Don't Think I Can Do It Anymore =(

Hi Mommies.. I know I haven't been on here lately   I've been working a crazy schedule and it's killing me  
It's doing more than just exhaust me though - I don't know if I can continue to exclusively breastfeed  

Cassie uses between 8-12oz of pumped breastmilk while I'm at work.. Thing is though, I'm staying up until 2-3am each night to pump her enough for that next day.. I strictly breastfeed whenever I'm with her, I've tried my own advice of drinking a ton of water and Mother's Milk Tea and no matter what I try to do I can't increase my milk supply.
It's honestly getting to be sooooo stressful and Cassie can sense it and I just don't think I can handle it anymore  

So my question is - For Mommas who supplement - Is it okay to still breastfeed anytime that I am with her and give her all the expressed milk that I can get but to give her formula without stressing about it once a day or so if I just can't make enough milk?

I have a sample can of Nutramigen formula and I have read that that is an easily digested formula so I was just wondering if anyone could offer any advice at all.. All is welcome <3<3

i did both when daemian was born, but pumping got too hard for me plus i didnt have enough milk. so i gave him two breastmilk a day and rest formula.
now its all formula.
you should talk to the dr bout formula first..

i hope my advice helped...  

She has an appt on Thursday for her shots and I can't get in to see the doctor before then - But I have to work Monday-Friday and I don't know if I'll be able to make enough milk for those days, ya know.    

Good for you for keeping it up this long. I breastfed exclusively for the first 4 months as well. Now she gets formula while I'm at work and I breastfeed when I'm not. At first I felt guilty, but now I don't think it's so bad. It gives me more time to spend with her and it makes me happier not having to pump. Do whatever you think is right for you.

Thanks <3

That's what I'm thinking - That I will pump as much as I can but not stress about it like I have been.. I'm staying up late or waking up super early when I work a morning shift to try and pump enough and stressing while I'm at work that what I did get won't be enough and it's just too hard..

I'm still gonna breastfeed anytime that I am with her and pump as much as I can but I think I'm going to let myself fall back on the formula to stop stressing about it...

I started giving one bottle of formula at night just to introduce it because I was also afriad I wouldnt be able to pump enough. I wanted to make sure Michael would take it and be okay with it. He was just fine! Infact he still gets the formula at night and that allows me to pump after i put him to bed and have one-up for the next day. Plus I pump twice at work for the next day too. Ever since I started the one formula bottle I have never had to supplement any of his other feedings. I think alot of it has to do with not be stressed out about how much I am pumping.

Good luck!

Im very proud you have stuck with it this long! I breastfed only as well, sorry no good advice, just good job mom

Austin get half and half when i'm at work i mix 3 oz of breast milk and 3 oz of fourmla mixed, i just got to the point i could not keep up either, but when i'm home he only gets breast milk. Hope that helped..... good luck...  

MeggyT wrote: I started giving one bottle of formula at night just to introduce it because I was also afriad I wouldnt be able to pump enough. I wanted to make sure Michael would take it and be okay with it. He was just fine! Infact he still gets the formula at night and that allows me to pump after i put him to bed and have one-up for the next day. Plus I pump twice at work for the next day too. Ever since I started the one formula bottle I have never had to supplement any of his other feedings. I think alot of it has to do with not be stressed out about how much I am pumping.

Good luck!

That's what I'm hoping is thar she will only have to have one bottle a day.. And also that not having to stress will help my supply to possibly increase.. Thank you for your story, I feel a lot better knowing I'm not the only one...

stacy556677 wrote: Im very proud you have stuck with it this long! I breastfed only as well, sorry no good advice, just good job mom

Aww thanks <3<3

firebaby10805 wrote: Austin get half and half when i'm at work i mix 3 oz of breast milk and 3 oz of fourmla mixed, i just got to the point i could not keep up either, but when i'm home he only gets breast milk. Hope that helped..... good luck...  

I read on one of my baby bulletins you shouldn't mix the two? Does he do okay with it?

Whenever I was breastfeeding Sera, I wasn't producing enough, so I had to supplement with formula. She got as much breast milk as my body would allow, and then she got formula...but for your problem, I've heard that mixing half formula half breast milk is a-okay. That way she doesn't get too used to the formula.

Sweetie do not feel bad!

I supplement Gavyn with formula because I don't get enough out when I pump. So if my husband is watching him he gets formula and I just nurse him when I get home.

Yeah he does really good with it. My pedi is the one who told me to do it, you still can't warm it in boiling water or the microwave. But he is doing great with it.

Thank you for all your advice ladies   Today will be the first day Cassie gets a little formula if she goes through my expressed breastmilk so I'm hoping she handles it well  
Wish us Luck <3<3

I only breastfeed, so I can't really help (we're lucky here in Canada, we get a year maternity leave). I do remember reading in What to Expect the First Year though that drinking too much fluid can decrease your milk. I'm not sure where my book is at the moment, when I find it I will post the exact quote, but it's something about drink your 8 glasses a day (it suggests having a glass of water when you nurse), but not to go overboard. I'll see if I can be more specific.

Otherwise, don't feel bad about supplementing with formula. You gotta do what's best for you and baby.

I have never tried breasfeeding, but I give props to all the ladies that took on that challenging task, especially for so long. Your baby got the best milk during her most vital months, you did good. Nutrition is not all your baby needs the best of, your baby needs the best of you too and if pumping all the time is leaving you exauhsted(sp?) then your not able to give the best of yourself. So do what you need to do for the happiness and health of both you and your baby and don't feel guilty your baby is going to be well taken care of by a mommy who loves her no matter how you choose to feed her.