How Can I Bring Up Baby’s Weight Without Supplementing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually read your post unlike most of the other posters. If he's not taking formula, I would try pumping and then mixing the pumped milk with the formula to see if your baby will take that. That might help him accept the taste.

I understand why you would be uncomfortable buying European formula - it's not regulated and there are a lot of fakes out on the market. I would be scared of not getting authentic formula if I were ordering online, too.

OP here. I don’t feel comfortable with imported formula because I can’t guarantee it’s not contaminated and the supply chain issue is a big worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually read your post unlike most of the other posters. If he's not taking formula, I would try pumping and then mixing the pumped milk with the formula to see if your baby will take that. That might help him accept the taste.

I understand why you would be uncomfortable buying European formula - it's not regulated and there are a lot of fakes out on the market. I would be scared of not getting authentic formula if I were ordering online, too.

UK HIPP is more strictly regulated than any American formula (most of which are made abroad). Go to a licensed distributor like formuland.com.

I tasted it. It does taste like breastmilk and was created as a supplement to breastfeeding. I highly recommend it.

Still not safe.

[Anonymous]

How old is your baby and what is his weight?

[Anonymous]

If you are in the DC area contact the Breastfeeding Center of Greater Washington. I had the same difficulties with my son and did not want to supplement. They are super supportive. I went to them for weekly weighted feeds to see how much son was getting, they helped me make a plan which included pumping and breastfeeding to make sure he was getting enough. The first 6 weeks sucked but we got there and I never had to supplement. (At the time I think it was $150 a session, but I could donate 2 hours of volunteer work within the next year and don’t have to pay anything.)

[Anonymous]

Are you sure he's refusing formula and not refusing a bottle? Try a supplemental nursing system while you're BF with formula in it. Medela makes a good one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a FTM and I’m learning how to breastfeed. It’s going well so far but we have had issues with weight gain. I’m not sure if it’s because of sleepiness or low supply, but he didn’t regain his birth weight back at 2 weeks and the pediatrician said he didn’t gain enough at his 4 week appointment. She advised us to supplement, but I do not want to. We have tried about 5 different formulas and my baby refuses them all. She recommended a European formula that seems to taste more like breastmilk, but I’m not comfortable with that for many reasons. The lactation consultant said to keep trying and the frequent feedings should boost my supply. I feed him every two hours around the clock. Another option was to pump and feed, but I don’t want because I don’t think he will want to breastfeed if he is only bottle fed for the next month. It also seems like a lot of work. How can I bring up his weight with breastfeeding?

I supplemented both my babies and they nursed to about 3 years of age. You first concern should be feeding your baby and helping them gain weight. Supplementing is fine and if really worried give formula through a syringe.

[Anonymous]

Call the pediatrician back and tell her about formula refusal. Keep trying. She will likely have you in for frequent weight checks. This could be a more serious issue depending on how below normal weight is. But dont panic, get medical advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually read your post unlike most of the other posters. If he's not taking formula, I would try pumping and then mixing the pumped milk with the formula to see if your baby will take that. That might help him accept the taste.

I understand why you would be uncomfortable buying European formula - it's not regulated and there are a lot of fakes out on the market. I would be scared of not getting authentic formula if I were ordering online, too.

OP here. I don’t feel comfortable with imported formula because I can’t guarantee it’s not contaminated and the supply chain issue is a big worry.

And you think American brands are made in the USA? Can you guarantee Similiac’s supply chain?

Come on, OP! Think! Your baby will most likely take HIPP as your pediatrician recommended. Don’t let your baby fail to thrive if he won’t take any other formula.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually read your post unlike most of the other posters. If he's not taking formula, I would try pumping and then mixing the pumped milk with the formula to see if your baby will take that. That might help him accept the taste.

I understand why you would be uncomfortable buying European formula - it's not regulated and there are a lot of fakes out on the market. I would be scared of not getting authentic formula if I were ordering online, too.

UK HIPP is more strictly regulated than any American formula (most of which are made abroad). Go to a licensed distributor like formuland.com.

I tasted it. It does taste like breastmilk and was created as a supplement to breastfeeding. I highly recommend it.

Still not safe.

Total nonsense. You think all the UK mothers are risking their baby’s health? What about the millions of US mothers with thriving children who have used HIPP and Holle?

Your baby needs more nutrition than you are providing. Listen to your doctor!!! Do you seriously think your pediatrician would recommend a brand that isn’t safe for your baby?! You’re being stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually read your post unlike most of the other posters. If he's not taking formula, I would try pumping and then mixing the pumped milk with the formula to see if your baby will take that. That might help him accept the taste.

I understand why you would be uncomfortable buying European formula - it's not regulated and there are a lot of fakes out on the market. I would be scared of not getting authentic formula if I were ordering online, too.

OP here. I’ve tried 5 different major formulas for the past two weeks with pumped milk ( hand expressing and Haakka) and he refused to take it.

Will he take a bottle of pumped breast milk?

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry op, these issues can be so stressful. I had different, but similar in some ways issues and here are my ideas. Like others have said (and you may have already done this) confirm it is a formula issue and not a bottle issue (will baby take a bottle of pumped milk but not a formula bottle?). Is your LC highly trained in looking for tongue and/or lip ties? Transfer issues can often be from ties and they can be very hard to see. It is not uncommon for LCs to miss them ( a total of 3 missed them on my older son, even one that I specifically asked to check. I wish I was kidding). If ties are truly not the issue, most LCs would recommend triple feeding like others have mentioned while you work this through but it is a special kind of hell so please be gentle on yourself. Breastmilk is not worth your mental health but I also understand wanting to breastfeed very badly.

Re: formula. Follow the formulamom on Instagram and see if she has anything helpful - she will also answer dms usually and is honestly helpful and has a “formula finder” to try to help you find something that will work for your kid. Also I haven’t looked into it a lot but she seems supportive of Bollie which is supposedly like Hipp but made in the US.

If it is a bottle issue, or you suspect ties, or you LC isn’t helping you figure out what the actual issue is and get down to it - I recommend susan Howard of Arlington lactation. She is very effective at virtual visits so even not in the area you can meet with her and she is great with bottle issues and very very knowledgeable on ties

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old is your baby and what is his weight?

OP here. He is 4.5 weeks old and is a little over 8lbs. He was born at born at 7lbs 1oz.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure he's refusing formula and not refusing a bottle? Try a supplemental nursing system while you're BF with formula in it. Medela makes a good one.

OP here. I don’t pump but I do hand express sometimes and I do use a Haakaa. He has had breastmilk from a bottle and takes it. He will not take formula. We have tried syringe feeding formula and he has refused it. He will take breast milk with the bottle and syringe.

I have tried Enfamil, Similiac, Earths Best, Happy Baby Organics, and Gerber. We have don’t multiple attempts with each with straight formula an breastmilk. He has refused all of it.

[Anonymous]

Try Bobbie. It’s made in Vermont. My baby hated store formula and I also didn’t feel comfortable with imported formula. We tried it and it worked. It’s a European type formula made in the U.S.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually read your post unlike most of the other posters. If he's not taking formula, I would try pumping and then mixing the pumped milk with the formula to see if your baby will take that. That might help him accept the taste.

I understand why you would be uncomfortable buying European formula - it's not regulated and there are a lot of fakes out on the market. I would be scared of not getting authentic formula if I were ordering online, too.

UK HIPP is more strictly regulated than any American formula (most of which are made abroad). Go to a licensed distributor like formuland.com.

I tasted it. It does taste like breastmilk and was created as a supplement to breastfeeding. I highly recommend it.

Still not safe.

Total nonsense. You think all the UK mothers are risking their baby’s health? What about the millions of US mothers with thriving children who have used HIPP and Holle?

Your baby needs more nutrition than you are providing. Listen to your doctor!!! Do you seriously think your pediatrician would recommend a brand that isn’t safe for your baby?! You’re being stupid.

OP here. I don’t really care what others do. It’s what I feel most comfortable doing. What about recalls? HIPP had a recall a couple of months back. How will U.S. parents be notified? What if my baby takes it and I can’t get it anymore because of the supply chain issue? How can I be sure it’s not contaminated or stored properly? I’m not willing to give my baby formula that I can’t be sure is safe.