Baby Joseph-1 week (BF question-long)

It's a super big let down when breastfeeding don't work out for some reason or another!  With my 1st child I breastfed for 3 months with some formula supplements.  My 2nd I breastfed for 4.5 months with formula supplements.....it just seemed like I didn't produce enough milk to satisfy them.  With my last child, I was hoping to breastfed much longer....I thought I read up on enough ways to increase my milk supply and had enough knowledge from my other pregnancies and what other people had to say.  However, my baby was sleepy and didn't suckle enough to get enough milk and increase my supply.  I was at the doctor with him several times checking and rechecking his weight.  They finally sent me to a lactation consultant who basically told me that at this point, I would not produce enough milk to solely breastfeed him.  She suggested I breastfeed my son then give him a bottle with formula and then pump.  This became very tiring and time consuming, that I decided it wasn't worth it if I wasn't gonna produce enough milk to solely breastfeed him.  After about a week or 2 of doing what she said, we decided it was best for the baby and I that he go on formula full-time.  This decision tore me apart and upset me greatly....but once I got past that, it was much easier for all of us and therefore, made us all much happier!  He began to grow and is a very healthy, happy and smart child!

I suggest you pump as long as you can tolerate it and then know you did the best you could!  After all, they did make formula for a reason, right?  Best of luck to you!

Congrats on the beautiful baby boy! I have 3 boys myself! When your pumping, you have to be on a schedule and stick to it in order for your supply to increase. It is based on need. If you only pump 4 times a day, that is not bringing in the most of your milk. My last 2 babies were in the NICU and I would get 3 or 4oz everytime I pumped because I stuck to pumping every 2 hours and drinking LOTS of water! You have to stay hydrated in order to maintain your supply. I would wake up in the middle of the night to pump. Within a few days my supply was in. So you can increase your supply if you start pumping every 2 or 3 hours and stick with it. Or pump only during the day if it helps, and maybe once at night when you fill up. You can always wean it down from there if you find it too difficult. I pumped exclusively with my first becaue he wouldn't latch on. I pumped for 11 months. I pumped every 2 hours and I also took fenegreek. If you want to continue pumping -it is possible to increase your supply! My son is 6 weeks now and I have been giving him a bottle every other feed for a few days because he would cause my nipples to get so sore but sucking so hard I felt like I couldn't do it anymore. I talked to my OB who begged me to stick with it and I am back to nursing him every 2 hours and my supply , overnight, has caught up to where it was. Hope this helps!
Hang in there!
Michele