~Breastfeeding Support Thread~ 502-1000

[Missfcsjes]

Amie--My supply is not great for whatever reason. But I did notice a difference from the fenugreek and eating oatmeal daily (really like 2-3 servings).

I'd take it now, I don't see how it could harm?? Maybe some mother's milk tea as well, I drank that 2-3 times daily too. It did help. In fact I need to start drinking it again.

[Missfcsjes]

Agh okay this is frustrating to NOOO end.

LADIES! I'm STILL pumping the same amount. My son is really getting ready to go from 3 oz to 4oz and I save about 8 oz in a bag and so he'd be getting usually 50-75% formula from the bottles he drinks daily when I'm at work and then total boob when I get home and through the night.

MY freezer stash is dwindling since I now have to pull 2 bags out. I'M NOT pumping what I am taking out.

I'll admit I've gotten lazy with pumping--but not totally lazy as he often eats off BOTH sides now so I don't see how pumping one side would be beneficial since he pretty much sucks me dry.

Yesterday I pumped about 4 oz (after pumping 3x at work, once at my planning, a short pump at lunch and another short pump after work).

I'm so frustrated!

[Kendergirl]

Amie--My supply is not great for whatever reason. But I did notice a difference from the fenugreek and eating oatmeal daily (really like 2-3 servings).

I'd take it now, I don't see how it could harm?? Maybe some mother's milk tea as well, I drank that 2-3 times daily too. It did help. In fact I need to start drinking it again.

I agree, I don't think it makes much difference if you start now or later.

[Kendergirl]

Agh okay this is frustrating to NOOO end.

LADIES! I'm STILL pumping the same amount. My son is really getting ready to go from 3 oz to 4oz and I save about 8 oz in a bag and so he'd be getting usually 50-75% formula from the bottles he drinks daily when I'm at work and then total boob when I get home and through the night.

MY freezer stash is dwindling since I now have to pull 2 bags out. I'M NOT pumping what I am taking out.

I'll admit I've gotten lazy with pumping--but not totally lazy as he often eats off BOTH sides now so I don't see how pumping one side would be beneficial since he pretty much sucks me dry.

Yesterday I pumped about 4 oz (after pumping 3x at work, once at my planning, a short pump at lunch and another short pump after work).

I'm so frustrated!

I think you're doing great. You've got a lot working against you, and you're still here! It's frustrating as heck when you have to work so hard for something that should be natural and comes a lot easier for most people. I've been pretty frustrated that I still can't get OFF the pump. I thought I'd be nursing just fine months ago. :/

My theory lately is that we're both still struggling because our babes are still on the small side. Tegan is only about 12lbs right now...that's the size Cadence was at 4 weeks! With size comes strength. So I'm hanging my hope on her getting big enough to handle nursing, which I'm thinking will be around the 15lb mark. Maybe you've got a similar wait with Liam. Maybe he's just got to get big enough to really eat with some vigor to help get your supply up.

I hate to say it, but you may not ever be able to pump a lot. Some women just don't respond well to a pump, and I think you fall into that minority. It's still important to keep it up, but I think you would be pumping more by now. I would just keep with your pump schedule, go for at least 15 minutes, and try to find a way to be happy with what you are making instead of being unhappy with what you aren't. The fact that you can nurse full meals suggest that at least part of your problem is just getting the milk out. Pumps don't work nearly as well at that as our babies do. Because he's using both sides to eat, I suggest you let him eat his fill from you first, then rest for 10 minutes, then pump both sides for 10 minutes. It's possible that you could get out an oz or two by doing that. The extra stimulation can only be a good thing. You should nurse directly for every meal possible. I'd only give him a bottle when your gone. Edit: I thought I should add that this advice is for your unique situation. Eating and then pumping would be over stimulation in most cases.

Are you giving formula after the boob still?

[ltlredhdgirl]

[quote=gypsy86;6494117]what should i do with my extra milk? i have 200 oz saved, and i use maybe 1 bag a week, and i usually put up 5 bags a week, and an extra one for each bag i do use. i'm thinking of donating it but i dont know where. and i want to wait a few more months before i let any of it go, you never know what might happen and i might need it.
quote]

Whenever my freezer stash would get old I would freeze my fresh, pumped from that day, and send frozen milk the next day. That way I rotated it out. You might try that.

[ltlredhdgirl]

I posted this on the Everything breastfeeding board, but I thought I should come here and talk to you girls since our LO are all the same age. See if you guys have any ideas. I know Shanti already had some on my other post. This time around has just been really hard and I want to quit so bad some days.

"My DD took to breastfeeding from day one. And we did it for 13 months, me only having to pump at work. DS just won't nurse. At first his mouth was to small and nothing will get him back to the breast so here I am pumping. I have an ok supply, but have to supplement about half the time with ff. I take fenegreek, blessed thistle and reglan. I have promised DH to do at least 6 months, but this pumping sucks. I have a PIS Advanced so that helps. Any ideas on how to get him back to the breast or support would be greatly appreciated. "

Thanks,
Heather

[MommyQCT]

I have been having a problem leting down when pumping. It ias driving me nuts b/c I was fine for almost 3 months pumping 3-5 oz. per session making 10 - 15oz. a day, NOW I can only get about 1oz. per session and total 3-4 oz per day. It seems the more frustrated I am - it is preventing me from letting down. Also let down is a little slow when I feed ds - but it does come, just slower...
I tried relaxing, loks at pics od DS, eveing smelling his onesie while at work and pumping but nothing... any other ideas of why this is happening or how to fix it?

[Missfcsjes]

Are you giving formula after the boob still?

Let me make a confession, I never did this! Maybe a time or two when my LO was just acting starving and switching back and forth between boobs seemed to not satisfy him, but I could count these times on one hand.

Giving formula emotionally disturbs me. I take that scoop out of formula and I literally get stomach pains...

I figured if I had to mix formula with his daily bottles while I'm at work, he'll be getting the same amount of calories from that than if I feed him every feeding afterwards. He's 9lbs now....so he is growing and gaining.

[Kendergirl]

Let me make a confession, I never did this! Maybe a time or two when my LO was just acting starving and switching back and forth between boobs seemed to not satisfy him, but I could count these times on one hand.

Giving formula emotionally disturbs me. I take that scoop out of formula and I literally get stomach pains...

I figured if I had to mix formula with his daily bottles while I'm at work, he'll be getting the same amount of calories from that than if I feed him every feeding afterwards. He's 9lbs now....so he is growing and gaining.

No shame in that. I was pretty much the same when my Dr wanted me to supplement! I basically didn't do it. I'd only start to worry if he drops off his growth curve. Keep going!

[Kendergirl]

I have been having a problem leting down when pumping. It ias driving me nuts b/c I was fine for almost 3 months pumping 3-5 oz. per session making 10 - 15oz. a day, NOW I can only get about 1oz. per session and total 3-4 oz per day. It seems the more frustrated I am - it is preventing me from letting down. Also let down is a little slow when I feed ds - but it does come, just slower...
I tried relaxing, loks at pics od DS, eveing smelling his onesie while at work and pumping but nothing... any other ideas of why this is happening or how to fix it?

Feeling frustrated does effect your supply. The more you can relax, the better you'll do. When you're really happy, then you'll make even more. Has anything changed? It could be a slow thing that wouldn't jump out right away. Like, are you keeping an eye on the time between pumps? At this point it can be pretty easy to go longer than intended between pumps because your boobs don't hurt as much when they are full. Or, maybe you're pumping a shorter amount of time (easy to do if you don't actually look at a clock - don't laugh...I don't!).

How do you know you're letting down slower when he's nursing? Maybe he's just learned to keep pace, or you've adjusted to the feeling.

When did the problem start? If it's only been a few days, it could be hormones. Did you get your period back? Usually you bounce back from it, but some women have a hard time with getting the supply back after a period.