Have you heard such a thing?!?

[homemademom]

My sil just had a baby 3 days ago. She didn't nurse her first child, but planned to this time. I asked her how it was going and she said her milk had just come in and she was really excited about that. Then she said she was glad because it meant she could "stop giving formula," which is the advice the hospital lactation person gave her!!  I'm dumbfounded and so mad! I don't live close to this sil, but now I feel so bad for not asking specifically about this stuff right after the baby came. Most of the conversations were getting filtered through my brother, and he doesn't know any better.  UGH! How could a lactation person suggest this? I know the hospital ones have a bad reputation, but isn't this extremely basic??!

[Marissamom]

my guess would be that their lactation person is not a LC, but a nurse who did a one day class. hopefully everything will be fine

[teraze]

Did her babe have jaundice?  My babe had physiological jaundice (incompatible blood types) and before he was prescribed phototherapy it was recommended I breastfeed him and then follow-up with formula.  He still needed to go under the lights.    There was a real worry that he wouldn't be discharged "on time" (after 2 days).  We were able to leave the hospital as a family without delay (thank goodness!), and I was told to continue breastfeeding on babe's cues followed up with formula each time until my milk came in.  My milk came in the first night home (2 and a half days after birth).

I go to La Leche meetings now and at my first one, when I explained about the formula, I was really tsked tsked.  It turns out our hospital pediatrician does treat aggressively what she believes are too quick to rise bilirubin levels.  It was heartbreaking having my babe under the lights and I gave him formula apprehensively.  But when doctors and nurses are warning of brain damage and blood transfusions, I go with the treatment they recommend.  I did have a beautiful, natural birth and the nurses were so supportive of my wishes and breastfeeding asap, I figured it was really serious that they would suggest the formula.  And I had the nurses give it to him, because I considered it a "treatment" and didn't want to associate it so closely with nursing.  I'm rambling, I know, but looking back on this, sheesh.  I rarely think of it now and it was such a crazy experience.  All in all we supplemented with formula for about 24 hours.  Total.  In his life.

I suppose DS and I are lucky that he has had no nipple confusion and has been a champion breastfeeder from the get go.  If I'm faced with this situation again, I'm not sure I'll supplement or not.  But I don't regret doing it at the time.  

If it's not jaundice, I don't know what that LC was thinking!  :)

Congrats on the new member of your family!

[kungfufugirl]

I've been an OB nurse for 12 years and became an IBCLC so that I could better help bf-ing moms.  I have seen hospital LC's suggest this, and most nurses do also.  Even pediatricians suggest bf-ing moms use formula!  I was in a room checking vital signs on mom and baby when a (female) ped came in to do her assessment so I stood in the corner and waited.  She did all of the assessment, talked with mom about baby care etc...never once talking about feeding preference....although noted how well the baby looked and seemed to be doing (no signs of jaundice or anything untoward)....then just as she was halfway out the door she looked down at her paper and turned back to say "Oh, I see here that you are breastfeeding....well you might want to consider supplementing with formula just to be sure she doesn't get jaundiced."  WTH??? 

[purplerose]

It's common for medical personell(even the pediatrician) to tell you to feed formula until your milk comes in. It makes me really sad to think of all the moms who went on to have issues because of doing this :( I've never dealt with an LC, just a regular nurse working on the new mom/baby wing, and I was lucky to not be given any bad advice except that I have huge areloas and was told I needed to get most of it into baby's mouth LOL That was my 3rd child so I knew what to do.

[homemademom]

Wow. I'm shocked to see that this is somewhat common. Insane!  No, babe had no jaundice. Sil said the LC said it as a matter of course, like that's just what you do.  How sad for so many moms who don't know any better! 

[Adaline'sMama]

My milk didnt come in until day 4 and people were HOUNDING me to supplement with formula. Its super common.

[purplerose]

It's totally normal for milk to not come in for 4-6 days after birth! I don't understand why people, especially people who WORK with new moms and babes, think that is a problem! It's natural, baby is fine during that time! It has never even occurred to me to worry for one second before my milk came in!