DD is 4 months and has been mostly EBF other than a little supplementation early on while establishing my supply, and then a few bottles as i was gearing up to go back to work. now that i've been back to work 2 weeks, i'm pumping 3x/day but just not producing enough to meet her needs (plus, she is growing a little on the slow side of on track, so even though her pediatrician is not worried, i want to be increasing her intake and supplementing more if anything). right now she's getting probably 4-5oz of formula a day, sometimes more.

i pumped at work for DS until he was about 10 months; we supplemented with formula from the beginning and the amount per day gradually increased with time. for some reason, the second time around, the prospect of pumping 6 more months seems kind of overwhelming. and, i feel worse about the fact that i am not producing all the milk she needs. (i supplemented basically my son's whole life, whereas with DD we were squeaking by EBF until recently.)

i really want to do right by DD and try to give her as much time breastfeeding as DS. i went looking for studies about the benefits of getting any or mostly breastmilk and keep just running into articles about EBF. the pediatrician sort of seemed inclined the same way--like once you change their gut biome by introducing formula, it almost doesn't matter how much BM they get?

wondering if anyone has articles, studies, or other words of wisdom that can help me get over the hump. i'm sure some of this is just the pains of readjustment, but i'm looking at all this time strapped to my desk (plus upcoming work travel where it is going to be a reeeeal pain), especially in a male-dominated field, and i could really use a good reminder of why i'm doing all this in the first place!

or if anyone has great tips about increasing pumping supply, i'd love to hear that too! (i'm trying with my oatmeal and fenugreek supplements, plus most of the time i pump until i get a second or third letdown...so far no noticeable results.)

thanks so much bees!