March 19th, 2007bittersweet
Over the last few months, my milk supply has drastically tanked. I know this is in part due to Matthew starting solids (somewhat), and the pump being just not as efficient as Matthew, but the reality is that we’re staring down 14 ounces in the freezer to hold us over. At this rate, next week or the week after we’ll have to start supplementing, in some shape or form. I am upping my pumping sessions and started taking fenugreek (carefully, though, because it’s been known to cause low blood sugars in diabetics) to help up my supply, but I don’t want to go to extreme measures, for my health or Matthew’s.
I’m still going to pump, because I want to keep breastfeeding and providing as much breastmilk as I can, but I would be lying if I didn’t say it was killing me a little inside. I never thought I would enjoy our nursing relationship as much as I do, and at some point, after nursing got easy, I decided that I would let Matthew wean himself. I never considered that I’d stop before at least a year because my supply would tank spectacularly.
I am being completely irrational, I know - I provided over 8 months of breastmilk and that is better than 7 or 6 or no months of breastmilk. I know that formulas today are a fine substitute, and whatever Matthew does he will be just fine, he will continue to thrive and I will continue to nurse him as much as he wants to or can until my milk dries up.
I feel, irrational or not, like my body is failing me. As stupid as it sounds, I feel like I’m in mourning, a little.

March 20th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
It’s hard, I know. I used to cry just *thinking* about supplementing. My son stopped nursing during the day (he was colicky and ticky and slept badly for quite a while) when he was about five months old and I pumped and gave him bottles during the day for another 2 months. Then one day I realized that I had like 2 oz. of pumped breast milk left and it was day time and he was hungry and screaming and it really scared me. So I started supplementing one bottle a day of formula and it did wonders for my supply and my piece of mind. It freed me up so much to pump while my husband gave him the bottle and I wasn’t as wigged out about it and I was able to wean him in an easier fashion, for both of us. I think you have done a great job - well, obviously - he is ginormous and adorable! But I know how it feels to think that your body is failing you and to be so disappointed. I don’t think it’s irrational. Good luck.
March 20th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Nursing is a very special thing, and you have every right to feel grief at the prospect of losing that relationship.
Matthew is an extremely lucky little boy to have a mother who loves him so much that she mourns over this change in their lives. He is lucky that he has a mother who provided 8 months of her milk, and shaped him into the little chunka boy so full of personality that he is.
Hugs.