Your EBF baby didn't have enough pumped milk for daycare tomorrow? I usually send 2 bottles of 4
Oz each and I have 6 oz total, 4 in one bag and 2 in another. Been pumping all weekend and I'm getting next to nothing! Don't know what to do!
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Do you have a freezer stash? Can you set an alarm and get up and pump an extra session sometime tonight or early in the am? Are you pumping every time you nurse? Are you chugging water like mad?
If none of those are options, send formula. No biggie.
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Can you pump in the morning since supply is usually higher then?
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I would try a midnight/late night pump too...if not, sending a few oz less one day is probably not the end of the world, and neither is formula.
or, oatmeal for breakfast?
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I'd send formula if your LO has had it before. I have often wondered the same thing, as my DD has never had formula. I think if it were me, I would give her formula at her first feeding of the day and pump instead, so I'd have it to send to daycare. That way I could see her reaction to the formula since I've never given it to her before.
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I agree to try a middle of the night pumping if you can.
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Nope my supply is so low no freezer stash! I get up twice at night to pump and still nothing. Sooo frustrating!
DS has a formula sensitivity so I'm ultra hesitant to send formula. Hasn't had any in two months and last time he did it was only 2 oz and was throwing up all over the place.
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To add to this...I didn't really have this problem until I got sick with strep on Wednesday. I think the z pack and sort of dried me up! DS has nursed but pumping no luck!
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Well suck. Hmmm any chance you can run to daycare over your lunch and nurse or leave work a little early and nurse right when you get to daycare?
Also, I would start chugging water and do some skin to skin cuddling to help boost your supply.
Sidenote: it seems strange to me that you're son is able to get milk but you're not getting ANYTHING when you pump. Is it possible there's something going on with your pump?
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@eeh it is freaking me out. To be honest, I'm paranoid he's losing weight. He is getting from me but seems thinner than usual. I don't know what's going on. I want to throw the pump out the window and I'm not letting down either.
I literally can't think of anything else I can do for a boost. Took fenugreek for 10 weeks. Reglan still taking for 3 with brewers yeast. Tons of water and extra calories. Wahhhh. I don't want to wean!!!
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do you get anything when you hand express?? I stopped responding to the pump too, it does almost nothing for me.
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@prettylizy I've never tried...good idea
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@matador84: I found that even hand expressing a little bit to get things going then trying on the pump can help. I youtubed how to 'effectively' hand express and she basically just milked herself into a giant bowl! lol! I would say hand express and stimulate your nipples as much as you can stand just to get things moving.
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I'm so sorry you're gong through this. I am having some very similar fears and just wanted to send support. I would try to add in another pumping session if you can tonight.
I know how stressful this can be, and the vicious cycle of stress/lower supply begins.
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@matador84: Don't panic. I know, not possible. Stress is going to make your supply go down even more. Drink a beer, our pedi said beer can sometimes help boost supply. Do you have a LC you could contact for advice?
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Send what you have and rush back after work
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I would send what you have and then maybe try to pick LO up early? Dunno, but I can tell you that medications always made my supply tank but once they were out of my system, with lots of water and pumping post nursing I was able to get my supply back to where it was so I wouldn't stress about weaning.
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@matador84: Sorry you're having supply issues, I've had them myself this week and I know what a huuuuge stresser it becomes. I second hand expressing - when I was getting hardly anything from my pump it was stressing me out more, but hand expressing always yielded something. Brewer's yeast definitely helped, but I also got a prescription for donperidone and am really hoping that helps too.
With the forumla issues your LO has I would do what everyone else has suggested in either express at night or pick LO up early. Hope it resolves soon!
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@matador84: You are working so hard at this. Some things to think about include making sure you have enough nutrition to share. This means also the right vitamins. I also would suggest a pro/prebiotic or yogurt. There are dairy free ones.
It is hard watching baby get thin (mine got really thin) but stressing won't help. Make a time limit (one week or 2 weeks or something) and try to get as much in him as you can. Also, they go through fat and thin periods. Like right now my son looks fat which means he is probably close to growing tall again.
You will do what is best for your baby. If you are interested in formula, you could try the allergy friendly ones. We ultimately had to supplement with neocate at 9 months old. He is still nursing at 21 months old.
I found pumping first thing in the morning with him in football on one side got me the most. Then I nursed him on that side so I got a better fill. I also would nurse him overnight on just one side. The idea was that he would get more hind milk and encourage more production. To that end, maybe you could wake and nurse baby tonight instead of pumping. It is scary and you are hoping for more oz but it could help more to get baby on there.
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Since he has such a hard time with formula, are you open to accepting milk from other mommas? I think in the meantime send what you have and try to get back to him as soon as you can. Could your ped recommend a formula that is a little more sensitive? I know that usually means more expensive but it's worth a try.
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@matador84: Send 6 ounces. Being shy 2 ounces is not a huge deal.
There are a lot of moms that do not pump to achieve a certain number ounces but just pump and give whatever they get. The thought is that if your supply is low, then it means your LO naturally isn't getting as much through nursing. It will all even out eventually as long as he's not hungry and is still healthy.
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I managed to pump 1 more oz so he'll get a 4 oz bottle and 3 oz bottle. They are just killing me at daycare...I drop him off at 730 and he stays until 5 and they discourage only having two bottles. I'll pick him up at 3 today but ill be behind on pumping.
In the meantime lots of water at work today!
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@matador84: it'll be okay, hugs
maybe oatmeal for breakfast, lunch and dinner? I started eating oatmeal and by the next day was engorged between feedings!
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@matador84: It will be ok!!! How old is your LO? Daycare gave me grief about bottles once and I was not happy about it.
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Try to get enough sleep too. I find my supply is always better when I am well rested. What type of pump do you use? I pumped for my twins and used a hospital grade pump. My lactation consultant rented them, as does the hospital and babies r us. I a breastfeeding my daughter now and have found that the hand pump is working better for me than the electric. It might be work trying different pumps.
Good Luck! -
@matador84: Stupid daycare, you pay them to look after your LO not to give you shit! As if moms don't beat themself up enough over stuff already!!! That's great you managed to pump a bit more! I know how hard you're trying, it WILL all be okay. My supply was shocking last week but this week I've got it back up to pretty good levels. I second the sleep tip, I always wake up with a lot more than when I've been busy, but I know you're working so that's hard. Sending you lots of 'good luck pumping' vibes for today : )
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Maybe stress is affecting your supply??
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@travelgirl1: this.
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Thanks girls. I managed to pump 4 oz yesterday at work between 3 sessions. I pumped 1 oz after he went down last night and got 3 this morning. Still frustrated to feel like I'm working so hard and getting nothing!
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@Matador: (((Hugs))) doll. Pumping has been a constant struggle for me, so I know how you feel. You should be so, so proud of yourself for what you have accomplished . . . I don't know about you, but there are very few things in my life to which I have ever been this dedicated!
For me, I think the buck will have to stop at 6 months (I think our LOs were born on the same day). It's just not feasible for me to continue pumping at work . . . I am needing to do it more and am producing less - yesterday I pumped 3 times for a total of only 10 ounces. My stress levels at work are increasing as I get back into the swing of things, and with my upcoming travel requirements, there you have it.
Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the incredible emotional weight of *mommy guilt.* I just wanted to tell you you have done a fantastic job and that we are all rooting for you!
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Have you tried pumping one side while you're feeding your LO on the other? I find I have a longer let down when I do this. Also you're going to be letting down on both sides while your BF so you might as well use it. Or do you feed from both sides during a feeding?
Good luck! I know how frustrating it is to have to worry about your milk supply.
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I think when you're sick your supply takes a hit. I've been sick this past week and my pumping output has taken a big hit. I'm hoping it''ll bounce back!
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Something was wrong w my pumping sessions too.... It helped a bit to increase my shield....
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@matador84: It can take about a week to get back your supply, especially if you were on medication. Drink TONS of water, take More Milk Plus (seriously!) and try to relax. But, I would also look at your pump and make sure it is getting all the suction. Do you have the PIS?
Also, you say that your LO looks like he's getting skinny. Has he gone through a growth spurt recently? DD would get chunky right before she hit a growth spurt and then she would get long and lean. I wouldn't worry about your LO not getting enough - he'll definitely let you know if he's hungry.
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@matador84: One thing to try to get a little bit more, I wear the Avent nipple shells at night and when I empty them both out in the morning there is usually an ounce in there, every little helps : )
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I would try to really relax for your pumping sessions and try to get through two let downs. Sometimes I would even have to set down the pump, walk to the restroom and when I hooked back up I would get a full additional let down and lots more milk.
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@mslipgloss thanks!! i am just trying to stay optimistic and setting goals in 3 month increments. i can't believe i've made it this long with as many set backs. he is an actually easy breastfeeder, it is just all me! pumping at work blows too, but i think i've found my groove. our lo's were born on the same day. it is super hard for me because it gets me behind on my work load (i seriously need to invest in hands free bra) but i am so happy to not have to feed him formula. if i can make it to may...then i can just breastfeed at home in the summer and that would be amazing! i know what you mean about mama guilt! i had zero problems with formula feeding and was supplementing until he started throwing up formula like crazy and i was like that is way worse than having to pump...at least in my opinion.
@lisa1783, yes i try and nurse only on the left, but lately he has been so hungry he's been eating off of both sides. i always have a way higher supply on the right than on the left.
@regberadaisy i am just glad i went to the doctor early, i literally felt so horrendous i didn't know what i was going to do with myself and dh was working. worst .feeling. ever!!! i can't believe how bad my supply took a hit! i probably should have called my ob in hindsight to see if it was okay to take the z-pack but the dr at the clinic said it was...so i didn't think too much else about it.
@babyboecksmom trying to drink water like crazy...there are water bottles everywhere around the house and even in my room at work. i have GOT to invest in MMP...brewers yeast tastes AWFUL. I have the PISA. I used to pump with a medela symphony but got tired of lugging it around and didn't see a huge difference in amount. DS might have had a growth spurt. it seems like all of a sudden his pants don't even fit around his waist and they are 3-6 months...and he is almost 5.5 months old! he's not overly cranky and generally happy so i'm not too worried.
@travelgirl1 good idea, i'll have to look into that...you are right every ounce matters!
@thehistoryofus it is hard for me to even get one let down on occasion. most times i do get one, but that is a great idea to get two.
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@sorrycharlie: do you eat regular oatmeal, like quaker oats? or do they have to be like steel cut? i can dig some oatmeal!
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@matador84: I ate the original Quaker oats (not the instant ones but not steel cut either). Lactation cookies with brewers yeast is a great idea too!
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@Thehistoryofus: i know there is a lactation cookie recipe somewhere on the boards...i gotta find it because that crap tastes horrrible!
maybe oatmeal for breakfast, lunch and dinner? I started eating oatmeal and by the next day was engorged between feedings!
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