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tnelson22
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 95 total posts
Name:
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Breastfeeding Help
I have been exclusively BF my son for a little over 8 months now. Since I have been back to work (almost 6 months) I have been doing the same routine 5 days a week - nurse in the morning, pump 3 times a day and pump/nurse 2 times at night. In the beginning I was getting 4-5 oz each pumping session. But, as time went on, I would begin to get less and less. Today, if I get 3 oz a session, that's a lot! I'm feeling very defeated and don't know what to do to increase my milk supply. I tried the mother's milk tea and then the more concentrated capsules. The capsules, I think, started to work but then my son had a bad breakout of eczema - which may or may not have anything to do with the pills - but I stopped taking them to be on the safe side. I do my best to drink as much water as possible - I have my good and bad days. And the kicker here is I tried using Enfamil Gentlease to mix with his cereal instead of breastmilk and he had a bad reaction to it so I feel supplementing is not an option. And at this stage in the game, is it even worth it. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I am so frustrated :O(
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Posted 6/8/16 3:21 PM  |
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ANewDayHasCome
Love multiplies, not divides
Member since 11/12 14481 total posts
Name:
Me
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Breastfeeding Help
How much tea were you drinking? You'd need to drink a few cups a day.
The lactation cookies also help. You can find your own recipes or buy the milkmaker ones online or at buy buy baby or Bru.
Overdoing it on water doesn't help, they say drink so you're hydrated but drinking more won't make milk.
And I hate saying this, but relax. When you're stressed about how much you're producing it backfires.
Can you look at videos of your son while you're pumping?
Can you add in a pump session or add in minutes each time?
Can you put him to the boob a little more?
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| Posted 6/8/16 3:35 PM |
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soontobemommyof2
My boys...my everything <3
Member since 4/15 3635 total posts
Name:
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Breastfeeding Help
I agree with the relaxing part, it's incredible how powerful our minds are! More than trying anything new, first I wouldn't go for the amount of milk I get by pumping cause it surely does not equal to the actual amount ur breasts are producing. Next, I'd keep track of how many wet diapers ur lo has in a 24 hr period, and base how much I'm truly producing on that, wet diapers are true indicators on how much ur lo is consuming. Also, keep in mind that as babies grow older, their sucking skills become very efficient and can "empty" ur breast in a matter of minutes compare to when they were younger and new to nursing.
Message edited 6/8/2016 4:08:00 PM.
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| Posted 6/8/16 3:46 PM |
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evrythng4areason
And then there were 4
Member since 1/10 5224 total posts
Name:
Kayla
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Breastfeeding Help
I noticed a dip around that time too, but dd was starting to have more solids. By 11 months I wasn't getting much when pumping, and she would just have more solids while I was at work and then nurse at home
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| Posted 6/8/16 6:31 PM |
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tnelson22
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 95 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by ANewDayHasCome
How much tea were you drinking? You'd need to drink a few cups a day.
The lactation cookies also help. You can find your own recipes or buy the milkmaker ones online or at buy buy baby or Bru.
Overdoing it on water doesn't help, they say drink so you're hydrated but drinking more won't make milk.
And I hate saying this, but relax. When you're stressed about how much you're producing it backfires.
Can you look at videos of your son while you're pumping?
Can you add in a pump session or add in minutes each time?
Can you put him to the boob a little more?
I was definitely drinking enough but since it was too much and not cheap, I switched to the capsules. And I know. I try not to stress but after sitting and relaxing for 15 minutes to find I only got 2 ounces when I usually get 5 is frustrating.
And I can really only put him on 2x a day bc of work. But he is on all weekend.
I'll try the videos and see if that helps. Thanks!
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| Posted 6/8/16 7:15 PM |
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tnelson22
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 95 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by soontobemommyof2
I agree with the relaxing part, it's incredible how powerful our minds are! More than trying anything new, first I wouldn't go for the amount of milk I get by pumping cause it surely does not equal to the actual amount ur breasts are producing. Next, I'd keep track of how many wet diapers ur lo has in a 24 hr period, and base how much I'm truly producing on that, wet diapers are true indicators on how much ur lo is consuming. Also, keep in mind that as babies grow older, their sucking skills become very efficient and can "empty" ur breast in a matter of minutes compare to when they were younger and new to nursing.
I understand all that but unfortunately I have to give him 3 bottles of breastmilk a day during the week - a total of 13-15 ounces - and I'm not getting anywhere that when I pump during the day. I know he's more efficient but I'm not doing anything differently. ??
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| Posted 6/8/16 7:18 PM |
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tnelson22
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 95 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by evrythng4areason
I noticed a dip around that time too, but dd was starting to have more solids. By 11 months I wasn't getting much when pumping, and she would just have more solids while I was at work and then nurse at home
Yea sounds exactly what I'm going through. I've been told though that they should be getting most of their nutrients from the milk, though, and not the solids.
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| Posted 6/8/16 7:19 PM |
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soontobemommyof2
My boys...my everything <3
Member since 4/15 3635 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by tnelson22
Posted by soontobemommyof2
I agree with the relaxing part, it's incredible how powerful our minds are! More than trying anything new, first I wouldn't go for the amount of milk I get by pumping cause it surely does not equal to the actual amount ur breasts are producing. Next, I'd keep track of how many wet diapers ur lo has in a 24 hr period, and base how much I'm truly producing on that, wet diapers are true indicators on how much ur lo is consuming. Also, keep in mind that as babies grow older, their sucking skills become very efficient and can "empty" ur breast in a matter of minutes compare to when they were younger and new to nursing.
I understand all that but unfortunately I have to give him 3 bottles of breastmilk a day during the week - a total of 13-15 ounces - and I'm not getting anywhere that when I pump during the day. I know he's more efficient but I'm not doing anything differently. ??
I see. I've also heard that the body produces more milk after midnight, I've even heard some moms waking up like 2, and 3 am to pump because of the quantity of milk, maybe that can also help? Also how about power pumping?
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| Posted 6/8/16 7:25 PM |
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tnelson22
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 95 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by soontobemommyof2
Posted by tnelson22
Posted by soontobemommyof2
I agree with the relaxing part, it's incredible how powerful our minds are! More than trying anything new, first I wouldn't go for the amount of milk I get by pumping cause it surely does not equal to the actual amount ur breasts are producing. Next, I'd keep track of how many wet diapers ur lo has in a 24 hr period, and base how much I'm truly producing on that, wet diapers are true indicators on how much ur lo is consuming. Also, keep in mind that as babies grow older, their sucking skills become very efficient and can "empty" ur breast in a matter of minutes compare to when they were younger and new to nursing.
I understand all that but unfortunately I have to give him 3 bottles of breastmilk a day during the week - a total of 13-15 ounces - and I'm not getting anywhere that when I pump during the day. I know he's more efficient but I'm not doing anything differently. ??
I see. I've also heard that the body produces more milk after midnight, I've even heard some moms waking up like 2, and 3 am to pump because of the quantity of milk, maybe that can also help? Also how about power pumping?
I would love to add in another session but I honestly have no time...plus I am up at 4 am every day to get ready for work and my son ready for daycare. I'm exhausted!!!
Now...what is power pumping???
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| Posted 6/8/16 7:40 PM |
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soontobemommyof2
My boys...my everything <3
Member since 4/15 3635 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by tnelson22
Posted by evrythng4areason
I noticed a dip around that time too, but dd was starting to have more solids. By 11 months I wasn't getting much when pumping, and she would just have more solids while I was at work and then nurse at home
Yea sounds exactly what I'm going through. I've been told though that they should be getting most of their nutrients from the milk, though, and not the solids.
That's right, as they grow older, they eat more solids. That's how they naturally transition from bm/formula to solids as the main source of food (when they become toddlers). The little nutrients babies get from solids is just a bonus.
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| Posted 6/8/16 7:42 PM |
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soontobemommyof2
My boys...my everything <3
Member since 4/15 3635 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Here's from a quick google search Power pump
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| Posted 6/8/16 7:52 PM |
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soontobemommyof2
My boys...my everything <3
Member since 4/15 3635 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
This is an article a mom posted in my mommy groupClick
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| Posted 6/8/16 7:58 PM |
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evrythng4areason
And then there were 4
Member since 1/10 5224 total posts
Name:
Kayla
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by soontobemommyof2
Posted by tnelson22
Posted by evrythng4areason
I noticed a dip around that time too, but dd was starting to have more solids. By 11 months I wasn't getting much when pumping, and she would just have more solids while I was at work and then nurse at home
Yea sounds exactly what I'm going through. I've been told though that they should be getting most of their nutrients from the milk, though, and not the solids.
That's right, as they grow older, they eat more solids. That's how they naturally transition from bm/formula to solids as the main source of food (when they become toddlers). The little nutrients babies get from solids is just a bonus.
Yes-over the next 4 months though it's totally ok for baby to start eating more solids, and drinking less bottles while you're gone.
Do you have a freezer stash? I ended up using mine around 8-11 months. But again-by 9/10 months dd wasn't even finishing all her bottles at day care, yet she was eating a well-balanced diet and nursing at home.
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| Posted 6/8/16 8:03 PM |
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Summergrl14
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/16 625 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
First off you should be really proud of yourself because pumping and working full time is a lot of work, so  to you!
Unfortunately, for me, when I went back to work when my DD was almost 7 months my supply dropped tremendously. I think it was stress, the fact that she started to self wean and didn't need as much breast milk with the introduction of solid food. I was pumping 4 times a day and by the time I stopped at over 10 months I was pretty much getting enough for 1 bottle to give to daycare.
My lactation consultant did say that to increase supply you can try adding longer pumps and taking large quantities of fenugreek. I did make lactation cookies and I think that definitely helped, but at some point I had to just say that I did a great job and be ok with the fact that I wasn't producing enough.
Also make sure you are consuming enough calories! BF mommas need at least 500 calories more than what your average caloric intake is, so if you started to lose weight or be stressed that you aren't eating enough that could effect your supply.
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| Posted 6/8/16 9:13 PM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7619 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Breastfeeding Help
To get enough BM for my DS, I pumped in the morning before he woke up. I was full and could easily get 8-10 ounces. I used a hands free bra and did it while I did my hair and make up. I also pumped Saturday/Sunday mornings.
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| Posted 6/9/16 6:40 AM |
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RSquared0907
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/12 712 total posts
Name:
RJ
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Breastfeeding Help
That sounds exactly like my day when I was BFing DD; feed before work, 3 pumps during the day, feed on demand at home, which was anywhere between 2-5 times during the night (she didn't sleep much...). I managed to make it 13 months before I was just dried up. My supply was always low so I ate oatmeal and drank the mother's milk tea, but I honestly don't know if it ever helped.
One thing I noticed you said is that you mix his cereal with BM. Any chance you could just stop doing that all together? I never once gave my DD cereal and therefore never had to use the 12-15oz I pumped at work to mix into it, so I always had the 12-15oz I needed for her daycare bottles.
I think the cereal thing is a bit of a personal preference, so if you think he needs it, I understand, but my DD was very healthy and a great eater never having cereal. We followed a baby led weening approach and it worked well for us.
Oh and I also found that towards the end of her first year, I had to pump for a much longer time to get the amount I needed. Like, almost an hour at a time. 3hrs of my work day was spent in my office, with the door closed, pumping while working. I was "lucky" in that I had my own office with a wooden door, but if I had to go to a lactation room, I probably would've had to stop much earlier.
It's tough work, you're doing great!
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| Posted 6/9/16 9:42 AM |
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tnelson22
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 95 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by evrythng4areason
Posted by soontobemommyof2
Posted by tnelson22
Posted by evrythng4areason
I noticed a dip around that time too, but dd was starting to have more solids. By 11 months I wasn't getting much when pumping, and she would just have more solids while I was at work and then nurse at home
Yea sounds exactly what I'm going through. I've been told though that they should be getting most of their nutrients from the milk, though, and not the solids.
That's right, as they grow older, they eat more solids. That's how they naturally transition from bm/formula to solids as the main source of food (when they become toddlers). The little nutrients babies get from solids is just a bonus.
Yes-over the next 4 months though it's totally ok for baby to start eating more solids, and drinking less bottles while you're gone.
Do you have a freezer stash? I ended up using mine around 8-11 months. But again-by 9/10 months dd wasn't even finishing all her bottles at day care, yet she was eating a well-balanced diet and nursing at home.
I do have a freezer stash so I have backup. I'm just worried I'm not gonna make it another 4 months and, as I said previously, he did not do well on the little bit of formula I tried giving him.
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| Posted 6/9/16 10:14 AM |
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tnelson22
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 95 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by Summergrl14
First off you should be really proud of yourself because pumping and working full time is a lot of work, so to you!
Unfortunately, for me, when I went back to work when my DD was almost 7 months my supply dropped tremendously. I think it was stress, the fact that she started to self wean and didn't need as much breast milk with the introduction of solid food. I was pumping 4 times a day and by the time I stopped at over 10 months I was pretty much getting enough for 1 bottle to give to daycare.
My lactation consultant did say that to increase supply you can try adding longer pumps and taking large quantities of fenugreek. I did make lactation cookies and I think that definitely helped, but at some point I had to just say that I did a great job and be ok with the fact that I wasn't producing enough.
Also make sure you are consuming enough calories! BF mommas need at least 500 calories more than what your average caloric intake is, so if you started to lose weight or be stressed that you aren't eating enough that could effect your supply.
Thank you! It's funny b/c I never really had a goal in mind. At first I thought 3 months and then I figured we would wean once he got teeth but now I want to make it to a year and that's probably my issue lol!
Yes, stress does not help at all and I have seen firsthand what it can do to a pumping session. But it's funny b/c everyone keeps telling me to relax and I feel like it's all I do b/c it's the only time I get to myself during the day...I don't even take an official lunch.
I tried the fenugreek but it might have caused a reaction in my son - it was bad - so I decided that was no longer an option. Do you happen to have the recipe for the cookies?
I know I have done pretty damn good with not having to supplement these 8 months but I really would like to last the year...it has saved us so much money and really....you can't beat that bond you have!
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| Posted 6/9/16 10:19 AM |
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tnelson22
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 95 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by PitterPatter11
To get enough BM for my DS, I pumped in the morning before he woke up. I was full and could easily get 8-10 ounces. I used a hands free bra and did it while I did my hair and make up. I also pumped Saturday/Sunday mornings.
Did you feed him right after you pumped? I wake up at 4 to get ready and then wake him around 5 to get him ready and usually settle down for a feeding around 5:30am. I know they say how good babies are getting the milk out but I would hate to take away from what he gets in the morning by pumping beforehand. I'm just curious your routine??
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| Posted 6/9/16 10:20 AM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7619 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by tnelson22
do have a freezer stash so I have backup. I'm just worried I'm not gonna make it another 4 months and, as I said previously, he did not do well on the little bit of formula I tried giving him.
Around 11.5 months, you can probably transition him to regular milk.
I would try to add a pumping session in on Saturdays and Sundays in the morning and I would think that should hold you over. As time goes on, he will need less and less milk during the day. Around that age, my DS went from drinking 16 ounces a day at daycare to 12 and then down to 8 around 10-11 months. He would also nurse at home 3+ times a day.
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| Posted 6/9/16 10:24 AM |
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tnelson22
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 95 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by RSquared0907
That sounds exactly like my day when I was BFing DD; feed before work, 3 pumps during the day, feed on demand at home, which was anywhere between 2-5 times during the night (she didn't sleep much...). I managed to make it 13 months before I was just dried up. My supply was always low so I ate oatmeal and drank the mother's milk tea, but I honestly don't know if it ever helped.
One thing I noticed you said is that you mix his cereal with BM. Any chance you could just stop doing that all together? I never once gave my DD cereal and therefore never had to use the 12-15oz I pumped at work to mix into it, so I always had the 12-15oz I needed for her daycare bottles.
I think the cereal thing is a bit of a personal preference, so if you think he needs it, I understand, but my DD was very healthy and a great eater never having cereal. We followed a baby led weening approach and it worked well for us.
Oh and I also found that towards the end of her first year, I had to pump for a much longer time to get the amount I needed. Like, almost an hour at a time. 3hrs of my work day was spent in my office, with the door closed, pumping while working. I was "lucky" in that I had my own office with a wooden door, but if I had to go to a lactation room, I probably would've had to stop much earlier.
It's tough work, you're doing great!
I actually don't use BM for his cereal. At the time we started him on the cereal, which was just around 6 months, I started using Gentlease b/c that's what the pediatrician recommended since it's the closest to BM. But he was having the worst diapers that I was finally able to attribute to that. So, I started using water to mix in with the cereal b/c BM is such a hot commodity!
As for pumping longer, I don't have that luxury plus, with the classes I took and the lactation consultants I saw, I was told that you could really do some damage leaving that thing on you for more than 20 minutes at a time. I assume you're ok though?!
I'm just hoping I can get through the next 3 1/2 months!
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| Posted 6/9/16 10:25 AM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7619 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by tnelson22
Posted by PitterPatter11
To get enough BM for my DS, I pumped in the morning before he woke up. I was full and could easily get 8-10 ounces. I used a hands free bra and did it while I did my hair and make up. I also pumped Saturday/Sunday mornings.
Did you feed him right after you pumped? I wake up at 4 to get ready and then wake him around 5 to get him ready and usually settle down for a feeding around 5:30am. I know they say how good babies are getting the milk out but I would hate to take away from what he gets in the morning by pumping beforehand. I'm just curious your routine??
I would pump from 5:30-5:45 and then nurse him at 6:20. He never had an issue getting enough milk. I was always so full in the AM, but had a hard time pumping enough at work.
At 25 months, I am still nursing.
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| Posted 6/9/16 10:26 AM |
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tnelson22
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 95 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by PitterPatter11
Posted by tnelson22
do have a freezer stash so I have backup. I'm just worried I'm not gonna make it another 4 months and, as I said previously, he did not do well on the little bit of formula I tried giving him.
Around 11.5 months, you can probably transition him to regular milk.
I would try to add a pumping session in on Saturdays and Sundays in the morning and I would think that should hold you over. As time goes on, he will need less and less milk during the day. Around that age, my DS went from drinking 16 ounces a day at daycare to 12 and then down to 8 around 10-11 months. He would also nurse at home 3+ times a day.
I plan on checking in with daycare again today but he gets breakfast and lunch at daycare along with a total of 13 ounces of milk (4 each with lunch and 5 for snack). Then I nurse 2x a day and pump 4x (3 at work and one while feeding him dinner).
I want to ask the doctor what's the earliest I could give him milk since I don't want to move to formula so we will see what she says.
And I do pump 1-2 times on Saturdays and Sundays, especially in the morning when he wakes later and I can just give him cereal first. I get a good amount then and that definitely makes up for what I lack to produce during the week. But , as you know, the weekends are full of things to do and sometimes it's hard to pump. Who would have thought this was all such a struggle sometimes!
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| Posted 6/9/16 10:30 AM |
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tnelson22
LIF Infant
Member since 3/15 95 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Help
Posted by PitterPatter11
Posted by tnelson22
Posted by PitterPatter11
To get enough BM for my DS, I pumped in the morning before he woke up. I was full and could easily get 8-10 ounces. I used a hands free bra and did it while I did my hair and make up. I also pumped Saturday/Sunday mornings.
Did you feed him right after you pumped? I wake up at 4 to get ready and then wake him around 5 to get him ready and usually settle down for a feeding around 5:30am. I know they say how good babies are getting the milk out but I would hate to take away from what he gets in the morning by pumping beforehand. I'm just curious your routine??
I would pump from 5:30-5:45 and then nurse him at 6:20. He never had an issue getting enough milk. I was always so full in the AM, but had a hard time pumping enough at work.
At 25 months, I am still nursing.
WOW good for you! Maybe I will try and see what happens. Thanks!!!
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| Posted 6/9/16 10:30 AM |
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Summergrl14
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/16 625 total posts
Name:
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Breastfeeding Help
I also added a pump right before bed and that would get me a good 2-4 ounces more than what I pumped during the day. I couldn't pump in the morning because my DD would only want to bf when my breasts were very full, if she had to work too hard she wasn't interested and I didn't want to lose the few nursing sessions she was still into.
I also ate oatmeal every morning which is supposed to help with supply.
We ended up using Gerber Good Start. We tried a few different formulas and I thought that this one had the most similar color/consistency to breast milk and didn't smell as terrible as some other ones. My DD had a dairy intolerance until she was almost 7 months old, but never had a problem with the Gerber formula.
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| Posted 6/9/16 11:02 AM |
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