Continue to EBF or Supplement?

[Anonymous]

My son is 4-months-old. He has always been on the smaller side. He was a little under the average weight at 2 months old. I saw several LCs, got a scale, and changed my diet. I make plenty of milk ( usually even to pump once a day) and realized my milk is just not that fatty. I’ve tried giving him a bottle of pumped milk a day and getting in more fat and protein in my diet. He recently had his 4 month appointment and he was still under the average weight. The pediatrician said she isn’t concerned because he is on his growth curve and hitting all of his developmental milestones. I’m still nervous and wonder if I should start supplementing with formula. I was really hoping to EBF but wonder if adding in 1-2 bottles of formula a day will help him gain a little more weight. Would you keeping EBF or supplement?

[Anonymous]

I would supplement because supplementing is great, not because of his weight. Average is just that- an average. By definition 49% of babies will be under the average.

[Anonymous]

I would keep ebf. He isn’t losing weight and is staying in the Same percentile range,I don’t see a problem.

[Anonymous]

He is on HIS growth chart, which is where his body is intended to be. If you artificially increase his weight by supplementing, then you’re making him heavier than where his body wants to be. That’s not great and not a permanent solution either. If you are doing well EBF, then keep at it and feel confident that he’s getting exactly the right amount for him.

And FWIW, in my experience, babies tend to drink more volume when moms milk is thinner, and milk composition changes based on the baby’s needs. As in, the milk is thin because he’s less big and that’s what he needs, not the other way around (that he’s smaller because the milk is thin). And I doubt he’s even small! Below average is not a bad thing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He is on HIS growth chart, which is where his body is intended to be. If you artificially increase his weight by supplementing, then you’re making him heavier than where his body wants to be. That’s not great and not a permanent solution either. If you are doing well EBF, then keep at it and feel confident that he’s getting exactly the right amount for him.

And FWIW, in my experience, babies tend to drink more volume when moms milk is thinner, and milk composition changes based on the baby’s needs. As in, the milk is thin because he’s less big and that’s what he needs, not the other way around (that he’s smaller because the milk is thin). And I doubt he’s even small! Below average is not a bad thing!

JFC this is insane and so wrong. Offering formula will not "artificially increase his weight". Babies self regulate. If he isn't hungry he won't eat. This is why we have a crisis of women killing themselves (and starving their babies) to make breastfeeding work at all costs. Supplementing is awesome and beneficial in so many circumstances.

Also, "the milk is thin because he’s less big and that’s what he needs" this is unscientific lactivist BULLSHIT woo nonsense. Peddle it elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Girl, if you are nervous just supplement. Formula isn’t poison and your baby has already gotten all the benefits to breastfeeding! There’s nothing magical about EBF vs 90% breast milk / 10% formula. I promise!

[Anonymous]

My baby was tiny when she was born and remained tiny until I stopped breastfeeding at 6 months. I’m glad I BF but in hindsight would’ve supplemented with formula (and I had great supply). My baby hates the taste of formula because she’d never had it, and even though she drinks less (because she hates it) she SHOT UP on the growth chart. Like...had never even been on the growth chart at 6 months to being 20% at 7 months. Hard to argue it wasn’t because she went from skim milk to full.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Girl, if you are nervous just supplement. Formula isn’t poison and your baby has already gotten all the benefits to breastfeeding! There’s nothing magical about EBF vs 90% breast milk / 10% formula. I promise!

DP— I love you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is on HIS growth chart, which is where his body is intended to be. If you artificially increase his weight by supplementing, then you’re making him heavier than where his body wants to be. That’s not great and not a permanent solution either. If you are doing well EBF, then keep at it and feel confident that he’s getting exactly the right amount for him.

And FWIW, in my experience, babies tend to drink more volume when moms milk is thinner, and milk composition changes based on the baby’s needs. As in, the milk is thin because he’s less big and that’s what he needs, not the other way around (that he’s smaller because the milk is thin). And I doubt he’s even small! Below average is not a bad thing!

JFC this is insane and so wrong. Offering formula will not "artificially increase his weight". Babies self regulate. If he isn't hungry he won't eat. This is why we have a crisis of women killing themselves (and starving their babies) to make breastfeeding work at all costs. Supplementing is awesome and beneficial in so many circumstances.

Also, "the milk is thin because he’s less big and that’s what he needs" this is unscientific lactivist BULLSHIT woo nonsense. Peddle it elsewhere.

NP, but JFC PP, do you even hear yourself? What has you so angry? Take a deep breath and calm down. If babies self regulate, then OP is already doing fine, supplementing or not.

OPs baby is hitting his growth curve, just “below average”, which, well, a thematically, some babies have to be. That’s math, science, and medicine.

It doesn’t sound like OP is making breastfeeding work at all costs. Her baby is healthy and hitting milestones. There is also no benefit to “growing them big”. Babies grow as they grow, and as long as baby is on HIS curve, that’s all that matters.

OP, do what feels best to you. If it’s easier or helpful for you to add a bottle of formula, then do it. Your baby sounds healthy and happy. There is some evidence that EBF babies follow a slightly different growth curve, but it’s not better or worse, it just is. If formula is convenient and desired by you...then go for it. If you’re happy EBF, then there’s no reason to not continue. Both options are going to give you a strong and healthy baby.

[Anonymous]

If the MD isn't worried and he's on his curve then what's the problem? My kiddo was ALWAYS in the 5th percentile. MD wasn't worried because that was her curve. They only worry when they cross percentiles.

[Anonymous]

OP here. He is almost 14lbs but the pediatrician said most boys that age are 15-16lbs. He does eat very often during the day and sleeps well at night. I’m still nervous he will fall off his growth curve or that my milk isn’t fatty enough for him. I think I’m going to start giving him 1 bottle of formula a day for some extra calories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the MD isn't worried and he's on his curve then what's the problem? My kiddo was ALWAYS in the 5th percentile. MD wasn't worried because that was her curve. They only worry when they cross percentiles.

+1. DC 1 has always been in the 10th percentile. DC 2 has always hovered between 10 and 15. DC 3 is still a toddler but consistently in the 80th percentile. All 3 exclusively breastfed and on their curves. If you want to formula feed you should do it but I doubt your baby will gain weight. They will probably BF less and your supply might drop. Again, if you want to transition to formula this isn’t a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He is almost 14lbs but the pediatrician said most boys that age are 15-16lbs. He does eat very often during the day and sleeps well at night. I’m still nervous he will fall off his growth curve or that my milk isn’t fatty enough for him. I think I’m going to start giving him 1 bottle of formula a day for some extra calories.

OP, you really should think about why it’s important to you that your boy is at the median. Statistically half of boys are going to be below, and there’s no reason why that’s bad. If he’s meant to be a 30-40th percentile kid, he will be unless you keep feeding him more calories than he needs. This is raising red flags whether you’re talking about Bm, formula, or solids. Please think about it and consider talking to your doctor if it seems like it could be related to POD/PPA. And talk to your pediatrician about whether he needs extra calories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He is almost 14lbs but the pediatrician said most boys that age are 15-16lbs. He does eat very often during the day and sleeps well at night. I’m still nervous he will fall off his growth curve or that my milk isn’t fatty enough for him. I think I’m going to start giving him 1 bottle of formula a day for some extra calories.

OP, you really should think about why it’s important to you that your boy is at the median. Statistically half of boys are going to be below, and there’s no reason why that’s bad. If he’s meant to be a 30-40th percentile kid, he will be unless you keep feeding him more calories than he needs. This is raising red flags whether you’re talking about Bm, formula, or solids. Please think about it and consider talking to your doctor if it seems like it could be related to POD/PPA. And talk to your pediatrician about whether he needs extra calories.

Omg stop. This is not raising red flags. She is just a first time mom worried that her baby is smaller than average and wanting to make sure he is getting enough calories. Everyone is always worried about making sure they are not starving their baby. If the baby doesn’t want it he won’t drink it - I don’t hear anything about force feeding the baby. Most likely your pediatrician is going to say sure, offer it if you want, but he doesn’t *need* it based on what I see.

[Anonymous]

If you want to continue breastfeeding I wouldn’t supplement unless he was losing weight or falling down on where he has been trending on the growth chart. The percentile isn’t important, it is the trend that is important. It sounds like he is fine and dr isn’t concerned.

If you supplement, then your body loses that opportunity to increase your milk supply- your supply and his demand will become out of sync. There isn’t anything wrong with supplementing- but if you want to continue breastfeeding AND he doesn’t have a need , I wouldn’t do it.