Hi,
My son is 4 mo. old now and bfeeding 3/4 th of the time. I am having a hard time keeping up with him, even though my body is supposed to adjust to the need. I also had a rough time for the first 2 months due to his special care stay following birth.
I am having to pump, bfeed and bottle feed. After 4 mo. and 2 weeks, it is starting to take a toll on me. Washing the bottles, not getting sleep and did I mention that I can not breast feed when we go out? For some reason, my baby just doesn't seem to nurse very well outside our home. We have already seen the lactation consultants a bunch of times.
I really want him to get the benefit of bfeeding so, I will continue to struggle. But I am just curious to know how many of you had to supplement with formula and how soon did you have to do it? Something tells me it is not supposed to be this difficult!
bfeeding Q
Hi deepa - glad to hear you're doing well.
Can you stop pumping and only BF directly? I know when I took my daughter home from the NICU I was trying to both BF and pump and it really took it's toll. Over time, I slowly stopped pumping until now I don't pump at all, and it really has made my life more 'do-able'. I just breast feed directly when I feed her.
Since I've gone back to work, it does mean my daughter will have to have formula when my BM storage runs up since my nanny has to give her bottles while I'm away at work. But I've started adding a little formula to her bottles with the BM so it's a slow transition and it also will make my BM storage go longer.....
I know it's so much better for our babies to get breast milk, especially the first 6 months. But, I also think that an occassional or small supplement of formula doesn't make you a bad mom. You need to take care of yourself too, so do what works for you. Have you started solids yet or will you soon? That will give some more options too.
Good luck!
Can you stop pumping and only BF directly? I know when I took my daughter home from the NICU I was trying to both BF and pump and it really took it's toll. Over time, I slowly stopped pumping until now I don't pump at all, and it really has made my life more 'do-able'. I just breast feed directly when I feed her.
Since I've gone back to work, it does mean my daughter will have to have formula when my BM storage runs up since my nanny has to give her bottles while I'm away at work. But I've started adding a little formula to her bottles with the BM so it's a slow transition and it also will make my BM storage go longer.....
I know it's so much better for our babies to get breast milk, especially the first 6 months. But, I also think that an occassional or small supplement of formula doesn't make you a bad mom. You need to take care of yourself too, so do what works for you. Have you started solids yet or will you soon? That will give some more options too.
Good luck!
do not feel bad..... with our first it was very difficult for him to latch and he ended up back in the picu... then i was doing what you were doing... Suzhan had great ideas.... have you tried to BF feed only?? it might take a few days for your supply to adjust, but that would be better.. also drinking a lot of water... even more can boost your supple... there are also herbs to take that can boost your supply (ask the lactation consultant or even your doc.... fengreek i think is one of them... there are also combo milkboosters supplements). less pumping is better, then you could be bottle free (other then one here or there)
when i did introduce the formula i too did it mixed with BM, and slowly it became more formula then BM, then it was all formula... i took about a month to transition.
hope that it works out
colleen
when i did introduce the formula i too did it mixed with BM, and slowly it became more formula then BM, then it was all formula... i took about a month to transition.
hope that it works out
colleen
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Hi Colleen and Suzhan,
Thanks for your replies. Yes, I have tried the teas, oatmeal and fenugreek. That is why my supply is better now than it was in the beginning. However, I pump when I have to go out for more than a couple of hours because it is hard for me and him to nurse in public. Also, for some reason, I can produce milk better in the mornings and evenings than during the day time. So, pumping helped to give him more milk during the day time.
I do attend a university in the evenings and I have to pump sometimes when I am gone for longer hours. Since my supply was so poor in the beginning I do not have any frozen bmilk. However, I have not been pumping much for the last few days.
So, do you think 15-16 ounces of bmilk a day is not that bad?
Thanks for your replies. Yes, I have tried the teas, oatmeal and fenugreek. That is why my supply is better now than it was in the beginning. However, I pump when I have to go out for more than a couple of hours because it is hard for me and him to nurse in public. Also, for some reason, I can produce milk better in the mornings and evenings than during the day time. So, pumping helped to give him more milk during the day time.
I do attend a university in the evenings and I have to pump sometimes when I am gone for longer hours. Since my supply was so poor in the beginning I do not have any frozen bmilk. However, I have not been pumping much for the last few days.
So, do you think 15-16 ounces of bmilk a day is not that bad?
deepa