Supply tank- WWYD?

luckaloo

My LO will be 11 months on Mothers Day. She has been exclusively fed breast milk. I am only producing milk from one breast at this point and my supply is tanking big time. I am burning my freezer stash to keep up with the demand for when I'm at work M-W. She gets enough nursing on the days I am home, but find I can't pump enough for the days I am not.

I guess my question is: would you supplement with formula just to have to transition to cows milk or would you start supplementing with cows milk? My freezer stash, nursing when I'm home combo can probably take me to 11.5 months.

Thanks ladies!
Also, any miracle supply booster advice is appreciated. I am doing the mothers tea and drinking lots of water.

RedCherry1109

I would do WCM, at 11.5 months cows milk wont hurt. 

itsStackie

Oatmeal has always helped my supply. I supplement with formula during the day, but she has been eating so much food and not always interested in finishing her bottle anymore. I am holding back on WCM at this point, I wanted to start the transition early, but I have a slight lactose intolerance so I have been urged to wait.

musicalsilver

I'd run it by your pedi, but I don't see how introducing WCM just two weeks early would be a big deal (unless you have some allergies/intolerances that run in the family).

That being said, if you want to try and make it up to that 1 year mark, I second @ItsStackie's suggestion of oatmeal.  There are also herbal supplements you can look into taking as well.

How many times a day are you pumping?  I've had to add back in a pumping session to keep up with demand (I guess my supply is dwindling too).  Maybe try a power pumping session in the evenings after LO goes to bed?   10min on/10 min off the pump for an hour.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

kelly422

Another vote for cow's milk. 

lioness13

WCM. My pedi said I could add WCM into the mix at 11 months.

26 days to go! Whoop! Whoop!

megandchase

I'm in the same boat with my supply so we started wcm this week in his sippy cup for one feeding at daycare. I didn't want to do 2 different transitions. He ha done great with the wcm and will drink it cold which is a plus

needanustart

For the last 2 months I have been supplementing an ounce here or there with formula mixed with BM when I can't keep up, but when the last sample can of formula runs out it will be around 11 months. I plan on using WCM at that point if the ped doesn't have any reservations. We did the same with G too when he started sippee cups at 11 months. My goal was to not have to buy formula and I think I'm going to juuuuuust squeak by with my free samples. Woo hoo!

natalie115

Last week I started supplementing with goats milk last week. It's easier in their tummies and we have some friends who have goats that we can get the milk from. My supply has been tanking for a month or so now and nothing has improved it at all. I wanted to nurse for at least 18 months, but sadly I don't see that being a possibility. In your place I would just start transitioning to WCM instead of formula.