Not Enough Fat In Milk.

[Anonymous]

I think I don't have enough fat in my milk. My baby is 4 weeks old and not gaining enough weight. I EBF but do pump whatever he doesn't eat. We have to start giving him 1 ounce of formula after every feed or one full bottle of formula a day. I am not anti-formula but had my heart set on EBF for all over nutrition and convenience. Everything I've been read said that most babies who aren't thriving usually stems from fat in the mothers diet. How much fat did you eat a day? I do think I have an oversupply, because he eats 8-10 times a day, and I still pump 10-12 ounces extra a day. When we went to a LC she said he is taking in 2-3 ounces every 2-3 hours, so I think he is getting enough to eat.

What I eat in a day:

Breakfast: Oatmeal w/ raw maple syrup and brine sugar w/ tbsp. of flaxseeds.
Snack: Bowl of mixed fruit
Lunch: Veggie and green salad with 1/4 avocado
Snack: Smoothie or more fruit
Dinner: Different things but mostly chicken w/ a side if veggies and roasted potatoes.

I am allergic to dairy and not a fan of things like peanut butter.

[Anonymous]

Stop obsessing about what you are eating and if there is enough "fat in the milk". Stressing less is going to help the most when breastfeeding. Honestly. So the pediatrician said to supplement. You need to listen to him or her. Since you are also pumping, why not ask if you can supplement with more breastmilk with lipids in there? We used olive oil for our NICU baby. Maybe they can help you with a "recipe" based on what you are comfortable with, like a bit of formula (it's not the end of the world) and lipids in breastmilk?

It's not as convenient, it's just as nutritious, and it is certainly more scientific than screwing around with your diet and wondering what is passing through (which in my experience is never the right answer).

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Make sure he is draining your breast to get the hind milk. You can supplement with a good formula if your pediatrician thinks you should.

[Anonymous]

I didn't realize that milk fat came from the mom's diet. I did have to eat a ton while nursing/pumping - I feel like you need more protein. What about hard boiled eggs, almonds, lactation cookies...put the whole avocado on your salad.

Having had a baby with growth issues, I was against formula until I realized I was being selfish and starving my kid. She shot back up once we found one that she liked. We're closing in on a year and we still nurse when together and she gets a bottle or two of formula a day, it's the best of both worlds. Don't be too hard on yourself, fed is best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize that milk fat came from the mom's diet. I did have to eat a ton while nursing/pumping - I feel like you need more protein. What about hard boiled eggs, almonds, lactation cookies...put the whole avocado on your salad.

Having had a baby with growth issues, I was against formula until I realized I was being selfish and starving my kid. She shot back up once we found one that she liked. We're closing in on a year and we still nurse when together and she gets a bottle or two of formula a day, it's the best of both worlds. Don't be too hard on yourself, fed is best.

Op here. I am definitely not starving my child. While it sucks I can't fulfill his nutrition, his health is of the upmost importance to us. We have been using a HIPP formula that a friend recommend. He eats about 6-8 ounces of that a day, for the last 2 days. I am giving formula in the interim, but definitely want to EBF once he is up to growth curve.

I have definitely been tying to up eating avocado and a little nut butter. I can't eat eggs because I am allergic to diary. It's tough because I'm not a fan or but and hate hummus. I also want to eat healthy fats, like avocado, olive oil, chia/hemp/flax seeds, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop obsessing about what you are eating and if there is enough "fat in the milk". Stressing less is going to help the most when breastfeeding. Honestly. So the pediatrician said to supplement. You need to listen to him or her. Since you are also pumping, why not ask if you can supplement with more breastmilk with lipids in there? We used olive oil for our NICU baby. Maybe they can help you with a "recipe" based on what you are comfortable with, like a bit of formula (it's not the end of the world) and lipids in breastmilk?

It's not as convenient, it's just as nutritious, and it is certainly more scientific than screwing around with your diet and wondering what is passing through (which in my experience is never the right answer).

Good luck!

I've never heard of adding olive oil to breast milk. Is it safe?

[Anonymous]

1. If you've been advised to supplement do so. You can still nurse.

2. In general, it seems you don't have enough calories in your diet and need more protein and fats, boiled eggs, lentils, beans, nuts. For yourself consult with a nutritionist.

[Anonymous]

Eggs are not dairy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize that milk fat came from the mom's diet. I did have to eat a ton while nursing/pumping - I feel like you need more protein. What about hard boiled eggs, almonds, lactation cookies...put the whole avocado on your salad.

Having had a baby with growth issues, I was against formula until I realized I was being selfish and starving my kid. She shot back up once we found one that she liked. We're closing in on a year and we still nurse when together and she gets a bottle or two of formula a day, it's the best of both worlds. Don't be too hard on yourself, fed is best.

Op here. I am definitely not starving my child. While it sucks I can't fulfill his nutrition, his health is of the upmost importance to us. We have been using a HIPP formula that a friend recommend. He eats about 6-8 ounces of that a day, for the last 2 days. I am giving formula in the interim, but definitely want to EBF once he is up to growth curve.

I have definitely been tying to up eating avocado and a little nut butter. I can't eat eggs because I am allergic to diary. It's tough because I'm not a fan or but and hate hummus. I also want to eat healthy fats, like avocado, olive oil, chia/hemp/flax seeds, etc.

It's good you are giving your baby the formula. But you seem a little fixated on food and have a very limited diet even for someone with an egg and dairy allergies. Have you consulted with a nutritionist about meal planning?

[Anonymous]

You know eggs aren't dairy, right? They come from chickens and chickens don't make milk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop obsessing about what you are eating and if there is enough "fat in the milk". Stressing less is going to help the most when breastfeeding. Honestly. So the pediatrician said to supplement. You need to listen to him or her. Since you are also pumping, why not ask if you can supplement with more breastmilk with lipids in there? We used olive oil for our NICU baby. Maybe they can help you with a "recipe" based on what you are comfortable with, like a bit of formula (it's not the end of the world) and lipids in breastmilk?

It's not as convenient, it's just as nutritious, and it is certainly more scientific than screwing around with your diet and wondering what is passing through (which in my experience is never the right answer).

Good luck!

I've never heard of adding olive oil to breast milk. Is it safe?

That's a question for the pediatrician, but I would not give oil to a newborn baby.

[Anonymous]

The best indication of whether he's getting enough to eat is his output - how many wet/dirty diapers are you changing every day, and are they really wet? For wet, it should be 6-7 heavy diapers (like, the weight should be enough to know that it's wet), and dirty varies a bit.

There's nothing wrong with supplementing, but some babies do gain a bit slower than others and it can be normal and perfectly OK.

[Anonymous]

You should also wean from the pumping. You don’t necessarily have an oversupply, your body is just responding to the pumping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize that milk fat came from the mom's diet. I did have to eat a ton while nursing/pumping - I feel like you need more protein. What about hard boiled eggs, almonds, lactation cookies...put the whole avocado on your salad.

Having had a baby with growth issues, I was against formula until I realized I was being selfish and starving my kid. She shot back up once we found one that she liked. We're closing in on a year and we still nurse when together and she gets a bottle or two of formula a day, it's the best of both worlds. Don't be too hard on yourself, fed is best.

Op here. I am definitely not starving my child. While it sucks I can't fulfill his nutrition, his health is of the upmost importance to us. We have been using a HIPP formula that a friend recommend. He eats about 6-8 ounces of that a day, for the last 2 days. I am giving formula in the interim, but definitely want to EBF once he is up to growth curve.

I have definitely been tying to up eating avocado and a little nut butter. I can't eat eggs because I am allergic to diary. It's tough because I'm not a fan or but and hate hummus. I also want to eat healthy fats, like avocado, olive oil, chia/hemp/flax seeds, etc.

Wouldn't that be an egg allergy? You can have eggs without dairy in them..

[Anonymous]

You're not going to lose all the weight overnight You are breastfeeding, eat more. There is nowhere near enough fat or protein in that diet to keep YOU healthy when you're breastfeeding. The baby will get what it needs, but you and your bones will turn to garbage.