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Question about possibly beginning to supplement

73jewels73jewels member
in Breastfeeding
Hi all - 
I posted a few weeks ago about problems with pumping.  My son is almost 8 months old, and I was EBF until about 5 months when I slowly started introducing solids.  About 2 -3 months ago, I stopped being able to consistently pump enough for DC, and was usually pulling about 1 - 2 frozens per week.  Well about 3 weeks ago it seems I can barely pump at all (with both a PIS and a manual, so I don't think it's my pump parts), and I am about 4-6 ounces short per day.  I looked last night and at this rate I have about 2 weeks left of frozen until I am out and will have to supplement to get through the day.  All this week and most of last I tried power pumping during my morning pump at work, and it barely helped (yesterday was the worst day where I pumped a total of 6.75 ounces all day and he takes about 13 ounces per day!)

As much as I am not ready for this, I feel like I don't know what else to do.  I tried to pump after he goes to sleep and the most I have gotten is 1.75 ounces, usually only about an ounce.  And he is still eating in the middle of the night so I can't even set my alarm and pump in the middle of the night.  

So, after reading all that, I finally bring you to my questions.  I am not ready to give up BF, and he seems ok during the weekends when we are together.  So I am thinking I need to start supplementing.  For those that have done this, how have you started?  Have you mixed 1 bottle per day, or given a straight bottle of formula? Is there a specific type of formula that worked best? Is there a specific time of day that worked best? I am at a total loss, as I really planned to continue till he was a year and then just transition to regular milk.

Any ideas?  I think I am also feeling so lost b/c I did not want to do this, but I don't see what other choice I have...

Thanks for reading through my novel. 
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Re: Question about possibly beginning to supplement

  • Melody330Melody330 member
    I'm sorry I'm no help with the formula questions.
    Have you tried pumping one side while your LO is nursing on the other? You will more than likely yield more milk that way. If I do this first thing in the morning I get about 6 oz from the one side.

    Good luck!
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  • 73jewels73jewels member
    I've thought about that, but he tends to take both sides in the morning.  Plus my husband travels during the week and it's difficult as it is to get him fed and ready and out of the house on time by myself, add in pumping and cleaning and transferring milk, and I just don't think I'll ever be to work on time!   I usually have everything packed up and ready for the next day before I go to sleep :)
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  • BootsOrHeartsBootsOrHearts member
    You may have to play around with brands to find one baby likes (though some babies don't care at all) or you can mix with BM until baby gets used to the taste.

    Definitely find one with DHA that is supossed to be good for their brains!

    We plan to use Baby's Only organic, we do a bottle here and there to reassure ourselves he will drink it whenever I muster up the courage to wean.

    I don't have any other advice about supply except to try breast compressions when you pump but honestly sometimes supply just decides to up and go and it's nothing anything you did it just happens. Don't beat yourself up about it and I hope you can continue your BF relationship!
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  • opheliainwadersopheliainwaders member
    edited July 2014
    Seconding the rec for a hospital grade pump (the Symphony is great, IMO).

    That said, if efforts to bring your supply up don't get you where you need to be, it'll be ok! After some health issues last winter, I saw a pretty severe drop in supply, and I wasn't well enough to add in additional pumping sessions. So, I kept up with pumping 3x/day at work, and nursed while we were together. Some days she had a bottle of formula, and some days she didn't. We nursed without supplementing whenever we were together, no problem.

    I pumped until a year, and we're still BFing now at 13m, with no plans to stop soon.

    It was a really hard thing for me to get over, mentally, so I really understand how you feel! Definitely see what you can do with power pumping and galactogogues, too.

    Also, 8m was about the peak of DD's consumption (~12-14oz/day while I was at work), and that was also when I had the hardest time keeping up. By about 10m, she was drinking about 10oz per day, and we used much less formula.

    ETA: we would give the formula straight, and we looked for "sensitive" brands, because she'd get wicked constipated on the "regular" kind. This may not happen to you - every kid is different, so start with a brand that's easy to find, and go from there.

    GL, and good job so far, mama!
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  • 73jewels73jewels member
    Thank you all for the advice.  I went out this weekend and bought a few of the premade 2 oz bottles that say they are for supplementing breast feeding.  I pumped all weekend after he went to bed and last night got the most at just shy of 2 ounces, but even with all that, I was still 2 ounces short for today.  I didn't try the formula yet, and I'm going to keep trying power pump and pump at night and look into the lactation food all week and see what happens.

    Yes, I keep well hydrated and eat my calories (and some most days!)... Question on the galactogogues... have you found anything premade?  I have seen all the recipies but I didn't think to make anything this weekend and I will not have time to make anything till probably Sunday, so anything I could grab on the go would be fabulous!
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  • opheliainwadersopheliainwaders member
    I didn't find pre-made stuff, but I would make a big pot of steel-cut oatmeal and divvy it up into single-serve tupperware, then eat it for breakfast all week. That said, I am now REALLY sick of oatmeal ;-)
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  • BroadwayBaby27BroadwayBaby27 member
    Thanks for asking this question - I'm going through the exact same thing with my 9.5 month DD. I'm a teacher - last school year I could pump 10oz first thing in the morning and at least 5+ oz in the middle of the school day. I've been waking up early, getting ready to go back to school and can barely get 5oz out in the am and only got 3oz in the afternoon. I'm debating weather to add formula to bottles or to start weaning. Good luck to you!  
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  • 73jewels73jewels member
    Glad my question helped... Incidentally, I have been getting great results from my morning pump (about 7 -8 ounces), but barely anything from my afternoon pump.  I long since did away with the third pump since it was taking forever and I was barely getting an ounce.  But yesterday I was able to pump enough for Day Care today (with a 20 minute session after he went to sleep.  

    Fingers crossed for today... Just finishing my morning pump and I'm having good results!  Let's hope the power pumping and evening pump do the trick and I can hold off on supplementing a bit longer!
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