DCM Not Bringing Enough Milk, What To Do????

[Live and Learn]

At five months of age an infant should be fed on demand. If baby is demanding milk that the mother isn't providing then she either needs to be pumping much more or supplying formula.

::Before flaming me for suggesting formula you should know that I have a house full of my own children. None has ever had formula. I even nursed my twins for two and a half years......but I made the choice to stay home with my kids. It is so very, very hard to nurse and work. There are always trade offs.

In my opinion when she made the choice to not stay home with her kid she needed to give the "substitute" (read dc provider) all of the tools to do the job. This includes breast milk or formula. If for some reason her fantasy of supplying enough breast milk through pumping does not match the reality of the child's appetite then the mom can do one of three things:

1) learn how to produce more milk.

2) supply formula.

3) stay home and nurse.

I require my breast feeding moms to have three days of milk in my freezer.
Every breastfeeding mom that I have ever provided care for has found the working/breastfeeding combo to be very stressful for them....constantly worrying about providing enough milk.

I would call mom at work as soon as last of the milk is consumed....not fair to let baby go hungry...poor thing.

Good luck

[lvt77]

Call mom at work to have the baby picked up immediately. If mom refuses to come for the baby - start calling dad, emergency contacts, etc.

There's no excuse for a baby screaming from hunger and a provider not having anything to feed him/her. That's abuse in my opinion - both to the baby, and the provider

ditto I agree with pammie on this 100% that is neglect.. and so not fair poor baby.

[nannyde]

Children are obese NOT because of how they ate as infants because parents today choose to feed their child mcdonalds every night for dinner or give them JUNK for snack. My Son was a huge baby 30 pounds at 12 months now he is a 60 pound soon to be 8 year old he is a skinny mini because I do not let them eat junk and go to mcdonalds.

Our country is facing an obesity epidemic in our children that is so profound that it will change our longevity and our destiny as a human race if we do not get a handle on it and begin to deal with it from prenatal to adulthood.

Junk food is ONE of the contributors to our current crisis. Inactivity, low physical activity, severe lack of sleep, corn based foods, calcium deprivation, sugar drinks, fingertip playing toys/electronics, etc... are some of the perfect storm we are facing now with this health crisis.

If you are interested just google "obesity in infants" to see the current research. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0406093632.htm

By analyzing the electronic medical records of babies seen for routine "well-child" visits to the UTMB pediatric clinic, the investigators found that about 16 percent of 6-month-olds fit the study's criterion for obesity -- a weight-for-length ratio that put them in the top 5 percent of all babies in their age group. (Weight for length was used instead of the conventional body mass index because BMI is based on weight and height as measured while standing, which neither 6-month-olds nor 24-month-olds can do well enough to measure.) Further analysis of the records indicated that obese 2-year-olds were much more likely to have been obese at 6 months than 2-year-olds who were not obese.

[Dsquared]

Our country is facing an obesity epidemic in our children that is so profound that it will change our longevity and our destiny as a human race if we do not get a handle on it and begin to deal with it from prenatal to adulthood.

Junk food is ONE of the contributors to our current crisis. Inactivity, low physical activity, severe lack of sleep, corn based foods, calcium deprivation, sugar drinks, fingertip playing toys/electronics, etc... are some of the perfect storm we are facing now with this health crisis.

If you are interested just google "obesity in infants" to see the current research. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0406093632.htm

By analyzing the electronic medical records of babies seen for routine "well-child" visits to the UTMB pediatric clinic, the investigators found that about 16 percent of 6-month-olds fit the study's criterion for obesity -- a weight-for-length ratio that put them in the top 5 percent of all babies in their age group. (Weight for length was used instead of the conventional body mass index because BMI is based on weight and height as measured while standing, which neither 6-month-olds nor 24-month-olds can do well enough to measure.) Further analysis of the records indicated that obese 2-year-olds were much more likely to have been obese at 6 months than 2-year-olds who were not obese.

It is very scary indeed. I'm pretty healthy, work out a lot and have tried to eat healthy. But the CR#P that's in the food/milk these days (even the healthy food) it's scary! Buying organic to feed a family is a very expensive alternative. It just plain ****s!

[jojosmommy]

Wow Nan you dont fed babies baby food til 8 months? That's way to long to make a baby wait doctors recommend 4 to 6 months you start feeding a baby baby food. 2 out of 3 of my own kids where eating table food at 8 months old. I cant image a baby not having jar food at 6 months they would be starving by just eating formula til 8 months old.

I just want to mention that kids need to start getting baby food and table food becuase it helps their oral development which later affects speech development. It isnt always better to wait which seems to be very popular right now. When baby is ready physically, and hungry enough to benefit from it you should start giving it.

I also want to mention that just becuase a child is in the top 5% for his age/height doesn't mean he is headed towards obesity. Myself and my two siblings were all big babies until about 2 and now all three of us are underweight or right at recommended weight. My son has been in the top 1% of weight and height since birth (at 3 weeks early mind you) and no we don't give him any sweets (not even for Halloween) or drive through meals. My Dr is not at all concerned because we are an active family. Families need to spend more active time together and the obesity problem will decrease.

[PeanutsGalore]

Our country is facing an obesity epidemic in our children that is so profound that it will change our longevity and our destiny as a human race if we do not get a handle on it and begin to deal with it from prenatal to adulthood.

Junk food is ONE of the contributors to our current crisis. Inactivity, low physical activity, severe lack of sleep, corn based foods, calcium deprivation, sugar drinks, fingertip playing toys/electronics, etc... are some of the perfect storm we are facing now with this health crisis.

If you are interested just google "obesity in infants" to see the current research. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0406093632.htm

By analyzing the electronic medical records of babies seen for routine "well-child" visits to the UTMB pediatric clinic, the investigators found that about 16 percent of 6-month-olds fit the study's criterion for obesity -- a weight-for-length ratio that put them in the top 5 percent of all babies in their age group. (Weight for length was used instead of the conventional body mass index because BMI is based on weight and height as measured while standing, which neither 6-month-olds nor 24-month-olds can do well enough to measure.) Further analysis of the records indicated that obese 2-year-olds were much more likely to have been obese at 6 months than 2-year-olds who were not obese.

It's disturbing that ANY study would define a child under 2 or 3 years of age as obese based solely on BMI. That's not helpful, it doesn't take into account family habits and the specific habits being developed by that child, and thus can't be an accurate indication of what a child will look like when they're adults, or even a few years older.

Infants need to BF on demand, and there's no way to know how much any individual baby is taking in unless you develop x-ray vision and an accurate way to measure the milk flow from breast to mouth. Ask the mom for more food...or have her come pick him up when the food is gone. She must be feeling bad for not being able to provide more milk, but there are lots of ways to increase production. She can pump at night before bed, or get up super early to pump the extra milk, if necessary. Babies should never go hungry, and they certainly know when they want to eat.

[ammama]

I have a problem with the idea of measuring obesity in 6 month olds. My own DD was freaken HUGE at 6 months, and was being breastfed exclusively. No formula or solids, only breastfeeding on demand. Obesity is something that is related to unhealthy eating, bad eating habits etc. How can a 6 month old breastfed baby have bad eating habits? I think that basing obesity in infants solely on weight is a bad idea. If you look at their dietary history, and see that the parents are basically putting a bottle in their mouth everytime they cry, then maybe you could suspect obesity, and follow that child to prevent/follow up. I used to hate it when people would tell me to feed my baby less because she was too fat. She is a perfectly normal sized 2 year old now.

This is off topic though, sorry.

[cillybean83]

if the baby is crying from hunger that is unacceptable. Just because some book says that 1 ounce an hour is enough doesn't make it the Lord's gospel truth...obviously it isn't enough for this one particular child, and this one individual child should not go hungry because of a statistic, if mom doesn't make enough milk, then mom needs to provide formula, there is no reason why that child needs to be hungry.

As far as when to introduce solids, every parent, provider, and doctor is different. My youngest sons doctor said he could have rice cereal at 14 weeks, as long as he could eat it from a spoon, which he could, so he ate it once a day until 16 weeks when he started eating veggies, and at 20 weeks he started eating fruit. That's what MY doctor said was fine, and I was ok with it, my son is in the 90th percentile for height and 20th for weight so he isn't obese, he's a healthy little boy, but with that being said, I stay home with my son so I set the rules. If he were to go to Nan's daycare and she says no food til 8 months them my choices would be:

1. feed him food on my own time if I want him to have it
2. find another provider
3. stay home with my kid

her house, her daycare, her rules, and if you leave your kid with a provider, you have to trust that what they choose to do regarding feedings is what they believe is in the best interest of your child, Im sure that if a 7 month old baby was screaming from hunger, Nan would give him or her a bottle and the kiddo would be fine til pick up, no big deal.

[Mrs.Ky]

I just want to mention that kids need to start getting baby food and table food becuase it helps their oral development which later affects speech development. It isnt always better to wait which seems to be very popular right now. When baby is ready physically, and hungry enough to benefit from it you should start giving it.

I also want to mention that just becuase a child is in the top 5% for his age/height doesn't mean he is headed towards obesity. Myself and my two siblings were all big babies until about 2 and now all three of us are underweight or right at recommended weight. My son has been in the top 1% of weight and height since birth (at 3 weeks early mind you) and no we don't give him any sweets (not even for Halloween) or drive through meals. My Dr is not at all concerned because we are an active family. Families need to spend more active time together and the obesity problem will decrease.

AGREE with this. I guess Im old now since the IN thing right now is to wait till 8 months next thing you know it will be a year I love how the goverment tells us what to do with our own kids.Doc had me putting cereal in my first Sons bottle when he was 2 months old because he had reflux it helped so much but now a days if I tell someone that their mouth will drop like I commited a crime. Mom ALWAYS knows best for her baby not some doctor, nurse, or someone from the AAP. Also all my kids where forwarding facing from10 to 12 months thought I would just add more fuel to the fire ::

[Mrs.Ky]

I have a problem with the idea of measuring obesity in 6 month olds. My own DD was freaken HUGE at 6 months, and was being breastfed exclusively. No formula or solids, only breastfeeding on demand. Obesity is something that is related to unhealthy eating, bad eating habits etc. How can a 6 month old breastfed baby have bad eating habits? I think that basing obesity in infants solely on weight is a bad idea. If you look at their dietary history, and see that the parents are basically putting a bottle in their mouth everytime they cry, then maybe you could suspect obesity, and follow that child to prevent/follow up. I used to hate it when people would tell me to feed my baby less because she was too fat. She is a perfectly normal sized 2 year old now.

This is off topic though, sorry.

Right, I dont like when they say babies are obese next thing you know the AAP will recommend putting babies on a diet and since the AAP said it it will be gold ::.

[JenNJ]

AGREE with this. I guess Im old now since the IN thing right now is to wait till 8 months next thing you know it will be a year I love how the goverment tells us what to do with our own kids.Doc had me putting cereal in my first Sons bottle when he was 2 months old because he had reflux it helped so much but now a days if I tell someone that their mouth will drop like I commited a crime. Mom ALWAYS knows best for her baby not some doctor, nurse, or someone from the AAP. Also all my kids where forwarding facing from10 to 12 months thought I would just add more fuel to the fire ::

Do as you please, but please don't use the "they turned out fine" argument. It is DANGEROUS AND STUPID to put babies who are developmentally immature in forward facing carseats. There is more than enough proof that forward facing too early on can be life altering or fatal. I'm glad you are "LOLing" at gambling with your kids lives in the car. I hope they find it amusing too.

[Mrs.Ky]

Do as you please, but please don't use the "they turned out fine" argument. It is DANGEROUS AND STUPID to put babies who are developmentally immature in forward facing carseats. There is more than enough proof that forward facing too early on can be life altering or fatal. I'm glad you are "LOLing" at gambling with your kids lives in the car. I hope they find it amusing too.

I was LOL at adding fuel to the fire I have a VERY blunt staright forward personality some people can take it and some cant. Yup they sure did turn out fine and I didnt put their life in danger. Im pretty sure I didnt sit rear facing till I was one in the 80s Im sure I slept on my tummy, etc. because the goverment wasnt as MUCH in everyones buisness like now a days. Now we have 8 year olds sitting in car seats and 4 year olds running around in diapers because socitey has it in there head that we have to baby our kids forever. My first sat rear facing till age 1 that WAS the IN thing then, my 2nd was 10 months because he was SO big he couldnt fit in infant carseat and new big careseat wouldnt fit rear facing in our car, my little girl sat forwarding facing at 11 months because I decided she was ready and she didnt like rear facing where she couldnt see It was MY choice I was MOM and knew what was best for my children at the time and Im fine with that. My 7 year old doesnt sit in a booster now I think he is old enough to not sit in one the law when my first was born was up to age 6 in a booster seat. My 3 year old sits in a high back booster now even thou the golden AAP says children should be in a harness till age 4 she is prefectly safe and sound in her booster.

[nannyde]

AGREE with this. I guess Im old now since the IN thing right now is to wait till 8 months next thing you know it will be a year I love how the goverment tells us what to do with our own kids.Doc had me putting cereal in my first Sons bottle when he was 2 months old because he had reflux it helped so much but now a days if I tell someone that their mouth will drop like I commited a crime. Mom ALWAYS knows best for her baby not some doctor, nurse, or someone from the AAP. Also all my kids where forwarding facing from10 to 12 months thought I would just add more fuel to the fire ::

I didn't say it was the IN thing. I said "I" don't offer food to infants until they hit the eigth month mark. I don't get involved in what the parents do at home. I don't even discuss it with them.

Mom ALWAYS knows best for her baby not some doctor, nurse, or someone from the AAP.

I think that's a bunch of bunk. I don't believe in the "I know my baby best and I know what's best for my baby". It's a "feel good" sentiment but there's little truth in it.

We need to STOP telling parents that. We need to make it clear that just because you can have sex, conceive a child, carry a child nine months, and give birth that you don't automatically just KNOW what is best for the baby. There are SOME things built into our nature but there are many things that must be wrought from experience and from dedicated learning.

There's very little training going on in this generation from the generation before. This generation of parents are coming into parenthood with very little life experience doing the HARD work of raising kids right. Many are coming into parenthood without experience of HARD work period.

The OP's parent in this thread is a shining example. She dropped off her kid and said clearly she didn't have enough milk for the baby. Then she left. That Mom doesn't obviously KNOW that you can't leave your baby somewhere without access to an appropriate amount of food. She understands the baby needs more but she doesn't GET that she should make sure he actually HAS it.

Obesity is a huge problem in our country. We need to be willing to look at EVERY age group from birth and evaluate if and how we are contributing to the obesity epidemic by the way we feed babies. We need to really look at all foods that are "quick" and "easy" as they are going to be misused first.

We have to use SOME measures of evaluating whether a child at age X months has a higher liklihood of being overweight at XX months. What we have is height and weight and statistics for males and females to compare that baby to. We need to look back to infancy and see if anything that is being done with the massess is leading the masses to be overweight. That INCLUDES looking at feeding, sleep (very very very mportant), nutrients, exercise, play, etc.

[nannyde]

I have a VERY blunt staright forward personality some people can take it and some cant. Yup they sure did turn out fine and I didnt put their life in danger. Im pretty sure I didnt sit rear facing till I was one in the 80s Im sure I slept on my tummy, etc. because the goverment wasnt as MUCH in everyones buisness like now a days

Oh I can take your blunt and straight forward personality.

Are you suggesting that we shouldn't study things like positioning infants to sleep or positioning infants in car seats and take what we KNOW from millions and millions of kids and not apply it to our laws and govermental reccomendations?

What are we to do with what we KNOW. What are we to do with the statistics we have that clearly show that "back to sleep" increases an infants chance of not succumbing to SIDS? What are we to do with data from car crashes where we KNOW that children who are rear faced have a higher liklihood of survival?

We shouldn't put regulations in place for care givers and for parents because they intrinsically KNOW what's best for their baby?

[jen]

Do as you please, but please don't use the "they turned out fine" argument. It is DANGEROUS AND STUPID to put babies who are developmentally immature in forward facing carseats. There is more than enough proof that forward facing too early on can be life altering or fatal. I'm glad you are "LOLing" at gambling with your kids lives in the car. I hope they find it amusing too.

THANK YOU for saying that! Seriously...I'm just floored.