yet
not enough milk yet
sleepy baby
big baby
little baby

-Angela

[ssh]

I was on diabetic medication and they were worried it would effect her blood sugar while my milk was coming in. I went along with the little tube you put on your nipple so it doesn't interfere with latch. What it did do was increase the flow and she wasn't satisfied with my normal flow. By the forth day home I had a pump and was using breast milk. It took about 2 weeks before she was always satisfied with the flow of milk from just me. I wouldn't have agreed to doing it if I had known. They would have just had to check her sugars a few more times.

[kriket]

Low blood sugar, Jaundice and lathargic baby were the reasons they hassed me about
One nurse just made sure I was nonstop nursing and the other really wanted to give him 'just an ounce or two'

honestly, whos milk comes in during the first 2 days?! (typical hospital stay) Very very few people, thats who.

[ErikaS57]

My second was over 9 pounds when born. The doctors said that since she was bigger, her blood sugar might go down & they wanted to test her after each of the first 4 feedings. So... we got those first 4 out of the way very quickly lol. Then it was clear sailing. She did lose 9.5% of her body weight BUT no one ever suggested supplementing (unlike with my first). She had a good latch & I think they knew that once my milk was in we'd be fine (well, except for the pediatrician who discharged her - he was a sarcastic jerk).

[WeasleyMum]

The hospital I delivered at didn't push formula at all-- or even suggest it. DS did get one "serving" of formula b/c when he stayed in the hospital after I was discharged, because he was hungry and I wasn't there. He was a big baby (10lbs) and his blood sugar was checked several times, but the nurse commented that he must be getting plenty of colustrum as his glucose had already risen somewhat since she last checked it. (That was maybe 1.5 hours after birth.)

[MerelyGod]

No, I've never had a problem that would warrant supplementing with formula. I'm just very much against it unless it is truly a medical necessity. I did have a birth plan with my last DD and will use the same one this time (which says "no formula"). And it's the same hospital as last time--they seemed very breast friendly when I was there, but to hear that my friend was hassled, twice, into giving formula against her wishes, and for dubious reasons, at the same hospital kind of alarms me.

It sounds like pretty much anything could be used as a reason? I am sure some of it depends on your own pediatrician and what nurses happen to be on duty at the time. I don't anticipate it being a problem, I would just like to make sure that if it is a problem, I am prepared.

I will definitely check Kellymom. I just want to make sure I'm covering all of the possibilities.

[Yippy!]

with my first, the nurses tried (and might have succeeded) to give him formula because I was tired, they wanted me to rest and didn't think nursing would be good for my health I perked up after eating, big fat duh!

[Amatullah0]

tachipnia-- ds had it, and they pushed formula/bottle b/c its easier to feed from, and they didnt want him getting too worked up. that said, i really really regret allowing it, and next time, i wont.

[crazycandigirl]

nak. ds is just shy of 3 weeks now. I have had an interesting experience with nursing him...

when I was in the hospital to have him- they were very pro breastfeeding. I got all sorts of praise for tandem nursing him and his older sister. Lots of encouragement and resources too.

But he became severely jaundiced and lethargic. I nursed him on demand, and he didn't want to nurse 24/7 like my girls. I had to set an alarm to feed him and was concerned, but thought that because he was on the breast every 2-3 hours for 30 plus mins (he got so worn out that he could only suckle but not swallow), and was wetting 8 diapers a day (now realize they were not very wet at all). He also was not pooping and had brickdust in his urine. I went for an 10 day check and he was down by 20% of his birthweight. It was really scary.

I went to the hospital and he got bililights for a day and his blood levels showed his dehydration. I nursed on demand for as long as he would but did begin supplementing with formula just to get his fluid levels up. I cried with every bottle. They were VERY pro breastfeeding though. I got to talk with the LC and they were very good with letting me know that it could be a temporary thing and how to go about getting him up to weight and keep my milk increasing and how to get back off of supplementing and onto just the breast. Also they were very happy with the fact that I was tandem nursing, even told me that it was the reason he had not landed up in the hospital earlier and why I still had any milk supply at that point. was very much encouraged to continue to breastfeed as much as possible and stop supplementing as soon as was safe for him.

He had just passed up his birthweight and is doing very well now. I am pumping what I can, but he is still getting formula. We are cutting down about an ounce a day at this point- as he is nursing well (with much more swallowing and much better latch) and inst hungry for as much extra at the moment. I am so wanting it to be done with and have him directly on the breast- but he is still wearing himself out while nursing, and I want to give my supply a chance to increase more so not to tax him too much.

So anyway- great hospital experiences with being pro breastfeeding