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Absolutely not. Formula is not poison and it's not bad for your baby. I fought tooth and nail from 8-12 months to provide exclusive breastmilk, and looking back, I wish that I had just given formula.

Supplementing is not a bad thing. EFF is not a bad thing.

You have been doing a great job, doing this for 7 weeks already!! Have you met with a lactation consultant to pinpoint what the issue is, now that her tongue/lip ties are supposedly fixed? I'm wondering if she fusses b/c you have a fast letdown? Low supply? Bad latch?

Also when do you pump? When I pump after feedings randomly, I used to not get much either. And what you get from pumping is not an indication of how much your baby is drinking!

Do not feel bad that you have to give formula! Breast milk is great but formula is not evil!

First of all, HUGS! You are doing a great job, mama!

I could have written a very similar post when I first began breastfeeding. My daughter lost too much weight too quickly after birth, and we had to supplement with formula. I felt SO MUCH guilt over that, especially because if you do any googling you come across the most guilt-inducing opinions from fellow mothers!

So, first of all, NO GOOGLING. It doesn't matter what you are researching, you WILL find negative, judgmental comments from people on the other side of the issue. That doesn't help anyone.

Second of all, there is no rule that says you have to choose between breastfeeding and formula feeding. I know how important it is to you to provide the health-benefits of breastfeeding, and the great news is that you are doing that! Supplementing with formula does not take away from what you are giving your baby through breastmilk. As for formula, it has some great benefits, too. It gives you the benefit of flexibility, of knowing that your baby is full, and decreasing your stress over how much she is eating.

For what it's worth, I was feeding my daughter about 50% formula in the beginning, and over time things have improved and I have been able to transition to breastfeeding most of the time. I think confidence has made a big difference. I pump once a day (right before bed), and I only get between 1 and 3 ounces each time. My husband gives the pumped milk to my daughter when it is his turn to feed her (we switch off mornings) and when there isn't quite enough he gives her formula. My daughter is 9 months old, and about as healthy as they come! She was just sick for the first time ever... pretty good for 9 months old!

I know how hard it is to feel like you are compromising on something that is important to you, but I am a big proponent of doing what is best for you and baby... sometimes that means doing what is best your own mental health. Feel free to PM me if you have questions or need support.

You're doing a great job! I had some similar issues, and the fussiness turned out to be reflux.

Ohh mama! Formula is not the devil and your babe will be okay if that's the route you choose. I was formula fed and (in my humble opinion) have excelled in life. Stop Google-ing--breastfeeding diehards will drive you insane. At the end of the day, you need a happy babe and a happy mama. Babe knows when mama is stressed out and unhappy.

You don't need to make a choice between breast and formula. You can nurse when you can and supplement with formula, even when it's mostly formula and supplementing with breast.

Be easy and forgiving with yourself. Beating yourself up won't be helpful! Be flexible and allow yourself to use formula if need be. Thinking of you!

I think you have to stop looking at it from the angle of breastfeeding=good, formula=bad. There are bonuses to each method of feeding and both of them are good nutritious sources of food for babies.

You are doing a great job! Any amount of breast milk is a good amount. I increased my supply by extra pumping and eating extra calories. Don't worry, this isn't black and white. Any amount is good, and baby eating is good!

First big hugs momma. Like a lot of mommas have said before formula is not poison, not even close. You have already given your baby some many benefits of your breast milk!! If you are looking for ways to improve your supply I would recommend contacting a LC. Also things that work for me is lots of oatmeal with flax seed and Gatorade. Remember whatever happens happy momma and happy baby are important equally.

Hugs! You're doing a great job. I second PP to work with an LC if you're not already, give yourself grace and formula is absolutely not poison! It's a great resource when mamas need it! My gf BF and FF for 9 months so just because you supplement doesn't mean your BFing relationship is done!

@CatchAFallingStar: what initially led you to beleive you weren't producing enough? I ask because I have a very high needs baby who constantly wanted to nurse. My mil tried to get me to supplement but I went with just nursing all the time. I'm not sure if my supply was initially low and constant nursing helped, or if she was just a high needs baby and nursing helped calm her but either way she seemed to grow out of it. (Although she still nurses more often than other babies at 5 months).

Unless she's having weight gain issues you might have a similar situation on your hands. And I know it's said pumping is not an accurate reflection of your supply since babies are much better at getting milk then the pump is!

In the end though there is nothing wrong with formula, and if you are stressed out by all of the feeding issues you should not feel guilty for using formula! As long as your babies happy and fed it doesn't matter how you got there

This isn't always a popular option, but I wanted to let you know that it is possible to formula feed and continue with a breastfeeding relationship. I've managed to nurse my twins for ten months so far and have FF since day 4. I have low supply and two children to feed. My children have thrived on formula (they were too small for the charts when they were born and now are in the 20s and 30s percentile). My body alone could not have sustained the weight gain they needed. Formula has not had any negative health effects and has not ruined our breastfeeding relationship either. In fact, they much prefer nursing to bottles. Whatever you decide, I know it's with your DD's best interest in mind, but don't forget to cut yourself some slack. You're doig a great job mama!

My supply didn't establish until like 12 weeks and I went from pumping like 2-3 ounces at the absolute most to 4-5, even 6-7 in the morning. By 12 weeks I was pumping 22-ish ounces a day. Oh yeah we switched to EPing after weeks for various reasons. Anyway, we supplemented with one or two bottles of formula from early on and it's been just fine. He needed more than I could produce at the beginning because he also had weight gain issues but he's six months now and he's dropped the amount of milk he needs with solids. I can just about provide him exclusively with breastmilk now if I get up at night to pump but I still give him one bottle of formula to give myself some freedom and to freeze some. He gets 80% breastmilk and it's just fine with me. Please be kinder to yourself!

You're doing great so far...7 weeks may sound like a little at first, but it's a long time, especially when you feel like you're struggling! If you really want to stick to it, do what you can, and then supplement until you can exclusively BF/pump.

As for formula...it's not horrible...it's not even bad. Who is telling people these things? Do you think your child is the first child ever to have to take in formula? No, millions and millions of us had formula as children and we are completely fine. I promise.

I understand. With my first, I wanted to just breastfeed/pump. I lasted like 6/7 weeks. I couldn't do it. It was heartbreaking, but after going back and forth, I decided with my husband's support that we would switch to formula.

Best. Decision. Ever.

Whatever you choose, your baby will grow happy, healthy, and smart.

Both my babies were slow gainers. Lo2 took almost 3 weeks to reach his birth weight. I had trouble with my supply because he was nursing so little. I started drinking Mother's Milk Tea, eating oatmeal, drinking lots, and pumping. My supply did come back and he chunked up.

Are you pumping after feeds? If so, that is a lot to get! My norm when I pumped at work was about 4oz.

Also, some babies just fuss at the breast. My guy hates my slow let down, so I let him nurse for a few seconds, give him his paci, wait for my milk to come down, and then I pop him back on. Not suggesting that, just saying some babies are really fussy at the breast and it doesn't necessarily mean low supply. he also doesn't like to nurse to sleep. So he screams after nursing because he is tired, but doesn't want to nurse to sleep. Baby fussing could be because she is still hungry, it could also just be baby being baby.

If your LO is getting enough wet diapers and gaining weight, she is doing fine. It can be really hard to let go of that worry though. And to be honest, I think weeks 6 and 7 are the hardest of having a newborn. Sleep deprivation makes everything 1000 times worse. It will get better really soon!