so discouraged

lizzykittycat

for the past 2 weeks or so, i've been questioning my breastmilk supply.  my baby is 16 days old today.  since i begun bf-ing, i've wondered if my milk was "in", or had "let down".  i had some days where she seemed so irritable.  and then there's the witching hour, almost every night, when it seems no matter how much i would bf, she could not get satisfied.  i pumped a few times, both after nursing and when i would give a replacement feeding of a bottle of formula, and got practically nothing.

during all of this, everyone was reassuring me that i was doing fine, etc.

well, when we went to the dr yesterday, it turns out that she didn't put on ANY weight in the past week.  this caused the dr concern, so i am now to continue bf-ing and supplement after every session with an ounce or two of formula.

i know she's going to be fine in the end and that the main concern right now is to just get her weight up.  BUT... it makes me so sad that my body isn't doing what it needs to.  the only factors that i can see that could be getting in the way are external stressors, of which unfortunately, there are a few, not eating enough (i just have no time, nor do i ever reallly have a taste for anything) and lack of sleep.

i'm going to try really hard to work on them.  i'm also reaching out and trying to arrange a lact consultation.  i'm just not feeling optimistic that my breastmilk is going to be enough for her and that kills me. 

has anyone had a similar experience??

618mom22boys

Dont feel bad!  As long as she is eating it doesnt matter what it is.

DS gets BM and formula because I have a low supply.  I pump every 3-4 hours and get a bottle and a half of BM a day.  The rest he gets in formula.  Sometimes I might not give him any so he can get 3 bottles of BM one day.

But I figure as long as he is eating and gaining weight it doesn't matter what it is.   

Tina562

I don't BF but alot of mommas do that post of other boards and I've read that make sure you drink LOTS of water,eating oatmeal,dark beer and that mothers milk tea and also the supplament fuengreek(sp?) and it works wonders! Don't feel bad!

If your not happy-baby not happy-family not happy. Just do what works for you and your family and what makes you feel less stressed, BF is hard work & it's all trial and error but in the end you will be ok! Just keep BFing her and pumping and get ahold of a LC!! Don't feel like a failure if you decide to stop, you did whats best for you and your family!