Thinking of Supplementing ~ Need advice, encouragement

[BarefootinBrooklyn]

Hi all,

I've been successfully breastfeeding for 4 months now, and am thinking of adding a bottle of formula a week.

I know, I know..."Why?"

I'm a comedian and am thinking of getting back to performing once a week. It would require me to be away from home for 4 hours (including an hour drive each way) and I can't for the life of me seem to be able to pump enough lately. My daughter has become quite active and is eating every two hours again.

I guess what I need here is advice...anything from your own experiences with supplementing to reminders that comedy will always be there but these early days of nursing will not, to encouragement that maybe one bottle isn't the worst thing...

I feel like I'm being selfish. I'm learning towards not going, not giving the bottle, but part of me wonders if I'm being too dramatic about the whole thing and that it's maybe not such a big deal.

Help?

Thanks...

[Ammaarah]

Have you pumped at all? I don't see any problem with being away for a few hours but I don't see why it has to be formula. I wouldn't be comfortable with formula for a 4-month-old. For an older baby, perhaps on occasion, but 4 months is pretty young. ETA: I just read the part about pumping! Sorry I neglected to see that. Maybe you'd have to retrain your breasts to produce a little more - try regularly doing it once in the morning or something like that.

My mother tells me I should do stand-up but she thinks I am much funnier than I really am.

[GooeyRN]

You can pump one side while nursing on the other in the morning. That should get you some milk. Do it a few days in a row and you should have enough milk saved up for a 4 hour trip.

[kimbersdawnly]

If you can manage to get just enough milk (or to schedule nap time when you'll be gone) for just a couple of months then it will get so much easier. After baby starts solids it's easier to leave for short periods w/o having to pump.

For pumping problems I would make sure your pump is not hurting you, definitely try pumping first thing in the morning as the pp suggested, and maybe try mama's milk tea, or oatmeal, or almond milk, or any of the wonderful foods that can help increase supply.

If you can possibly avoid using formula at all you can avoid the risk factors that it involves, and that would really be worthy of your efforts! Just one bottle can increase the likely hood of diabetes and food allergies. http://www.naba-breastfeeding.org/images/Just%20one.pdf
http://www.breastfeeding.org/bfacts/bottle.html
Both of these source focus on problems for newborns but some of these problems are further reaching. I don't list them to scare you, just to make sure you know that there are risks.

I hope it goes well for you, and don't forget that this stage doesn't last forever! It's gets easier and easier to leave for a few hours as they get older.

[tanyalynn]

I pumped best first thing in the morning--just an ounce or two a day would add up over the course of a week.

My concern about supplementing comes from the changes to the gut bacteria and how much more susceptible babies seem to colds after they start solids. My kids' colds got noticeably worse after I started solids, and from my reading, I think it's the change in gut bacteria.

That said, although I don't think I'd be comfortable doing it, I also don't have anything pulling at me (like an opportunity like yours), and I don't think it's (the formula thing, I mean--too many pronouns in this sentence) the worst thing in the world.

[BarefootinBrooklyn]

thanks all--i think i've decided to wait until she starts solids and just relish this fleeting time together a bit longer...