Need help or maybe just support.

peanutontheway

I'm going to have to start giving DD formula at least part time.

My supply has gone down to almost nothing.  She eats roughly 15oz when I'm at work, sometimes 20oz, and I pump 10 on a good day.  Needless to say, my freezer stash is now about nothing.  I have enough for 2 days at work right now in the freezer.  It's been stressing me out so much that it only makes my supply worse.  My original goal was to BF DD for 6 months.  We're at almost 8 months now and I think we're not ready to stop.  

I guess I don't really know what the point of this is.  I think I need tips.  

Thanks for listening.

EmilyBowes

i'm not as far along as you (by the way WELL DONE for making it this far!!!!) with the breastfeeding, but when i was having supply issues i started either nursing or pumping every two hours, eating loads of carbs, and getting more sleep to increase my supply. worked really well and now i have more than my LO needs on a daily basis.

but if you supplement with formula what's the big deal? you've done SO WELL making it this far--kudos to you! your baby has gotten a lot from 8 months of breastfeeding! DON'T feel bad!!!!

my mom told me that i might consider doing this same thing at some point and she recommended that nurse right before bedtime, when we can have some alone time together--give the formula at a time of day when you don't have as much time or something.

anywho, well done, and don't worry too much!

kds24

My DS got his first taste of formula yesterday at my friend's house, a whopping 2 oz. but it was a HUGE deal for me.  I'm a SAHM so it's slightly different for me, but my pumping output has been hard to come by for over a month now.  Have you gotten AF yet?  I just had my second cycle and I think that has a lot to do with it in my case and/or my body regulating itself.  Of course I have a bunch of plans coming up where we will be away for the night and even overnight, so if I can't pump enough I don't know what else to do except for supplement with formula.  I guess what I'm saying is that I totally understand how you feel.  I know formula isn't poison, but I feel a certain defeat (and yes, liberation) by offering it to DS.  It's silly, I know.  I also figure that he's already on solids so he's getting iron from the formula, which he wouldn't get with BFing alone.  I'm trying to look as formula as just another form of food, not necessarily in place of BFing if that makes sense. 

cyndiathma

According to my LC supply will typically decline after 6 months, so this is normal. I agree with the PP on the carbs, more sleep, and all that if you want to keep your supply up. You have made it 8 months...I am not sure I will so you are a trooper in my book! Do what feels right for you! You are a superstar no matter what you decide.

Oh, I drink "mother's milk" tea and I think that helps me through the days when extra sleep and carbs just do not factor in...

katlizabeth

Excellent job making it this far!  I agree with the pp, can you look at is as another form of food, not a substitute for bfing?  That would make it easier for me.  I don't have any new tips other than what has been said, but good luck!

alaskabride2be

First off congrats on making it as long as you have! Have you tried eating oatmeal, or drinking the mothers milk tea? There is also lactation cookies that you can make, I have hear that they really do help your supply. I am planning on making some tonight just to have around and try out. Good luck and don't beat yourself up if you have to give you LO some formula.

julyjennifer

You've done a great job so far.

You may want to check out www.workandpump.com for additional tips.

My pumping output decreased to about the same, and then later 8oz/day, but it was no big deal--I was not worried.  We always gave DD what I had pumped the day before, with the *occasional* extra frozen bottle from the stash.  She was totally fine. She had unrestricted access to the boob in the evening/overnighti (we co-slept after 6 months old) so she would just make up for it then if she was still hungry.  

According to workandpump.com, a normal range of expressed milk for babies to eat during the day is anywhere from 8-15 oz, so your 10oz pumped per day is well within that!  Especially if your DD is beginning to eat some solids, as she gets older she'll probably continue to eat a little more of that, and you won't need to be pumping 20oz a day for her.

Take heart, try to relax and care for yourself!  You guys will be ok.