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November 2012 Moms
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For those who supplement... a ? about how you do it

abfromva2abfromva2 member
in November 2012 Moms

Background: I was EBF until a few days ago. I had to supplement a bit because after a slow decline in the last month following an illness I just couldn't keep up. My stash is gone and after trying various things to get my supply up I am accepting the fact that I am never going to get it back up. I am totally ok with that. Since I am still making some milk I want to do both. Oh, and I am working PT now but in a month I will SAH. The days I don't work I nurse on demand.

Do you supplement after every bottle as needed or do you switch back and forth between breast and bottle for every other feeding? The former seems very time consuming. As for the latter, my breasts seem fuller if I allow a few extra hours so that way she could get a full meal if I were to alternate a breast at one feeding and formula at another. Do you think that is the way to go, or will cause a problem? She takes a bottle just fine and seems to enjoy her formula.

 

Thanks in advance! I didn't want to ask the BF board because I don't want someone to try to convince me to get my supply up. I have tried all the usual things people suggest on these boards and it has not worked... plus I don't think formula is evil :)

 

party-fails-crunk-critters-catnips-a-hell-of-a-drug Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker (formerly TTGP poster abfromva)
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Re: For those who supplement... a ? about how you do it

  • ironmom5ironmom5 member
    Hold please.  For awhile I was supplementing with expressed BM, and I used a Medela system, I just want to make sure I give you the correct link.
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  • ironmom5ironmom5 member

    https://www.amazon.com/Medela-00901S-Supplemental-Nursing-System/dp/B000NEDGB8

    I had a bazillion nursing issues in the beginning, and this was amazing.  I used it up until recently when I had supply issues and LO refused a bottle from me.  It's great if you don't want to stop breastfeeding cold turkey.

    ETA: Hit return accidentally.

    A good friend of mine used this for transitioning to formula for about a month, just so LO could get used to the new taste.  I think it's a psychological trick to relax him because it's still like EBF.  After that month, she mixed for another month, and now at 9 months he'll take BM or formula or a mix no issue.

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  • abfromva2abfromva2 member
    imageironmom5:

    https://www.amazon.com/Medela-00901S-Supplemental-Nursing-System/dp/B000NEDGB8

    I had a bazillion nursing issues in the beginning, and this was amazing.  I used it up until recently when I had supply issues and LO refused a bottle from me.  It's great if you don't want to stop breastfeeding cold turkey.

    ETA: Hit return accidentally.

    A good friend of mine used this for transitioning to formula for about a month, just so LO could get used to the new taste.  I think it's a psychological trick to relax him because it's still like EBF.  After that month, she mixed for another month, and now at 9 months he'll take BM or formula or a mix no issue.

    Can I just say that looking at those pictures on amazon made me miss my teeny newborn! They are growing up too fast! 

    party-fails-crunk-critters-catnips-a-hell-of-a-drug Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker (formerly TTGP poster abfromva)
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  • MaebbMaebb member
    I agree that posting on the BF board can be intimidating. Like you, I've tried so many things to increase my supply. I already feel like enough of a failure, and I don't need people saying or implying that I'm not trying hard enough. Although, normally they're very supportive and helpful.

    Anyway, I work outside the home, so normally I pump enough for 2 bottles of breast milk and 2 bottles of formula. All bottles are 4 oz. Then when he gets home, he normally has one feeding and then goes to bed. Sometimes, rarely, he's satisfied after I BF him. But usually he wants more, so I'll give him 2 to 4 oz of formula.

    Then if he sleeps long enough, I'll pump 3 or 4 hours after he goes to sleep. If he wakes up, I BF him during the night. I don't give formula during the night because I don't think he's that hungry, and he always seems satisfied and goes back to sleep after BF.

    Then usually I'll BF him around 6am, and if he's hungry after that, I'll give I'm a bottle of either formula or whatever is leftover after making his daycare bottles.
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  • ironmom5ironmom5 member
    imageabfromva2:
    imageironmom5:

    https://www.amazon.com/Medela-00901S-Supplemental-Nursing-System/dp/B000NEDGB8

    I had a bazillion nursing issues in the beginning, and this was amazing.  I used it up until recently when I had supply issues and LO refused a bottle from me.  It's great if you don't want to stop breastfeeding cold turkey.

    ETA: Hit return accidentally.

    A good friend of mine used this for transitioning to formula for about a month, just so LO could get used to the new taste.  I think it's a psychological trick to relax him because it's still like EBF.  After that month, she mixed for another month, and now at 9 months he'll take BM or formula or a mix no issue.

    Can I just say that looking at those pictures on amazon made me miss my teeny newborn! They are growing up too fast! 

    I know, right!  I had lunch with a former coworker last week and her daughter is 3 weeks.  Sooooo teeny tiny!

    But also, kind of boring lol.  I love 6 months!

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  • brie_and_almondsbrie_and_almonds member
    I would and did offer a bottle after each feeding, that way LO is keeping you as empty as possible and "telling" your breasts that they need to keep making more milk. Having fuller breasts seems like LO is getting more at a feeding, and for a while that will be true, but your supply will adjust, and you'll no longer be fuller after a while.
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