Frustrated with feeding

Yall my boys are 2 weeks old. Theyre not at their birth weight so we have to go back for another appointment in a couple days. They say they should be eating 2-3 oz each feed. I am frustrated because it takes each baby about 45 mins to eat an ounce. I am wasting so much breast milk and once they've had and once and half they refuse to eat any more. The dr says if they aren't at their weight this time then we ahould supplement with formula. Which is fine....but I feel like a failure. If they wont eat 2oz of breatmilk why would they eat the formula? I just dont get it. I feel like I can visibly see that they haven't gained weight. Im so tired. Feeding the 2 of them takes about 50 mins and then I pump for half an hour and then theyre hungry again so I repeat the process.... ugh
Like
Share Mobile
Share
  • Share

Show your support

Weve tried a few different types of bottles. And the dr is confident there is no tongue or lip ties..

Personally id be seeing a lactation consultant, since they might be feeding but not effectively. Most doctors aren’t as knowledgeable in breastfeeding as lactation consultants do specific courses to learn all of this Personally I didn’t get much breast milk so I always breastfed then did formula top ups out of necessity and it was time consuming :( when my husband went back to work I had to stop breastfeeding all together because I couldn’t sustain it

I agree with seeing a lactation consultant! And unfortunately it's not that they'll eat more formula than breastmilk, but that the formula may be more filling/nutrient dense to help them gain weight. Also, I'd try to make sure that your pediatrician is aware and educated on the fact that breastfed babies grow on a different curve than formula fed babies, so comparing them to the "Average Charts" is unhelpful because those are based on formula fed babes. 🫶🏻 sooo many things to learn and consider for your personal situation. You are absolutely not a failure. Breastfeeding in general is sooo much to figure out. Then supplying for two at once?!?! Only the STRONG survive, I was not one of them lmfaoo. I pumped and supplemented with formula for 6 months and then my mental health couldn't handle it anymore and we transitioned to formula only

Make 1 oz bottles so that less of it goes to waste. Could you also use a faster flow rate in the bottle nipple so that they can drink faster?

Visit a lactation consultant! I am still breastfeeding my 14 months old but it was a whole lot of work to get here. I did supplement with formula, but in my case it was supply related. In your case it looks like babies are not effectively feeding, so a lactation consultant will be far more helpful and knowledgeable than a doctor on this.

If you are feeding by bottle, is it potentially time to change the nipple size? I only ask that because our boys went from feeding really well then it dropped, went up to the next nipple size on the bottle and they went back to normal. As far as supplemental formula, I did it, was not happy about it and the aftermath was major reflux (the higher calorie formula does a number on some not all). I agree with everyone else on speaking with a lactation consultant, there could be other issues such and tongue or lip ties and they are unable to latch at the breast or even on a bottle correctly.

Read more on Peanut
Trending in our community