Breastfeeding issues

Some of you may already know that I am not physically able to produce enough milk for my baby. I knew this would be an issue. My first daughter I did not produce anything and ended up bottle feeding her. I did not know at the time that I lacked enough milk glands and really felt inadequate for not being able to breastfeed her. This time, I know I am not able to breastfeed exclusively and I'm currently breastfeeding and then supplementing her with formula. I am thinking of just stopping the breastfeeding and switching over to formula completely, but I have mixed feelings about it. I'm afraid I'll regret it and then I won't be able to do anything about it cause it will be too late. Another thing I'm thinking is to just breastfeed from one breast. It seems like she gets more milk and a better latch on one of my breasts than the other one. Would it be weird to just breastfeed on one side. My breasts aren't really any different in size than they were before I got milk so I don't think that breast size would be an issue. I cry when I think of stopping completely, but I know that she is slowly weaning herself off me anyway. I guess I'm just looking for opinions on what you all would do in my situation.

If you have any doubt about stopping BF don't do it!!!  Give yourself 6 weeks.   I stopped at 2 weeks with my first and still regret it terribly.   With my 2nd one it took at least 6 weeks for the breastfeeding to work it's self out. We had many a sleepless nights in the beginning.  Many nights that it felt like I was BF all night and day long!
I have to supplement with formula because I don't produce enough milk but I still BF in the mornings and at night.    The best part... I have no regrets!!!!

Right now I BF Annie in the morning before I leave for work and then pump about 10oz at work and then BF her again when I get home from work and before she goes to bed. I have thought about possibly stopping pumping. I am not getting that much and she has to drink formula at least once a day while I am at work. She is now on stage 2 foods also. If I did this would my body get used to it and would I still be able to BF her in the mornings and when I got home from work?? Or is it just asking for disaster if I stop pumping?

Ashlie,
I stopped pumping with Hannah when she was about 5 or 6 months old.  I was able to continue nursing during the evenings and at night until I weaned her at almost a year old.  I did give her a formula bottle before bed and any time she still acted hungry after nursing.    I'm cutting back pumpings at work now.  Noah is 5 months old.  I'm hoping to be able to stop pumping and have milk of the evenings for him too.

Good luck!
Amy

How long does it take before it doesn't hurt at all? I have been to several lactation consultant appointments and they say she's latching on well, but right at first she chomps down several times before getting a smooth sucking pattern down and it's killing me.

It took about five weeks for that inital latch on pain to totally dissapear for us.

Well that at least gives me a light to look forward too. I was hoping it wasn't that way forever.

Yes I definately don't want any regrets, so I think I'm going to continue what I'm doing for now and see what happens.

I totally understand how you feel. I also did not produce enough milk for all 3 of my previous babies. I really gave it my all with my last baby and BF for 4 months with formula supplementation. I only made about 1-2 oz out of each breast at their best. I wouldn't stop completely if you are not sure. Also I have PCOS which I have read can affect your milk production.  There is a product called More Milk Special Blend from a company called Motherlove that is formulated for women who have PCOS and also for those who don't produce enough milk, it is supposed to help increase milk production. I have never used it but I have purchased a bottle to try when this baby is born, I feel it couldn't hurt. The best price on it was from Luckyvitamin.com. Good Luck!

I have been told about all the different herbal and prescription remedies to help a low milk supply and I really don't want to go that route. I hate taking medicines. My doctor gave me 4 rounds of Reglan in the hospital and I hated how it made me feel and then with my first daughter I took Fenugreek which did nothing. So I'm a little paranoid about taking things. A couple people suggested Domperidone which is illegal in the US so I'd have to go somewhere online and order it from a different country which is a little scary to me too.