Refusing Top Up

[bambino]

:wave:

DS is fully breastfed, although I do top him up (very rarely) with 50ml of formula if he's still hungry (after taking both boobs mind you).

But the last few times he has refused to take the formula. He makes a face as though he hates the taste and cries. So I put him back on the boob for a third time (in the hope there's some milk left in there).

Does it matter that he now refuses the formula top up ? Is there something else I can top him up with ?
I'm just not sure that there's any milk left in my boobs after he has them both in the one feed.

[tanni_83]

If you are best feeding on demand, you shouldnt have to give 'top up' fomula feeds. Just keep offering the other side. Make sure you dont switch too early between breasts either. Make sure you completely drain one side before swapping to the next. Its not like old times where they advises to swap every 15 min or so (it actually decreases your supply).

Another thing is, your milk never really 'runs out' there is still milk there, he just might have to suck a little while longer to get the let down to happen. If you have further problems, either post on here to the breast feeding expert or call the Australian Breastfeeding association, they provide a free counselling service :thumbsup:

Hope i helped!

Happy Breastfeeding. Tanni :hugs:

[bambino]

Thanks Tanni.
We're not demand feeding anymore though. He feeds 4 hourly.
Can you have more than one let down in one feed?
I feel the initial one when he first starts feeding but I don't ever feel a second one if it does happen :confused:

He also plays around once he has finished. He plays with my nipple, looks around, giggles, sucks a bit more and so on. So I change sides then to start the other boob. Then once he finshes feeding on the second one, he mucks around again and does the same thing. So I am assuming that as he is playing around he's finished.
Should I leave him there to play a bit more or is that a sure sign he is finished ?

[meme]

a few things come into my mind, it could be that your bub is just not hungry or that he doesn't like the formula ( smart baby , he knows your milk is better for his tum!:D )

feeding to a timed schedule does have the danger of not stimulating your breasts to keep producing enough milk. because of how breastfeeding works it is important to offer the breast whenever bubs seems fussy or hungry as then your breasts will make the right amount of milk for how hungry your baby is. that said, some babies do natuarally feed at longer intervals than others.

if you need to boost your supply the answeer is just to offer more feeds.

your breasts are never truly emptu so putting your baby back to the first breast again will offer a top up from the breast, or waiting 15-20 minutes and then offerring a top up from the breast will provide your bub with a bit more milk.

human babies are designed to grow and thrive on human milk alone for about the first 6mths of life. as long as it is available whenever he is hungry or thirsty he will get enough. look for plenty of wet nappies and all the other simple signs of a healthy baby to reassure yourself about the wonderful job you are doing to nourish your child.