https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 14:47:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2686932 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 06:27:29 +0000 ShootingStar 2686932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: We had some Enfamil Gentlease that we got a few free cans of, so I've been using that. She usually finishes most of the 19 ounces I send. </p> <p>What size bottles are you doing and how many? I've found so far that she can't really do more than four bottles during the day. So adding a fifth bottle with formula sometimes got eaten but mostly not. However, when I bumped up the amount in the bottles she finished them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2686910 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 23:15:51 +0000 LCTBQE 2686910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: yes, is STTN the holy grail, or what :wink: hopefully your stash will last you guys for a while. can I ask what kind of formula are you using? and does she eat all 19 oz at day care? my boo will only eat 13~ish there on a really good day (and he's there 10 hours)--I try to get another 15-17 with two huge morning and bedtime feeds, but doesn't always work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2683905 Fri, 20 Jan 2017 11:14:49 +0000 ShootingStar 2683905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As an update to this, for the moment I'm going to keep pumping 3 times a day and I'm also using both my frozen stash and some formula. My number one priority is feeding her enough so that she can STTN. So I've started giving her 3 bottles with 5 oz of BM (used to be 4 bottles of 4oz) and one 4oz of formula. So instead of 16 ounces of BM for daycare, I'm sending 15 plus 4 of formula. I'll keep digging into the frozen for whatever deficit I have to get to 15 for as long as it lasts. </p> <p>At night before bed I BF her and also give her a bottle of formula to tank her up. She usually takes 2-3 oz. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2680154 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 19:38:00 +0000 Mrs D 2680154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was in a similar position to you. I started giving DD a bottle before bed at 4.5 mos to encourage her to sleep through the night. I would get a pumping session in then before bed, and one in early in the morning to help supplement my shortfall from what she drank at school to what I pumped at work.</p> <p>I also took a ton of conference calls while pumping in my mothers room - not sure if that is an option for you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2680153 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 19:33:06 +0000 ShootingStar 2680153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Still deciding. I was only a .5 ounce short on Thursday and 1 ounce short in Friday. I have a cold developing now and I'm really desperate for some sudafed so I can function, but that's what finished off my supply with DS. I'all have to see once this cold's over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2680130 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 17:42:40 +0000 caterw 2680130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would mix a little formula into the mix to see how baby does... Sometimes it takes a little while to find a formula that your LO will like and not have an allergic reaction to so it might be good to jump ahead of the curve. I was a crappy pumper so I gave DD formula mixed into BM and then gradually increased the ratio to more formula- she did great with it! I continued to breastfeed normally at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2680082 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 13:28:58 +0000 LCTBQE 2680082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: curious what you decided to do. I've been pumping on the same schedule you do currently, plus an 11pm pump before I go to bed, and still have to supplement with probably 10-15% Similac--it seems like a million years ago that both of us were talking about dealing with oversupply. I send boo with 14-15 oz to daycare, and try to make most of that breast milk, but don't stress out at all if one bottle has to be formula every few days. like gingerbebe pointed out, I do not mix BM and formula for daycare because of potential waste. however, when we first introduced formula (when he was tiny tiny), we did what @MrsSCB: suggested and mixed it into a bottle of pumped milk, and gave it at his bedtime feeding when he always seems to be starving. I still do that quite a bit :) Also found that his favorite is the Similac soy formula--he doesn't have any diet issues or reflux, but he just seems to prefer the taste of that one over their regular version. (And god knows why but he hates Enfamil.)<br /> no idea how true this is, but I read somewhere (kellymom maybe?) that BM composition changes to keep up with the baby's needs over time, so I wonder if milk pumped in October is really going to be *that* much better for her come March than formula would? if that's the case, maybe you don't have to be as careful about ratios and stuff? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2680065 Sat, 14 Jan 2017 11:42:01 +0000 Pirouette 2680065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Every baby is different so it's hard to say, but we are in the same situation as you (with a smaller stash since it has been months of producing less than he eats but with the same job concerns). With my first, i opted for trying to up my output and avoid formula, and it backfired because we waited too long to introduce formula and she rejected it. We had to introduce wcm at 10 months. </p> <p>This time, my job is different and my baby eats like a large animal, so we're supplementing. We're still finding the right formula, but I'm not mixing it with bm, and just slipping in a few ounces a day to help me keep up. He's taking it fine (digesting it is another story) and I'm feeling so much less pressure to produce. It's very freeing! And i also feel good that he still gets mostly bm, so best of both worlds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2679269 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 22:34:13 +0000 Pollywog 2679269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How much is she drinking at daycare? What are you doing about solids? </p> <p>At 5 months, My LO would drink 12 oz, but I'd send 16 for the rare case he'd touch the last bottle. If you're constantly 3.5 ounces behind, I'd see about adding a pumping session on the weekend. Then at 6 months I'd send all of your babies solids to daycare. </p> <p>At 11 months, my LO only drinks 12 ounces at daycare, same as at 5 months. He eats 2 purees there (and 1.5 for breakfast and 1 for dinner). I never thought I wouldn't have to supplement, but it got much easier. </p> <p>If you have to supplement, I'd say do it after you've exhausted your freezer stash. Have daycare give her formula last </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2679256 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 22:14:25 +0000 rockinghorse 2679256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this really comes down to what you feel you are comfortable with. DD was EBF until 4 months, then I started to introduce some formula here and there to build up my freezer stash. I wasn't sure how long I would really keep BF, and I was hoping she could get at least one bottle of BM a day for as long as possible. I didn't mix the formula with any breast milk. I found that adding the formula into her diet really took a load off of me, because I knew I had more options. </p> <p>DD is now 8 months and I recently went down to only pumping twice a day (with no BF), and it is AMAZING. I feel like a am no longer tethered to the baby or the pump! She still is getting some BM every day, along with the formula. I was just thinking that in the future I am going to transition to this waaaaaay sooner. I will keep this up for a bit if my supply lasts, if not, oh well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2679197 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 21:03:14 +0000 Mrs. J 2679197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you try adding a session after she goes to bed? Maybe try a power pump session? Also, your body may go back to producing what it was. I'd drink lots of water and wait a few days to see if my body responded. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2679044 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 15:55:39 +0000 agold 2679044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Hello August mom! I'm having the exact same issue right now! I just noticed it yesterday. And same with today. I don't want to use formula so I'm hoping to get my supply back up to where I want it. My baby girl will be 20 weeks tomorrow. She's also nursing a ton during the night right now and I was home a lot over the holidays and not pumping. Yikes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2678929 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 13:32:49 +0000 gingerbebe 2678929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: I would start supplementing with formula now. Just make one bottle formula and make daycare deal with the transition. If you mix and he rejects it would be a waste of BM so I would be inclined to try it first and see how he does with straight formula. </p> <p>Traveling with formula is not that bad BTW. I carry those premeasured packets, two bottles, and a Swell water bottle to keep hot water in. Easy to mix in some cold water for an instant warm bottle. </p> <p>When we travel I love this set:</p> <p>Mommy's Helper Drain 'N Dry Bottle Drying Rack <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000056J1C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9T8DybJM1CDKR" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000056J1C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9T8DybJM1CDKR</a></p> <p>It's super cheap and really convenient and folds flat and you can leave it behind if you want since it's so inexpensive. I tuck a small travel size dish soap in the box and we are good to go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2678830 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 12:15:40 +0000 sunny 2678830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just like you, I was sending 16 oz with my LO when he first started daycare at 5 months. I was only pumping about 9-10 oz so I was dipping into my frozen stash quite a bit. Now at 11 months, we actually send only 12 oz because he eats so much solids! He gets 4 oz with oatmeal in the morning, 2 bottles of 4 oz each and 1 meal of purees. I breastfeed him at home before and after work. </p> <p>So consider that your LO may be ramping up on solids soon and one of his bottles may get replaced by a meal of something else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2678814 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 12:04:05 +0000 snowjewelz 2678814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started supplementing at 6 mo bc work mtgs always mess with me pumping so my supply was going down. Fully weaned at 9 mo bc I completely dried up! </p> <p>Wasn't what I wanted but DD was fine transitioning breastmilk and formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2678783 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 11:41:00 +0000 nana87 2678783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I supplemented with lo1 from 2 months on due to low supply, and what my pediatrician basically told me when I was down on myself for not providing enough was that any amount of breastmilk is beneficial. So with that, I'd probably try to stretch out your frozen stash as long as possible (and 360 is seriously impressive!! well done!). Although, when lo starts solids her bottle consumption might go down a little, so your supply might still be enough. So, maybe I'd dip a little into your frozen stash for now, since you do have so much, but then if you keep consistently needing more, start introducing some formula as well? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2678777 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 11:38:33 +0000 DesertDreams88 2678777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Similar situation here in the past - good frozen stash, open to formula usage, vacations where I wanted to BF, work concerns, etc. </p> <p>Should I start her on formula to make the frozen stretch longer? I went back in forth on this one. Using exclusively frozen freed up space in my freezer, and was cheaper. Using a mix and stretching it out helped him have breastmilk longer which was better for his skin &amp; digestive system (he is seemingly reacting to lots of formula now). I personally think frozen vs. formula is not *very* nutritionally different.</p> <p>Should I just continue to use the frozen stash to supplement? Should I make an effort to try and up my supply, and if so, how? And is that worth it if I'll only BF another 2 months?<br /> I would try doing more compressions or let-down sessions (playing with the pump settings) to up supply. If upping your supply via more sessions isn't a choice bc of work, yes, supplement with frozen. That means on vacation you'll also need to supplement or nurse more often to meet LO's needs. FWIW, having taken two vacations with a lower supply, I still had a lot of bottles to clean and it was annoying to clean them but convenient for driving / spending more time with family. So, pros and cons! I dont' know what kind of vacation you have coming up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2678775 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 11:37:52 +0000 MrsSCB 2678775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've heard people suggest mixing BM and formula to ease them into it (and gradually increasing the amount of formula in the bottle and decreasing the BM until you get to 100 percent formula). Would you want to do something like that?I don't know if it's necessary, but it's an option. So you could do combined what you pump and formula starting now, and keep the frozen for a bit longer.</p> <p>ETA: So if you pumped 12 oz and want to send 16ish, you could send three bottles, each with four oz. breastmilk and 1 oz formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2678769 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 11:34:18 +0000 FaithFertility 2678769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back to work as a teacher at 8 months and DD was EBF and NEVER took a bottle<br /> I decided to supplement at that time with formula in a straw cup since pumping as a teacher just didn't seem worth it since she was close to 1 yr and WCM! </p> <p>It went great and she did amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2678762 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 11:31:04 +0000 mrsjd 2678762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: no advice but I'm having similar concerns so I'm following. My 90th percentile baby is difficult to keep up with while pumping. Plus my period came back a few weeks ago impacting my supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-supply-and-supplementing#post-2678718 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 11:08:27 +0000 ShootingStar 2678718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Currently I EBF my almost 5 month old. I WOH and pump 3 times a day (once between I leave, twice at work). My pumping output has slowly been going down as I gradually dropped pumps (was at 5 at one point) and DD stopped sleeping through the night (I used to get a big morning pump when she STTN). My supply also took a hit when I was off the entire week between Christmas and New Year's and didn't pump at all, mostly because DD had been up a million times and feeding all night.</p> <p>I send her to daycare with 16 ounces a day and the past few days I've only been pumping about 12.5, so we've been dipping into my frozen stash. Right now I have about 360 ounces. </p> <p>I work a job that involves a lot of meetings and I've been lucky that things have been slow so far since I've been back at work so I haven't had trouble pumping. But with 2017 roadmaps and budgets falling into place, things are starting to ramp up and I'm not sure I'll be able to accommodate the amount of pumping I do now. My goal is to making it through the end of March because we're going on vacation and I feel like BFing would be easier than bringing a ton of bottles (and washing them) and formula. </p> <p>I'm trying to figure out how we should proceed going forward. Should I just continue to use the frozen stash to supplement? Should I start her on formula to make the frozen stretch longer? Should I make an effort to try and up my supply, and if so, how? And is that worth it if I'll only BF another 2 months?</p> <p>Any thoughts or advice for me? </p>