Pls share experience! DD is 8 weeks and we are EBF (she did have some formula in the very beginning when I had BF troubles). My supply is on the low end and I haven't been able to pump much. In case my output can't make it for what she needs when I go back to work I want to see who does both and how you do it and what your supply is like.
Now I know there are many ways to increase supply but I want to be prepared just in case.
cantaloupe / 6669 posts
Me! I had chronic low supply from the beginning. My poor baby lost 12% of her birth weight and was starving. It broke my heart to supplement, and we did struggle with some nursing strikes because the bottle is easier & faster than breastfeeding, especially with a mama who has low supply.
Still, I was very committed to continuing to nurse and I just kept offering and rarely substituted nursing with bottle feedings. (I was at home with her until 7 months so that played a part.) We would always nurse first and then offer a bottle after. And I am very happy to say that at 15 months, she is still nursing and our struggles are a fading memory! I am glad we supplemented so that she could grow.
I think in your case, if you are concerned about not being able to pump enough, I would still pump every 3 hours when you are away from your baby, and when you are with her, continue to nurse often. If you aren't pumping enough, send formula to daycare along with breast milk to make up the difference, but don't replace breastfeeding with bottle feeding at home or your supply will dip even further and your LO may start to prefer the bottle.
You may also be surprised that you don't need to pump a ton. Many babies drink 3-4 ounce bottles of breast milk and that is plenty. The rule of thumb is to pump one ounce for every hour that you are away from your LO. Make sure your caregiver doesn't overfeed!
honeydew / 7230 posts
I started supplementing my twins on the last day we were in the hospital due to their small size, weight loss, and the fact that there were two of them! At 9 months we are still nursing but I honestly am not sure how much they get from me. They take 24-28 oz of formula per day, plus nursing and some solids. We've gone through phases where one nursed less and seemed to prefer the bottle, but we've gone through many more phases where they refused bottles and only wanted to nurse! They definitely find a lot of comfort in nursing and up until recently nursed to sleep for every nap and bedtime and night waking. I SAH with them and I will say if I were pumping I'm not sure I would have been able to keep it up for what I'm sure is not much output. I really admire those who pump daily!!
persimmon / 1431 posts
I supplemented in the beginning, and now I give pumped milk. I still occasionally supplement, but my LO hates formula, and will not really drink it.
I would give the breast milk first, and then just offer the formula whenever I didn't have enough. Do you have specific questions?
In the beginning I was agonizing over how I wasnt producing enough and having to give my LO formula. Now, I wish my LO would take the darn formula so I can stop pumping.
persimmon / 1458 posts
I did this with both of my kids. I nursed while on maternity leave and when I went back to work I couldn't keep up with their demand. I would give whatever I pumped to daycare and then they would add formula to make up the difference. My first son did not really like taking bottles at home with us so when I weaned at 10.5 months he didn't take too much formula at home until we transitioned to regular milk. My second son is 9 months and he loves bottles, formula, breast milk and combo. He doesn't care what it is he just wants to eat.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
@Pumpkin Pie: lol oh the irony! I'm just curious for now... I get barely 3 oz when I pump after feedings and just over 3 if I'm pumping instead of nursing. So I just want to be prepared if I'm not pumping enough esp in those beginning days when I go back to work
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
@daniellemybelle: yea I'm planning to pump as much as possible at work but I def want to be prepared esp since I don't really have a stash!
pomegranate / 3577 posts
@snowjewelz: My philosophy was that my firstborn was going to get some breastmilk every day. If he got one full bottle and nursed when I was at home, then I was satisfied. Trying to keep up was a fool's errand for my low supply. (And it looks like it will be the same for this one, too. 
)
persimmon / 1431 posts
@snowjewelz: my supply got much better right around 9 weeks. I pumped every 2-3 hours up to that point and I think it really helped.
Gosh, I wish I hadn't been so stressed over having to feed formula because now I'm all over the place trying to get to take it so I don't have to pump all the time.
cantaloupe / 6131 posts
We EP with one bottle of formula a day. I have one wonky boob that makes half as much as the other so I've been short. I think if I woke up to pump at night once or twice I might be able to get close but it's not worth it to me. My son gets around 80% BM and it's nice to have DH or my mom help feed. I pump 4 times a day for 30 minutes each time. I'm contemplating switching to FF at 6 months. Luckily DS has taken a little formula since the early days so he switches back and forth without issue. I had an EBF friend recommend giving formula here and there bc her son flat refused anything but BM and she really regretted not being able to be prepared for an emergency or being able to be away for a night.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
@gingerbebe: I feel the same; I can kill myself pumping to get enough and get less sleep, or supplement with formula when needed!
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
@Pumpkin Pie: I know I feel like I have to hypnotize myself that it is ok! It is ok!
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
@Espion: I like that motto 
something is better than nothing!
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