Carolyn,
My heart goes out to you. With formula the pH of infants' stomach
changes from low 5 to 7. Increased bacteria getting formula iron & if
intolerance=gas,etc., etc. 6-8 weeks of ex. BF to bring it back down.
Please show your HV my post of (9/3/00) on how to increase BrMk supply.
"After the second breast is empty & their baby is still crying they give
formula because they don't realize we meant to tell them "The breast is
like a mountain stream trickling back in as soon as it is emptied." With
this information I proceed to tell them about the several bouts per
feeding needed to increase milk during growth spurts...."When your baby
tells you s/he's hungry with rooting/hunger cues, empty the first breast
before going to the 2nd. After emptying the 2nd breast go back and empty
each breast AGAIN & AGAIN until the baby is full (No more hunger
cues/rooting")"
I might add: The longer the period between the emptying of the breast
means: the baby doesn't need your body to produce that much milk. "Slow
down the production," It's saying. No stimulation of breast or no
emptying (no stimulation of pituitary) no increased volume will be made.
The mother's brain doesn't know the baby's not stimulating it because
it's getting formula. The longer the br mk stays in breast ( to wait for
it to fill up) it gets more concentrated (salty) and the weaning process
starts. (The only reason there is tons of br. milk in morning is that
the body has had wonderful REST. It produces best with rest. It's not
that it's had a long time to build up like so many people think. I
remember my dad saying (about kids and barking dogs in the tie-up, "The
cows won't give milk if you wild things don't leave us alone!")
And what's more important; fattening him up like a baby calf or letting
his brain develop better for survival as a human with that wonderful DHA,
AA fatty acids (omega-3's)
Please instruct this kind, thoughtful HV, to watch the baby. Your son's
reaction to the increased br mk may be showing that he is getting better
at suckling, has more energy because of your persistence. Those are the
normal things to look for. If he were getting more lethargic or getting
shorter feeds, if fontanel were caving in, then I'd worry. The jaundice
at the beginning sounds like he wasn't nursing enough, then. If he had
thrush I can believe it was painful nursing. (And how much rest &
relaxation did you get at the beginning? )
Good luck! We are rootin' for you. (Just like you son)
Regards,
P.Harris-Swenson, MA, IBCLC, Doula in training
WIC Nutritionist & BF Coordinator
Still behind '69 spring cleaning AND Lactnet mail!
Lowell, MA USA
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