I know it.. but I need to hear it..

MelissaSue81 · October 2011

That Natalie is going to be JUST FINE if I give her some formula. I'm really bummed, I was hoping to get to 6 months EBF.. but it just isn't happening.. Despite our great start with BFing, once i returned to work, no surprise since i can't pump there, my supply has taken a big hit. I pump about half of what she eats while I'm at work when i get out.. and the nights that I'm off she seems STARVING.. and we've also been having some issues with her refusing to nurse because the flow isn't fast enough or there's not enough there.. We've been giving her an extra bottle the nights that I'm home the last couple weeks, and I haven't been pumping in the morning and after she goes to bed because I want to make sure I have enough to feed her, and shes been up earlier at night.. so my freezer stash will be all used up as of tomorrow..
So I think I'm going to give her a bottle of formula tonight. I'm not going to change anything else.. I'm going to keep pumping for a couple more months at least and hopefully we will be able to keep BFing during the day for awhile. I'm hoping I will just have to give her 1 bottle of formula on nights I'm home and maybe 2 on the nights I work.

I just feel guilty. Aside from a few hours after she was born and the first night she was home from the hospital Eve didn't have any formula til 6 months. She also didn't grow from 5 to 6 months though.. I promised myself i wouldnt stress about it this time.. but i guess since it started so well i was really hoping it would work out better.

Bianca42 · October 2011

Don't feel guilty. You are feeding your baby in the best way for both of you.

With Mike, I gave up on BFing the day we came home from the hospital.

With Alex, I decided to give it another try. After about a month, he stopped nursing, so I pumped for 4.5 months. By the end of my pumping time, he was getting more formula than he was BM. But, I'm happy that I gave it a shot and he got what he did.

jessica6283 · October 2011

Have you seen the pics of my "healthy little meatball"? He was on formula starting at about 4 mos b/c he NEVER EVER latched, and my supply dropped and he is FINE.

You are an awesome mom and Natalie will be GREAT!!

meryltheresa · October 2011

She is almost 4 1/2 months old and that is great! People don't realize how much of a commitment and how hard breastfeeding is until they've tried it. You should really look at it as you were able to breastfeed for 4 1/2 months instead of ONLY 4 1/2 months. That's great and you shouldn't feel bad about that at all.

MrsRichardson915 · October 2011

She will be fine! BFing is such hard work. I honestly don't know how it would have gone for me if I had to work. Do not feel guilty!!! You have given her a wonderful gift of 4 and 1/2 months!

BTW just curious...why can't you pump at work? I thought there was a law requiring that all BFing moms be given time and private space for it.

missyjg · October 2011

She will be fine:) It's tough working/pumping. You did a great job for EBF over 4 months, this is not a fail. I went back to work after 6 weeks and she was getting formula shortly after. You don't have to stop BF so she will still get the benefits and you will still get the bonding time. Just tell yourself your "supplementing". Try not to feel guilty. I'm sorry that it didn't work out the way you wanted it to though. ((hugs))

Irisheyes1247 · October 2011

She will be just fine. I'm a firm believer that breast is only best when it is best for both mom and baby. If one or both of those parties is not willing or able then it is no longer the best choice. If supplementing helps, if formula feeding helps, then it is worth it. I definitely still have some guilt about feeling like I "gave up" too soon, and I definitely plan to try again, but ultimately I know I made the right choice for both Charlotte and I by switching.

amamommy · October 2011

Awww, you're awesome for doing what you can!!!! I gave up after 3 weeks with DD and I was DETERMINED that I was going to BF E. Obvi with the trips, if I didn't do it for HER, I'm not even go there with them!

You're a rockstar in my book!

mrsoc · October 2011

You are an awesome Mom and she will be fine

. Try not to be hard on yourself...I know easier said than done, but you are doing a great job!

jewelsonu · October 2011

You did a great job. There is no reason to feel guilty. I didn't make it much longer with Sophia. But when I quit pumping I pretty much quit nursing. So you are doing better than I did.

jnk062602 · October 2011

You are a great mom and have two gorgeous girls. Do what is best for you all. Keep nursing her while you have milk and are home, and add in formula to keep her full.

MrsRichardson915:

BTW just curious...why can't you pump at work? I thought there was a law requiring that all BFing moms be given time and private space for it.

I don't know her exact work situation, but she works in a restaurant. Any time it is a customer service type job - you make the customer wait and they don't care if you are pumping to feed your kid, they just want what they want and they want it right then. And I'm assuming her private space to pump is the same as mine - a bathroom. Only at least mine is a single one, she probably has stalls to pump in.

MelissaSue81 · October 2011

jnk062602:
You are a great mom and have two gorgeous girls. Do what is best for you all. Keep nursing her while you have milk and are home, and add in formula to keep her full.

MrsRichardson915:

BTW just curious...why can't you pump at work? I thought there was a law requiring that all BFing moms be given time and private space for it.

I don't know her exact work situation, but she works in a restaurant. Any time it is a customer service type job - you make the customer wait and they don't care if you are pumping to feed your kid, they just want what they want and they want it right then. And I'm assuming her private space to pump is the same as mine - a bathroom. Only at least mine is a single one, she probably has stalls to pump in.

Yeah.. you nailed it.. there's not much time where I can just leave my customers sitting for 15 minutes for me to pump.. I don't ever get a real break.. If I did try and pump I could use the managers office.. (where i got walked in on one of the only times I tried to pump there) but its just almost never possible unless there is like NO ONE there, which never happens, especially mid-shift when i'd need to pump.

The good news is, Natalie took the formula no problem.. When I started formula with Eve she HATED it at first.. but Natalie just likes to eat.. she could care less what it tastes like, apparently.

June4bride2be · October 2011

MelissaSue81:
jnk062602:
You are a great mom and have two gorgeous girls. Do what is best for you all. Keep nursing her while you have milk and are home, and add in formula to keep her full.

MrsRichardson915:

BTW just curious...why can't you pump at work? I thought there was a law requiring that all BFing moms be given time and private space for it.

I don't know her exact work situation, but she works in a restaurant. Any time it is a customer service type job - you make the customer wait and they don't care if you are pumping to feed your kid, they just want what they want and they want it right then. And I'm assuming her private space to pump is the same as mine - a bathroom. Only at least mine is a single one, she probably has stalls to pump in.
Yeah.. you nailed it.. there's not much time where I can just leave my customers sitting for 15 minutes for me to pump.. I don't ever get a real break.. If I did try and pump I could use the managers office.. (where i got walked in on one of the only times I tried to pump there) but its just almost never possible unless there is like NO ONE there, which never happens, especially mid-shift when i'd need to pump.
The good news is, Natalie took the formula no problem.. When I started formula with Eve she HATED it at first.. but Natalie just likes to eat.. she could care less what it tastes like, apparently.

Yay for liking her bottle! I will just reinforce what everyone else said! Nothing is good for baby if Mommy is struggling. You did awesome and she is going to be fine! Nurse/pump while you can, if your supply is crap or you just can't do it anymore....then stop! Nat will thrive with a happy mommy better than a stressed out mommy's milk.

TinaL99 · October 2011

I'm late to the party as usual but I wanted to tell you that you've done a great job for Natalie! A happy, fed baby is more important that anything, no matter where her food is coming from. I'm glad the formula went well!

wendyj · October 2011

Do not feel guilty. You're doing what you need to to make sure N is growing, healthy, and happy. You went a lot longer than I ever did.

octoberbridesrule · October 2011

wendyj:
Do not feel guilty. You're doing what you need to to make sure N is growing, healthy, and happy.

This, totally!

MrsRichardson915 · October 2011

Yeah I completely hear you. I worked as a server and bartender for years and I never got breaks! Can't make money if you are on break! I just didn't know what type of job you had...

I'm glad that she took the formula for you! She will be fine! Great job making it as long as you did!

MrsRichardson915 · October 2011

Oh...I hear you. I worked as a server and bartender for years before having kids. So I completely know what you mean about never getting a 'real' break. That stinks. Well, at least she took the formula without complaint! She will be fine, and you did great making it this far!

AKurosky · October 2011

Selfishly, I am so glad you wrote this. I am having some supply/weight gain issues with DS....And I am not even back to work yet. I pump 4 times a day and take MotherLove liquid, which is HORRIBLE! I eat oatmeal every morning and drink a half a Guinness at night (which I hate). I feel like I spend my whole day feeding and pumping. My DS started sleeping through the night last week 10-630a and after talking to my Pedi (who is also a LC) I now have to wake him at least once during that time to feed him bc of his insignificant weight gain.

So long story short (or not so short)....thank you.

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