Do I Have To Supplement With Formula?
QUESTION
Dear Lactation Consultant,
Our baby is 4½ months old and was breastfeeding exclusively (from birth) until about 2 weeks ago, after she had her 4 month check up and shots. Our pediatrician told us after her first appointment out of the hospital that because she would be breastfed exclusively, that between 4 and 6 months of age, we would need to start supplementing with cow's milk formula, which we've done.
The purpose for this, as explained to us, is because we would need to address any food allergies before putting our daughter on any solid foods, after about 6 months of age. She's been very gassy since we put her on formula (she only gets 6 oz. per day) and I'm wondering what ingredient in formula would cause this.
We started her out on Similac Organic (the premixed stuff) just to see if she would readily take to the formula, and we had no problem with that particular brand. Since that wasn't a problem, we've tried a dry mix-with-water kind that is a generic. She seemed to get really gassy after that. I don't want to have to spend a bunch of money going through a plethora of formulas to find one that will work for us. Any suggestions?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Lorie
ANSWER
Hi Lorie,
I have to say that I'm surprised by the advice your pediatrician gave you. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization both say exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
There is no reason at all to introduce formula to a breastfeeding baby, and there are a lot of good reasons not to. You might want to check out the AAP Statement on Breastfeeding. We have it on our BreastfeedingMadeSimple.com site. (It's under "info to share with your doctor").
If your baby isn't doing well with formula, it's probably appropriate to not use it. But please don't take my word for it. Check out the AAP Statement.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
-- Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC
Kathleen Tackett
Dr. Kendall-Tackett is a health psychologist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Research Associate Professor of Psychology specializing in women's health at the Family Research Lab, University of New Hampshire. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in both the Divisions of Health Psychology and Trauma Psychology. Dr. Kendall-Tackett is a La Leche League leader, chair of the New Hampshire Breastfeeding Taskforce, and the Area Coordinator of Leaders for La Leche League of Maine and New Hampshire.
Dr. Kendall-Tackett is author of more than 140 journal articles, book chapters and other publications, and author or editor of 15 books including The Hidden Feelings of Motherhood (2005, Hale Publications), Depression in New Mothers (2005, Haworth), and Breastfeeding Made Simple, co-authored with Nancy Mohrbacher (2005, New Harbinger). She is on the editorial boards of the journals Child Abuse and Neglect, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse and the Journal of Human Lactation, and regularly reviews for 27 other journals in the fields of trauma, women's health, interpersonal violence, depression, and child development. Dr. Kendall-Tackett is the "Ask a Lactation Consultant" columnist on Pregnancy.org and serves on the Board of Directors of Attachment Parenting International.
Dr. Kendall-Tackett received a Bachelor's and Master's degree in psychology from California State University, Chico, and a Ph.D. from Brandeis University in social and developmental psychology. She has won several awards including the Outstanding Research Study Award from the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, and was named 2003 Distinguished Alumna, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, California State University, Chico.
