you are not a failure, and no-one on here wants to hear you beating yourself up like that. I had to formula feed my 1st baby, and felt like a crap mum because of it, but now I have a happy, healthy, and very mischevious 21 mth old girl, and you realise as long as ur baby is fed, thats all that counts....even if you only breast feed half the time, the benefits to your wee one is massive, so please stop being so hard on yourself xx

Hey honey, just wanted to say you have not failed so dont look at it like that. I have to supplement feeds as despite hours and hours of feeding an pumping my milk is never enough. My LO also lost enough weight for us to be re-admitted to hospital. Its heartbreaking and i know what you are going through. If you want any advice or shoulder to cry on give me a PM x

At this point I think its more important you do whatever stops you being stressed and unhappy. If that is supplementing then do it, if its switching to formula entirely then do it. Its no good continuing if all its doing is causing you stress and upset all the time.

I don't know for sure, but I would think replacing an entire feed or two would be better than topping up after every feed. This way your body continues to produce for the remaining feeds and "builds up" a bit more in between feeds so LO is more satisfied at the next one. I'd continue to pump during the supplemental feeds though, even if you get nothing out, just so your body doesn't begin making less.

I agree though that you should do whatever is least stressful for you. Even if that means a total switch to formula, you've done terrific so far!

You can continue bf as the other ladies told you

I know how you feel, but this is not the end of the road, you have done such a great work
so far!! DON"T GIVE UP! Motherhood is not easy, you will have a lot of obstacles on your road, and you will go over them, so TAKE A DEEP BREATH and go for it!!

You can first nurse your baby, just the time she wants, don't force her as she can have a great memory of nursing, then, give her an ounce formula, so you can have time to fill up a little ( at least an hour), then try to nurse again and give another ounce...

I know it is going to be HARD WORK!! but you will be doing it because you are determined to BF your baby, so don't give up!!! IT WORTH IT!!!

You will feel so proud of yourself at the end, and VERY HAPPY TO BF AGAIN!!!

If you feel you can't produce enough milk, you can combine breast and bottle. With my first baby I BF and supplemented with formula after each feed, my milk never dried up and was able to BF for 6 months!!!

YOU ARE DOING JUST GREAT!!!!!

honey if you want to breastfeed, you can do it! where there is a breastfeeding problem, there is a breastfeeding solution. You havent failed. you have hit a bump in the road and it will get better. Continue to put your baby to the breast as much as humanly possible. even 'in between' feeds, offer the breast. offer the breast as comfort, offer the breast because shes hungry, offer the breast because you feel like it. Tap into La leche League and any other breastfeeding support service you can. Honestly sweetheart, these problems are overcome-able, even if it doesnt feel like it at the time when you are exhausted and scared and have people putting pressure on you to switch to formula. You need to do what is right for YOU. and if you want to carry on, then DO IT. even if you have to supplement for a while, you can always go back to EBF. Just remember, mums who have never even been pregnant have fully breastfed their adopted babies. anything is possible

I am so sorry to hear that you're having such difficulties Could you talk to the BF counsellor again as that really seemed to help? I am sure you are already doing all the recommended things to increase your supply, are you eating plenty of high protein snacks through the day and making sure you are not doing too much? If you have to top up don't feel guilty as you are only trying to do what is best for your LO. I am sure you will be able to continue BF with some help but you have to weigh up all the pros and cons and decide what is best for you and your baby. Whatever you decide everyone here will support you and thinks you are doing an amazing job for you LO xx

Forgot to mention...

Do you know about these bottles hun?

http://www.mothercare.com/First-Year...55031&mcb=core

If you can't open the link Google Breastflow bottles.

These are ment to stop nipple/bottle confusion. Baby has to suck on these in the same way as on boobs.

Thanks everyone. feeling better abotu it all this morning. Have to do what's best for us and I can't bear her losing any more weight.

The breast flow bottle is very helpful. Thanks so much all. I do think it's my fault, not that I knew any better, the NHS can sort of be to blame as well but really it's down to me not being prepared or educated enough. Will know better for the next LO.

I don't see how it's your fault? I think you have done amazingly, lots of people don't even attempt to BF and most would not be able to go through all that you have. I think it is really important that even if you do decide to stop BF,you don't let this become a guiltissue which you carry around with you. If you didn;t get the help and support you needed at the start then you are not to blamefor that, and everyone can see that you just want what is best for your LO which makes you a great mummy. I would hate to see you stop BF and then go on blaming yourself for it, that would be the worst outcome! If you stop, stop and be proud of what you achieved.