Supplimenting Advice? Experience?

[kbates85]

Hmmm... Well, first off, if you need to supplement there's not a damn thing wrong with that. I just want to make my feeling about that clear. We supplemented as needed starting around 4 months.

Anyway, I do find it a little concerning that you've nursed so many babies and had no issues in the past. Like there could be an underlying issue, possibly? I don't want to add anything else to your plate but that was my first thought honestly. Have you spoken to an LC?

In the meantime, do what you need to do to not be a stressed mama.

[kbates85]

Also, here's a really good article about supplementing and still BFing

theleakyboob.com/2013/03/it-doesnt-have-to-be-all-or-nothing/

Sorry it's not a link .I'm mobile and I haven't figured that out yet. I wish I had read this back in the day.

Edit: JK apparently it is a link. I like PB

[seadragon2013]

We supplemented very small amounts during DS's first three months (1-4 oz a day). I would nurse him for an hour and then offer an ounce or two of formula if he wasn't satiated. He was nursing for hours at a time, it was painful of me, and I wasn't getting any rest. It turned out he had an undiagnosed tongue tie that made him a less efficient nurser and I have Reynauld's syndrome, which reduces blood flow to the nips. Once we got DS's tongue clipped, I was able to EBF for about three months pain free.

When DS was 6 months, I went back to work and couldn't pump enough to keep up with his appetite, so I started sending formula along with BM to daycare. I continued BFing while we were at home until he weaned at 16 months.

I would describe my BFing experience as very positive (especially after his tongue was clipped). The way I see it, supplementing with formula allowed me to maintain it for as long as we did. BFing is definitely not all or nothing.