2 weeks of breast milk enough?

[Oneandabean]

My second baby is just over 2 weeks old. With my first I exclusively pumped for 8 weeks and stopped because milk dried up after mastitis. This time I’ve tried to exclusively pump but with various appointments plus home schooling my now 9 year old as well as trying to rest when baby does and spending time bonding with her, I’ve only been managing to pump twice a day so been combination feeding. But now my supply has dropped and seems to be getting less every day. I’m still trying to pump but I don’t think it’ll go much longer and I’m feeling so guilty that I haven’t been able to give her as much as I did with my first. Does anyone know if 2 weeks is enough to give any sort of benefit to her? I feel like a massive failure right now

[SoCrimeaRiver]

As far as I know, any breast milk is better than none. If you feel able to, keep at it. I BF my eldest for a year and my youngest (we also have a 9 year age gap) for 10 months, mixed feeding, as she struggled to latch. You milk won't have settled in at 2 weeks, so if baby can keep feeding, you may find your milk levels continue to increase, especially if you feed overnight.

You are doing your best for this babyh, who is not your previous baby, but you will keep comparing your experiences this time and last time, it is so hard. Give yourself a pat on the back for managing the feeding you have so far, and continue with the mixed feeding if you can. And get on the phone to your HV for support, even in the midst of Covid they should be able to offer you suuport with this.

[SoCrimeaRiver]

I felt terrible for "letting down" my 2nd baby for not feeding her as long. She's now 2 and I can safely say she couldn't give a monkey's, but it still sticks with me, so I completely get where you're coming from.

[caringcarer]

In the middle of a pandemic and home schooling another child you have done your best. Just keep breastfeeding as the more baby suck the more milk you will make, supply and demand. Try to relax and getting tense inhibits milk production and let down.reflex. Don't give up but just top up baby with bottle of it is still hungry after sucking for a while. There is even benefits to colustum do 2 weeks breast milk is better than none. Your baby will have got some immunity.

[Oneandabean]

I’m still going to keep trying, but I’ve gone from getting 120ml per session to 50-60ml. The HV was supportive but there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day. I was pumping more but my partner was having to do all the feeds/changes and I was missing out on that bonding while my older child had to entertain herself, then we’d get on with homeschooling and then back to pumping. So I had to cut it down, even twice a day is a struggle at the moment. I know there’s nothing wrong with formula but I’ve always had my heart set on breastfeeding and both times it’s not been possible so felt guilty about that. It’s made me feel better knowing I can give some breast milk. Sorry for the ramble, I think I got on so well with pumping last time I thought it would be the same again. I hadn’t thought about homeschooling and appointments and that this baby feeds a lot more often, I’d forgotten how time consuming it all is.

[Yellowtopaz]

Pumping is so exhausting. I struggled without already having another child to look after!