anyone else triple feeding?? I'm exhausted!

farrellashleigh

So we were doing formula from day one because we couldnt afford for LO to drop ANY weight, not even an ounce. So we did bottles and attempted BFing at each feeding, he never really latched but I wasnt focusing on that since my main concern was his weight.

At 2 weeks we went to LC to get him latching, using the nipple shield he's doing great. Problem is that my supply sucks so now I have to triple feed him to get it back up. Meaning we breastfeed for 30 minutes, then formula feed/supplement, THEN I pump for 30 minutes. It is wearing me out!!

We had a nice routine down, DH would take the 11:00 pm and 2:00am feeding, then I'd do the 6:00am and 9:00 am that way both of us would get some uninterrupted sleep. Now with the triple feeding we're both up, and no one sleeps. I'm soo frustrated but trying my best to think it's only temporary. My ultimate goal is to get my supply up enough that we can breastfeed exclusively but DH can still give him a BM bottle at night and we'll be back to our routine. Anyone else doing this? Done this? Tell me it gets better!!!

firsttogo

We were triple feeding for a bit with both DSs. It is totally a pain, and hopefully your supply will increase and you can stop!

I have supply issues from breast surgery. and would never get a full supply. Then last week I got sick and am now on a long term antibiotic for which I would have to pump and dump. I finally made the decision to hang up the breast feeding this time, and we will try yet again with baby #3!

Melanie.Brown

I have the same problem.  DD will only latch with a shield, and I have a low supply, so I BF, and then give formula, however I don't pump unless DH is home because DD is a cat napper and I can never pump for more than 2 min before she starts screaming. 

Have you tried herbs to increase your supply?  My LC recommended Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle.  I take three of each pill, three times a day and I have noticed a slight increase.  The fenugreek makes your sweat and pee smell like maple syrup though, kind of werid but it's worth it!

farrellashleigh

Melanie.Brown:

I have the same problem.  DD will only latch with a shield, and I have a low supply, so I BF, and then give formula, however I don't pump unless DH is home because DD is a cat napper and I can never pump for more than 2 min before she starts screaming. 

Have you tried herbs to increase your supply?  My LC recommended Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle.  I take three of each pill, three times a day and I have noticed a slight increase.  The fenugreek makes your sweat and pee smell like maple syrup though, kind of werid but it's worth it!

Yea I'm on the More Milk Plus which is Fenugreek, Blessed Thissle, Fennel seed and something else, and I'm getting a Rx from the doc for Reglan to also help...

I'm just hoping it goes up quickly so I can be done with the formula supplementing... if I can get down to double feeding I'll be happy!

smilelari

Have you tried a supplemental nursing system?  Maybe if you were doing that and stimulating production while supplementing you could drop pumping after

cadeandheather

We did this for the first 3 weeks. I had a virus after delivery and could not keep food or liquids down, so my milk just wasn't coming in. I was miserable and not enjoying anything. LO lost from 8.5 at birth down to 7 pounds, so at 3 weeks we switched to straight formula - I cried for a day because I was so disappointed to stop breastfeeding - however, now, baby and I are both happy, healthy, and well rested!

jessloveschase08

Because DS was jaundice I had to start triple feeding him and with both breast and formula it is soooo tiring. Hopefully I won't have to do it much longer but good grief! I never get to sleep!

farrellashleigh

smilelari:

Have you tried a supplemental nursing system?  Maybe if you were doing that and stimulating production while supplementing you could drop pumping after

Yes this will be our next resort, we met with LC on friday of last week and I said I'd give it about a week-10 days to see how the supply starts coming along, if it's not getting there quick enough we'll go with the SNS. I just didnt want to do that initially mostly because of the cost. We rented the pump, that was $80 for the month, then our consult which was $200 including my herbs, and the SNS is another $60 for the month!! Good grief.. considering that breastmilk is FREE... this is all just comical to me!

So we'll see how the rest of the week goes...

atlbride23

I did this for 4 weeks (x2...eek!).  Eventually I stopped supplimenting and increased my supply by nursing every time one of them showed the urge to suck.  No pacifiers, etc.  It was like, every hour during the day for 5 days or so.  After that, I checked and was able to pump 4 oz on one side and 3 oz on the other, so I didn't need to suppliment anymore.  I would like to start pumping again, though- so DH can give a bottle at night, I just don't have the time.

smilelari

farrellashleigh:

smilelari:

Have you tried a supplemental nursing system?  Maybe if you were doing that and stimulating production while supplementing you could drop pumping after

Yes this will be our next resort, we met with LC on friday of last week and I said I'd give it about a week-10 days to see how the supply starts coming along, if it's not getting there quick enough we'll go with the SNS. I just didnt want to do that initially mostly because of the cost. We rented the pump, that was $80 for the month, then our consult which was $200 including my herbs, and the SNS is another $60 for the month!! Good grief.. considering that breastmilk is FREE... this is all just comical to me!

So we'll see how the rest of the week goes...

wow!  that is getting pricey.  my LC consult was only $25.  maybe reduced stress is worth the $60?

farrellashleigh

smilelari:

farrellashleigh:

smilelari:

Have you tried a supplemental nursing system?  Maybe if you were doing that and stimulating production while supplementing you could drop pumping after

Yes this will be our next resort, we met with LC on friday of last week and I said I'd give it about a week-10 days to see how the supply starts coming along, if it's not getting there quick enough we'll go with the SNS. I just didnt want to do that initially mostly because of the cost. We rented the pump, that was $80 for the month, then our consult which was $200 including my herbs, and the SNS is another $60 for the month!! Good grief.. considering that breastmilk is FREE... this is all just comical to me!

So we'll see how the rest of the week goes...

wow!  that is getting pricey.  my LC consult was only $25.  maybe reduced stress is worth the $60?

Yes sanity would definitely be worth the money!! Our LC charges $75 an hour and we were there for about 2 hours... oh yea and that was the other thing, we considered getting a digital scale so that we could clearly see how much he was taking in at each feeding and how much he was growing and they rent them for $60 a month... so that'd be ANOTHER thing for godsakes!

SethandSara

I'm BF my LO but also supplement one or two feedings a day with formula.  He lost 7.5% of his body weight at birth and he eats ALL the time so the nurse at the hospital recommended it. I nurse on demand but it's absolutely exhausting because he grazes all day and uses me as a pacifier.  I recommend that you check out the breastfeeding board--I was on there last week and they were incredibly helpful with questions like this.  I'm trying to boost my milk supply too b/c my goal is to stop supplementing with formula and be an EBF.  GL!

BeaverBeliever12

farrellashleigh:

smilelari:

farrellashleigh:

smilelari:

Have you tried a supplemental nursing system?  Maybe if you were doing that and stimulating production while supplementing you could drop pumping after

Yes this will be our next resort, we met with LC on friday of last week and I said I'd give it about a week-10 days to see how the supply starts coming along, if it's not getting there quick enough we'll go with the SNS. I just didnt want to do that initially mostly because of the cost. We rented the pump, that was $80 for the month, then our consult which was $200 including my herbs, and the SNS is another $60 for the month!! Good grief.. considering that breastmilk is FREE... this is all just comical to me!

So we'll see how the rest of the week goes...

wow!  that is getting pricey.  my LC consult was only $25.  maybe reduced stress is worth the $60?

Yes sanity would definitely be worth the money!! Our LC charges $75 an hour and we were there for about 2 hours... oh yea and that was the other thing, we considered getting a digital scale so that we could clearly see how much he was taking in at each feeding and how much he was growing and they rent them for $60 a month... so that'd be ANOTHER thing for godsakes!

Your insurance doesn't cover a LC?  We went 3 times and didn't have to pay a thing (except for $7 for a nipple shield).  Makes me thankful for my insurance!

AutumnBride929

I did that for a little while.  It wasn't too bad but I don't do it anymore.  I'm working now so there's no way, haha.  Nothing helped my stupid supply.  It's just lame and that's it.

Knitty

Can you pump while you formula feed? Pump the first side while you feed on the second side? Give the formula at the breast so it counts as pumping?

ToledoDeux

Oh, I feel for you. I did this for almost 10 weeks, including the time DD was in the NICU. It is not fun, it is exhausting, and I know it contributed to my PPD. But she finally started nursing well two weeks ago, which in itself has done wonders for my supply, and now I can finally say it was all worth it. At the time, though, it was pure hell....and I would not blame anybody for deciding to just FF instead.

So it can definitely get better, but only you know where your breaking point is.  Stay strong and I hope it continues to improve for you. 

Are you trying any galactagogues to help with supply?  More Milk Plus?  Fenugreek?  Oatmeal?  Lactation cookies?  My LC told me that drinking tons of water to improve supply was a myth....but in the end it's the thing that really helped me the most.

ETA: sorry, just saw your responses to my questions in another post above.

SusieQ1982

It's not getting better, but we do it anyway because we want my son to have BM and I still have a pipe dream about EBFing even though I know it will likely never happen with my supply issues.

BTW, you can rig up a SNS for little to nothing. My LC made me one with a little piece of plastic tubing, and a baby bottle. Tape the tubing to your nipple and run it through the nipple of the cheap baby bottle and weight it down with the plastic clip. Fill the bottle with formula and voila- when baby sucks he drinks formula as well.