Help - is some better than none? Feeling sad about having to supplement

[Cybercere]

So, DD is 8 weeks old today. I had to go back to work a few weeks ago as I had no paid time off. Today was the first day we 'ran out' of milk at home. I've been pumping every 3 - 3 1/2 hours when I'm gone and BF'ing on demand when I'm home but I guess it wasn't enough. I'm so sad that we are having to supplement. Is it best to just stay the course and make sure I'm pumping and giving her what I can? I'm drinking tons of fluids including making a 32 ounce container of Mother's Milk iced tea daily. I think that my stress level may make it difficult to produce enough milk. I am sad and don't want to stop BF'ing completely - how can I achieve both goals of making sure she's not starving (she is growing quickly) and still BF?

[Llyra]

Are you able at all to pump more frequently? It may just be a supply and demand problem-- adding one or two more pumping sessions into your day might be just the thing to boost your pumping output a bit and help you over this hump.

3 1/2 hours may just be too long. When I EPed for my oldest, I found that going more than 2 1/2 hours meant a dip in supply after a few days. That may not be possible for you, but if it is, it can help a lot. More frequent, shorter pumping sessions will support your supply better than longer, less-frequent sessions, too, so even a ten minute pump is better than nothing.

Also, make sure your caregiver has guidelines on bottlefeeding a breastfed baby:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/m...#toomuchlittle
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/p..._decrease.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

It's important that caregivers for breastfed babies understand how to bottlefeed in a way that doesn't undermine the breastfeeding relationship. A common problem is a caregiver who wants to soothe a crying baby, and so offers a bottle too often, when baby might benefit more from alternate methods of soothing. Baby winds up taking too much milk during the day, so that mom doesn't have enough to send, and baby is also less hungry during the hours he is with mama, so that baby nurses less in the evenings and at night, and thus mama's supply is compromised further. A pacifier is often a good solution to this problem.

Good luck. Working and continuing to breastfeed can be challenging, but it can be done!

[ErikaS57]

How long are you gone and how many ounces is DD taking? Typically, BF babies need 1-1.5oz per hour. If you nurse right before you leave, and as soon as you get home, then you need a bit less. For example, I'm gone 10.5 hours, and my DD takes 8-12oz while I'm gone.

[boobs4milk]

i highly recommend pumping more frequently. at 8 wks, my babies never went longer than 2 hrs without nursing. also, you need to be sure and pump for a full 20 mins minimum each time and try to get a couple of good letdowns each time even if you aren't getting gobs of milk out. the baby is usually more efficient than the pump...

[zinemama]

Yes, some is better than none at all and don't let anyone tell you different.

My son was nourished on formula from 4 months on (many supply problems, long story). But of course, by that time he loved to nurse and I kept right on nursing him until he quit by himself at age 2 and a half. I don't know how much milk he got from me and I really didn't care. We had a nursing relationship and I wasn't obsessing about him starving to death anymore.

It's really not an all or nothing thing like some women make it out to be. Even if you have to switch to mostly formula (which doesn't seem to be your situation) or a couple of bottles a day, you don't have to give up nursing.

[ps4624]

Every drop helps! I know a lot of women really put pressure on themselves, but do what is best for you and your baby. Hugs