Losing the battle to formula

Anyone else feel like they are losing to the top up formulas? Baby no. 2, and going into week 2 of BFing. Latch is shallow, nipples are sore and cracked/fissures, feels like lightning everytime he latches. We had to start formula top ups last week because he was losing too much weight. Since then my supply has seriously declined, and I’m just finding this all so discouraging. Whenever he finishes a bottle, it secretly worries me that I’ll dry up. Even though I’m glad he’s putting in the weight. I don’t want to start pumping as I found that experience so stressful with my first baby. I’m just praying that he gets really good at latching, draw more milk and eventually reject the bottle like my first. But at the moment, it’s not looking good 😭

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Heyy, I had a similar experience at the beginning with formula top ups and pain. Use lanisoh nipple balm to help with soreness it really helped me. Keep latching your baby as much as possible even before you give them a bottle and your supply should start to build more and more The beginning is tough but once it’s over its worth it 🫶🏼

I’ve never used them myself but I heard nipple shields are really good to give your nipples a break if they’re sore.

I almost feel bad for forcing him to latch with me when I know he’s not going to get enough. Just gotta keep trying!

As their mouths get bigger the latch gets better. But they won’t help you nipple pain in the mean time. I know you said you didn’t Want to pump, but what if it was just short term? Giving your nips 24 hours off does wonders for cracks etc. x

I’m seriously considering pumping. I’m just so dumbly determined to keep training him at the boob! But nip fissures is no joke!

@Jade I hear you. It’s so painful. I skip feeds on the sore boob and pump so I get 6-8 hours in a row for it to heal. Then I’ll feed once and then another 6-8 hour break. I feed that milk in a bottle at that feed. Once nip js healed I stop pumping again. Worked for me with last baby and hopefully works with this baby

I’d pump just to replace his formula feeds, so latch him and then pump for a little bit while he’s having his bottle. That should stimulate your body to produce more milk. The less you feed him the less milk you’ll produce, it’s all about supply and demand 🙂

@Ellen great tip, I’ll try alternating.

@Levi yes I think you are right, papa gives the bottle so I guess I can squeeze in 20 mins for a pump. Just don’t want to feel disheartened by the amount I pump out.

@Jade just remember pumping isn’t a reflection of your supply. Babies are a lot more effective at drawing milk out than a pump, and you’re never truly ‘empty’. Even if you don’t get a lot of milk, ESPECIALLY after nursing, it doesn’t mean your supply is bad. My son is gaining weight well but if I pump after nursing I’ll only get about 10ml from my left and 30 from my right at a push 🙂

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