https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 18 May 2026 20:25:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762915 Mon, 06 May 2013 09:21:43 +0000 cascademom 762915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a late supplementer. We only recently started using formula after 8 months of breastfeeding. Before 8 months, we knew that we were getting to the point where he needed more than I could provide for him. It seemed like no matter how much I ate, then pumped, it wasn't enough. So we switched to formula and have begun weaning. It's hard at 8 months to do it thinking that we're so close to a year, but it's made life a lot easier and baby's happy and fed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762779 Mon, 06 May 2013 08:40:29 +0000 Cherrybee 762779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone!! It's good to hear some positive supplementing stories! I really don't know how breastfeeding will work out for me - I'm certainly going to give it a good go - but I'm not going to torture myself if I need to add some formula to the mix for whatever reason, whether that's because I need to or because, as @sera_87: said "I want to" (thank you for saying that). </p> <p>@blackbird: No, it's not bad that you would rather get a good night's sleep - not in my opinion, anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762717 Mon, 06 May 2013 08:12:18 +0000 oliviaoblivia 762717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We supplemented for two feeds at the hospital because LO was dropping weight fast while my milk dawdled. We taped a little tube to my boob and pushed formula in while she suckled. Worked like a charm and got us discharged (they were holding us there because of her weight loss).<br /> She hasn't had formula since, but that formula helped get her to where we are now and I haven't had any problems with supply since. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762715 Mon, 06 May 2013 08:10:35 +0000 swurlygurl 762715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was EBF for DD's first month. When we went for her 1 month checkup, we found that she had lost 7 oz from her birth weight! She was supposed to have gained a pound or two by that time. I felt TERRIBLE that I had been starving her, so we had to start supplementing her right away. I would feed 15 minutes each side, then she would take 2-3 ounces from the bottle! After the bottle I would pump 20 minutes both sides to try to increase supply. I think it was too late, because I was never able to increase my supply very much. By 5.5 weeks, I was exclusively pumping, and only making 9 ounces. I started supplements and prescriptions and got up to 18 ounces. I stopped supplements and dropped to 10 oz. Started them again and I've been holding steady at 16 ounces for 5 weeks.<br /> A LOT of guilt and frustration and reading later, and I'm able to give her 50% BM each day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762674 Mon, 06 May 2013 07:48:46 +0000 sera_87 762674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't pump but we bf 90% of the time and formula about 10%. Never had any issues with supply and I supplement because I, quite simply, want to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762667 Mon, 06 May 2013 07:46:14 +0000 edelweiss 762667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh i posted something on your other thread, but in case someone who needs help reads this thread instead...</p> <p>5 days after LO was born, the pediatrician recommended supplementing with formula and seeing a lactation consultant. he didn't say replace nursing with formula--i would nurse LO (who was a really, really sleepy nurser and i think that's why my milk supply had issues getting established) for 15-20 minutes, and then supplement with a few ounces of formula. while he was having his formula, i would pump (with a hospital-grade rental pump) for 10-15 minutes.</p> <p>after the formula ran out (we had one of those ready to eat 6-packs), i had enough pumped milk that i would nurse, then supplement with bottled milk. supplementing with a bottle was still necessary because he was still so sleepy during nursing and i wanted to make sure he was getting enough. </p> <p>we stopped supplementing after every nursing session when we could tell LO wasn't really interested in eating more after nursing. i did keep pumping for a while after each nursing session to make sure my supply didn't dip, and actually led to an oversupply (and i have a freezer stash now). </p> <p>even after we stopped supplementing with a bottle after nursing, he still took a bottle each day. when he had the bottle, i would pump. we continued with the bottle because: (1) i wanted him to stay used to a bottle since eventually he would be going to daycare; (2) nursing was still stressful and i needed a break; and (3) other people could help out by feeding him.</p> <p>we never had nipple confusion issues, and never had to worry about bottle strike, for which i am grateful. supplementing worked really well for us even though it was a lot of work at times (especially the pumping)! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762666 Mon, 06 May 2013 07:46:01 +0000 regberadaisy 762666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>:)<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/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762638 Mon, 06 May 2013 07:28:48 +0000 mediagirl 762638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: supplementing is good if it's going to work for you and your baby! I supplemented early on because M wasn't latching well and wasn't gaining weight. We supplemented with formula but then started supplementing with breastmilk I had pumped. She loved the bottle and the boob, never had a problem between the two. I have NEVER had a problem with my supply dropping or dipping just because I supplemented because I continued to pump when I did supplement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762559 Mon, 06 May 2013 06:23:53 +0000 blackbird 762559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E is on about 50% formula and 50% bottle fed BM because I just cant get enough pumped for her. And she hates the breast. She sleeps 4 hours at night on formula and goes 2.5-3 hours during the day on BM. I'm a well rested mom of a newborn because I get at least 8 hours every night! I'm so glad she takes both! I've heard of babies who won't drink fornula at all, which would stress me out because I cannot seem to increase my supply (is it bad that i would rather get a good nights sleep? Lol.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762531 Mon, 06 May 2013 05:37:48 +0000 hummusgirl 762531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It may not sound like a success story, but I credit formula for helping me BF for the 7 weeks I did. We dealt with a combination of a baby who refused to latch most of the time and my low supply. I did everything you're supposed to do - copious amounts of mother's milk tea, More Milk Plus, oatmeal, hot showers, massaging, lactation consultant visits etc., and LO was still not satisfied and not gaining weight. So, I would attempt to BF, then top off with formula, then pump. It was a grueling exercise and one that I couldn't maintain long-term because I was barely getting to sleep or spend any time with the baby. BUT, I'm glad I got those 7 weeks in. </p> <p>Also, for what it's worth because I saw you posted something about immunity on a different thread, LO is 7.5 months and has never been sick whereas several of his BFed friends have been, so BFing is far from a guarantee of perfect health. It's a great thing to do, but I felt a lot of guilt at switching to formula like I was dooming LO to illness when that's been far from the truth in our case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762504 Mon, 06 May 2013 03:52:24 +0000 wheres_c 762504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I supplemented because I was only producing in one boob.<br /> I would 1st feed him from the breast, then if still hungry, I would feed him any refrigerated milk, then if he was still hungry I would make a bottle of formula.<br /> Once he was done eating, I would pump.</p> <p>In the early days, he didnt require much formula, but it became more and more. My goal was to make it to three months and we did.</p> <p>Had I have been able to produce in both breasts, I don't think I would have needed to supplement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-positive-supplementing-stories-here#post-762494 Mon, 06 May 2013 03:23:16 +0000 Cherrybee 762494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, so this is my third post this morning about breastfeeding and supplementing!! Can you tell I was awake half the night thinking about it?!! </p> <p>Tell me about your experience feeding from both breast and bottle. Tell me about pumping and mixing with formula! Tell me about chopping and changing between all three feeding methods! Did your "supply" of breastmilk dwindle so much your boobs shriveled up and fell off? If not, tell me about it!! </p> <p>I want to hear positive supplementing and mixed-method feeding stories! </p>