https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:39:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you/page/2#post-1168789 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 12:54:09 +0000 jetsa 1168789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been fighting this like crazy for no reason I guess. I had to supplement a day to get started at work and my husband hopes it will make me chill out about it. We've had a really difficult (painful) time breastfeeding and I don't want to give up on it, so I was refusing to give any formula but life happens. My body produces just enough for Jack, and if I pump between sessions he can tell and cries until I give him what I pumped, therefore not allowing me to build up a stash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you/page/2#post-1168566 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 11:59:44 +0000 bpcmarj 1168566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a SAHM during her first year, and saw BFing as my job during that time. I never supplemented because I never felt like I REALLY needed that break. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you/page/2#post-1168547 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 11:55:01 +0000 HLK208 1168547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first I did, about once a week for the first 3 months - I just couldn't get the hang of comfortably breastfeeding while we were out in public. I BF'd until 13 months.</p> <p>With my second, I felt more confident and never supplemented. We stopped nursing at 16 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you/page/2#post-1168496 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 11:38:12 +0000 bhbee 1168496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't supplement and breastfed for 18 months. I think I didn't want to mess with supply and I liked nursing as a bonding experience (and LO STTN pretty early, which made it easier). I definitely felt I should give her bm if I was able so was happy to pump at work (but also happy to quit at 1 year!). I built up a freezer stash pretty easily (excess from work pumping mostly) so had that as backup. I do feel a sense of pride to have never supplemented but I don't feel anything negative about those who do so.</p> <p>I think supplementing would be tricky emotionally, I would have felt some guilt for sure (I even threw out formula samples we got in the mail before she was born!) even though I think it's totally fine to do so if it helps your situation. Just to say I understand how you could have feelings both ways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1168337 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 10:47:17 +0000 mjane 1168337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sparkler: that's a lovely sentiment! I think if mine took more readily to the bottle (in spite of us offering it regularly, she's lukewarm at best) I would supplement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1167933 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 09:01:33 +0000 mrsjyw 1167933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always had formula in DH's diaper bag for any "ER" situations, but we never did end up using it. If I was away we just used some of our stash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1167918 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 08:58:58 +0000 yellowbird 1167918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: I thought about it a few times, but we never did. </p> <p>I always had some breastmilk in the freezer, so if I really needed a break my DH or someone would use that. It's so hard going for the full year, but I'm glad I did! I even went so far as to purchase some formula. It's still unused in our pantry. I should give it away! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1167910 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 08:56:58 +0000 JoJoGirl 1167910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes yes yes. I'm of the "formula isn't poison" mindset ;) Maybe because LO was very jaundiced at birth and needed to be supplemented days 2-5 of her life, I don't know. But we went away for the night to get a break and were 5 hrs away from my freezer stash so she got formula from my parents the entire time we were gone. If A's sleep hadn't improved dramatically this week I'd be asking DH to take a night feeding with formula so I can function at work. Are the health of my marriage and my ability to hold down a job worth getting formula sometimes? I think so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1167897 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 08:51:26 +0000 Sparkler 1167897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I breastfed my first LO for almost 10 months and my second now for 7 months and do supplement as needed and do my best not to feel guilty about it. I just went back to work have never had a huge supply, so if one day I am sick or a meeting runs too long and I don't have enough milk, I don't stress about it and just supplement the next. In addition, I had 4 very good friends get married since my second LO was born so after these people have attended my wedding showers, bachlorette, rehearsal dinners, wedding, parties for my kids baptisms, birthdays, etc. I couldn't even fathom not being there for them just because I was breastfeeding. When I look back on this year, I will remember all of these events for the people I care about and not the fact that my LO has had x bottles of formula! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1167526 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 03:05:48 +0000 Kemma 1167526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO has just turned one and has never had any formula despite a rocky start to breastfeeding but I did have a friend go and buy me some formula on our second night home.</p> <p>FWIW the longest I've been away from LO is four hours (SAHM) and for the most part I've been ok with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1167354 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 21:24:33 +0000 MrsStar 1167354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We weaned a few days ago at 13 months, LO has never had formula, she went from breastfeeding to cows milk. I did send dh to the supermarket at 3 weeks to get formula though because LO was clusterfeeding constantly and it felt like I literally had nothing left. We didn't end up using it but it made me feel better to have some in the house in case we ever did need to use it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1166796 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 16:55:54 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1166796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope! LO is 17 months, still BFing, and has never had formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1166743 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 16:25:36 +0000 mjane 1166743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: mine is ebf and I thought that I would supplement occasionally when I was still pregnant. I haven't, and though I do pump every so often it gets used up so no stash. I am not sure why I haven't, because when I miss a feed I don't ever pump to make up for it, so I guess I'm a little careless about my supply and I can't imagine supplementing would be worse for it. Honestly I think it's so I can smugly say (to myself? To others? Who would care???) "she's exclusively breast fed." Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1163331 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:39:07 +0000 edelweiss 1163331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i supplemented in the early weeks because of supply issues and LO's birth weight. after my supply was established, i didn't use formula for a while. then at about 5 months, LO's intake started outstripping my pumping output, so i added about 1 oz of formula to each of his bottles.</p> <p>i also have used formula for convenience, particularly during travel and when we have left him at my parents' place. it's annoying that i have to try and make up for it with a pumping session, but it's nice not to have to worry about it. for example, it was really convenient to give him a bottle of formula when his feeding time fell in the middle of a car ride (we were with other people and on a schedule so couldn't stop) and i could just give him a bottle.</p> <p>ETA: but otherwise i do understand wanting to stick with breastmilk. i worked hard to be able to nurse him and i'm stubborn about letting it go. plus i really don't like pumping when i could nurse instead, and even though rationally i know i could skip a pumping session, i have this irrational fear of affecting my supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1163330 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:38:46 +0000 sslm 1163330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just hit 6 months EBF, she's never had formula. I am just too stubborn, and I also still have an oversupply, so I'd have to pump anyways, seems easier to just nurse her. I also am crazy crazy crazy about maintaining my supply, I am totally freaked out that all of the sudden I won't make enough for her... not sure why I am like this...</p> <p>Doesn't matter much anyways, Madeline has never accepted a bottle so even if I wanted to, I couldn't! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1163309 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:33:46 +0000 Adira 1163309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: I'm too stubborn to supplement (Xander's 7.5 months, so haven't had supply issues yet)! I figure it's only a year out of my life that I have to plan ahead or forgo certain events because I'm nursing/pumping, and it's important to me to have that bonding experience with Xander and provide for him while I still can! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1163298 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:30:29 +0000 immabeetoo 1163298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: it gets so much easier as they get older too! Now if I'm running late DH can give him a banana ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1163227 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:11:45 +0000 maybebaby 1163227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really appreciate all the answers, especially from those who DO supplement. I know it is a very personal decision. I know all the reasons why one *wouldn't* supplement (and those are the reasons why I haven't given it much thought until I was asked about it).</p> <p>@scg00387: Cheap and stubborn is one of my primary reasons for not doing the occasional bottle of formula! Now that the expenditures towards BFing have been spent, I don't want to spend any more money! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160791 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 13:32:13 +0000 illumina 1160791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: I think I was typing my reply out as you posted, but I completely agree with you. I'll admit the first couple of weeks I struggled with the downtime, but now I have things planned out to read, do, watch during nursing sessions and I quite enjoy it :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160787 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 13:29:31 +0000 illumina 1160787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm almost 5wks in and I've not even considered supplementing yet. I EBF and although it would be nice to have DH take a feed or have something available for when we go out, I'd start pumping to build a small stash before I went down the formula route. I don't want to do either just yet though and risk screwing up my supply. My current goal is to breast feed to 6mths and then assess how I feel. In the grand scheme of things it's not that long to that point so I'm happy I'm doing what is the best I can for her for that long :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160768 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 13:19:31 +0000 sarac 1160768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never did. To me, breastfeeding her exclusively was worth the hassle of nursing for hours and hours even when I'd rather have been doing something else. If you feel the same way, don't worry about turning down social engagements. You'll have the rest of your life for those - but only a little time to breastfeed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160701 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 12:46:18 +0000 sea_bass 1160701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Much like @MamaMoose I believe in the virgin gut theory. It would have to be something seriously major (read catastrophic) for me to give formula. You've got a good thing going that you worked hard at. I wouldn't start mix feeding unless you really have to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160665 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 12:22:42 +0000 Charm54 1160665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I supplemented from the beginning due to low supply. My supply has caught up but I still give 2 formula bottles a day to build my stash. I EP, and to me, whether its breast or formula in her bottle, I don't really care. The fact that she sleeps 9 hours through the night at 4 weeks is a great bonus, lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160586 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 11:20:12 +0000 LomaLinda 1160586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, I supplemented in the early weeks because I so desperately needed a break. My husband would give our LO one bottle of formula a day. I even considered stopping BFing because I was so overwhelmed but then we hit 6 weeks and things got better. I felt incredibly guilty the first time we gave LO a bottle, but I finally realized that the important thing is that LO is fed, not how. Once BFing got easier I focused on building my supply back up (it does suffer the more you supplement). Now, at 5 months, it's rare that LO gets a bottle of formula, because I've added a pumping session at night before I go to bed to have a small stash in the fridge. But if we are out of pumped breast milk I have no issues giving LO a bottle when it's convenient. I definitely think breast milk is best but I feel free to supplement occasionally, for outings or for my husband to feed LO when I'm gone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160560 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 11:06:03 +0000 Maysprout 1160560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a stock of pumped milk so we just used that if I couldn't be around to nurse. If I was out for an evening I just threw a hand pump into my purse and usually just pumped and dumped since it was too tricky to find a place to store it. Once she started solids at 6 months it was easier since she could go for longer stretches without nursing if she needed to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160556 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 11:02:01 +0000 immabeetoo 1160556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I haven't ever had to and don't plan to. I'm cheap and stubborn. I have a stash in the freezer if I would need to go out or want to. I don't think there's anything wrong with formula; I just don't think it's that much more convenient since I'd have to then pump to replace that session and wash all that crap etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160545 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 10:53:31 +0000 Boheme 1160545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't skip a feeding without a major pumping session, and I don't want to introduce anything new to DS's digestive system, so no. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160543 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 10:49:55 +0000 .twist. 1160543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep. He was on formula in the NICU when I couldn't be there. I tried to ebf for the first while, and pump if we went out. But it honestly was just making me so unhappy to always have my boobs on demand. I started giving him a bottle before bed and/or if we went out. Then I got thrush and started doing it just so I could get a break.</p> <p>We are back to ebf, unless we go out... So maybe not ebf. Lolz </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160483 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 09:56:03 +0000 ShootingStar 1160483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Baby's due in a few weeks and I will have no qualms about supplementing. I plan to BF while I'm home and for the first 4-6 months if I can, but IDK how much of a stash I'll try to put away when on maternity leave. And I have a job that can make it difficult to get away and pump regularly, so after a few months if it's making me too stressed out, I'm just not going to do it any more. No guilt. I'd like to keep him on BM through the winter, but I'm not going to make myself crazy or stressed in order to exclusively breastfeed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-regularly-bfed-and-didnt-need-to-supplement-did-you#post-1160460 Sat, 19 Oct 2013 09:40:09 +0000 mrsjazz 1160460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We supplemented only in the beginning 2 weeks when LO had latch issues. After that it was breast milk only and I had a great supply and there was never any need to supplement. Sure, I missed some outings or had to leave early because my breasts were engorged but since I did have the milk flowing I used it and not formula. Plus, I also had a freezer stash as a back up. I honestly felt it was more convenient to breastfeed. </p>