Can I start exclusively breastfeeding after supplementing?

by Melanie
(Louisville, KY)

My experience sounds a lot like your first breastfeeding experience. I was told that I had low supply because my son nursed every hour and acted hungry a lot. I have supplemented with formula ever since my milk came in. He is 7 weeks old now and gets about 10-15 ounces of formula daily along with my breastfeeding. Is it too late to try to see a LC to try to BF exclusively?

Answer from the lactation Consultant
I hope you get this answer. You did not leave your email address in the form, so there is no way for me to notify you of my answer. Maybe you will check the site periodically.

The breakdown happened because you did not seek help from a breastfeeding expert when you were initially happening. The baby could have been evaluated for insufficient feeding and interventions could have been made early on. IF supplementing was truly indicated (which I doubt) because hourly feedings are completely normal for baby to perform in order to get your milk supply in) you could have done it with a nursing supplementer. But all that is in the past.
To answer your question, yes, making more milk is in most cases possible. I have written several pages on this very subject. Here is the most visited page: click here to go to my article on making more milk

Working directly with a lactation consultant, you will have the quickest results. Because she can evaluate your specific situation and make recommendations that will work for you. Keep us in the loop so we can help prevent situations like this.

If you do not have a local lactation consultant, I can do a phone or email consultation with you.

Liz Pevytoe, RN, IBCLC