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Babies: 3 - 6 Months
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I'm not going to throw in the towel, I'm not going to throw in the towel

myonetruelovemyonetruelove member
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months

Yesterday was a horrible pumping day for me. I left work with only about 10oz and DS needs 22 oz. Yes, that is less than half of what I need for a 10 hour period for him. I went home knowing that I was going to be the pumps BF. I pumped at 6:30pm, 10pm, 2am and again at 5am. I did have to feed DS 2x in this period also. With all of these pumps in, I still fell short 1 oz. I was in disbelief and tried not to cry, stressing doesn't help me. I packed up DS bottles. I have no more stash left over and am day-by-day.

FFFC - I have no idea how bad this is. I sent 3 5.5 oz bottles, one 4.5 oz bottle, sweet potatoes and Formula. I told my mother to give DS 4.5oz at lunch and afterwards feed him the sweet potatoes. I know we are not supposed to subsitute solids for BM, but I'm trying to avoid formula at least till 6 months. It was only an oz. She does have formula in case the sweet potatoes don't work.

 

ETA: I have tried everything. Started on Fenugreek, but LC changed me to More Milk Plus, I eat oatmeal everyday and limit all things greasy. I drink 48 oz minimum of water a day, I power pump on the weekends.  Tea didn't work for me.

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Re: I'm not going to throw in the towel, I'm not going to throw in the towel

  • sleepingbeauty825sleepingbeauty825 member
    Don't give up on a bad day! You can do it, mama! Just two more weeks! *rah rah*
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  • Lynn1980Lynn1980
    Have u tried Fenugreek, it worked wonders for me when my supply started to crash! I bought it at GNC and was taking 3 pills 3 X a day! I still take it and LO is going to be 6 months on sunday! It really helped me keep being able to give BM or I would have given up along time ago!
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  • lovinfalllovinfall member

    Hang in there!

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  • americanadaamericanada
    try eating oatmeal. i have it every morning...i have low supply though. this helps.
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  • glasgow_girlglasgow_girl

    You're a star for working that hard at it, most people would have already thrown in the towel.

    I've had a week like that too, but I've majorly upped my water intake (to almost 100oz) and that has helped - almost instantly.

    Keep at it!

    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
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  • inlovewowinlovewow
    Don't give up, Sweedoms.  I'm having the EXACT problem you are.  I only pump 1/2 of what DD needs for school.  I pump 3x at work and barely get 9oz.  DD drinks 18oz.  Just this week, I've been adding 1oz formula to every bottle.  My freezer stash is gone too now.  I SO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.  Seriously I do.  I've shed a lot of tears this week and have been pumping at 1am just to get more milk.  But listen, yesterday DC told me that she was acting like a brand new baby and was so very happy.  All b/c of that 1oz of formula added to every bottle.  Happy Baby = Happy Mommy.  If you have to do 1/2 and 1/2, go for it.  I know in about a week, I'll have to do that b/c I just don't pump enough.  LO's are still getting BM from us...so any amount is good for them.  We're just going to need a little help.  Don't stop BFing...We'll do this together?!!?  K?
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  • mickey1330mickey1330 member

    The more milk plus did nothing for me.  Fenugreek worked much much better.  Also, I learned that I have to drink a minimum of about 80 oz of water a day.  The more water you drink, the better.  Also, make sure you are eating enough calories.  I notice on days that I don't eat enough calories, my supply drops way down.

    Good luck, you can do it!

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  • myonetruelovemyonetruelove member

    imageinlovewow:
    Don't give up, Sweedoms.  I'm having the EXACT problem you are.  I only pump 1/2 of what DD needs for school.  I pump 3x at work and barely get 9oz.  DD drinks 18oz.  Just this week, I've been adding 1oz formula to every bottle.  My freezer stash is gone too now.  I SO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.  Seriously I do.  I've shed a lot of tears this week and have been pumping at 1am just to get more milk.  But listen, yesterday DC told me that she was acting like a brand new baby and was so very happy.  All b/c of that 1oz of formula added to every bottle.  Happy Baby = Happy Mommy.  If you have to do 1/2 and 1/2, go for it.  I know in about a week, I'll have to do that b/c I just don't pump enough.  LO's are still getting BM from us...so any amount is good for them.  We're just going to need a little help.  Don't stop BFing...We'll do this together?!!?  K?

    Agreed! Right now I want so bad to make it to 6 months and then I can try to stretch to 1 year with 1/2 and 1/2.

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  • Mrs. GizzlesMrs. Gizzles

    Hang in there! I'm an EPer with supply (and latch) issues from the start.  You are doing an awesome job to make it this far with no formula at all.  Try not to stress to much.  Even if your LO only gets 4 oz of BM a day, it is still awesome for him.  So try not to get hung up on the exacts of no formula for 6 months.  I hope you were just having an off day and that today will be so much better for you.  I'll be LO doesn't even notice the missing ounce from his feeding.

    Keep pumping away! 

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  • sweetkakes419sweetkakes419

    I know you're doing everything you can, and you know that stressing won't help which is good.  I just wanted to comment that I've seen a lot of women with supply issues say that they need at least twice that much water to keep their supply up.

    When I started having trouble keeping up, I started mixing brewer's yeast and flaxseed meal into my oatmeal every day and they have worked really great for me.  These are the "special ingredients" in lactation cookies.  It's just another thing to try.  You're still being a great mom no matter what you decide.

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  • sdtchica13sdtchica13 member

    OP, I salute you for making it this long! My supply tanked about a 2 weeks shy of 4 months (guess I should change my EP button, lol) and I tried so hard to keep it up! I had a massive freezer stash (because LO was a 10 week early preemie and only took 1/10 of an ounce per feeding in the beginning), so I have been mixing 1/2 formula and 1/2 breastmilk ever since then (LO is now 4.5 months old). Unfortunately, thats going to stop as of tomorrow because I am down to my last bag of breastmilk (I'll admit, I teared up a little when I pulled it out of the freezer). I look at it this way...I was able to give her breastmilk when it was the most important!

    You have done an amazing job, and you should not feel bad if you need to mix in formula before six months because your LO got the important nutrients of breastmilk when it was most important!

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