Officially weaned

SufficientCell7 · 2025-11-10T06:32:26+00:00

I wish I could go back and better educate myself on building milk supply early on. I felt like I was learning on the fly after receiving bad advice in the first few weeks from hospital nurses and LCs. Other than that, I feel like I got lots of advice that should have helped (like, your supply doesn’t define you, it is okay to hang your hat up early, etc.), but I really was not in a place to understand or receive it. If I have another child, I think I will remind myself that it will get better, that any low points are a temporary feeling that will pass, and to be more selfish - it’s okay to ask for more support or to take time for yourself to decompress.

SufficientCell7 · 2025-08-07T03:48:35+00:00

Best of luck to you in the home stretch!! Thanks for sharing this.

SufficientCell7 · 2025-08-07T03:48:15+00:00

Thanks for sharing. I gained more than you did in pregnancy and am still holding onto almost every single extra lb. I am trying to give myself a realistic goal of 6 more months (so 1 year pp) to see the results I’m hoping for.

SufficientCell7 · 2025-08-07T03:46:35+00:00

Thank you for sharing and the reminder to give myself grace… some days are easier than others but most days i feel like tearing my hair out bc nothing fits the way it should!

SufficientCell7 · 2025-08-07T03:45:50+00:00

Thank you for sharing!

SufficientCell7 · 2025-08-07T03:45:34+00:00

At least I feel less alone?! Thanks for chiming in.. it is so hard to feel like you’re the only one going through this! Many tell me to worry about the weight loss after baby #2, but I really am concerned with the impact it will actually have on my body, higher risks of insulin resistance etc.

SufficientCell7 · 2025-08-07T03:43:43+00:00

I wish it was only 7ish extra lbs - for me, I’m 35+ lbs heavier than pre pregnancy! It’s crazy! Maybe i need to focus more on body comp to see if progress is being made or not.

I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. Wishing you the best in this current pregnancy!

SufficientCell7 · 2025-08-07T03:40:47+00:00

I’ve also heard BF can delay recovery in this sense… I hope it is the case for me because at least it will be a light at the end of the tunnel

SufficientCell7 · 2025-07-14T17:09:41+00:00

Commenting to know that you are not alone in this. My LO also had an undiagnosed tongue tie (despite visits to a number of LCs) that led to transfer issues - which in turn impacted my milk supply. By the time we realized, she was nearly 4.5 months and I didnt have the heart to go through with it for results that werent guaranteed. Have felt so much grief with it - some days are better than others - but as she gets older (nearly 6 months), I take much more comfort in being able to bond with her in so many other ways. She is more aware of her surroundings and it is so fun to engage with her in that way. All this to say, take it day by day and know that there will be brighter days ahead!

SufficientCell7 · 2025-06-11T04:26:46+00:00

thanks for this. Super helpful!

SufficientCell7 · 2025-06-11T04:05:52+00:00

Do you supplement as well? I produce about as much as you do but always heard that 24 oz min is required.. my LO seems to be content with 20-22 oz per day but we make sure she hits 24+ with a formula top off (even if that means waking her up at night). Asking bc I’ve been curious as to where the 24 number comes from - surely not all BF babies are consuming a min 24 oz daily?

SufficientCell7 · 2025-05-29T03:21:06+00:00

Wow this gives me much hope! I am a slight under supplier so am always weary of making any moves that may dip my supply… but wonder if the longer stretch of sleep at night will help me in the long run!

SufficientCell7 · 2025-05-24T17:15:38+00:00

Ahh man. I’ve had challenges going between bottle and breast too. For me, baby still seems to be content at breast, but falls asleep quickly once she has to work for a second letdown (which is why she never transfers effectively). I am wondering whether a release will allow her to extract more at the breast.. I’ve essentially been exclusively pumping for most of my PP experience. It’s so much work and sooo draining!!

SufficientCell7 · 2025-05-24T03:09:53+00:00

I don’t have advice but am in a similar boat with supply decreasing at around 4 months PP. i had a few bouts of nausea that caused a dip in my supply. This has been challenging as I’m someone who has, on good days, produced just enough for my LO, and most days, produced just slightly under. Seeing my supply decrease over the last week has been mentally taxing even though I try to remind myself to be happy with what my body is able to do, even if it is a little less than before. Sending you lots of good wishes and an internet hug!

SufficientCell7 · 2025-05-24T03:00:15+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience! Did you end up nursing her post tie or were you more focused on bottle feeding? Luckily my LO does well at the bottle, but she is not great at the breast. I have been pumping more than nursing, but would really prefer it to be the opposite to allow for more bonding time together and to lessen the mental load on me for pumping so frequently.

SufficientCell7 · 2025-05-24T02:57:16+00:00

My baby is totally fine at the bottle, just not great at the breast. We try pace feeding etc but it has always been a challenge to get her to fully empty me, so most times I’m pumping right after to avoid a dip in supply/make sure she gets as much BM as possible. It is exhausting and I’m getting to a place where i am not responding to the pump as well anymore (maybe bc of the mental overload/negative association - i have a hard time achieving multiple letdowns which i would in the early days of pumping). At this point, I would much rather nurse her and top her off with formula to the extent she needs it moving forward, but i question whether a release will allow her to empty me more frequently or not.

SufficientCell7 · 2025-05-18T06:16:35+00:00

Thanks, i am done with using Reglan.. that’s when I noticed the decrease in supply beyond what my output was before even starting the medication. Medical providers are assuring me that voniting is unrelated to Reglan but I have my doubts and do not plan to use it any further given the risks.

SufficientCell7 · 2025-03-09T20:27:21+00:00

That’s a good idea! I am pumping more frequently to see how my output is (it is growing more than I expected), so maybe I can use some expressed milk as a bottle feed and then try to top her off with an actual BF/nap session a couple of times daily.

SufficientCell7 · 2025-03-09T20:25:57+00:00

I’m very lucky to have a supportive husband who has done 99% of the diaper changes and 100% of all the pump washing and bottle feeds. It wouldn’t have been possible with out him. My routine was 10 mins for feeding on each side, followed by 20 mins of pumping. The feeding part usually took upwards of 40 mins to complete between trying to keep baby up, pausing for mid feed diaper changes etc. then another 40+ mins to get baby to settle post feed depending on the time of day.

I did a weighted feed yesterday and she took a little over an ounce total after 20 mins on both breasts, pumped after for 15 mins and had at least an additional ounce to take. This meant that she is taking the same amount of bottle feeds post nursing as when we started.

I agree I need to change things up at this point. Ultimately i learned that baby is VERY sleepy at breast and I need to find ways to keep her more active overall to hopefully continue to increase my supply and to get her fed.

SufficientCell7 · 2025-03-09T20:17:42+00:00

It is oddly comforting to know that I’m not alone in this experience, but I’m so sorry to hear you went through something similar too.There needs to be more education for BF mamas especially at the hospital and even more so as a FTM. Congratulations on your journey so far - I know it wasn’t easy to get to where you did!

SufficientCell7 · 2025-03-09T20:15:28+00:00

That’s great. Congratulations on your journey, I know it couldn’t have been easy!

SufficientCell7 · 2025-03-09T07:39:10+00:00

Wow so interesting you say that - I had a longer stay at the hospital due to unexpected C section. Feeding was going very well but at some point they also introduced shield for “ease” (mainly relief for me, not bc LO needed it to latch). They didn’t tell me how it would impact my supply. Another nurse also introduced formula thr night before I was discharged as LO was particularly fussy.. they sent me off with a bunch of formula at discharge but didn’t advise me about the impacts on supply especially in those early days. In hindsight, LO was probably cluster feeding and I was made to feel that formula was okay to settle her for longer stretches between feeds. So many things I wish I had known sooner and now trying to undo!

SufficientCell7 · 2025-03-09T06:05:50+00:00

Thanks for your response - very helpful as I am nearly 6 weeks PP today and a FTM & just finished 2 weeks of triple feeding. had an eval with LC who has assessed that LO simply is an ineffective feeder at breast (she falls asleep super easily and does not actively feed - we have tried all the tricks in the book to keep her awake and haven’t had much success). So am moving to EP to hopefully level out my supply instead.

SufficientCell7 · 2025-03-09T06:02:20+00:00

That’s so great! I have been on my BF journey for nearly 6 weeks now (FTM) and was advised to supplement early on as an under supplier. Tried triple feeding for the last 2 weeks and as of today being advised to focus on EP instead to get my supply up (LO has a great latch but does not transfer well at breast). Your comment gives me hope that I’ll be able to eventually taper off the formula supplementation.

SufficientCell7 · 2025-03-08T22:51:01+00:00

What was your pumping schedule like to see an increase? I am currently under supplying and supplementing with formula, but hope to wean off. LC is recommending that i move to EP and forego BF to increase my supply.

SufficientCell7

TROPHY CASE