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For those who BF... did you feel guilty?

kaylacbaby01kaylacbaby01
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months

I have been having a supply issue for the past 2 weeks or so. I only have one boob that actually works (it has been this way since LO was born) and now I have to supplement with some formula while she is with the sitter, I know it is for the good of her health and for the sanity of my sitter, but I feel so guilty about it. LO is only 16 weeks and I wanted to BF for atleast a year. I am just down about this. I am still going to BF LO when she is with me and only BF her when she is with me I hope this will help increase my supply.

Sorry if this sound whinny and childish. Thanks for reading.

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Re: For those who BF... did you feel guilty?

  • Mt2G1012Mt2G1012
    You shouldn't feel guilty at all.  You are doing what you can and any BM is good.  You can still BF and supplement.  It doesn't have to be all or nothing.  If you want to get your supply up, you could post of the BF board and they may be able to help if that's the route you want to take.  Good luck, you are doing fine!
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  • aneeneraneener member
    I kind of know how you feel. At the hospital my daughter wouldnt latch. They tried and once I went home the Lactation specialist came over and we tried and tried but she wouldnt latch. My LO would get frustrated that she wasnt being fed right away and would get upset and make the whole experience stressful for both her and I. SO i started pumping. I pumped for about 4 weeks then she hit her growth spurt and I could not keep up at all. SO i started supplementing with formula after a couple of weeks i stopped producing and I felt SO GUILTY! Now i've realized as long as my daughter was fed and wasnt stressed about being fed thats all that mattered
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  • KelzinBostonKelzinBoston
    I EP'ed with my first..and had to supplement from abut 5 months on.  Then I got pregnant, had a miscarriage and my supply tanked even more.  I was really hard on myself about it...but in hindsight I know it wasn't really a big deal.  All that matters is that she is fed...a mix of formula and breastmilk is a great start for her.  Don't beat yourself up about it, it's hard maintaining your supply while working.  She will be fine!
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  • AubrianaroseAubrianarose member
    imagekaylacbaby01:

    I have been having a supply issue for the past 2 weeks or so. I only have one boob that actually works (it has been this way since LO was born) and now I have to supplement with some formula while she is with the sitter, I know it is for the good of her health and for the sanity of my sitter, but I feel so guilty about it. LO is only 16 weeks and I wanted to BF for atleast a year. I am just down about this. I am still going to BF LO when she is with me and only BF her when she is with me I hope this will help increase my supply.

    Sorry if this sound whinny and childish. Thanks for reading.

    I know exactly how you feel. I had a goal of 1 year and my supply was so low she wasn't gaining ANYTHING and is incredibly tiny for her age. We now supplement. At first I felt awful... I went through a period of constant crying and being terribly upset and a failure as a mother (not because of the formula supplementing but that I didn't know and keep up my supply... as if it was my fault!) but now I see that she's so much happier (dh is too being able to give her bottles!) and healthier. I know it'll be doubly hard around 6 months when we'll probably be 100% on formula because no matter what I do my supply just keeps decreasing.

    Don't feel bad. If you aren't ready to throw in the towel try Fenugreek capsules. They helped me for a period... my lactation consultant also recommends pumping for at least 15 minutes AFTER each BF session to increase supply. Hopefully something works for you!

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  • LittleGusLittleGus member
    Like pp's said, try not to feel guilty and know that you are a fantastic Mom for doing what's right for LO!  My plan was to ebf for a year, but 6 weeks of a sinus cold caused my supply to tank, so now DD gets one 5 oz. bottle of formula each day.  It IS a little disappointing, but I take heart in knowing that she is satisfied and still gets mostly breastmilk, just like your LO.
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  • MJHersheyMJHershey member

    I've been having problems too and fear I won't be able to keep up. All the worry about how to mix BM and formula without wasting BM, money, giving LO antibodies, and him having reflux overwhelm me. 

    I know its likely just a matter of time before we have to start doing this. 

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  • eb1113eb1113 member

    The guilt is the worst!  I, too, had supply issues combined with a lazy eater.  It eventually came to a point where I couldn't BF because she wasn't getting enough from me.  After I would try to nurse I would always end up giving her a bottle.  After many, many, many tears I finally decided that I would just pump so she could get my milk.  I do still have to supplement, which took some getting used to.  But I know she's happy and healthy and that makes me happy. 

     

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  • KatieGraceBKatieGraceB
    I know how you feel mama! Due to some very very stressful situations in my life recently, my supply has tanked to the point where I'm about to consider supplementing as well til I can get my supply back up. I posted on the BF board about it, and the AP board as well, and I got some helpful tips on how to boost supply. I've started taking Fenugreek, am having a beer every night (whee!), and I'm making these tonight: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies. I'm also nursing as much as humanly possible. I mean, the boob is in C's mouth all.the.time. So far I've noticed a small rise in supply, but nothing huge yet. I've got my fingers crossed for you!
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  • kaylacbaby01kaylacbaby01

    Thank you Ladies for all your support and ideas.

    Over the weekend LO nursed as much as possible and all though I havent seen any increase in my supply yet but I am still going to pump as much as I can while at work and nurse her at home and pump even more at home.

    I am also going to try those oatmeal cookies. I tried Mother's Milk Tea and had to choke it down ( I HATE the black licorice taste) I also started taking 2 fenugreek pills daily. Lets hope it works :)

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  • LukeAndAmandaLukeAndAmanda

    imagekaylacbaby01:
    I also started taking 2 fenugreek pills daily. Lets hope it works :)

    Most people wont see an increase with that little amount of Fenugreek. Most people take 3 pills three times a day. Just incase you were hoping it would help :)

    We started supplementing about three weeks ago. And I was pretty much pissed at myself. For ages we relied on breastfeeding to feed our children, and I couldnt even get it right. Not at all with DD, and hardly with DS. But I know that he's eating enough, and I have to realize that it's all that matters!

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