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Questions and Needing Advice Please!

Be24Be24 member
in Breastfeeding
I have been nursing my 8 month old son since birth.   Over the summer I pumped up a stash of around 200 oz to have as backup, since I would be returning to work in August (I have been back almost 2 weeks).  I am a teacher and have been pumping through my plan and lunch.   I also pump first thing in the morning and before bed. (5:15 am, 9 am, 12:30 pm and before bed about 10ish) I have been extremely stressed about going back to work, start of a new school year, leaving my babies, daughter starting Kindergarten, wrecked my car yesterday, etc, etc... so with all of that my supply has taken a huge hit.  I have been doing fairly well with keeping up since I pump in the morning and at night as well, but the last few days I am pumping less and less.  I went to get some milk out of the freezer tonight to be sure that he had enough for tomorrow and something had went wrong with the freezer... ALL of my milk was thawed and warm.  Devastated would be an understatement.  I will have enough to get him through the day tomorrow, but I am not sure what to do from there. I do not know the first thing about supplementing, because I have never needed to.  I am not sure what kind of formula to even supplement with.  Should I mix it with the breast milk or just supplement with one bottle of formula a day if needed?  What if he doesn't like it? Are these questions I should be asking his doctor? 
I am just so so upset.  I was so determined to make it to a year and continue beyond that on nights and weekends.  I have worked so hard to try to make that happen.  I am not sure what to do from here.  I am already taking Fenugreek. There is no other times I can fit in more pumps at work.  I would love any advice, thoughts you all could give me.  
Thank you in advance! 
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Re: Questions and Needing Advice Please!

  • kendy20kendy20 member
    I'm so sorry your having such a rough time :(. But you could try part breast milk and part formula. We did that one night, she was about two weeks old and my breasts were extremely beat up, that way my breasts could heal. Unfortunately she hated it. Made herself gag to spit it back up. So I just dealt with the pain and haven't touched the formula again. But I would mix both that way your still getting even a little bit if breast milk in there. Hope things get better soon for you!
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  • eggmankateeggmankate member

    Oh my gosh--that is awful! I'm sorry you had that happen.

    I'm starting  to pump deficits and use what I pump after a feed on weekends to supplement daycare bottles during the work week. You may find that once you get into your new work routine that your stress goes down and supply goes up. No help on formula as I know little about it. Good luck!

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    TTC since April 2011. DH Dx MFI in February 2012. BFP #1: 7.16.12. MMC dx: 8.22.12, D&C 8.28.12, TTC Again November 2012. DH Varicocele repair November 2012; Repeat SA showed "dramatic" improvement February 2013 (awesome!)
    BFP #2: 3.26.13, EDC: 12.7.13. Anya born December 9th, 2013!
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  • 73jewels73jewels member
    I had a decent stash and recently finished it up, my son is 8 1/2 months.  I have not been pumping enough for day care the next day for a while and had to start supplementing.  I have been doing it for almost 2 weeks now with varying results. 

    I, too, tried the supplementing formula, and my son screamed the whole time and maybe drank about 1/2 an ounce.  I then tried just the general similac powder.  First time, he did great.  I tried over the weekend (my husband fed him while I pumped).  Then we tried it at Day care (I had enough for 2 1/2 bottles, so I sent 2 ounces of formula to drink after the breast milk).  He apparently had 2 sips, then looked at the bottle and threw it (rather angrily according to his teachers) across the room.  Lesson learned, now I don't give him formula during the same feeding as breastmilk and he seems to do ok.  

    When I first realized I was not going to make it the whole year, I, too, was really upset.  Then I realized... 1 bottle a day, not such a big deal.  He still only gets Breastmilk when with me, and he only had it for well over 8 months, so I had to let go of my feelings about it.

    So, to summarize, as PP said, don't waste money on the supplementing formula, and keep trying till he likes it.  And if 1 day, he doesn't finish a bottle of formula, don't stress about it, he can make it up with you in the evening.  I was SOOOO worried about everything and now I realize it was all for nothing, and he is fine!

    Hope this helps... I completely understand what you are going through!
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  • surpriseadditionsurpriseaddition member
    edited August 2014
    I was also pumping and teaching full time.  What I resorted to was pumping MOTN.  I was able to get 7 oz by doing that!  My LO was STTN and I would have everything set up and ready to go for pumping.  I'd get up around 2 and just pump.  I'd then put the milk into my cooler just like I did at work and would roll back into bed.  Since I was so relaxed and half asleep, I was able to get a ton of milk versus in the stressful time constraints at school.  It only took me about 15 minutes.  Just an idea!  If you need/want  to use formula, don't feel guilty.  It's just not worth beating yourself up.  Also....so sorry about the freezer stash.  I'd be devastated too!


    **DD1 - 7/9/98**

    **DS - 11/9/00**

    **DD2 - 4/30/13**

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  • melaportmelaport member
    Your pedi's office may have samples they can give you. Mine told me if I ever needed to try formula to just ask.
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