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randella
Love my little man
Member since 8/05 16290 total posts
Name:
Randi
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Other than pumping-- how did you really know your supply was dwindling?
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Posted 7/21/09 8:14 PM  |
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DancinBarefoot
06ers Rock!!
Member since 1/07 9534 total posts
Name:
The One My Mother Gave Me ;-)
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Re: Other than pumping-- how did you really know your supply was dwindling?
Pumping is NOT a measure of dwindling supply, as what your pump extracts is FAR less than what baby is able to get.
For me by the time DD was 6 months she was a champ and would chow down in 5-10 minutes on one side only and be satisfied. When she reverted to her newborn days of 15 minutes and then was still looking for more I knew I had issues.
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| Posted 7/21/09 9:40 PM |
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randella
Love my little man
Member since 8/05 16290 total posts
Name:
Randi
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Re: Other than pumping-- how did you really know your supply was dwindling?
Posted by DancinBarefoot
Pumping is NOT a measure of dwindling supply, as what your pump extracts is FAR less than what baby is able to get.
For me by the time DD was 6 months she was a champ and would chow down in 5-10 minutes on one side only and be satisfied. When she reverted to her newborn days of 15 minutes and then was still looking for more I knew I had issues.
I know pumping is not an accurate measure, BUT if you used to pump a decent amount, and now you don't-- but still do it at the same times, etc.-- isn't that like comparing apples to apples?? It's not like I just started pumping and am trying to compare.
Sasha has always been an efficient nurser-- but I am just wondering if she is getting enough. She will sometimes take both breasts-- when she has always only nursed on one side, she seems a little fussier lately, and is still eating very frequently.
I mean, either I don't have enough supply, she is growth spurting or teething, just wants the comfort, OR all freaking four.
I swear-- 5 months in and I still have no clue what I am doing. 
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| Posted 7/22/09 6:40 AM |
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Porrruss
Nya nya nya
Member since 5/05 11618 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Re: Other than pumping-- how did you really know your supply was dwindling?
It likely doesn't mean your supply is dwindling- it means she's growing and needing more food. Babies tend to go through a growth spurt at around 6 months.
If she's eating more, you'll get less when you pump initially. Keep up with nursing on demand and pumping and you'll see a return to what you were pumping before.
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| Posted 7/22/09 6:48 AM |
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randella
Love my little man
Member since 8/05 16290 total posts
Name:
Randi
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Re: Other than pumping-- how did you really know your supply was dwindling?
Posted by Porrruss
It likely doesn't mean your supply is dwindling- it means she's growing and needing more food. Babies tend to go through a growth spurt at around 6 months.
If she's eating more, you'll get less when you pump initially. Keep up with nursing on demand and pumping and you'll see a return to what you were pumping before.
that's what I thought initially-- but I feel like this has been going on for a while-- a couple of weeks at the least.
Shouldn't my supply catch up with her more quickly?
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| Posted 7/22/09 6:54 AM |
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Porrruss
Nya nya nya
Member since 5/05 11618 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Re: Other than pumping-- how did you really know your supply was dwindling?
Are her extra feedings consistent?
I used to pump 10oz out of each breast when DD was 5/6 months old and started STTN. Then at 7 months, she started waking 1-2 times a night, so I was getting less in the morning. But, she'd go a few nights where she WOULD sleep, then a few nights where she'd be up a bunch to eat. Needless to say, my output in the morniong lately has been about 10oz total rather than 20. However, I only pump in the mornings now, whereas before I did morning and night.
But- DD is steadily gaining and lots of dry/wet diapers.
Are you worried about maintaining a frezzer stash, or whether she is getting enough? I know she's waking at night, but how is she during the day? Is she looking to eat all the time?
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| Posted 7/22/09 7:03 AM |
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randella
Love my little man
Member since 8/05 16290 total posts
Name:
Randi
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Re: Other than pumping-- how did you really know your supply was dwindling?
Posted by Porrruss
Are her extra feedings consistent?
I used to pump 10oz out of each breast when DD was 5/6 months old and started STTN. Then at 7 months, she started waking 1-2 times a night, so I was getting less in the morning. But, she'd go a few nights where she WOULD sleep, then a few nights where she'd be up a bunch to eat. Needless to say, my output in the morniong lately has been about 10oz total rather than 20. However, I only pump in the mornings now, whereas before I did morning and night.
But- DD is steadily gaining and lots of dry/wet diapers.
Are you worried about maintaining a frezzer stash, or whether she is getting enough? I know she's waking at night, but how is she during the day? Is she looking to eat all the time?
10oz!!!!
I *used* to get like 6 or so in the morning. Now I get 1 to 2oz. At night, I would get 2 to 4oz.
DH was always giving a bottle in the middle of the night. When she started waking again-- I would feed her the second time. THis was when my pumped milk supply got a little low in the AM, but my nighttime pumping session yielded more than before-- so, the supply probably evened out.
When we tried sleep training, I was feeding her at like 4 to 5 AM, so the feedings were probably about the same-- just not at the same times.
ETA- During the day-- she eats every 2 hours on average. She also gets very distracted-- so sometimes she eats poorly, but I have learned how to deal with that-- no talking, sound, etc. Lately, she just doesn't seem satisfied-- but I don't know if she is tired, in pain, wants comfort-- whatever. She is not wailing all day-- so I know she isn't starving, but maybe she wants/needs more.
When I was taking care of her all by myself for 2 weeks-- I was pumping, but not getting anything really-- cause she wasn't getting any bottles. So, I didn't really pump because I felt it was fruitless. But, I went back to it when I got home and have been pumping again for about a week or so.
I am worried she isn't gettign enough. When we broke down and stopped sleep training, she downed 7.5 oz, then 8oz in the middle of the night when DH gave a bottle. I can't even produce that much in a day to make that bottle now. I am also thinking she isn't getting enough throughout the day and that may contribute to her bad sleeping habits-- whether it be a nap, or nighttime.
I can't freeze my milk-- even though I srtill have a ton in the freezer which I check every now and then to *make sure* it's still bad. I can't bear to throw it out.
I just want enough to have a bottle or two for each day so I can get a break-- whether it be at night, or during the day AND so I have enough to start with the cereal.
Message edited 7/22/2009 7:15:41 AM.
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| Posted 7/22/09 7:13 AM |
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Re: Other than pumping-- how did you really know your supply was dwindling?
For me, I always felt my supply was changing to what DD needed. I never worried about how much she ate because I knew she was growing. When I started solids I am sure my supply went down a little but that is expected because she wasn't nursing as much.
Now, at that age it could very well be teething. Babies can teethe for weeks/months before the actual tooth pops out. Her gums don't necessarily need to be swollen either.
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| Posted 7/22/09 8:02 AM |
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chelle
It's a Good Life
Member since 8/06 15404 total posts
Name:
Isn't it obvious?
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Re: Other than pumping-- how did you really know your supply was dwindling?
Posted by DancinBarefoot
Pumping is NOT a measure of dwindling supply, as what your pump extracts is FAR less than what baby is able to get.
Thank you...I was just about to post this.
You will not get as much pumping as you will when baby nurses. The suck is MUCH different.
I gave up on pumping because I could only get about 1-2 oz a pump session 
But DD was getting PLENTY when she nursed
DO not judge your supply by how much you get pumping.
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| Posted 7/22/09 8:04 AM |
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Rycois
Blessed with 2blue/2pink
Member since 12/05 13341 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Other than pumping-- how did you really know your supply was dwindling?
Has AF returned or could she be on her way? I had a supply dip (seen through pumping) 3-4 days before I would get AF. I would keep up with pumping, drink some extra water/eat oatmeal around that time and it would resume to what it was after AF came (a day or two into it)
Message edited 7/22/2009 8:08:06 AM.
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| Posted 7/22/09 8:07 AM |
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DRMom
Two in Blue
Member since 5/05 20223 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Other than pumping-- how did you really know your supply was dwindling?
Randi if you keep pumping your supply should go up. Offer her the boob more often too. Did you ever try More Milk Plus? Why can't you freeze your milk?
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| Posted 7/22/09 8:20 AM |
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