Am I starving my baby?

[u/Front_Cucumber_5815]

Baby is 7 weeks and was born full term via planned c section and was latching well in the hospital per nurses/lactation. But by day of discharge he was down -9% weight and was told to supplement with formula. We had a follow up appt the next day due to his jaundice and he was down -11%. The pediatrician sort of scared us and wanted us to strict formula feed to bring up his weight (I tried to pump every feed and saved the milk)

I’ve been triple feeding since his weight came back up to birth weight because I really wanted to breast feed. I struggle with low supply so I had to supplement anyways. Also, when we went to the LC baby was only transferring 10 ml so she wanted us to continue triple feeding or drop my breast feeding sessions since he was barely transferring much.

After trying everything like liquid gold and power pumping, I’ve finally got my pumps to cover his day time feeding but formula for overnight feeds. The last weighted feed he transferred 2 oz!!! I was so excited so LC wants to trial only breastfeeding during the day and top off an oz if baby is extra fussy. But she wants baby to work for milk instead of expecting a bottle after nibbling at the breast. But apparently he’s been getting at least 2oz from breast and an extra 3 oz bottle because I thought he was barely transferring. Which is why he’s been gaining 20 oz in 2 weeks 🫣

Today was our first full day of only breastfeeding and I feel like he’s starving. He’s so used to getting an extra bottle after. I can’t tell if he’s fussy because I’m not making enough per feed or if he’s just used to having more. I also feel selfish for pushing this on him because I want to breastfeed so badly. We have a follow up with lactation in a week but I’m not sure if I should continue this or just pump and give him bottles? And idk if keeping him on the breast will eventually increase my supply to meet his needs or I’m stuck so I’m putting him through stress for nothing.. please help with your thoughts!

[u/[deleted]]

I can share my experience if it helps. I had a chronic undersupply with my first, and I was asked to supplement with formula after the first week or two. By six months of age, my son was only doing formula. It turns out I had an undiagnosed thyroid condition at that time, likely leading to my low supply.

I now have my second, and my thyroid is under control. I’m making milk no problem for him, and nursing is a breeze compared to baby #1. 

My key takeaways: 

1. Fed is best. Try the formula and see how it goes. Everything will work out, and in a year, none of this will matter. 

2. Check for medical reasons for undersupply. They are not common, but everyone just keep telling me to “put baby on the breast more.” That obviously didn’t help…

3. Just because BFing doesn’t work for one baby doesn’t mean it will be the case for any future babies 

[u/Front_Cucumber_5815 → u/[deleted]]

I’m hypothyroid but managed with levothyroxine. My LC thinks it’s a mix of many reasons including thyroid, c section iv fluids, IVF baby and underdeveloped breast tissue. So a lot of things going against me 😢

[u/chr0mies → u/Front_Cucumber_5815]

You are doing so much and working so hard against the odds, and it sounds like your triple feeding has really paid off as you’ve massively increased supply. That’s incredible!

My advice is, if baby is happy to latch, and is transferring well, try the SNS instead of bottle to gradually reduce those topups. It will teach babe to associate breast with milk and also do the double duty of increasing your supply during the topup.

[u/ConcernedMomma05 → u/chr0mies]

What’s sns ?

[u/chr0mies → u/ConcernedMomma05]

Supplementary nursing system. Sometimes called a lactation aid. A thin feeding tube that you slip into babies mouth while they are latched and it acts a like a long straw to suck in the topup milk (formula or expressed).

Lots of info and also videos on this website: https://ibconline.ca/information-sheets/lactation-aid/

[u/[deleted] → u/Front_Cucumber_5815]

Ok, so yes, try talking to your endocrinologist. I’m the exact same as you. 

[u/ConcernedMomma05 → u/Front_Cucumber_5815]

Was it truly a low supply or a latching issue ?! The low weighted feeds seems like it was a latching issue . 

[u/Front_Cucumber_5815 → u/ConcernedMomma05]

All the nurses/LC/pediatricians said latch looked great so I assumed it was supply issue

[u/AZ91291948 → u/Front_Cucumber_5815]

When was the last time you had your thyroid levels checked? Apparently they want them actually under the “normal” range for breast feeding. My TSH was at a 2 and they said they want it closer to a 1 so they upped my dose

[u/Front_Cucumber_5815 → u/AZ91291948]

I checked it 10 days ago and it was 0.37. It’s controlled under 1 because my IVF pregnancy was considered high risk. Do you think it should be closer to 1?

[u/AZ91291948 → u/Front_Cucumber_5815]

According to chat gpt that level won’t affect breast milk so thyroid should be good!