Whether or not to supplement with formula

by Mandy
(Watauga, TX)

My son is 11 months old and I have been BF at home and pumping at work. For the last month, I have had supply issues off and on (he drinks more at daycare than I can pump at work) although I have not changed my pumping schedule. I have managed to make it through these problems by using my freezer stash but I am about to send all the extra milk I have with him tomorrow. I want to nurse for the next month, but I may be forced to supplement unless you have some tips. So should I supplement at 11 months with formula? Try giving him some water to help stretch what milk I have? Or start transitioning him to soy milk? Any ideas or suggestions would be great!
Answer from the lactation consultant
Before you consider supplementing, I would suggest you consider using a galactogogue like fenugreek or blessed thistle ( you can ok with your doctor and get it at a health food store) to help boost your milk supply. Click here to read more about galactogogue info It usually works within 24 hours. I wish you would have contacted me before the day you are going to run out of milk because you may not have another choice than to supplement with something. If you have to supplement, I suggest organic goats milk over any formula. You could mix goats milk with the expressed breastmilk you have to make it go further. If you want a formula suggestion, please contact your pediatrician as I do not make formula recommendations.

the only other option is offering more food in place of milk during the day when you are not able to nurse, water is not an acceptable option.

Liz Pevytoe, RN, IBCLC