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please help ...?
I am running out of my breast milk supply. I want my baby to be exclusively breastfed but it’s draining me out. I’m struggling with this guilt. I know formula isn’t bad but I want to continue breastfeeding. Any positive advice would be nice! Thanks
3 Answers
- LizBLv 77 days ago
I had low supply with my first which I thought was due to serious complications post-delivery, and I tortured myself for a solid 7 months producing as much milk as I could, until I got to the point that I was spending roughly 3 hours a day pumping for 5-6 oz TOTAL. My baby stopped latching once he started growing teeth, so basically every spare minute I had I was chained to a pump, sacrificing sleep and other self-care in the effort to give him "the best." Finally around 7 months I realized that my baby could either have my breastmilk, or he could have me. I decided time with a mama who wasn't killing herself from stress was the better option.
When my second was born my delivery went much better so I actually managed to have a full supply, but I didn't make much extra. Only about 10oz per a day extra on good days, which I started freezing starting about 2 weeks in. Then once again, my supply started to steadily fall, despite eating all the galactagogues and drinking a crap ton of water and taking all the supplements and pumping after every feed and seeing 4 different lactation consultants. I did literally everything a breastfeeding mama could do, it still wasn't enough, and once again I found myself having to choose between spending time pumping or spending time with my baby. That's when I accepted that my body just was never going to make enough milk because for whatever reason I have naturally low supply, and I transitioned fully to formula at 5 months. I felt a little guilty at first, but after that I just felt relieved.
Moral of the story is, while breastmilk is the perfect human food and yadda yadda, if you're torturing yourself trying to feed your child when other options are available, maybe it's time to do a little self-examination about what your goals are a parent really are. Breastmilk has benefits, but it's not a magical cure-all, and there are some very good reasons why formula was invented in the first place. As long as you have at least some supply you also have the option of combo-feeding, so it's not like you have to choose fully one or the other. Besides, most of the substantial benefits from breastmilk are gained just within the first couple of weeks, so if you've only made it that far then you've done an amazing job and anything beyond that is simply a bonus. =)
- jlbLv 77 days ago
It's hard to offer much help with so little information. What makes you think your supply is "running out"? It's normal not to feel the engorgement that you probably experienced when baby was a newborn. That doesn't mean you don't still have plenty of milk.
If baby is at least 3 months old and you are nursing on demand or pumping when baby would normally be hungry, when away from baby, your supply shouldn't drop off for no reason. Breastfeeding is supply and demand. If you aren't removing often enough, your body isn't going to make as much.
- Anonymous7 days ago
How old is your baby?
If you've been breastfeeding, usually it won't reduce in supply but continue to grow as your baby gains weight.
You need to be sure you eat well--this is a time to eat healthy, not to diet--and that you're hydrated.
See your OB or a lactation specialist if this keeps up.