It’s incredibly expensive, but pumping nonstop is detrimental to my mental health. I apparently earn too much to qualify for WIC. I already supplement with formula, but I honestly don’t think I could afford to switch to exclusive formula, even though I want to. I’m just exhausted and overwhelmed, especially when my baby screams while I’m trying to pump.
I found it helpful to break down the formula costs to see what it costs to feed my little one daily. For a standard formula at about $7 a day when she was 7 months old, it felt like I was skipping only one meal out a week.
@Amory
Good point. As a breastfeeding mom, I probably eat the $7 difference in extra food due to the calories I burn from breastfeeding.
Bailey said:
@Amory
Good point. As a breastfeeding mom, I probably eat the $7 difference in extra food due to the calories I burn from breastfeeding.
Exactly! I EBF, and if I don’t consume enough protein or calories, my supply decreases. So now I’m stuffing my face and eating more expensive foods than before.
@Amory
I’d rather get a second job than pump again. It was wrecking my mental health; I just couldn’t handle it.
@Amory
Same here; I calculated it was ~$5 a day with the Costco brand formula. I figured it would only get more expensive to feed her as she grows! Totally worth it for us.
I only spend $35 a week on formula! It adds up over the month, but I think there are ways to adjust your budget to accommodate it. How old is your baby?
Chen said:
I only spend $35 a week on formula! It adds up over the month, but I think there are ways to adjust your budget to accommodate it. How old is your baby?
Oh, that’s not too bad! She’s 6 weeks old. The Enfamil I supplement with is $34, but I wasn’t tracking how long it would last!
@Toby
Check the back of the can; it should tell you how many ounces of formula it makes. A big can of Similac creates 293 ounces, and my baby eats about 30 ounces per day.
@Toby
You should join r/formulafeeders 
@Toby
Oh, then it should last longer since your baby isn’t eating much yet! My baby is 6 months and I used Similac 360 previously, but at $52 it was pricey, so I switched to Kendamil which has better regulations and is more affordable!
@Chen
Be careful with the statement about Kendamil being better just because it’s European. Every formula meets the regulations of the country it’s sold in. So when you buy it in Canada or the USA, it meets those standards. It’s cheaper, yes, but not necessarily better than other standard formulas.
@Rohan
Do you think Kendamil in the US is better or worse than its European equivalent? Just curious since I’ve purchased European formula approved by the US FDA.
Mal said:
@Rohan
Do you think Kendamil in the US is better or worse than its European equivalent? Just curious since I’ve purchased European formula approved by the US FDA.
If you’re getting it in the USA, it only meets American standards. They have factories in the UK and Spain; I believe Spain produces the products for North America. It’s not better or worse—it is tailored for the North American market.
@Rohan
Kendamil itself says the formulas are the same, though.
@Chen
I quit breastfeeding at around 6 weeks too. At first, I felt guilty because my supply was fine, but my baby had lip/tongue ties and couldn’t latch. I ended up exclusively pumping and got mastitis three times. Pumping was exhausting, especially when my baby needed me. Once she started sleeping through the night, I still had to pump. I was much happier afterward! So don’t feel guilty; your wellbeing matters too.
@Chen
I totally relate. I’ve missed some pumping sessions at work, and my coworkers get mad about ‘picking up my slack’ when I take 20 minutes to pump. It’s a lot.
Toby said:
@Chen
I totally relate. I’ve missed some pumping sessions at work, and my coworkers get mad about ‘picking up my slack’ when I take 20 minutes to pump. It’s a lot.
You’re back at work already? That is just not right! I definitely empathize. But you have every right to pump at work. I’d voice my concerns if they keep complaining!
My husband helped me realize that time is money too. It was a struggle for me. I had to triple feed, plus pump. My lactation consultants kept telling me to pump. I settled on combo feeding with one pump a day. That was all my mental health and valuable time could handle.
After 9 months, she was on exclusive formula. We had to get it from Australia because the UK stopped making their ONE brand of soy formula. But I’m relieved I was able to combo feed her as long as I did.
Let’s not put a dollar amount on mental health 
My pediatrician highly recommended store brands which can be more affordable. Good luck! You’re doing amazing regardless of your choice