Pumping problems and supplementing without mixing

KentuckyKate

My baby will be 7 months this week, and so far has never had formula. My freezer stash is rapidly dwindling. I work 12 hour shifts and my pump at home (PISA) and I no longer get along. I think have spoiled, snobby boobs. I had a nice stash before going back, and I only work 2 days a week. I work at a hospital and use the hospital grade pump on the mother/baby unit 3 times a shift while there. I take the baby with me everywhere but to work, so I haven't needed to pump at home since going back. Now I'm trying to pump at home here and there and I can't get a letdown, no matter how long I sit there. I took my pump to get tested and the suction is fine. My parts are all fine too. None of my LC's tips are helping me get a letdown at home. So I just decided to supplement instead of killing myself over pumping. I made it 6 months EBF, and I'll still pump at work and leave that milk for LO and will EBF 5 days/week. But since she takes 8-10 ounces more in a workday than I can bring home, I am going to buy formula for a couple bottles each day, which will only total about 4 bottles a week.

I don't really want to slowly mix in formula to my breastmilk, since I'm not actually switching. Plus, sometimes she takes 2 ounces, sometimes 6. I would hate to waste BM by adding in formula to a bottle that she may not want to drink. Should we just offer a bottle of it one day and see how she handles it? Or maybe give her small amounts of it here and there so she gets used to it? I'd hate to give formula before I have to, especially if I'm home to nurse her, but I don't want to blindside her with it one day either.

How do I approach the start of supplementing?

SnoopyLuv

I find that a lot of BF babies do best on the gentle or sensitive formulas.

I also didn't like to mix BM and formula and so I gave it straight when we were testing. It caused no issues except a little constipation and some foul spit up and gas. I heard it was normal and she did fine. Starting around8 months Innursed AM and PM and gave formula dduring the day. When I went back to work FT at 10 months I didn't respond to the pump and didn't pump after a week of trying. We made it to 15 months nursing.

Have you tried covering yourself with a blanket or nursing cover and not looking at what you're making? Watched videos of LO nursing? Pumped one side while LO nurses the other?