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Can you tell me about your pumping 'stats'?

I still don't make enough milk to meet her needs so even if I do pump, it goes right into a bottle for her next feeding. I would love to build up a freezer stash but we aren't even close to that point. Right now she gets about 40% breastmilk and 60% formula each day. I'm either nursing or pumping at each session since doing both every time was making me insane. So I'm pumping 3-4 hours after she has eaten, not immediately after. I am getting anywhere from 1-3 oz. Would love to get more but I had to prioritize sleep when my PPD was escalating and I know that has hurt my supply in addition to all the formula she gets that my boobs aren't aware of.

@kml636: that's awesome!

@scg00387: wow, that's great!

@highwire: switching to a bigger flange size made a big difference for me, even pumping irregularly. I have been really lucky so far though- I so admire the hard work I know you have posted about in making it work for you and your LO

Oh also...in the beginning when I started to pump around four weeks I could only get 1 oz pet side. So I think your supply goes up as baby grows. Don't worry!

I read all these posts about women who pump 10+ oz pet session and it makes me feel so bad about what I can pump! Like...my boobs will never produce that much! Physically I feel like they wouldn't ever be able to fit that much milk...smalled chested lady here.

@highwire: I got large flanges and they are so much more comfortable!

Last night L went down early at like 9pm so I didn't do the last feeding like I usually do. I was totally confused about whether to pump or not because if I didnt, I would be way engorged by morning. But what if I did and she woke up soon after? I decided to pump and got 5 oz which I was surprised at and once I turned the pump off, guess who woke up hungry! Yes. So she nursed on my empty boobs. I felt so bad. But she didn't seem too upset and slept the normal amount of time, maybe on the shorter side. Anyway it would be great if she took a bottle because then I could feed her my pumped milk and it would be fine..but we are still struggling with bottle feeding.

I took her to the mall yesterday and today. I bf-ed in the bathroom at Macy's where they had couches and today in the dressing room at motherhood maternity. Not totally public, but other women definitely saw my boob Macy's! I didn't use the hooter hider.

@scg00387: oh OK, phew! My milk def letdown but it took like 10 minutes! Usually it let's down in 10 seconds. But I wasn't sure if the letdown had enough milk. Ah the things we worry about as mothers. How is your back pain? Mine is just constantly hurting and sore. I have to do stretches every day. LO is just getting bigger, I am worried about how my back will be able to handle lifting up an increasingly heavier load for the next few years!

@JessLC: I'm not sure if it was on this thread or not, but even if you pump and then baby wants to eat, you are never totally empty. Boobs are making milk always.

Okay, I'm a lot less excited about returning to work as time goes on. How are you ladies doing with the prospect of work in the future (if you are going back)

Our childcare plan is daycare and I'm just bummed about leaving her with strangers, her not getting one on one attention, illnesses, and pumping at work.

We could almost swing losing my income if it weren't for my huge student loans. When I was pregnant I actually worked two jobs. Paralegal during the week and assistant wedding planner on weekends. I'm considering now just keeping the wedding job so I can cover my loan payments and maybe not go back to my legal job. And maybe also do some of my own event planning as well since that is where my real passion lies.

@highwire: I'm not going to work for the foreseeable future but would love to find something part time once he's older. I did event planning too for a nonprofit- I think it'd be awesome to pursue that and have flexibility!

Happy new year! Our little guy had his best night yet, five and a half hours then four! Sadly I'm so used to getting up at certain times I was wide awake with ouchy boobs hoping its not a one time thing though!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Yup, I'm dreading going back to work. I can't believe how fast my leave is going. There are a lot of changes going on at my work right now, so I have no clue what I'm going to come back to.

Sleep has gotten worse over the past few days. Rather than 2-3 hour stretches, we are down to some as short as 1-1.5 hours. Last night it was a 3 hour stretch, followed by two 1.5 hours, then a 2 hour. She sleeps in her crib and no matter what we've tried as a swaddle, it ends up brushing her face - so I'm not sure if this is waking her up and triggering her rooting reflex. Napping has been worse too, but I thought that this might be b/c she's naturally just awake more during the day.

Any suggestions? I'm trying to get her to eat as much as possible before we put her down, but it seems that this isn't within my control. I have considered going back to the bassinet (or at least the bassinet basket placed inside her crib), but I don't really want to take a step back after we've already gone to the crib. What time do you all put your LO's down at night? We have been shooting for around 9:00, but may try out an earlier time.

@SLR: we were actually putting her down around 2 (but aiming for earlier, it just took hours to get her to stay down) but now we're getting her down about 11. Still seems pretty late though... But then it means she can sleep through whereas if she goes earlier I'll be up in the night.

@scg00387: I haven't tried the woombie yet. I was looking at ordering one but wasn't sure which type to get between the original and the houdini. I guess one is less stretchy? Have you tried either? I did try the miracle blanket for a second time today for naptime. (The first time was a nightmare.) It seemed to work better this time; at least we got a 40 minute nap.

She does tend to sleep A LOT during the day. Just in short spurts and not easily in the crib.

@kml636: It may be a growth spurt. I have heard there is one around six weeks. I also read about the week five wonder week, so maybe that's part of it too? Who knows though...depending on what you read, you can find something for every week that may cause these sorts of things. It really is overwhelming! I should give google a rest.

I definitely am enjoying motherhood a lot these days so going back to work seems like it might be tough. I have an extra month for mat leave but I might go in one day a week and work another day from home. Might even make the transition for going back full time a little easier.

I had a bottle in the fridge for 3 days and when I smelled it today, it was funky smelling. I thought it was supposed to last for 4-6 days? Now I'm nervous about all the frozen milk I froze after it sat a couple days in the fridge. Hmm.

Bedtime is from 10-11. Cannot figure out how to shift it upwards. Even though she usually sleeps 6-9 hours at night I am still constantly tired.

@SLR: my LO didn't like the miracle blanket at first but now she loves it so I would keep trying! She usually goes down for the night around 11. That's late for me but that's the time that results in her sleeping the longest (she once did 8 hours but we usually get at least five). I would consider doing a dream feed around 11 and see if that helps you get a longer stretch.

My LO has been super fussy today! She has been sleeping well but when she's awake she's been crying way more than normal. I think she definitely does have a dairy intolerance that is really starting to get to her. Doc agreees as she is gassy, has reflux and now has blood in her stool. These symptoms didn't seem to bother her at all until today! At the doctor's suggestion I've been off dairy since Sunday but it can take WEEKS to totally get out of our systems. Hoping to get my happy girl back ASAP!

@MamaMoose: also might be near 6 week growth spurt?

Where do you guys do the last feed before putting them down for the night? It's like she knows we're trying to get her down and it's the only time ever that she's super fussy. I was doing it in the living room but just realised she's a lot calmer if I do it in the bedroom in the dark. Where do you do it?

@JessLC: I've tried just about every brand there is, I prefer the salon pas style that's gel over therms are that is little heat pockets of granules. I also use reusable rice packs or ice packs at night but the sticky ones are nice for the day! I fear my crookedness is worsening as well, I can tell one of my feet is way more sore at the end of the day