Does breastfeeding have to be all or nothing? part 2

by Stefanie
(Fort Benning)

You suggestion made a lot of sense. I started trying it and we somewhat have schedule now. I nurse at 2 am, bottle at 6am, then nurse 9-10 am, bottle around 12pm, nurse 3-4 pm, nurse and bottle 6-8pm, and another bottle at 10 pm.I do feel that my breast is somewhat full, but Looking at him after he Breastfeed he is still somewhat fussy and I do tend to give him like 2 oz in the bottle. I try to nurse some more, but I worry if he eats longer that in like 5 -6 hours I dont have enough to feed him. I tried pumping while he was eating on the right side, but I don't see any difference. The time between is to big to increase, isn't it? I just don't want to stop. I made it this far. WIth 3 kids it is my personal record and I want to continue.

Answer from the lactation consultant

If you keep giving formula after the feeds, your supply will suffer. Breast milk production is a simple sytem, the more you empty the more you make, the less you empty the less you make. If you are giving bottles every other feed, the baby is likely NOT to be satisfied with the breast. I really dont know the perfect answer for you. Maybe,instead of doing every other feed maybe you should go back to nursing every feed and supplementing after each feed. It will help to increase your supply and it will probably be more predictable for you. I think that if you keep doing it the way you are now you are going to have less and less milk until you are dry. Want more milk, need to nurse more. If you don't want to quit then don't quit, it is that simple. You must figure out how to make it work. Keep searching you will find the way. But do not let quit be in your vocabulary.
Liz Pevytoe, RN, IBCLC