flea

The reason for the formula, as I understand it, is that bilirubin is excreted through the poops (it's what makes meconium black) and when the baby isn't pooping, it can even be reabsorbed through the intestines and make the levels higher. So the key is to make the baby poop, and if your milk isn't in, or isn't in fully, the formula is a help. I think we're going to stop now, since he's had a poop that is 100% normal baby, not transitional from meconium. So everything that can be excreted that way has been I think. I do think if my milk tended to come in faster I'd have had less problem, with both kids - but my milk is definitely not fully in until day 5, with both kids. If I have another I'll actually consider supplementing earlier, just to avoid the stress and hassle. We're supplementing with a syringe while he sucks on a finger, so no risk of nipple confusion.