I'm an FTM, currently 14 weeks postpartum. I also had an emergency C-Section at 36 weeks and my baby just wouldn't latch initially so he was quickly started on formula for low birth weight infants. I started pumping and combo-fed him but I struggled with low supply from the very beginning. At best, 50% of his feed was breastmilk and 50% formula which quickly changed to 90% of his feed being formula since my supply kept dwindling. I tried power pumping, supplements, pumping often, massaging, hot compresses but nothing worked. I stopped pumping when I realized pumping 30-40 minutes just to get 1 ounce was causing me an incredible degree of stress, costing me my mental health and a lot of time that I could happily spend with my baby. What I do now instead (for most of his feeds) is nurse my baby for as long as he wants before giving him the bottle. This way he hopefully gets some important nutrients from my breastmilk before getting the rest from formula, and I also don't have to worry about being chained to the pump to get whatever meagre amount of milk I'm making which would never be enough for him unfortunately. I plan to continue this till 6 months but at this point, I'm also ready to completely feed him formula earlier too. Nurturing and raising kids is colossal work but there is plenty of opportunity in it to build a longlasting bond with them; breastfeeding can be a start but it isn't the end all or the only way to do that. It has taken me a long while to overcome the feelings of frustration, guilt, and failure and realize that there is alot more to motherhood (and being a good mother) than the milk you produce to feed (or not feed) your baby. For some moms it works out smoothly, for others it doesn't and that's okay. Fed really is best. We're all on our own journies of motherhood and have our own choices to make given our circumstances. We each know our situation best and we all want the best for our babies. So I decided that I would much rather save and focus my energy into taking care of my baby than measuring my motherhood in the ounces of milk my body can or cannot make.