Battling supply issues is so hard and frustrating. I suffered through horrible supply issues and had to take domperidone starting when my son was about 5 months old. It is frustrating. My son got supplemented too. And hauling a pump around is a total drag. I feel you on that. Have you taken any other steps to increase your supply? The whole pumping thing is so tiresome when you are trying. I would do "pumpapalooza" weekends trying to get my supply up. Feeding my son and pumping all the time. I don't think it helped me much. But you can also check out Dr. Newman's site, kellymom.com or lowmilksupply.org for more ideas.

You know what is best for you and your baby. Don't let anyone push you into doing what you don't want.

I've been on supplements since she was about 10-12w. I take fenugreek and alfalfa.

I always said that my goal was 6 months, but I thought I would ebf for that time. I didn't think I'd go back to work... and although I've made it tover 6 months, she's been getting supplimented since 4 months...so I don't feel like I really met my goal.

There's a part of me that finds it super inconvienient....but then there's a part of me that really likes the bonding. But the bonding is getting taken away because she gets frustrated when she's hungry and there isn't much coming out...

I guess getting 1 bottle day of bm is something.... I don't know.

I know exactly what you mean. My original goal was 6 mos too. He's 17mos now and still bfs morning and night during the week and whenever he wants on the weekends. But he gets cows milk now. I was very happy to retire the pump when he turned 1. I said I would keep going as long as I could give him something. Two years was never in the cards for us. As we approached his birthday I was barely pumping enough to send to daycare with him. Good luck....

I also have supply issues throughtout... DS is now 10 months.. I have been on "Mother Love's More Milk Plus" which is an herbal suppliment for the last 5 months. I am able to EBF as I work from home. I nurse 4x's per day plus pump 2x's per day (1st ib te am after about 1.5 hours after the 1st nursing and at around 11pm at night)... each pump only yielding a few ounces but it adds up. I also eat oatmeal every morning and drink a ton of water... it's the milk chasing dragon I look forward to yielding to when he turns one BUT I am so glad that I am able to get every last drop out. Keep it up... you can do it!

If you are wiling to continue, any breastmilk she gets is helpful. You may want to try pumping more when you are away from her. I noticed a big dip in my supply when I first returned to work and I was pumping exactly what DS was eating. Now if he takes a 6 oz bottle I try to pump 8 oz and so on - it's the best thing I've found to keep supply up. That and drinking a ton of water and eating as much as possible.

I agree with what the others have said here. you may think it is not a lot, but every drop of liquid gold is worth it. I imagine you have started solids now? If so, not a big deal at all. I had to go back to work once when my baby was about 32 wks. I just bf first thing in the morning, just before day care, first thing after picking him up from day care, and at night. On week-ends I let him nurse all he wanted.

I would suggest you take fenugreek and blessed thistle together.

Also, I wonder if you have recently introduced solids, if that is not the reason your supply may have dropped somewhat. I noticed every time I introduced solids (4 babies) that my supply would seem to dip. That busty feeling I had, of engorgement or something, seemed to go away with time.

Remember, how much you pump is not an indication of how much milk you may really have. A baby is ALWAYS much more efficient than a pump!

IN addition to letting him nurse as much as possible on week-ends and when you are with him, I would try switch nursing. Switch sides several times during a nurse. It helps stimulate your supply.

IMO, he is passed the age where you need to give formula. As long as you bf on demand, you can substitute some milk products if yu feel the need to do so while you are separated. Ex: cottage cheese; yogurt; ice cream; cheese, fresh cheese, etc.

Be sure to use a slo flo nipple for any bottles, and remember to bf as much as you can. If you can bed share, so much the better. Your baby will learn to nurse when you are next to him.

Good luck, and remember, always, some bf is def. better than stopping altogether!

i agree, any amount is better than no amount, even if you just breastfeed in mornings and nights, and just have a bottle on hand if she fusses. i like the bonding too