When do you give up?

I have not breastfed for about a week now, but I have been pumping multiple times a day and taking Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle to increase milk supply.  In one sitting I can pump 30-60 mLs in both breasts combined.  So, pretty much an ounce and a half.  In the morning, I can get 2 1/2 ounces, but then it goes down during the rest of the pumpings.  The supply has not really changed in 4 weeks.  On Friday will be the third visit to the lactation consultant.  She says that some breast milk is better than none.  How long do I do this?  I feel like I can't just give up, but it takes so much time for such little return.  Has anyone had or is having the same/similar issue?  Need some advice!  Thanks!

[Diane1003]

I've had friends who have been in similar situations and basically given up thinking that at this point the baby would have had some of your milk which is better than none. I was never nursed so your baby already has had more than I ever did...  You can't beat yourself up about it.  You've given it your best effort and can only do so much.  But - that's just my opinion.  Best of luck with whatever you decide.

How old is your baby? I know for me I can't pump and get a full feeding for my son.  If I nurse him he does fine but if I pump I don't get that much. When we give him a bottle when I'm at work he takes 8 oz - there's no way I'd get that much if I pump in the middle of the day and I've got a descent pump...

[toes33107]

He's a month old.  I've heard the same about the pumping.  It's crazy how every woman is so different.  I have a friend at work who pumped exclusively and she could fill up 2 bottles!  I know I can't beat myself up over it, but it's hard to digest when I really wanted to breastfeed!  Thanks for the support!

[Super_sally888]

Go to Dr. Jack Newman's site.  Lot's of info about increasing milk supply.  Don't give up yet if you really want to continue.  It can take some weeks to build up....

[motherwith3]

How often are you pumping? You may be over pumping. Is your baby on any sort of feeding schedule? Say nurses every 2 hours, 3 hours... less.. more. My second was a premie, so the hospital had her on a 3 hour schedule, which was nice. I would pump and if I didn't have enough milk, we would supplement. My experience was a manual pump was more successful in expressing milk than an electric/battery operated pump. I'm now on child number three who is 2, and still nurses. My kids are three yrs apart, my eldest almost 9, and I have been nursing continuously for all those years. I doubt your child will get nipple confusion or become increasingly attached to formula if you supplement say one feeding in the day with a bottle. And it helps to nurse and pump, not just pump. It has to do with emotions/hormones.  And remember to keep hydrated, it takes a lot out of you.

[jacob75]

hey honey
i had exactly the same problem i didnt even get an oz when i pump regardless of day or night anyway ..i did until two months ..baby didnt like to suck he was sort of lazy sucker ..i was crying day and night ...i was hanging my boobs all day to pump ...and pumping took all my time and i was getting exhausted until to the point i couldnt even hold a bottle for DS...anyway whatever amount u get ..be happy ab out it try ur best until there is nothing in ur breast even half an oz still help for ur baby immunity..other than that my baby is taking Enfamil A+ no prolem at all ,,,,, i planned to breastfeed my Ds for 2 years..and for my surprise i did it for 2 months with an oz in every pumping ..and i gave up and it started eating me alive..so i started to relactate for another 4 weeks and again no success and i gave up ...f
my point dont stop until the last moment..and did u know about Reglan(by prescription) or if u are in canada (motilium is very good for increasing breast milk with vey little side effects..) so try that one ..honey whatever amount u get remember it helps interms of strong immune system ...
if not it is okay to give a formula..i didnt want to accept the fact to feed a formula..i cried day and night ..now my son six months very strong , reach all his milestones for his age and very healty and he is in 97 percentile..so dont worry much u have to be happy and strong to give ur baby happiness..
so if not it is absolutely okayyy
i am a first time mother i dont have any more expe. to tell,,,may be other mommies know better

[tiredbuthappy]

is there a reason that you are pumping instead of nursing? Did the lactation consultant give you help with the baby's latch and such? Is he nursing correctly?

[toes33107]

He nursed great in the hospital and got nothing but colostrum while we were there for 3 days.  And we got about 2 days at home until we supplemented.  Then I went to see the L.C. and she hand me breastfeeding both sides 15 min. each, feeding him the expressed breast milk, feeding him the supplemented formula, and then pumping again.  I was doing this for over an hour every time.  That didn't do much for me at 2 in the morning!  I had to eliminate a step and that step was the breastfeeding cuz with the pumping I knew how much I was getting.  When I breastfed with the L.C. he got about 20 cc from one breast  and about 8 from the other.  So, I knew he wasn't getting much.  

[2terrified]

Ultimately, it comes down to you.  It doesn't help to stress about it at all.  So, if you feel like you have given it every effort you can, then don't beat yourself up if you want to stop.

It comes down to this.  Your baby can sense if you are not happy and will feed off that.  You need to do what will keep you happy.  Think about it and reassure yourself that the decision you make to continue or stop is the best for YOU AND YOUR BABY.  Don't let anyone else tell you different.  

You are not a better or worse a mom whether or not you breastfeed.  The baby isn't going to grow up and say "your the best mom for breastfeeding me"  or  "gee, mom, you sucked for not nursing me longer than you did."  He's just going to love you regardless.  And he will be happy because you are happy.  Good luck with your decision.