https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:23:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ft-working-mamashow-diddo-you-do-it#post-248521 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 10:20:08 +0000 regberadaisy 248521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Def up the water! I see a huge difference in my output when I don't drink as much water.<br /> When I'm home with her it's all nursing. No formula. If she's hungry she has to feed from me or else my body won't know to produce more.</p> <p>We usually get home by 5:30pm. In the beginning I had her bath done by 7pm and we're nursing then she's in her crib by around 8pm. While I'm nursing my husband is starting dinner, washing bottles etc. On the days he works nights I get dinner started and wash bottled after she goes down. Most nights I'm so pooped I fall asleep on the couch after dinner. When I really should have been pumping because my boobs were engorged and now it's learn to stop producing around that time until she eats around 2am. I've been trying to pump before bed even though it's an ounce only. I believe if I keep doing it eventually I'll get more! </p> <p>It's hard but if you're determined to do it, you can! I went back at 6 weeks as well and she's now 14weeks. Once you get into your groove it'll be easier.</p> <p>I had the same fears as you that if I pump she'll wake up and not have anything to eat!! I'm slowly overcoming it and really if she does wake up and I'm dry I can always give her the pumped milk.</p> <p>I have no stash whatsoever either! I've accepted it. :( It sucks because I'm starting to prepare her purées and I wish I had extra breast milk to use in the purée. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ft-working-mamashow-diddo-you-do-it#post-248496 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:57:23 +0000 mediagirl 248496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like you have a great plan! I've found, even late in the game, lactation consultants can help. If your doctor is pro formula and you wouldn't like to go with more breast milk, she might be able to help you figure out a good routine, too. Someone with an open mind about working moms and breastfeeding can be a big help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ft-working-mamashow-diddo-you-do-it#post-248481 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:50:13 +0000 brownie 248481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babyjmama: it sounds like a great plan. Please let us know how it goes! You can do this (whatever you want to do). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ft-working-mamashow-diddo-you-do-it#post-248477 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:46:47 +0000 doodlepoodle 248477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsJazz: Thanks for the feedback! I felt like I was doing something "wrong" when J would eat every hour or two, like he wasn't getting what he needed, so hearing that he's not the only baby who wants to nurse that frequently makes me feel better. I have quite a few new ideas/plans to test out for this week, hopefully I'll have good news in a few days!</p> <p>Ideas for this week (all stolen from you amazing gals!):<br /> 1) Nurse J every evening w/o formula supplements, no matter how frequent the sessions are.<br /> 2) Continue with the Mother's Milk Tea and Fenugreek<br /> 3) Get a HUGE water bottle for my desk at work<br /> 4) Be much more structured/set with my pumping at work, that has to be my priority over emails/phone calls that can wait.<br /> 5) Get an IV of coffee. HA! ;-) Ok maybe not that one...</p> <p>Any other suggestions? I love hearing what other women have found works for them. Not that I'm glad that anyone else has struggled! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ft-working-mamashow-diddo-you-do-it#post-248471 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:37:52 +0000 mrsjazz 248471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nurse LO twice and pump before I leave for work (nurse at 6, pump, nurse at 7:45/8). I pump twice at work. I nurse as soon as I get home from work and she normally nurses often, usually 2-3 times between 6 and 9. When I'm super tired I take a bath with her, if not I do it after she falls asleep. I then pump again before I go to bed. She'll usually wake up around 2:30/3 to nurse again.</p> <p>Some days I feel like a zombie but mostly I have a good hour and a half to myself every night during the work week. Sounds like a little but it is heaven. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ft-working-mamashow-diddo-you-do-it#post-248459 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:28:24 +0000 doodlepoodle 248459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Jacks: Did you have an IV of coffee?! *sigh. How long did that last? J sleeps well through the night, only wakes up twice between 8pm and 6am.</p> <p>@Brownie: 6 weeks SUCKS for maternity leave, I know :( We never had the chance to really get into a schedule before I had to go back to work and he didn't really get "good" at breastfeeding (still isn't...?) before either. I think I'm going to take your advice and in the evenings/nights I'll just nurse him as much as I need to, even if it's super often and I don't do anything but that, at least it's a nice way to bond with my little man in the evenings after a long/stressful day! </p> <p>I think I've kind of created a monster for myself with the formula/breastmilk combination. I want to make sure I have enough bm to give in bottles during the day while I'm gone, so I wasn't pumping in the evenings and that was decreasing my supply. I have a little (like 6 oz is IT) frozen bm in the freezer so I'll have DH use that tomorrow while I'm at work and I'll try to build up more as I can. *sigh. </p> <p>I am SO grateful for HelloBee and the support/suggestions I get. Thank you all. And if anyone else has stories, suggestions to add I'm VERY open to any/everything! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ft-working-mamashow-diddo-you-do-it#post-248448 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:13:58 +0000 brownie 248448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is hard. And 6 weeks is a very short maternity leave. Here is how I did it. When I was home with him, we nursed and that is pretty much all me and him did. He didn't sleep through the night so we nursed at night. I woke him for a "dreamfeed" at 4:30 before I left for work. I spent the weekend just nursing with no other distractions. </p> <p>I pumped an extra time at work for a week or two when I felt low. You are already doing formula so, do that at daycare and don't focus as much on how much but how long.</p> <p>I had to come to terms with how breast milk works and how it is different than formula. Babies don't increase ounces because the breastmilk changes calories. So they get more calories in less ounces. You may only make 3 oz each side ever and that is okay because your milk will change for demand. </p> <p>I would recommend working with you doctor and trying to get off of formula (at least when you are home). This will create more demand. At this age, 40 min every 2 hours sounds normal. Again, breastmilk digests faster than formula because it is more easily digestible.</p> <p>It is very difficult and it and sleep will dominate your life. Without help and support it will be even harder. It also isn't a fail if you choose something else (occasional or no nursing). Your baby will still grow and will still love you. If you want to breastfeed, take it each day at a time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ft-working-mamashow-diddo-you-do-it#post-248438 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:10:07 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 248438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lala reverse cycled, so she fed all night and then didn't eat much during the day, which gave me time for several pumping sessions while at work. I think my supply actually went up because of this... but it was all about the reverse cycle and it meant I didn't get much sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ft-working-mamashow-diddo-you-do-it#post-248434 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:04:27 +0000 doodlepoodle 248434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Thank you SO much for your response!! </p> <p>I pump for 20 min each time (double electric pump), Usually I have an immediate let down and get about 1/2 oz there, then around 12-15 min later I have a second let down and get another ounce per side. </p> <p>Today I started the Mother's Milk Tea, I'm going to drink the 5 cups, I'm taking Fenugreek as well 2 pills 4 times a day. I drink LOTS of water, but I noticed I drink less at work (I don't have my huge 32oz mug at my desk, so I think I'm going to get one!). It's really hard for me to walk away from emails/phone calls and focus on pumping. I refuse to stay late so it's hard to cram all of my work into 8hrs (we're short staffed on a regular day and on top of that we have one person on maternity leave and just got a new supervisor as of Monday). </p> <p>So my question for you--how/when do you get anything done at home when you nurse in the evenings and do bath time? I've started showering at night instead of mornings and honestly, by the time I put J to bed I'm plum tuckered out and hardly have the energy to shower and dry my hair. I set my alarm last night and pumped exactly every 3 hours. Barely anything to show for it but I know I need to keep going. </p> <p>I also worry about nursing "too much" because I produce so little milk it's hard to make sure he'll have enough during the day while I'm gone. </p> <p>Golly moses this is hard. DH is very supportive, but almost in a "I expect you to do this" kind of way, he doesn't understand how hard it is for me/what kind of pressure it puts on me. BUT on the same hand, I don't feel like I can throw in the towel because he keeps me going. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ft-working-mamashow-diddo-you-do-it#post-248389 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 07:50:52 +0000 regberadaisy 248389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In your exact same position.<br /> How long are you pumping for? Are you waiting for your second letdown? When I pump at the very beginning I only get about 2oz total. Then if I wait for my second letdown I'll get anywhere from 4-6oz total each session.<br /> I also pump from the other boob when I'm nursing in the morning. I'll get anywhere from 1-2oz on that session.</p> <p>Also, are you drinking a lot of water? Taking any supplements? I drink mothers milk tea and more milk plus capsules. It seems to really help. We also supplement with formula and she probably gets one bottle of formula a day at daycare.</p> <p>When I get home depending on time of her last bottle I nurse and she takes a short nap. Then we take a bath and nurse to sleep. She wakes up typically once at night to nurse then up again at 4/5am.</p> <p>Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ft-working-mamashow-diddo-you-do-it#post-248372 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 07:15:23 +0000 doodlepoodle 248372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm two weeks in at work after my 6 weeks of maternity leave. I've had low supply all along and have had to supplement with formula, his bottles are all half-and-half. I tried exclusively pumping last week and by the end of the week I was only getting 1-2oz per session (combined!), not enough to keep up. </p> <p>J isn't a very efficient eater, it takes at least 40 min each nursing session and he's hungry again in 2 hours. Do I wake up at 5am so he has time to nurse? Then by the time I get home I only have 2 hours before his bedtime routine.</p> <p>I want to continue, but how do you do it? Do you nurse as much as you can when you're home? I don't want to give up but I can't say it hasn't crossed my mind :( </p>