Let's talk about my boobs ;)

[GreyhoundsRUs]

So, I "know" (have heard - is it actually true??) that formula is more filling than breast milk. What I don't understand or like is that my child will sleep for 3-6 hours after formula and 2.5 at most from being BF. DH took the first night feeding last night and she slept like a rock for nearly 6 hours. I spent an hour feeding her from 5-6 this morning, and at 7, DD was fussing and ready to eat again. She nursed for like 15 minutes this time and is snoozing. I'm physically and mentally exhausted by the 60-90 minute feeding intervals, and DD1 doesn't get any 1-on-1 time with me. I'm getting to the point where, like with DD1, I'm afraid to leave the house in case she needs to eat (the thought of wrangling/entertaining a nearly 2yo while BFing in public makes me want to start sweating. Help!

[scrub-jay]

BM is not created equal, everyone's is a little different. Do what works for you and your family. If you need to supplement w/formula, so be it. If you need to completely switch to formula, so be it. Your kids will survive, promise.

[SoonerTexan]

I believe breast milk is more easily digested so she's "going through" it faster. In the early days of N when she wouldn't latch, I would bring pumped milk with me because feeding was such a hassle. Maybe that would allow you to get out more?

[GreyhoundsRUs]

She is latched well as far as I can tell, and she's swallowing. My body laughs at pumping. I just don't get anything unless I'm rock-hard. Otherwise, for the other hassles of pumping, I don't get the "reward".
I guess I just am craving a schedule and some "me time" that doesn't conflict with sleep. Every day that goes by further confirms that she will be our last...

[Thirteen]

If you have to nurse in public, it will be okay.
BM is more easily digested, so there's that. The moms I know that have multiple kids are usually in places throughout the day that are more kid-friendly anyway, so to speak: playgrounds, museums, splash pad, etc.
If you are in a store, toddler containment (strollers, carts) seem to work well. If you feel nervous, you can try something like nursing in the car (A buckled in her seat with a toy), or possibly look into a carrier that allows for hands-free nursing (in case you need to wrangle DD1).

I'm not there yet, so I don't know what you're going through, but I just want to affirm you.


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[ladymoreta]

We also did formula overnight once my milk supply was well established, and that helped once I was ready to wean because my body was already used to not producing overnight. Also, if I wasn't going to be home in time for a feeding, I usually nursed DD in the car. I liked that DS was strapped into his carseat and not causing mischief, and we had a DVD player so he could watch it while she ate. If we weren't near the car, I'd put him in the stroller. If neither of those work, just bring formula! It's awful to try to keep them occupied when they're not restrained in some way - they know you can't get to them immediately!

[mommax3]

I second (third?) nursing in the car....I did it all the time with #2 and #3. I couldn't ever get the hang of pumping.

[Bittersweet]

Oh I remember the trapped at home feeling well. I had no patience for nursing in the car with number 2. It just made me feel more isolated and away from the real world. Instead I would nurse right before heading out the door and pack pre-made formula. Sometimes I'd nurse in public otherwise the bottle it was. I just played by ear. Getting out daily was crucial for my mental health and a little formula was worth that to me. YMMV. Hang in there! This all gets so much easier.

[WolfpackWife]

I really can't add anything but when I read the title of your post I thought "Why yes, let's..."

[Sheherezade]

I nursed in public all the time. Baby sling was good for "privacy" and we were always in mommy groups at mommy places. Luckily, I never encountered any resistance to public nursing and it made my life a lot easier.

It was my experience that BF babies nursed c-o-n-s-t-a-n-t-l-y. I feel your pain.

Do what you need to do to set up a schedule. It makes life SO much more manageable.

[scrub-jay]

I nurse wherever, whenever.

ETA: Just a show of solidarity if you find yourself in my camp...nursing w/cover while in Target...no pressure here!

[SoonerTexan]

Shakira Shakira!
Not that it's helpful

[Ladybug]

Your breastmilk might fall more on the "skim baby milk" side of the specturm than the "baby buttermilk." Some moms produce more than double the amount of fat in their breastmilk milk. Some of that is outside of your control beyond a healthy, protein-rich diet.

If it's exhausting you, limiting your bonding time with older sibs, limiting your outings then I would supplement after or between feedings. It's all about the big picture.

[Phoebe]

This may not be popular. I hated breast feeding. Even more so in public. But I did it. We suplemented all of our girls with formula the entire time. I did pump if I missed a feeding. That worked for us. Don't fee guilty. Do what works for you.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

This may not be popular. I hated breast feeding.

This is me. I told DH that BFing is not the loving bonding experience that people talk about. It makes it all the harder to "fight the good fight" so to speak. My supply with DD1 was so finicky that when she dropped feedings in favor of solids, my limited supply simply dried up. Thanks for the support, everyone!