STACEYANNA RE: your milk supply concerns and baby's constipation.......
Here's your original post so others can follow and respond too:
http://boards2.parentsplace.com/messages/get/ppbreastfeeding173/57.html
If your baby is getting formula that could very well be the cause of the constipation. It's not uncommon for babies to react that way to formula particularly to the types with iron in them. Perhaps your pediatrician could recommend a lower iron formula until your other bf issues are resolved.
The first thing I would recommend is that you start to pump to try to make as much of the supplement breastmilk as possible. Get an electric RENTAL pump with a double kit to maximize your pumping. Here is a link to pumping tips too:
http://boards.parentsplace.com/messages/get/ppbreastfeeding98/15/7.html
Every ounce of formula you give the baby is teaching your breasts not to make that amount of breast milk. If you give 10oz a day of formula your breasts will make 10oz less than your baby needs, unless you are pumping 10oz. (and of course if you were pumping 10oz you would be giving that instead of the formula) The breasts know how much to make by how much is taken out of the breast.
Now I would not want you to drop the supplements suddenly since that would put your baby at risk for not gaining and would not give your breasts a chance to make up the difference. But if your baby is bf well what you need to do to increase the supply is slowly reduce the supplements.
Here's the method I use with moms in similar situations as yours...understand this is only an example and you should be closely followed by your pediatrician and hopefully an experienced LC too.
Start recording the amounts you give via the bottle and total it each day so you know how many ounces per 24 hours you give via the bottle, record how much is ebm and how much is formula. Also, record the wet and soiled diapers. As you increase the breastmilk and reduce the formula your baby will probably start to poop more since breastmilk will loosen the stools.
After you have an idea how much he gets each day via bottle start to systematically reduce that amount, starting with reducing the formula first(reduce the ebm via bottle last). So, for example: if Alex gets 10oz of formula and 4 oz of ebm per 24 hours via the bottle his 24 hours total is 14oz of supplement. You should of course continue to put him to the breast as much as possible during this process, at least 8 times in 24 hours. On day 1 to 3 give him only 13oz via the bottles in 24 hours, give whatever you have of ebm and make up the difference with formula..so it might be 4oz of ebm and 9oz of formula. Don't give more keep putting him back to the breast if he needs to eat more. If his diaper count does not reduce from what it has been, on days 4-6 give him only 12 oz of milk in bottles per 24 hours. Say you have 5oz ebm and 7oz of formula each day. Again if the diaper count stays the same or more drop more from the daily 24 hour total of bottled milk, and you can start to increase the rate if it is going well for example to 10oz on days 6-7, maybe 6oz would be ebm and 4oz of formula. Continue to reduce the daily total in the bottles by about 1-2 ounces every 1-3 days as long as the diaper count is good. When reducing the 24 hour total you can reduce the amount in each bottle or reduce the number of bottles or a combination of both...the important factor is reducing the 24 hour total. When you get to the point that it is only ebm in the bottles you can drop the bottles much faster. This is a flexible process, you can reduce the amounts in the bottles faster if it is going well and the diaper count and weights are good or reduce more slowly if it seems as though the diapers are dropping and the weights are not as they should be. But you must keep good records so you know where you are in the process.
I hope this method was clear. You should also get the baby weighed AT LEAST every week or more frequently as the ped recommends until the transition to the breast is complete and then one more weight check one week after the baby is totally on the breast. That way you will be reassured the baby is "getting enough" through this process and have the confidence to keep reducing the bottles.
It is very possible for you to increase your milk supply at this point. Many moms who get off to a rough start eventually have a complete milk supply, you just need the right help. I would also like to reinforce that seeing an LC would be the best thing to do. My help here on the bb is only in addition to you getting the appropriate "in person" help.
Keep me updated and get back with questions.
Warmly,
Kathy
