switching from EBF to Eff? help

jowen0606

My friend who breaks everything broke both of my funnels for my pump. I haven't had a successful pump in days because II don't have extra money to buy them. He still feeds from boob, but my supply has been dwindling now for a while. Is this a sign to do the switch? I love breastfeeding, hate pumping, and gate the guilt of having no more milk left.

SmrBrd2012

Do you mean the flanges? I don't know what kind of pump you have but generally those are pretty cheap (like $5-10). You could prob find them even cheaper on Amazon maybe? I don't think it's a sign to switch unless you want it to be!

laceybee29

Could you give baby more exposure to the breast to increase milk supply especially between 1-5am? Maybe over a weekend stay snuggled up.

If you feel you want to switch to formula this is ok too. You could combination feed. - maybe give baby breast then top up with 1-2 oz of formula if still hungry. If you replace a BF with formula then this could decrease you supply further.

Breast, formula or combo feeding are all perfect as long as baby is fed & happy.

erin79

If you're ready to switch, then switch. But buying formula is going to be a heck of a lot more expensive than buying new pump parts. Do you work and have to pump? If not, then you can always breastfeed most of the time, and just give formula when you can't be there. It's definitely possible to do both.

kkokey

If you have to switch, then switch with no guilt. Your baby will do fine. You mentioned not having extra money for pump funnels... Formula will cost a LOT more, and you will have to keep paying every month. It will be like buying pump funnels every week.

sunnyday016

Formula is super expensive. For the cost of one container of formula, you could have new flanges.