OP air sounds like you’re in a difficult spot and I empathize. I had a lot of trouble with nursing with my first baby. I didn’t realize that he was still hungry after nursing and felt very dumb afterwards when I realized.

Please get your thyroid levels checked. I am also hypothyroid (I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) and ended up over educated by the time my baby was born (so much so that my TSH was undetectable). My anxiety was through the roof, I never slept, I sweated constantly and every ounce of pregnancy weight melted off within days. Also, my milk supply was affected: I was producing melt but it wouldn’t let down.

I got my medication adjusted and found a lactation consultant. I tried all the usual things (increase water, oatmeal, fenugreek) but nothing helped. What finally did was an herb called Shatavari and using compression to get the milk out. I used to microwave a clean, wet diaper for 20 seconds and apply it to my breast, using as a warm compress, then massage and squeeze while pumping or feeding.

I was very upset to give formula especially because it made my baby uncomfortable (later found out about a host of allergies, including dairy and soy). But once I got the issues resolved he gained amazingly well and thrived.

Good luck OP!

My supply would increase as late as 4-5 months. I was building it a freezer stash preparing to go back to work. I was able to freeze milk on top of EBFing my baby.

Breastfeed and pump immediately afterward as many days in a row as your can. For each nursing session, offer BOTH breasts. A PP stated one breast, but that will decrease supply (one breast per feed is suggested for moms who want to decrease their supply).

Make sure both breasts are stimulated by the baby. When the baby falls asleep from nursing, then pump both breasts. For me, I did 15-30 minutes pumping afterward depending on how much milk comes out.

Good luck OP

Anonymous wrote:My breasts got really deflated at this age. Felt empty and baby was always fussy. Keep powering through. During the witching hours sit and feed. Baby will suckle, scream, suckle scream. That’s normal keep going. Night nurse as well. Pound water, set a reminder on your phone every 30m drink! Spend long periods of time refilling multiple water bottles and stationing them around so they’re ready.
Eat lots of super healthy food. One day at a time!

Why would you do this to yourself and baby? Formula is freely available! This sounds miserable. I am sorry.

Anonymous wrote:I want to voice that, if I'm correct about this OP's previous post, I am a bit worried about your mental health. You've sounded horribly stressed in posts more than a week apart. There's a lot of guilt here over absolutely nothing.

Please talk to your spouse and doctor about how you're feeling.

PP also noting - if giving her a bottle of formula would make you feel less stressed, please 100% do it. Having a mom who is feeling less stressed is way, way more important for your baby than breastfeeding. Imagine your daughter all grown up with a kid of her own. You'd recognize that her taking care of herself is important. You're someone's little baby girl and taking care of yourself is important, way more important than formula versus breastmilk.

I didn’t read the entire thread so forgive me if it’s already been posted. Here is how you can try to power pump, as per NICU: you pump 20 min take a 5 min break pump another 20 min and take a five min break, pump another 20 min. Or pump 30 min and then 20 and 10. You do that in addition to nursing at least 2 times in a 24hr period. It’s brutal. Formula is easier on your mental health. Drink water etc etc

I want to voice that, if I'm correct about this OP's previous post, I am a bit worried about your mental health. You've sounded horribly stressed in posts more than a week apart. There's a lot of guilt here over absolutely nothing.

Please talk to your spouse and doctor about how you're feeling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me, exclusive breast feeding is the gift of a lifetime for my children and possibly even for their children too. So much we are still learning about the immune system, I never supplemented a drop. Just wanted to put that perspective into the mix since there are so many just give a bottle posts!

This is the most obnoxious and eye-roll-worthy post I've seen on DCUM. You're an asshole, PP.

+100000
Oh and OR, you may be giving your kids the "gift of a lifetime" with breastmilk but you're certainly not giving them the gift of an empathetic mother. Poor kids.

Or the gift of a mother with a functioning brain.

OP, you know if your baby is hungry. You just do. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first time mom or if the pediatrician doesn’t have a medical concern. I don’t know you but I have no doubt that you know if your baby is hungry.

Please, if you’re concerned, just supplement. It’s not fair to you or your baby to drive yourself nuts over this. There is nothing wrong with formula.

Sure you can boost your supply. Breastfeeding is generally demand and supply. Or add a bottle of good formula before bed and use that session for a power pump.

Either way is no big deal, OP.

If your instincts tell you that baby is still hungry after nursing, keep her at the breast until she’s completely done. I’ll switch between breasts multiple times some feedings, because it’s the only way to tell my body to produce more. If they’re still fussing, and you’re not getting a good burp out of them, try changing the position you’re nursing in, so they can get a better latch. If this isn’t working, or if you’re just done (because sometimes these sessions seem to go on FOREVER) then offer a bottle. If she’s still hungry she’ll eat it. If she isn’t she won’t.

If you’re going back to work soon, I’d also start pumping more to get your body used to the pump and also possibly build up a little stash to fall back on when you go back to work.

I’m a big proponent of doing what works for YOU. If you’re fine with triple feeding, go for it. If you’ve got time in your day to power pump, do it. If you want to try all of the expensive pumping supplements (moringa, fenugreek, legend dairy) see if they work. But if you find yourself absolutely miserable while trying everything to boost your supply, then just add some formula. I was so stubborn about this the first time around, and it was awful for everyone. When I finally added a bottle of formula to the mix, we were all much happier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me, exclusive breast feeding is the gift of a lifetime for my children and possibly even for their children too. So much we are still learning about the immune system, I never supplemented a drop. Just wanted to put that perspective into the mix since there are so many just give a bottle posts!

This is the most obnoxious and eye-roll-worthy post I've seen on DCUM. You're an asshole, PP.

+100000
Oh and OR, you may be giving your kids the "gift of a lifetime" with breastmilk but you're certainly not giving them the gift of an empathetic mother. Poor kids.

Anonymous wrote:To me, exclusive breast feeding is the gift of a lifetime for my children and possibly even for their children too. So much we are still learning about the immune system, I never supplemented a drop. Just wanted to put that perspective into the mix since there are so many just give a bottle posts!

This is the most obnoxious and eye-roll-worthy post I've seen on DCUM. You're an asshole, PP.

If LCs and ped are saying it is OK - is there a reason you do not trust them? If yes - you need to find a new dr.
If no, I would recommend that you try and relax. The minute I relaxed, enjoyed the moment, did not over analyze every item ..... my supply was fine.

I now have a 14 YO, 12 YO and a 9 YO. The 14 YO initially had difficulty feeding. At the 1 month appointment, the dr was concerned at weight gain and asked that I add a few ounces of formula. I did for about 2 weeks. My goal was I just wanted to get to 8 weeks - and then it all got easier. He nursed until he was 15 months.

The 12 YO nursed until 2 years.

The 9 YO I had challenges keeping up supply. At about 8 weeks, I occasionally added a bottle. By this point in time, I knew my body and was a lot more confident in my parenting choices.

I am sharing as an experienced parent who does not have any agenda. Parent from love not fear.

If you were to line up my children and try and pick out the one the was exclusively breastfed, the one that only ate organic homemade babyfood , the ones that were mostly cloth diapered - you can't.

Good luck - and cut yourself some slack.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me, exclusive breast feeding is the gift of a lifetime for my children and possibly even for their children too. So much we are still learning about the immune system, I never supplemented a drop. Just wanted to put that perspective into the mix since there are so many just give a bottle posts!

And what are your qualifications exactly that someone should take your opinion over all the studies showing that exclusive breastfeeding literally makes no difference for a child’s health and well being, let alone for the grandchildren?

I'll also note this is so, so not what this OP needs.

Fenugreek herb look it up, Works like charm. The Best kept nursing moms secret, Miracle for supply fast acting.