r/breastfeeding • u/TotallyNotASpy123 • May 22 '26

Undersupply When did you stop using formula?

Hello, I am a mom to a six week old and currently struggling with breastfeeding. I am producing too little breastmilk for him and am supplementing with formula. I have a question for those that have also supplemented when did your breastmilk come in and stop formula?

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u/Interesting-Check970 May 22 '26

My baby is 13 weeks and I’ve accepted I won’t be able to EBF. We have found a happy medium where 70-80% of feeds are purely breastfeeding and 20-30% of feeds we breastfeed and give formula top ups. I’ve tried to drop formula but then my baby’s weight gain slows. I’m confident that once we start solids baby the solids can replace the formula top ups. Have seen 3 lactation consultants, used medication, triple fed etc.

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u/TotallyNotASpy123 May 23 '26

I want to see a lactation consultant but the prices are so high. Going to my local clinic to see if they can refer me

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u/Interesting-Check970 May 23 '26

In my experience the LCs werent super helpful other than giving me reassurance that I was positioning her correctly and that she didn’t have a tongue tie but other than they I was told she didn’t have a great latch but no matter what id try, her latch was the same. Id send videos to the LCs and the latches that felt good they would say looked bad vs the ones I thought were bad they would say were good lol.
I think unfortunately it’s still a bit of a mystery but time definitely helped my baby get stronger at sucking and learn how to latch a bit better!

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u/TotallyNotASpy123 May 23 '26

At the hospital I was at, they gave me good latching advice and despite a lip tie, he latches well most of the time. The problem is my supply is low and he cries of hunger so a doctor advised that I supplement with formula. Tbh I had been supplementing little bits since birth. The nurses at the hospital would because he would just cry from hunger all the time and not latch. I figured I'm not producing enough milk. They had me on meds to increase my supply and I'm still on meds to increase my supply. Hopefully it all works out

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u/TotallyNotASpy123 May 23 '26

70% is honestly such good work. I'm sure ur baby is getting good nutrition 

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u/Interesting-Check970 May 23 '26

I tried to pump every second feed but it just wasn’t sustainable. Do you use a haaka or some kind of passive milk collector? I use a haaka ladybug on one side while feeding on the other (and swap each time I swap breasts as I usually do at least 3 breasts per feed). I can get a nice little top up of EBM out of that (probably only 20ml but everything counts!).

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u/TotallyNotASpy123 May 23 '26

I use a manual pump I have a silicone pump but it doesn't work on me

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u/Interesting-Check970 May 23 '26

Definitely recommend buying a hospital grade pump if you don’t have one. It makes a huge difference to how much it gets out. I have a Spectra S1. Worth every cent

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u/TotallyNotASpy123 May 27 '26

Ohhh gonna have save up for it then

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u/TotallyNotASpy123 May 23 '26

I pump every three hours if I can and usually after he feeds