https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:45:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2020866 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 17:26:53 +0000 catlady 2020866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CakeLady: I agree with the others about renting a hospital grade pump if you can swing it. My supply dropped around that age, and I think that renting a Medela Symphony was the reason we were able to make it to 12 months EBF. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2020847 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 17:14:32 +0000 daniellemybelle 2020847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CakeLady: Glad to hear things are improving!</p> <p>To answer your question, I would rent a hospital grade pump if you haven't already, because they are so much better at removing milk. I would nurse on demand as much as possible when with my LO. And I would use my stash first. I think milk is best when it's as fresh as possible (though obviously it's awesome always!) and I also think breast milk benefits babies the most when they are youngest... plus it's cold &amp; flu season right now. If my stash ran out and I still couldn't keep up, I would start supplementing with formula then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2020671 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 15:21:15 +0000 avivoca 2020671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CakeLady: I noticed a big difference in my output when I drank tons of water and ate avocados. Have you tried adding flaxseed to your oatmeal? Also, it's really bitter, but try adding some brewer's yeast to your oatmeal too or making it in Oatmeal cookies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2020622 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 14:56:54 +0000 CakeLady 2020622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePeony: Good point, I will give everything a once over tonight at home. I hate how expensive the Medela replacement parts are! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2020598 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 14:42:13 +0000 PurplePeony 2020598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CakeLady: even if the membranes aren't ripped, they get thinner and don't create as tight a seal after being used for awhile. I was ticked that they cost like $7 for a new pack (the company must make a killing on those, I mean seriously, they're tiny!) but I could feel the difference in thickness and stiffness between the old and new ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2020501 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 14:08:14 +0000 CakeLady 2020501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePeony: Thanks! DH actually discovered that one of the membranes was ripped when he was washing parts this weekend! It was the one on my hand pump, but explains why I was pushing it for 20 minutes and got drops. I checked all the other ones after that.</p> <p>As I was trouble shooting I also learned that if the tubing gets loose you can trim off the last inch or so and you'll have a tighter fit at the pump - who knew? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2020425 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 13:45:29 +0000 PurplePeony 2020425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CakeLady: if you're using a Medela pump, have you changed the membranes lately? I had a supply dip and I think it was because my pump wasn't getting great suction. Once I got new membranes, things got much better within a couple days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2020172 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 12:13:22 +0000 CakeLady 2020172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just an update: I have been doing the Fenugreek and Oatmeal regimen and did a few extra pumps late last week and over the weekend. My supply seems to be coming back :grin: or it could be DS has also been sleeping better and only eating once per night so my first morning pump has been better. Either way, things seem to be going better.</p> <p>Unfortunately, I have to go away overnight next week for work... That is going to really kill my stash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014516 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 22:25:40 +0000 Grace 2014516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just add in some formula. From all I've heard of, pumping can be miserable, and I wouldn't want the extra stress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014504 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 22:13:27 +0000 Greentea 2014504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CakeLady: yeah, I pumped after each night feeding, pain in the butt, but it really helped! I would have it all set up, sleepily pump for 20, stick it in the fridge... congrats on doing such a good job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014477 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:36:23 +0000 littleowl88 2014477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through this recently. We decided to supplement with formula and it was a great decision for my mental health and stress levels! LO is 6 months now and we started supplementing around 5 months (I went back to work at 3 months). I tried eating more oatmeal, drinking lots of water, avocado... nothing really made a difference and I couldn't even match her intake even with an evening pump. I decided that my sleep was more important than waking up in the middle of the night or super early to pump more.</p> <p>I struggled with it because I wanted it to be all EBF but I am so much happier now that I am not stressing about it. She gets probably 6-8 oz of formula during the workday on top of the 10-12 oz of breastmilk that I pump at work, and then I nurse in the evenings and all weekend. Works out great for us! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014474 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:34:03 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2014474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took More Milk Plus (pills), gave my baby more solids and supplemented with formula </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014460 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:24:48 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2014460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ditto add some formula. LO is ready for solids anyway. I ended up always using both BM and formula and pumped for 11 months. I was happy to give him BM for that long...rather than being upset I have formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014444 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:07:05 +0000 raintreebee 2014444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried it all. Extra pumping, supplements, oatmeal, upping calories, etc etc. Nothing worked for me so we supplemented with formula. No regrets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014416 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 20:48:28 +0000 CakeLady 2014416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KayKay: that is what his pediatrician said when I asked her. I am hoping that will be the case, we've had a slow start to solids but in the last few days he's eaten more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014412 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 20:45:57 +0000 CakeLady 2014412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the encouragement and advice! I love breastfeeding and definitely want to continue providing as much breastmilk as I can. I've been pumping at work for 4 months and besides hating it with a fiery passion, it has been getting more difficult and taking longer to get less milk. Im not sure I can bring myself to add more sessions everyday since DS is still waking up 2 or 3 times a night. Ugh. </p> <p>Fingers crossed for oats and fenugreek and mother milk tea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014392 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 20:33:00 +0000 kiddosc 2014392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ended up adding pumping sessions. I added one after he went to bed and would do that session even on weekends when I otherwise just nursed. I would power pump at that session when I needed to get my supply up too. I would sometimes try to power pump for a session at work for a few days to get supply up when needed, but that's not always possible. You've done a great job keeping up, there's nothing wrong with supplementing if you decide you don't want to pump more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014350 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:49:23 +0000 Mama Bird 2014350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ended up cutting pumping sessions, because I was supplementing anyway and they were a huge time drain at work. One less session meant I'd be home 15 minutes earlier. </p> <p>I can't find any reliable sources, unfortunately, but I've heard that even one feeding a day gives a baby the immune benefit of breastfeeding. So as far as I know, even a little is good enough, and adding more sessions is not really worth the extra time chained to a pump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014344 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:46:19 +0000 Canoli 2014344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With both of my children I was never able to match their demand so I pumped what I could during the day and would supplement with formula. Thankfully both of my kids didn't mind taking formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014324 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:32:07 +0000 Adira 2014324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ended up adding in pumping sessions. I went from three times a day to six times. I added a pumping session at work, plus pumping after nursing at home. I also started pumping after every feed on the weekends in order to have additional milk to get me through the week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014321 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:29:21 +0000 regberadaisy 2014321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I supplemented. I did pretty much everything u knew with DD 1 to up my supply to no avail. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014320 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:29:11 +0000 nana87 2014320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been combo feeding since lo was 2 months because of low supply, so I'd definitely use formula </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014319 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:29:08 +0000 Little Misters Mom 2014319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in your situation now and trying to figure out what to do. 7 months old, back at work for three weeks. So far I've been taking fenugreek until I smell like waffles, drinking Mother's Milk teas, lots of water, and using hospital grade pump to boost supply. I've been pumping on the weekends and in the evenings to try to cover the shortfall. If it gets really bad I'll start waking up at 5 am to pump when I'm fullest. Today is the first day we had to dip into the freezer stash. I'm trying to just relax, stress only makes supply issues worse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014318 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:27:32 +0000 KayKay 2014318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's also likely that your LO will drink less milk as he increases his solids. So whatever you decide to do (supplement, use your stash, or add an extra pumping session) may not necessarily need to be for the long-term...you may find you are producing/pumping enough again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014312 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:25:09 +0000 mediagirl 2014312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I supplemented with formula a bottle of formula a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014310 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:24:07 +0000 gingerbebe 2014310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I supplement with a bottle of formula a day and have a small stash. I guess if I woke up twice at night to pump I could make up the difference but I'd rather not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014309 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:22:39 +0000 Greentea 2014309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I ate more I made more and I also added in pumping sessions. If I wasn't making enough I would use up my stash and look into a milk bank, if that wasn't possible I would supplement. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014292 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:10:10 +0000 BadgerMom 2014292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The same thing happened to us when I went back to work. I burned through my freezer stash and then supplemented, but I don't really think it matters whether you do it that way to supplement to drag out your stash. I don't really think getting breast milk today vs getting breast milk tomorrow is any different, so whichever you want to do. I don't regret supplementing at all. What I do regret though, is getting lazy at work with the pumping because of it. My supply has definitely decreased significantly over the last couple months and now I feel like I have to supplement even on the weekends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014274 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 18:55:40 +0000 catomd00 2014274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I couldn't keep up and had no freezer stash when I first went back to work. I added a early morning and late evening pumping session every day (and pumped on weekends) to et enough. After a month or two I didn't need to do that anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-couldnt-pump-enough-to-meet-demand-what-would-you-do#post-2014262 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 18:45:34 +0000 littlejoy 2014262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You are doing so great!!! </p> <p>For supply, do you have the option of renting a hospital grade pump for a few weeks? Whenever my output really decreased, I needed the hospital pump to really jumpstart things. </p> <p>We've been supplementing with formula since week 3, and I know it can be a lifesaver when you don't have enough breastmilk. I would give a formula bottle each day to keep from burning through my freezer stash. </p>