Something bad happened this past weekend - need advice (kinda long)

KingMom wrote: Well to give you a quick background...I BF my son and had a wonderful milk supply. I was able to pump and freeze the milk in a deep freeze and once I thought I had enough to last until he was 1, I quit, about 3 months ago. Well, we stored the milk in our freezer, my FIL freezer, and my MIL freezer. We used all our milk, got all the milk for my FIL, and then my husband went Sunday morning to get the milk from my MIL before we ran completely out at our house.

He called me Sunday morning when he was on his way from home from nightshift. Said "You ready for some bad news" (which scared the crap out of me since he said that once when he lost his job of 5 years). I said "What! No! I'm not ready, did you wreck the car?!" Thankfully he was okay and the car was also But all of the milk we had stored in his mother's freezer (on her covered porch) had apparently defrosted, and then refroze back to the shelving! I just stared bawling, I asked how much was there, the said 3 large trashbags! It was all wasted, his mother had no idea it even had happened, she was still asleep and didn't even wake her to tell her. I was so upset, all I had was 9, 5oz bags of milk that I thought would be best to save in the event he got sick.

I cried and made him bottle of formula, which he immediatly gagged on. I haven't really spoke about it b/c I don't want to get upset. I was feeling better Tues and Wednesday about it. I was told by a nurse that I had a couple of options.

1. Start pumping again and I'd likely get my milk supply back (good chance b/c I had such a good one before), but should I do that if I only have 8 more weeks till he is 1.
2. Feed him formula, atleast 16 oz per day (which is taking okay now, thank goodness)
3. #2 plus introduce whole milk once a day and gradually take him off the formula when he is 11 months, just add in whole milk in it's place.

Well I had kinda agreed to #2 or #3 until this morning, my MIL was coming over to watch Colin for a couple of hours so my hubby could cut our grass. I feel really bad now giving him the formula and wonder if I should start pumping again. It would take a lot of time, every 2-3 hours even during the night to get the milk started again. What would you do??

Jamielou replied: Oh no im sorry i think i would do the whole milk and just skip the formula i know of a lot of babies that did that around 11 months and did just fine.

KingMom replied: Do you think that would be ok? I asked the nurse at my son's dr's office and she said to wait to switch to complete milk until he is atleast 11 months.

mckayleesmom replied: That is horrible....but he is going to be ok. Your ped said not to switch him till 11 months?...Mine told me 6 and up.....I switched Mckaylee when she was 9 to whole milk. I remember asking my mom and she said that she was advised to switch all of us kids at 6 months also.

luvbug00 replied: I'd do the milk and not the formula.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I woulnd`t bother with the formula. Chances are, he`ll be fine on whole milk.

So sorry that happened.... bummer!

KingMom replied: Thanks everyone. I will go by the store on the way home this evening and pick up the whole milk (we only have 2% in the fridge) and just introduce it to him tonight to see how he takes it. Maybe we will make the transition by the weekend

You guys are great!

amynicole21 replied: Oh my, I think I would have a heart attack I'm so sorry. I don't have advice about the milk v. formula thing... I hope you can find something that works!

CantWait replied: I'm so sorry Robbie started whole milk at 10 months old, and he did great. Does your son eat yogurt and cheese? If so he should be fine. Good luck.

KingMom replied: He eats the YoBaby Yogurt most mornings. I bought some whole milk on my lunch break, and we are going to see how he does tonight.

I feel better, just know that others started whole milk before the 1 year mark. Thanks everyone, I'll let you know in a few days how he is doing with it.

JAYMESMOM replied: I am so sorry that happened. That had to be devastating. I would skip the formula. Jayme went on whole milk at 10 months and did just fine.

b&bsmom replied: Looking on the bright side .. at least it happened now and not months ago. I would go with the milk. Don't want to start formula just to ween him off. Good luck I am sure he will be fine.