- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Breastfeeding
SeaMama
member
Considering Supplementing - having a meltdown.
SeaMama
member
I've been having trouble pumping bottles the last few days (I EBF and don't really pump EVER, but I have in the past - and could get 2oz from each side or more previously). Last 2 days I've had NO LUCK pumping, and I'm losing my mind being chained to the baby now that he's almost 3 months, I reallllly want to be able to leave him home w/ DH for a few hours to get a haircut, etc.
The problem is, I feel really weird about giving him formula. Not b/c I have any judgements, but b/c I haven't had issues w/ breastfeeding, and it feels like I'd be doing it for the wrong reasons. Is it possible 11.5 week old baby is gearing up for a growth spurt and that's why I'm having a hard time getting a bottle out? I've never had supply problems, but it seems like he's nursing every hour and a half the last 3 or 4 days. Ugh. DH is pressuring me to do it mostly because I'm going nuts/stir crazy.
Anybody have any advice? Did you go through short periods where pumping was difficult, etc.? If it only lasts a week or whatever I can handle it, but I'm SO exhausted, I really want to give bottles to the hubs to feed LO so I can STTN if BABY won't. I've been breaking things, burned myself today, forgetting stuff, etc. - I think the sleep deprivation is really getting to me. I haven't slept longer than 4 hours since LO was born 11/4.
I
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Considering Supplementing - having a meltdown.
According to kellymom, there is a 3 mo growth spurt.
I think we just passed our 3 week spurt, so I understand feeding hourly. Your supply is highest 1st thing in the morning, so you could try pumping then. Otherwise, you really should nurse each time LO wants to to help up the supply to match his growing needs. I do understand the frustration and the sore nips... Hang in there.
Relax!! Take a deep breath -- it'll be okay. I promise!!
I totally remember that feeling of being tied to DD -- it gets better, and soon!!
It is entirely possible that your son is going through a growth spurt. If he's all of a sudden eating every hour and a half, then I'd bet that's what it is. It'll pass -- and probably pretty quickly. But he'll continue to have periods where he nurses a lot -- for growth spurts, developmental milestones, teething, etc. But as he gets older, those marathon nursing sessions won't be as awful. In large part because he'll get to be faster, so even if he nurses every hour and a half, it's not so bad if it only takes him 5 minutes to do it!
Needing a bottle is a separate issue. If you really want to nurse, I'd say you should really resist giving formula. But, if it's a matter of your sanity, it's definitely possible to give 1 bottle of formula a day but nurse the rest.
As for pumping output -- your body probably isn't giving you as much because you haven't been pumping frequently. When DD was really young, I pumped once a day and I got HUGE amounts -- 8 ounces or more. Now, I rarely ever pump, so when I do, I get barely 2 ounces -- sometimes a lot less.
So, the solution to your pumping problem is to either pump every day at the same time (usually right after the first nursing session of the day is best) or to take several days to make a bottle. If you pump every day, pretty soon you'll start getting more at that pumping session. Probably after a couple weeks you'll get enough at each morning pumping session to make up for a feeding.
Or, if you only want to have an occasional break, you could just take several days to make a bottle. This is what I do. If I know I'm going to need to be gone on Saturday for a while, I start pumping on Monday and get 2 ounces or so every day that I dump all together to make a bottle.
Good luck, you'll be fine!!!
We give DD one bottle of formula a day for a variety of reasons but the biggest is to give me one feeding off and give me more sleep. We give her one bottle at night and DH gives it to her, so I doa feeding, go to bed, DH gives her the formula bottle and puts her to bed, then when she is ready to eat again it is at least 4 hours later so I get a decent little nap in there. It hasnt hurt my supply because I also pump about 3 times a day and stash that away in the freezer for when I will be away during the day.
If it is a matter of your sanity I would say it absolutely does not hurt to do one formula bottle a day, and I would say to do it at night because that is when your supply is the lowest.
Thanks - this is immensely useful! DH and I filled a bottle w/ formula tonight, but I couldn't give it to DS - it felt weird, mainly b/c I don't think anything is wrong w/ DS's intake (DH is worried he's starving, I know he isn't). I'm just worn out and had been leaning towards giving up even though nothing is wrong (as far as bf goes). The pumping issue is really what had me concerned.
I'd like to try to pump first, and if that doesn't work - then consider supplementing; So thanks for the input here, it's little golden nuggets
I got 2oz tonight when I pumped - it worried me b/c last time I pumped (over a month ago) I got 5. I'm going to try the morning sessions every day and see if that does it.
I hope DS's growth spurt involves gearing up to STTN and that's why he's cluster feeding!
)