So frustrated... breastfeeding & supplementing

I have no advice to give but I'm sorry it's such a struggle for you right now. Whatever the outcome is you've done great making it this far. Good luck momma

I have days where my supply is low and my son fights me and gets mad but I will feed him on both and he's usually fine. He's never had formula and I still struggle with supply. My only advise is still breastfeed him every time he is hungry from both breasts and if he's still hungry then give him formula. More frequent feeding should boost it. But I'm hardly making it so no expert advise here lol

Pump In Between feedings even if you don't pump any milk it will encourage your supply to increase. I hope this helps you it helped me.

Try mrs patels. Helped me make my deep freezer stash.

Thanks girls for the kind words and advice ?I will definitely give all that a try! I've used Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle drink supplements before, but haven't in a while. I made myself a lactation shake the past couple of days, I really liked it, but the brewers yeast made me super bloated, so I don't think I'll do that everyday lol.

I'm in the same boat with you mama, I was told to supplement but not for growth purposes my lo had extreme crying fits after every feeding, my daughter was the same way, until I stopped breastfeeding her. Once I gave her formula she was fine and the same with my lil bub now. I still breastfeed though because I really believe every bit counts. So I do nightly feedings and sporadic feedings during the day. My supply took a dip but I think in my case it was due to the low carb diet I was on. Anyway I just wanted to give you some encouragement and support, even if it's not exactly how we planned, just keep going! You're doing great, just like pp said do both breasts and if he's still fussy give him a bottle. Just keep in mind your doing the best you can and all you want is for him to be healthy and happy! Good luck mama!

@saveme, thanks mama! That means a lot. I'm sorry to hear that you have the same struggles ? You are absolutely right though, every bit counts. It just breaks my heart when he gets frustrated, it makes me feel like I'm failing him. I know that's silly and formula is great too (I was only able to breastfeed my other two kids for 4-6 weeks, after that they were happy formula fed babies), I just really want it to work out this time, especially because I've already made it 14 weeks! So I'm nor giving up. I know I'll have to supplement, but hopefully I can slowly reduce that. I've been drinking the fenugreek mix supplements again, mothers milk tea and pump after feedings and I think my supply has increased a little. Also another mama suggested blue Gatorade, which is my favorite anyways, so that's too easy lol. I'll just keep going and if he's still hungry after he nurses he gets formula. Does your little one sometimes get irritated because the milk doesn't come out fast enough at the breast (compared to the bottle)? I think that's what our issue is sometimes. I noticed that he drinks the Avent Naturals bottles way faster than the Dr Brown bottles, so I think I'll switch to just those because it might be more "work" for him to drink from those, just like the breast. Good luck to you too and keep doing what you're doing! ?

When my daughter won't latch, I express some milk and start with that in a bugle. I give her a few sucks and move her to the breast. Seems to help her when she's hungry and wants milk right away.

With my first I didn't produce enough at all with him tried amd just couldn't do it. With this baby I am producing enough and he is gaining weight. I have difficulties at the doctors also with his weight gain, but my thoughts are he is gaining weight and reaching milestones. They have made us have two weight checks. At the last one I calles my lactation consultant and told her what was going on. My baby sleeps through the night the nurse we saw wanted us to wake him up!!! Like no he'd wake up if he's hungry. My lactation consultant told me to ask what kind of chart they are using (breastfed or formula fed growth chart) when I asked at the weight check she didn't know and told me its just the standard growth chart. Well babies grow differently between talking with my consultant and researching I have found I am in for it with continuing to exclusively breasfeed. I get frustrated also with my doctor's office, but I am thankful this isn't my first because some of the stuff they've said I question and then research.

I added milled flax seed to my protien shakes. Also drinking lots of water and fluids helps tremendously.

Thanks ladies ? @laci, that's interesting about the growth chart for breastfed and formula fed babies. I didn't know and I'm sure I would get the same answer (standard chart) ? We also had two extra weight checks and at the last one he was just under what he was supposed to gain daily, so they said to supplement 4x a day instead of 3x. Honestly I'm not always counting anymore though, if he's still hungry after I nurse him, I give him a bottle but I'm trying to give him less and less. I feel like he's "chunked" right up since our last weight check, little double chin and all lol, so I don't see why he needs all that formula still (unless he's hungry and I don't have enough milk). I definitely plan on meeting with a LC, just haven't gotten around to it yet. I don't wake him up at night either, like you said, they wake up on their own when they are hungry. ?

My lactation consultant is awesome! She is so supportive and informative. I have had troubles with the doctors and walk out so frustrated. I am so glad this isn't my first because I would probably take every word they said instead of how I am now. We have discussed going to a different practice. My lactation consultant even asked if we've thought about it because I explain how they treat us and such. We are very natural when it comes to stuff and many doctors don't necessarily follow that. They have never recommended supplementing with me because I would say no and she also knows I discuss things with the lactation consultant.

I don't understand why doctors are so concerned with babies being on the growth curve. Obesity is increasing with young kids these days and they want us to fatten up our babies??? It's easy to gain weight- harder to lose them. So when someone tells me my son is too skinny I explain to them that he's hitting his milestones, isn't lethargic, and tells me when he's hungry. I want to foster good eating habits, not to have an obese child.

My sons doctor seriously tried to make me supplement my son with 50% formula when he was a month old even though I exclusively pump and make almost twice what he can eat!! I tried to give him formula and my son gagged, spit up, and refused to eat... this is with multiple brands of formula over the last two months ?

You sound just like me.

Roman loves nurses at night and in the morning because my breasts are full and ready to go.

But during the day he will breastfeed and then want his 4oz bottle right after anyway. I get so discouraged. I have tried everything to boost my supply and it works but then I guess my body adjusts and it stops working.

I'm not giving up just yet but it is really really hard and disappointing.

Do what you need to do and what's best for you guys but I'm giving you encouragement to keep trying!!

Aww thank you so much for all the encouragement mama's! ? I really do like our pediatrician, but I agree with pp that they are too quick to talk about supplementing. I'll do whatever makes Enzo happy and healthy, that comes first! I just wish I wouldn't struggle so much with my supply. @chedges, that really does sound exactly like what I'm going through. I'm sorry you're dealing with the same thing. The night feeding and early morning feeding is so nice because I have plenty enough milk, but throughout the day he wants a 4 oz bottle after most feedings. And just like you, if I see a little increase in my supply it seems like my body adjusts and that's that. ??‍♀️ I don't want to give up yet either, as long as there is milk I will keep going, I'm just really hoping that I can cut back on supplementing. But I don't see that happening. I don't have a freezer stash at all, I just don't make enough to freeze any. At one point I had about 2.5 days worth of frozen milk, but it took me about 1.5 weeks to get that. It was just the milk from let downs that I would catch with the haakaa pump while Enzo was nursing on the other side. It's definitely not easy, but I think we are doing our best, and that's all we can do! @klnor Enzo does that too sometimes, he will definitely let me know when he's done with formula, he pushes out the bottle with his tongue and makes a face ? lol. I can tell he prefers breastmilk over formula, I wish I would make enough.