https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:39:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-supplementing-with-formula#post-1094286 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:59:05 +0000 Bookish 1094286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: Thank you :) Luckily, we had spent a few weeks a while back giving her formula in the morning so DH could feed her/I could pump, so she's had some before and for the most part I've gotten over the 'must have BM' thing. I was just so excited that we had switched to EBF after we ran out of formula 3 weeks ago! Ah well. </p> <p>@MsLipGloss: That's awesome! My short-term goal is 6 months, so if I can even get to that, I'll be happy. I'd love to keep going to a year, but I'll probably ending up dropping some pumping sessions before them. It is stressful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-supplementing-with-formula#post-1094279 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:55:22 +0000 MsLipGloss 1094279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: I had to start supplementing not long after I returned to work too. Until around 8 months, LO still got the majority of her milk from me (I still nursed morning and night, too). I started dropping pumping sessions starting at around 8.5 months, and by 10 months had dropped all of my pumping sessions. The guilt became easier to bear for me when I realized that LO had already gotten the lion's share of the benefits of BM, and when I realized how relieved I was at not having the stress of pumping/production constantly on my mind. </p> <p>My LO just turned 12 months, and she still nurses morning and night. At this point, I am ready to be done, but she sure isn't! (and a part of me really really loves that!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-supplementing-with-formula#post-1094271 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:52:06 +0000 regberadaisy 1094271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: We used Soy Similac bc LO had a dairy intolerance. But I know someone who used Target all throughout and loved it!<br /> I saved by using/stacking coupons and buying online. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-supplementing-with-formula#post-1094268 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:51:15 +0000 deerylou 1094268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: Just wanted to send my support and hugs. I had chronic low supply from the get go, and had to supplement with formula starting from week 2, due to jaundice and weight loss. </p> <p>I won't lie and say it was easy. I was an emotional mess for several weeks. I think it is certainly possible to maintain a supply, especially if you are committed to pumping and introducing some supplements (blessed thistle, goats rue, and fenugreek are all really helpful).</p> <p>Unfortunately, I was not successful in maintaining an adequate supply, but I was in a bad place, initially, and it sounds like you were not. There is hope! But please take it from someone who desperately wanted to give her baby nothing but breastmilk, who now has a primarily formula fed baby who is thriving, nearly sleeping through the night, and reaching milestones early. It *will* be okay, no matter what; I promise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-supplementing-with-formula#post-1094261 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:50:01 +0000 Bookish 1094261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: Ah yeah I remember reading this! What kind of formula did y'all use? Have you ever tried one of the off-brand/generic ones? I hadn't budgeted formula in, so I'd rather not spend a buttload on it if it's all the same! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-supplementing-with-formula#post-1094260 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:49:45 +0000 DillonLion 1094260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm almost 10 months in and we've always supplemented. It isn't impossible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-supplementing-with-formula#post-1094251 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:45:48 +0000 regberadaisy 1094251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: yes, I definitely would because it might not always be the same teacher in the room. That way there's no mistake that bottle is to be used last.<br /> Along with Mother's milk I also took More Milk Plus supplements!</p> <p>I posted this when LO turned one! :)<br /> <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-breastfeeding-journey" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-breastfeeding-journey</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-supplementing-with-formula#post-1094245 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:44:41 +0000 Bookish 1094245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: Thanks for responding!! Your answer gives me hope :) I think what I'll be doing (since I have to send prepared bottles) is put a label on the formula saying 'use last,' so if she doesn't need all four bottles, at least the 3 she gets is BM. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-supplementing-with-formula#post-1094237 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:41:03 +0000 regberadaisy 1094237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: hugs mama!!!!</p> <p>I've supplemented with a bottle of formula from pretty much day one. I pumped 2x a day at work up until she was about 13 months. We left a tub of powdered formula at daycare and told them to use it on days where there's not enough bottles of breastmilk. Some days there were and some days there weren't. But the formula was always back up.<br /> ETA: when I'm home with her on the weekends I nurse/d exclusively.</p> <p>LO is now almost 17 months and we are still BFing 2x a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-supplementing-with-formula#post-1094201 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 08:27:37 +0000 Bookish 1094201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My supply appears to be going down the toilet. I'm not terribly surprised, as I got AF back early and started work a few weeks ago (and didn't have that great of a supply to begin with), but I'm still pretty disappointed. A morning pump now only gets me 2oz instead of 6-8, and I'm only getting 7-9oz total for 3 pumps at work. </p> <p>I've started chugging water and I'm going to buy some mother's milk tea this weekend, but to be honest, I'm not terribly optimistic. So, looks like we will be supplementing one of her bottles at daycare as a formula. Not happy about it (cried my eyes out this morning at the dang 2oz) but such is life.</p> <p>Here's my question: how long were you able to continue BF-ing if you started to supplement? I want her to get at least 75% of her milk from me for as long as possible. Is this realistic? Is my supply just going to keep dropping? I love nursing her in the morning and evenings, and I nurse her to sleep every night, so now I'm terrified I won't be able to nurse her anymore and her sleep will go to crap. </p> <p>Ugh. This blows. It's funny, I've told bees on here to not beat themselves up if they can't produce enough, and to not stress because they have to use formula, and here I am bawling because my boobs won't work. :( </p>