My breastfed baby wasn't satisfied, wasn't gaining weight, was losing weight, was dehydrated, wasn't having enough wet or poopy diapers, and acted like he was starving to death even though he nursed almost constantly. I would nurse him for 40 to 50 minutes at a time and then 10-20 minutes later he wanted to nurse again. The longest he ever went without nursing was 2 hours. So at about 3 weeks I started supplementing. I have pcos, which makes it harder for me to produce enough milk (some women with pcos don't have trouble with it). I went to 2 different certified lactation consultants and tried everything under the sun- herbs, oats, reglan, metformin (it can help some women produce more who have pcos and are insulin resistant), pumping, etc.
He is 8 weeks now and I still BF at least every two hours and then supplement and pump (nothing comes out when I pump and it is a hospital grade pump). He is finally gaining and is a much happier baby. But I want to quit supplementing. I'm tired of the dirty looks I get in public because I give my baby a bottle after I nurse and I'm tired of all the rude people on forums that make me feel like crap for supplementing (some are nice and actually helpful and supportive). And I hate buying expensive formula. And people keep trying to tell me that I can't keep doing both, that I need to do one or the other. Why does BF have to all or nothing?! Still I want to try only BF again. I think maybe now that I'm recovered from some complications from the birth I had that I will have more energy to deal with it.
Sooo, how do I stop supplementing? Do I back off of it gradually or just throw out all the bottles at once? And how do I deal with the screaming baby? I've tried skipping some supplemental feedings and he cries and screams and will BF but still acts as if he's still very hungry. It feels so cruel to not feed a hungry baby. I know, I know, the more I BF, the more milk there will be and then he won't be hungry. But how do I get through that time until there is enough milk (if there ever will be)? It just feels like abuse to not supplement at least a little bit to get him to the next BFing. I feel like such a horrible monster because I can't feed my baby the "normal" way. :(
Asked by Anonymous at 6:23 AM on Feb. 15, 2012 in Babies (0-12 months)
Answer by gdiamante at 12:20 AM on Feb. 16, 2012
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