There's been lots of interesting thoughts posted on the effect of formula
supplementation on breastfeeding. Here's another, not-so-scientific one, an
observation over the past two years. It seems *why* a mom is supplementing
has an effect on whether it will be "the beginning of the end" of
breastfeeding or not. I've found that moms who supplement just until their
milk comes in ["no leche"] and then go to exclusive breastfeeding seem to do
ok. The few that give just one bottle (usually the bedtime one) on a regular
basis - thinking that makes for longer sleep - usually do OK as long as they
don't start adding more bottles.  The moms that just give formula while at
work and breastfeed exclusively and without restriction when home with the
baby do OK too even with weird work schedules.

On the other hand, moms who supplement because they feel they don't have
enough, or "good enough" milk seldom last a month. {This is despite evidence
of good growth and wt. gain on breastmilk alone} Moms that take home the
formula bags thinking that it's something they're supposed to be using - and
I don't catch them in time - last about 6 weeks. Moms that can't bring
themselves to nurse outside the home and who are "active", that is,
constantly on the run to the mall, a luncheon, or some other gathering, last
about two months. I guess for them breastfeeding is sort of a burden because
they simply "have to" be somewhere and they "can't possibly" breastfeed the
baby there. It sort of makes it a mom vs. baby set-up.

Again, this isn't very scientific - especially coming from a doc...

Gail S. Hertz, MD, IBCLC     who has lots of breastfeeding patients that
make it past 6 months!!!
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