Giving Up Pumping...Supply Issues

My DD is 5m old. I BF and pump and supplement. Pretty much all of her bottles are formula. Once a day she gets a breast milk bottle because I give an iron supplement and I don't like mixing the iron with formula since the formula I use is already fortified with iron. But at this point I get so little from pumping that the bottle ends up 30% BM and 70% formula.

Anyway last month I returned my rental medela symphony pump and started using the freestyle i got off my registry. I was using the symphony to build a supply since DD was a preemie and in the NICU for a month. My supply has always sucked because I have literally every single issue you could have to prevent proper supply (I lost a ton of blood during delivery, I was on magnesium before and after delivery, couldn't BF or pump for several days after delivery cause I was in bad shape, baby in the NICU for a month, PCOS...)

Since she has been home (~4 months) I have been BFing every feeding, and bottle feeding 4-5x a day. Since I switched pumps I feel my supply has gotten a lot worse. I've always pumped 2x a day since I have been BFing. I used to get 2-4oz total per session. Now I'm lucky if I get 1.5-2oz . Part of me reallly wants to give up pumping altogether. I am so discouraged. I will probably have to go back to work or school soon and I know at this rate there is no way I will ever have a freezer stash. I am lucky that right now I am a SAHM.. but I might have to go back before I want to be done nursing. DD just started cereal this week, and she will start fruits and veggies at 6m.

At this point, getting so little from pumping, should I just give up altogether?? I feel torn because I know once I have to leave her she won't be getting breastmilk anymore, but right now while I am still home I can nurse so I know she is still getting a lot from me.

Anyone with supply issues have any advice?? I have tried More Milk Plus but its expensive and only seems to help for a week or so. I know I don't drink enough water.. I haven't tried oatmeal.. at this point I don't know if it's worth it or even possible to boost my supply.

Re: Giving Up Pumping...Supply Issues

Stop beating yourself up, you have done everything you could. I guarantee you will be a happier person once you give it up. I pumped for three months and once my supply started to decline BF was more depressing then rewarding. You should be proud of yourself, knowing you gave it your all and now onto a new chapter.

Re: Giving Up Pumping...Supply Issues

Same thing happened to me with DD. I had every possible thing go wrong that killed my supply. I had crazy supply and then the staph infection i got from my c-section overtook me and seriously diminished it and then ICU didn't have a breastpump and DD was not allowed to see me for over a week, that did not help, I went from pumping 5-6 oz per boob per session to maybe 1.5 oz total from both boobs. I was depressed about it because I was so set on breastfeeding, I was mad for a long time at the doctors who gave me the staph infection. The anger and depression overtook me so I finally made the decision to stop pumping. I tried Fenugreek, More Milk Plus, Mother's Milk Tea, Oatmeal and the last resort of medicinal Reglan and nothing worked. Stopping pumping was the best decision I made, I could spend more time with my daughter instead of attached to a breastpump and I was depressed only seeing 1.5 oz in that bottle. I promise you will feel better once you stop but you have to be ready for it, if your not ready don't stop but if your sure your done with the pumping routine, stop. I wish you the best. Sorry this got so long.

Re: Giving Up Pumping...Supply Issues

Cut yourself a break! You did EVERYTHING you could to try and give your baby breastmilk. FlowerBaby will be absolutely fine.

Re: Giving Up Pumping...Supply Issues

thanks for the advice. i dont think i will be that sad about stopping because i still plan to nurse as long as i can. its prob not worth it to pump for a 1/3 of a bottle per day...but i guess it just makes me sad that i watch my friend pump and in like 20 mins like 10x what i get in 40mins and it makes me sad. i know im a victim of circumstance, i believe i would have a much better supply if i had a much different birth experience. i guess its just hard to let go of the idea of the freezer stash for when im not here to nurse...

Re: Giving Up Pumping...Supply Issues

A freezer stash is great, but not necessary, esp if you have a formula that works well for your baby. She won't go hungry!

Re: Giving Up Pumping...Supply Issues

I am having issues with my supply as well. My friend recommended mothers milk tea from GNC I'm on my 3rd cup today....will let you know if it helps at all.

Like you I really want to give my baby bm so I am trying everything...sounds like you are also, if you don't have the supply there is nothing you can do Hun don't beat yourself up

Re: Giving Up Pumping...Supply Issues

I had major latching issues in the beginning ds wouldn't latch for 8 entire days! So I had to build my supply when he did latch I would bf on one breast and pump the other at the same time and vice versa. He would feed every 2.5 3 hrs so I would always pump an hour after every feeding. When he started sttn I would wake up bc my boobs would KILL so I would pump at 3:30 every night. I stopped bf at 6 months but had a supply up until 9 months. It was hard work but worth it I also drank a ton of water and took mothers milk but in pill form. My supply went from 4oz total to a min of 6 oz at the least. I always had bottles of BM for parties babysitters just being out in general. I also pumped at work 2x a day. I wouldn't give up there's still hope! But I gotta tell you I was so darn happy to retire the pump!

Re: Giving Up Pumping...Supply Issues

I had major supply issues and stopped pumping for ds @3.5 months. I had to go back to work and figured I wasn't going to be away from my desk for 20 minutes for 2 oz, Kwim?

Re: Giving Up Pumping...Supply Issues

I had low supply and DD couldn't nurse and we tried EVERYTHING as well..had a lactation consultant, rented the pump and have the medela pump in style, drank the tea (I couldn't take the more milk or anything like that since I was on blood pressure meds for preeclampsia) and my supply was 7 oz. a day max...when it dipped down to less than 4 oz. a day, the ped. said I did great and if I wanted to for emotional reasons, I could go on but then I went back to work and it was more depressing than helpful..we both (DD and I) tried nursing until we both cried..she will not go hungry and you did great!

Re: Giving Up Pumping...Supply Issues

True story...I would pump 3x/d and not even get 2oz for the whole day...after filling my 2oz up for the day I turned and spilled the whole container...I freaked, put my fist into the wall and cried for about 2 h. My DH took my pump away..and that was that for me.
I was able to nurse, but could never pump...I still get saddened that when I went back to works after both kids I wasn't able to keep up. Its so easy to feel discouraged and saddened that we can't be super pumpers, but remember that even a drop of BM is good!!