Milk supply and Supplementing

[Lollicups]

Nevertheless, I am feeling down for having to supplement my baby with formula.  I nursed DD#1 until she was 2, but with DD#2, my milk supply started dropping around 2 months.  She went from 80%tile at birth in weight, down to 50%tile at 3m, then 30%tile at 4m, even though I started supplementing at 3m.  I have been BF'ing first as much as I can, then offering the rest in formula.  I just started taking Dom, 10 mg. 3x's a day, but today upped it to 40 mg/day.  My supply is coming back some, but having to suppliment 60% of the time.  

I was wondering what a good formula would be?  Right now, my baby is taking Vons Organics brand formula.  I also heard a lot about DHA/ARA and how processing it could be bad.

What formulas do you recommend right now that are organic, until I try to establish BF?

[Megan73]

Originally Posted by Lollicups 

Nevertheless, I am feeling down for having to supplement my baby with formula.  I nursed DD#1 until she was 2, but with DD#2, my milk supply started dropping around 2 months.  She went from 80%tile at birth in weight, down to 50%tile at 3m, then 30%tile at 4m, even though I started supplementing at 3m.  I have been BF'ing first as much as I can, then offering the rest in formula.  I just started taking Dom, 10 mg. 3x's a day, but today upped it to 40 mg/day.  My supply is coming back some, but having to suppliment 60% of the time.  

I was wondering what a good formula would be?  Right now, my baby is taking Vons Organics brand formula.  I also heard a lot about DHA/ARA and how processing it could be bad.

What formulas do you recommend right now that are organic, until I try to establish BF?

NAK
Sorry - no advice on formula. When I needed to supplement I just used a store brand - this was before DHA/ARA was common - because I didn't want my money to go to marketing.
Two quick thoughts. One, the typical STARTING dose for dom is three times what you're taking - 90 mg a day - and some women take 160 mg a day. I'd start pumping if you're not already to boost your supply even more.
Unless your doctor is using the WHO charts for BF babies, most breastfed babies gain fast in the first few months then seem to "drop off" the charts around three months. Here's a link:
http://kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/growthcharts.html
Supplementing can reduce your supply, whether it was truly low or not to begin with but you may well be able to bring it back up with dom, pumping and lots of nursing!
Good luck.

[Asiago]

I am sorry I cannot answer your question but, as mentioned above, here is a link to the WHO growth chart from the CDC website. Many doctors are using outdated growth charts.

http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/data/who/GrChrt_Girls_24LW_9210.pdf

More info:

http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/who_charts.htm

[AJandElijahsmommy]

I supplement with a homemade goats milk formula. I do not trust store bought formulas. There are many great recipies for homemade formula that is way heathier than the store stuff. just google it.

[Lollicups]

She is falling from the WHO charts, too, and besides her crying was because she was hungry, but when I'd put her in the sling, she'd go to asleep, so we thought it was because she was tired!  

Anyway, the goat's milk formula sounds interesting, but I thought they weren't supposed to have milk until 1 year -- go figure.

I think the dom has been working at only 40 mg/day, but I'm going to up it up more.  I want to get off formula for good.  

[tincia]

How often do u end up nursing on average? The problem with adding the formula is that u don't nurse extra often to signal to your body to rev it up. I weaned my formula supplements down and nursed every hour and a half even if he didn't demand it, and was able to get rid of the formula (with the help of 80mg of dom)