Supplementing Help

[CrunchyChristianMama]

We adopted our son at birth.  He's been exclusively breastfed since birth, by me.  I have a biological dd that just turned 2 last month and I was able to maintain and boost my milk supply from her nursing with the addition of daily pumping.  When we were gone for 2 weeks to pick him up, and when we returned, my DD attempted to nurse a couple times, couldn't really remember what to do, and gave up on her own. 

My son turned 3 months old today and we've reached the point where some days he's not satisfied by the supply I have.  I'm taking domperidone and Mother Love herbs to help and that seems to be helping for now, but he still occasionally needs more than I have to offer. 

I'm just trying to figure out the logistics of supplementing as I've never had to before.  I've always had an abundance of milk (I've been able to donate to 13 babies besides feed my own), and have a rockin' freezer stash to work with. 

If I have milk always thawed and ready, then I will most likely end up throwing a lot away.  If I offer a bottle whenever he seems agitated while nursing and unsatisfied, again I end up with a lot of wasted milk because he often doesn't want it or will drink 1/4 of an ounce or something.  I hate to be throwing so much milk away! 

I'm too exhausted to troubleshoot this right now.  :)

Also, while I have a Lactaid, I'm not really interested in using it.  Keeping up with 3 children, 3 and under is enough work and I just don't have the time and energy to put into the work it involves.  I'm really ok with him having a bottle.  I'm thrilled he's had nothing but breastmilk, and that alone is my goal, not to be able to feed him exclusively at the breast.

[delightedbutterfly]

What huge success Mama! No real advice, I was just wanting to bump up your thread for you and hope that someone else had something to share. 

[Megan73]

What makes you think you need to supplement? Is he not gaining as he should? Kellymom.com has great resources on normal infant growth. I ask because you say you thaw milk and he doesn't want it or drinks 1/4 ounces - suggesting he's getting plenty to eat!
If you froze the milk in bags you could peel off the plastic, cut off a piece with a sharp knife and put the rest back in the freezer in a ziploc bag.
You could also try upping the dom - some mothers are now taking 160 mg a day.
I wouldn't bother using the Lact-Aid for tiny amounts of supplement but I'd also add that when I switched from supplementing DS1 with bottles to the Lact-Aid I did not find it significantly more work. Cleaning and filling them is a great job for a husband or partner.
HTH

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Originally Posted by Megan73 

What makes you think you need to supplement? Is he not gaining as he should? Kellymom.com has great resources on normal infant growth. I ask because you say you thaw milk and he doesn't want it or drinks 1/4 ounces - suggesting he's getting plenty to eat!
If you froze the milk in bags you could peel off the plastic, cut off a piece with a sharp knife and put the rest back in the freezer in a ziploc bag.
You could also try upping the dom - some mothers are now taking 160 mg a day.
I wouldn't bother using the Lact-Aid for tiny amounts of supplement but I'd also add that when I switched from supplementing DS1 with bottles to the Lact-Aid I did not find it significantly more work. Cleaning and filling them is a great job for a husband or partner.
HTH

He's tiny, but growing.  Sometimes when fussy and agitated at the breast, he will happily suck a few ounces down from a bottle and then be happy and content. 

I never thought of breaking up the milk while frozen.  That's perfect! 

I just checked, and I'm on 80 mg of dom a day right now.  I may wait until there's another growth spurt to up it though so that I don't run out of options for increasing.  Right now I can use the milk that will expire within the next few months and then up my supply when needed. 

Thanks!!!