Ummm don't let the Dr or specialist make you feel like you are failing. He's 9 pounds and two weeks old that's a big baby!!! Yeah he doesn't have his birth weight back but if he's wetting plenty, and pooping...breastfed babies can go up to a week without pooping our milk absorbs better into their bodies than anything else so that just means baby could be using every part of your milk right now. You are doing great! Don't stress, eat, drink plenty of water and try to relax!

Oh lol sorry. Um I'm not sure. :-/ my entire labor was only 9 hrs total and 5 1/2 in the hospital.

I didn't mean fluids you drank. I meant IV fluids.

@mrs I don't remember drinking in excess during labor. However my epidural failed (they gave me the wrong dose for my height) and sips of ice water was what got me through the hour of minute apart contractions followed by an hour of pushing.

@Mrs when I saw the lactation specialist my lo had gone 3 days without pooping. However he has always had several wet diapers. He was born 9lbs 14oz and was 9lbs 1oz less then two weeks later when they gave me the pump two days after that he saw his doctor and was still 9lbs 1oz. After 15 minutes he either falls asleep on my breast or un-latches himself. The specialist and doctor are very concerned that he's now two weeks old and not back up to birth weight.

Before they told you to supplement, how many wet/dirty diapers was your lo having daily? Is your baby gaining weight, just slowly? The worst thing you can do for your supply is to limit your baby's time at the breast. At 15 minutes is your lo unlatching on their own or do you have to unlatch them? Did you have fluids during labor? That can inflate baby's birth weight. It is not uncommon for breastfed babies to lose 10% of their birth weight and can take up to a month to regain that weight.

**edited**

Aw don't get discouraged! Look up things that will make your supply increase and maybe that will help you feel better. Things like oatmeal, lactation cookies, or even mothers milk tea! You're doing something so great for your baby, some day you'll look back and be so proud of yourself!

Thanks ladies. Thankfully my mom's opinion on formula hasn't rubbed off on me. My sd was ff and is a healthy, vibrant 4 year old. I guess I'm just stressed out. DH and HEX have court today so I'm home with lo and sd. I am trying not to stress but can't help it since things are so messy (for a fun read look at my post from yesterday lol).

It gets better trust me:) I have been exclusively pumping for 6 mos :) baby never wanted to latch I said that was my goal and since I reached it about 3 days ago I decided to add 2 more mos to it. There were times where I wanted to quit but stuck it out. Good luck you can do this!! :)

Hang in there momma. I feel your pain. I bawled this morning at the thought of failing my lo. It's so stressful. I realized today I've been so stressed and unhappy I haven't even spoke to my husband in two days. Waking every two hours around the clock has wore me out. Working full time w a toddler at home. It's been a mess in my house.

As far as formula goes, I've realized my baby has to eat, one way or another! If it comes down to it, she will be full and happy before my selfishness of failing comes first.

I woke up to a note from my husband w the ingredients to make lactation cookies. Talk about an amazing husband and I've been too stressed to notice. I'm going to make some and try them out! It may be something to look into.

I know it's all about supply and demand, but no matter how much I pump I never let down for a pump. It's very frustrating!

Don't worry about formula being the "devil". My first born was formula fed at 2 months out and is perfectly healthy. I'm not sure why I'm taking it so hard this time around!

Stay strong!

Thank you so much. I'm crying as I type this because I'm so exhausted. It's so frustrating because once the word "formula" came out of my mouth my mom freaked out assuming I was going to stop bfing. She started shoving so much stuff at me and telling me all about the "evils of formula", I know she was just trying to help but I will do whatever is necessary to keep my baby healthy. I was already feeling like crap because both the lactation specialist AND doctor basically told me I was starving my baby. But they DIDN'T give me any information on how to help my supply (other than pumping).

Mags. I needed to hear that today.

I woke up in the wee hours ready to go buy formula today. ( no offense to formula. ) We're going on month 3 ebf. Until I went back to work, I had to start giving bottles. Little one refuses to latch now. She loves the ease of the bottle. This last week has been so tiring trying to keep up with her while working. And my supply has dropped tremendously. Even with pumping every two hours at work. I'm at a loss. I keep saying " just make it through today "

I can not worry about what I can not change. But, today, I just keep truckin.

Op, hang in there! I hope it gets easier!!