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 Ask Dr. Jana
Questioning The Need To Supplement A Breastfed Baby | | | QUESTION | | | | I breastfed our son exclusively from the time he was born. He ate every 2 hours, 20 minutes per breast. Our pediatrician said it was normal and to "hang in there". I was not getting any rest. I barely had time to eat, shower, dress, etc. I then had mastitis in one breast and was told to continue to breast feed regularly but our son seemed to hate the taste of the milk, and would barely eat. Are these all signs that I should supplement with formula? — Amy in Detroit, Michigan | | | ANSWER |
June 6, 2000 | | | Although I don't know all of the circumstances and can't comment on your specific situation, nothing you described would suggest that a baby would need to be supplemented with formula. It is very common for a baby in the first month or two to breastfeed 8-12 times in a 24 hour period.
In general, what is most important in assessing if a baby is receiving sufficient amounts of breastmilk is to follow his growth and development. If your son gained weight well and seemed content, then chances are he was getting enough.
As you well know, breastfeeding can be very tiring and time-consuming. You sound like you were understandably overwhelmed with all that is involved with the care and breastfeeding of a new baby. While breastfeeding has benefits for both you and your baby, it is very important to find ways to make sure that breastfeeding can be enjoyable for you too.
As for your experience with mastitis, the advice you received is technically correct - continuing to breastfeed is generally recommended during this type of breast infection since the infection itself and the antibiotics used to treat mastitis are not usually harmful to your baby. In addition, regular nursing (or expressing your milk) can help the infection clear more quickly. Having experienced mastitis myself, I know that breastfeeding can become quite uncomfortable and discouraging. Some mothers choose to express and dispose of the infected breast milk for a couple of days if their babies finds it distasteful, since infected breast milk may have a saltier taste.
While supplementing breastfed babies with formula is a reasonable option, I get the impression that you would actually like to breastfeed if you had the reassurance that you were doing everything correctly and your son was benefiting from the experience. It is often helpful to ask your pediatrician if he/she could recommend any lactation consultants in your area, or contact a support organization such as The La Leche League. Having additional support and reassurance as well as getting some additional practical advice can often change breastfeeding from an unpleasant experience to one you and your son can both enjoy.
— by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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