should I quit, how do I know???

[radiojoy]

I have a 9 month old and I breastfed exclusively until he was 6 months old. When I returned to work 3 days a week and had to pump my supply really dwindled (I am one of those people that has tried 3 different pumps, herbs and everything else to up my output, with no avail). So I had to come to grips and introduce formula because I didn't have enough for him while I was at work. I do however brestfeed exclusively the 4 days I am home. He has 3 solid meals a day and breastmilk 4 times a day. By the time nightime comes I am pretty much empty and he is fussing and then takes a formula bottle. How do you know if you are just plain drying up and need to hang your hat? When I pumped the other morning because he was having a sleepover at grandma and grandpas I only got 2 1/2 ounces, and that was after 9 hours. UGH. Please give me some guidance. I don't want my child to starve

[@llli*jessica.sypolt]

I don't think that you should have to quit if you don't want to!
It sounds like your son is getting a lot of solids and takes a bottle of formula at night too? He's probably not got a whole lot of room left for mama's milk. Are you offering to nurse before he eats and takes the bottle? If not I would try doing that. Since breast milk is the primary source of nutrition the first year of life, it's usually advised to nurse first, eat solids second.

Are you still pumping at work? Even if you are not getting that much and still have to supplement it will help the days that you are not working to keep up that stimulation and produce more milk. Have you ever tried hand expression? Some mothers find that pumps just don't work for them, but may be able to express by hand. http://www.lactationinstitute.org/MANUALEX.html

If all else fails, some babies just need the time at the breast, even if there is not much milk. Many mothers find that even after they've long weaned they are still able to express a little milk, so being completely dry probably won't happen for awhile! Let him nurse when he wants, let yourself be ok with that. It's not all or nothing, you can still make breastfeeding a part of your lives.