Q: 2-1/2 month old FF supplementation?

[Siana]

Okay, so here is my friends story in brief:

She had an emergency c-section after having a couple of seizures. Her baby was born at 35 gestational weeks. She tried pumping, but after 2 days, all her milk seemed to have dried up.

Her son is now 2-1/2 months, and she still wants to breastfeed. But anyway, the issue right now is that sometimes her son seems hungry after he has his full bottle of formula. She wants to feed him stewed apples, or mashed carrots to fullfill his need.

I suggested that maybe his need for sucking has not been fulfilled, and maybe giving him a pacifier might do the trick (yes, I am against pacifiers, but I understand that FF babies often don't have their suckling needs fulfilled because the formula just comes out through the teat so easily). She said she hates pacifiers, and has tried it only to have him reject it every time.

I also said that she should not be giving him solid foods because he could become under nourished that way. Also, that she shouldn't give him extra formula, because then he could become over nourished.

Basically, I didn't have a straight answer for her. Can anyone direct me to some information on this subject, because I did a search, but wasn't very successful.

Thank you in advance,
Siana.

[bec]

At 2 days, I would suggest that her milk hadn't come in yet, let alone had time to dry up.

At 2.5 months, it is possible to relactate. There have been many threads regarding it, just do a search.

I don't know what a "full" bottle means in terms of ounces, but maybe the baby is still hungry. Maybe she wants some more. Even though she is on formula, she should still be fed on demand.


Bec

[kimberlylibby]

Seriously, at 2 days, your milk might not even be in yet!!

How sad that she got such misinformation!!

I agree that she might just be more hungry.... in which case, it might be time for a larger bottle at each feeding.

[Tiacsophno]

I agree with the above posters, that at 2 days the milk may not have even come in yet. Sometimes the milk doesn't come in until day 4. But even though the volume is low, the baby still gets colostrum during those early feedings.

Another reason to avoid giving solids at 2.5 months is that the digestive tract isn't yet mature enough to handle it that young. Plus, early introduction of solids is thought to be associated with a greater risk of allergic reactions to foods. Most experts agree that solids should be introduced no earlier than the middle of the first year (around 6 months).

It may very well be possible for her to relactate, but she will need a lot better information and support than it sounds like she has been getting so far. You could suggest that she contact her local La Leche League group for help, and find a source of good IBCLCs.

[Ravin]

One thing she can try that will help w/ the baby's sucking needs and relactating is, provided she's successful getting him to latch, feeding him w/ an SNS. He can continue comfort sucking even after finishing the formula, and the stimulation will help her relactate. If she's serious about relactating she should also pump after every feeding/attempt at the breast.

[soccerchic21]

I don't think my milk came in until at least 4 days maybe 5 or 6 and I don't think it was that much either when it did come in.

[Viola]

I agree with you that he may have greater sucking needs, but how does she know that he isn't hungry and just needs more formula? It could be a growth spurt, depending on how long it's been going on. Like you said, feeding solids at this young age could result in undernourishment. If it is a sucking issue, then feeding solids won't fulfill that. At this age, if she thinks he is truly hungry, she should just try giving him more formula instead of solid foods. If he has sucking needs and doesn't like the pacifier, can she try nursing him or see if he will suck his fingers or thumb?