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i supplemented with LO the first few months, and then again around the 5-6 month point. at the beginning, i had a low supply. i pumped like a mofo and after 6-8 weeks i stopped supplementing. then when i went back to work, and LO was becoming more active, his demand outgrew my supply and i supplemented again, adding a few ounces of formula to his daycare bottles.

pumping to get my supply up was hard. but i am glad that LO had bottles and formula from a young age (like, day 3), because i'd like to think that it contributed to his ability to take a bottle with no problem when it came time to put him in daycare.

I'm not currently supplementing my second but did so regularly with my first!
We basically started in the hospital because my milk didn't come in and colostrum was not enough for DD! We continued to supplement because I just could not get my supply up despite drinking tons of water, mothers milk tea, mmp pills, oatmeal, extra pump sessions etc. I WOH full time so I pumped twice daily on a regular basis. At daycare is where we supplement when necessary because of my poor pumping output. When together I nursed exclusively. We went on to nurse until she was ~25m when I was pregnant; so we weaned her.

Anyway just wanted to share my supplementing success story!

Oo I didn't see this till now! I'm joining!

LO's Age: 7 mo this Sat

Reason for supplementing: Low supply/don't have time to pump as often due to busy season at work

Are you pumping?: Yes... I used to pump 3x at work, and when I was battling low supply I'd pump another 1-2x at home! Now I only pump 2x at work

Work status?: WOH

BFing how often?: She eats twice MOTN, I nurse her before work, and nurse her again after work, before bed

Taking any supplements?: No, just trying to eat oatmeal, drink water, etc

How are you feeling?: I was soo determined to EBF till 6 mo so I did whatever I had to do to pump more before then. After she turned 6 mo, with busy season at work, I felt more at peace supplementing with formula so I don't have to stress out pumping enough for her and it's been such a stress relief!

@macintosh: I had to suppliment with my LO too. If you think you have insufficient glandular tissue you should look into taking Goats Rue. I didn't find out about it until after we were done bfing but will def take it with my next baby.

I am just seeing this thread and bumping it after my recent thread.

LO's Age: 11 weeks. (supplementing since 2 weeks)

Reason for supplementing: transfer issues/disorganized suck (no lip tie/tongue tie)

Are you pumping?: No. I have not been able to pump more than an ounce or so even with a hospital grade pump I rented. She nurses so frequently still that trying to mess with the pump just isn't worth it.

Work status?: Taking time off until the new year.

BFing how often?: She feeds about 7-9 times a day. I always BF before giving formula, giving 2 oz of formula after every other day time feeding (don't ask me how I came up with this regime, her weight gain has been good so I've just stuck with it)

Taking any supplements?: I'm taking Motherlove's More Milk Plus but the LC and my midwife have not necessarily thought my supply was the issue, though I am sure her low transferring has thwarted my supply's potential. I eat oatmeal daily as well.

How are you feeling?: Less stressed and anxious about it than at first but I still wonder daily if she is getting enough. I feel sad still at times that feeding is such an ordeal and that BF didn't evolve into something easier for us.

@ldh112: Turns out that my LO has milk allergy and reflux issues. I ultimately quit bf'ing all together.

@Ms. RV: I hear you on wanting to still do even just one feeding with breast milk a day. I worry that eventually my supply will tank or she will choose the bottle over breast. I'm getting better at taking it a day or week at a time, reassessing as needed I do feel like I can say I've tried everything and know that I gave it my best shot. My emotions still get the best of me at times - this has definitely been the hardest part of being a mom so far, for me anyway.

Can anyone help with advice for supplementing a newborn ? My first was fine with colostrum and waiting until milk came in. I had a c-sec yesterday am w/ LO2 and assumed everything would go the same as with big brother ....

Skin to skin and first latch was great. She "nursed" for 30 min per side. Then as the day went on she seemed to get more fussy and would root but then shake her head and scream at the breast. Nothing seemed to make her happy. I tried to hand express and hospital grade pump and not a drop came out...no milk and not even colostrum. The nurses told me NBD, she's only lost 2% of her weight and bili #s are great.

She cried pretty much all night off and on despite clean diapers, holding, nursing attempts, Etc. I just gave her an oz of formula and she burped, spit up a tiny bit, and passed out quietly and happily on my chest. Do I have my answer? I know the nurses mean well and I know her stomach is marble sized right now but do some newborns need supplementation from day 1/2??!

@charlotte: No great information-- just my personal experience. LO and I spent three nights in the hospital (because she was born not too long after midnight, so the first one didn't count). She was absolutely inconsolable her last night in the hospital. She kept wanting to nurse, but it wasn't making her happy. I ended up sending her to the nursery because I was at my wit's end. They didn't supplement her, just kept her soothed. My supply was fine once my milk came in (for one wonderful week). Colostrum wasn't enough for her that one night, but she regained all but one ounce for her birth weight by five days old. You can supplement your LO that early, but there's a reason why they give you two weeks to regain birth weight. It really stinks when they can't be soothed at that age, but I would hold out a few days.

Oh-- did your LO latch when she was shaking her head? My LC says that's because they can't find the nipple. Mine could never find the nipple unless there was milk on it or a nipple shield.