Combination feeding and low milk supply...

by Kelly
(Australia)

I'm going through something very similar. my daughter clover is 5 weeks old and she is my fifth baby.

I desperately wanted to breastfeed my other 4 children but for some unknown reason, i gave up trying to breastfeed before leaving the hospital. so when i found out i was pregnant again, i decided that this may be my last chance to breastfeed a baby successfully.

I wore nursing bras by 12 weeks into my pregnancy, i fed her within the hr after a c-section, and all was well for three days until her first weigh in when a nurse told me my daughter had lost too much weight and I'd need to comp feed her...i burst into tears. My baby was seemingly happy, i had no cracked or sore nipples, we were happy.

I declined the comp feed at first but then she hit below the belt and said, "don't you want your baby to be fed?" and then brought in the paediatrician, who agreed with her. The plan was, I would feed her boobs comp 30 ml formula and then get on the pump to increase my supply. I did this until I went home, but breast feeding, formula and then pumping was taking and hr and a half, I had 5 kids here I couldn't do it. So here I am occasionally pumping, breastfeeding and after every feed giving her 80ml of formula. She is happy gaining weight and never cries...never. But I want to exclusively ...breastfeed, I have spoken to many experts and sadly they all tell me to do everything I'm doing and my supply should increase, but soon i know clover will want just bottle because she doesn't have to work for it...this makes me sad and exhausted.

I just bought some special lactation tea, maybe this will help. i get annoyed when i know of someone who can shoot milk across the room it's overflowing with goodness and then they decided not to feed, i think "are YOU crazy"

.....all I want is to continue giving her all I can, fingers crossed...i will add that I bought an avent manual thinking it would be better than the avent electric that I had, and I can get more out with this one. which is not much, both breast I can only pump out 25 to 30ml each time ....very sad!!!! I should be thankful i am able to feed her even if its a little amount.....shouldn't I???????