Hi All,
Just recently started reading all the topics in this board. Wish I read this sometime before. But never it's too late. May be the posting is too big, but please read.

Anyway, I have a 6 months old baby. When he was born initially(at the hospital- 2nd day) he cried lot even after me fed him every 2 hrs. Then we realized that I haven't started producing enough milk and I gave him just 1-2 ozs of similac once or twice a day and the remaining was only breast milk. Then after we came home (in the first 2-3 weeks) I started feeding him regularly, but my health condition and his health condition didn't help that. First I had some major headache thing going on for 10 days. But I was giving him my milk by expressing it. Then when we found that he has jaundice, Doc. recommened me to give him 2 ozs of formula after every feeding so he gets out of that jaundice passing stools. Then slowly I decreased him the amount of formula and tried to give him only my milk, except when I take him out to temple or hospital where I couldn't feed him in public. THis was going well till started to work.

Since I started to work I am pumping 2 times once in the mor and in eve at work. In between for lunchtime I breastfeed him. Sometimes I have notived I get only 4 ozs milk from my pumping session so we had give him formula as he seems to be hungrier even after the breast milk alone. I used to feel bad so much and felt guilty too. But my mom was convincing me saying you are doing what you could do. You didn't stop or anything. When it's not enough it's ok to give formula to supplement it..etc. So I was somewhat Ok and still was trying to get more milk.

So he was drinking my milk + formula every day. When he was nearing 5 months, we started him on cereal and now some veggies. After some initial problems (like not taking the food, constipation) now he is taking the cereal and baby food good. (touch wood!). But these days he is not taking any formula other than my breastmilk.
Is this bacause he is not hungry after taking baby food? But have to say here that he is not taking too much baby food either. He just takes 2 spoons in the morning and 2 spoons in the afternoon. when I told this to my doc. he says may be my milk flow is good and I am producing more milk these days. But I still see the same amount sometimes less amount of milk in my pumping sessions. I am really worried that he is not taking enough milk. I know they say that once the babies start on the solids they show less interest in milk. But till they reach 1 year the milk is the main food and if he doesn' show interest in taking my milk too, then it worries me a lot. These days we are not preparing formula at all. AM I doing something wrong here. I know it's a very big posting. But I just wanted to give the entire information on how we started and how he was before and how is he now so that you all would understand my feelings.

Please help me. Please give me your suggestions and opinions on this and they all will be really appreciated. waiting for replies from you all my friends (new mommies!) Aparna replied. Hi Sugi,

Great job feeding your baby! I too am a working mom with a 10 month old daughter, and I too pump at work. Until last week, I used to pump twice a day and got 4 oz or less breastmilk too in each session. My daughter thrived on it, no formula at all. She does eat more solid food though, now that she's older. Follow your son's cues and feed him as much or as little solids as he wants. You could probably give him solid food a third time too.

I'd try not to count how much he's drinking or eating, instead make sure that he's growing well. If he seems taller and heavier every month and he's playful, he's doing fine, and you're doing all the right things! aaa replied. My baby boy is 4 months old now. I have started top feed ( once in a day )also since he was only of 20 days.Because i have heard that babies didn't like feeder if you start it after 3 or 4 months. As i am working , i was worried about what will happen when i start my job again. Doesn't it impact on my child's normal growth? Casper replied. Sugi, I must say you are doing a fantastic job with breastfeeding inspite of returning back to work.

Its quite possible that the cereal and the veggies might be filling up your baby that he no longer needs the formula as a supplement. As far as he is gaining weight and is doing well, it should be fine. Maybe you could try giving cereals/pureed fruits or cereal/pureed veggies in the evening as well if your baby takes that well.
It could also be that your baby is teething and might be losing his appetite.

Hope this helps.