Breastfeeding/Pumping Struggle

Baby is 3.5 Weeks old. I am supplementing with formula, I breast feed/pump every 3 hours or so. I wake up twice in the middle of the night to pump/feed (my mother helps watch baby at night, so I have whatever I pumped ready for overnight).

But my pump supply is so low, I hardly ever get 1 oz combined during a 15-20min session.. barely 2oz even while doing a power pump. I drink water throughout the day, taking lactation pills, eating lactation cookies, eating oatmeal every morning. I make sure I eat and take naps during the day. I even snack on fruits and yogurt overnight.

I’ve also been experiencing pain while pumping with my spectra 2 pump and while breast feeding. Sometimes it is a soreness in the breast area or a sharp pain right at the nipple. So I massage while pumping, I use warm gel pads before pumping and cool packs after feeding/pumping.

When I breast feed baby falls asleep after 10mins, so I get him undressed, change his diaper in between, tickle him to keep him awake. After about 45 mins-1hr of doing this and switching breast, like 30mins-1 hr later he cries for more food. So then we use formula and he eats around 2-2.5oz. So… how much does he really get from my breast? It’s driving me crazy. I do enjoy the bonding and how relaxed he gets, but it’s time consuming and he’s always hungry for more shortly after .

All of these are tips I got from a lactation consultant from the hospital I delivered at and pediatricians we see for our son. So I am lost and almost close to giving up on feeding/pumping. I do plan to find another consultant that can visit us at home for more 1:1.

My mom and husband are tired of my complaints and stress, they want me to just depend on formula. Their comments are so triggering. But there’s still a shortage going on(?), so I don’t want to fully depend on it just yet. Plus my baby is not even 1 month yet and I had a goal to breastfeed for as long as I could. But…

What am I doing wrong ?? (Please be nice, I cry almost everyday privately over this😞)