FTWM and BF'ing

I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant and want to try and BF exclusively this time around. With my last I was only able to do it for 5 months due to low supply.
So I'm hoping you ladies can help me.

I'm thinking the reason why I had low supply was because I would pump more than have her latch on. I hate not knowing how many ounces she was drinking and it just seemed easier for me to pump.

For the first 12 weeks I won't be using my pump but when I return to work I will need to pump. How many times during your work hour do you pump? Did you find that your supply got lower? When you get home, do you have her latch on vs using the bottle?
So you drink anything to increase your supply?

I'm so scare that when I return to work, I either won't have time to pump or will be to busy to remember.

FTWM and BF'ing

Remember that baby is more effective than the pump. So bf is (almost) always better. The important thing is that baby is having plenty of wet diapers and poops and that she is growing. Pay more attention to this than how many ounces.
When you go back to work, pump as often as you feel you need to during the day. I did 2 sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, for 4 5 oz bottles most days. When you are with her, nurse her, don't give her the bottle. This will help keep up your supply better than pumping and giving her a bottle. Often I find that I have a much better supply on Monday after nursing my LO through the weekend.
I have never taken any supplements or anything, but people swear by oatmeal, plenty of water, and nursing teas.
HTH! GL!

Re: FTWM and BF'ing

I went back to work after 4m with DS#1. I had a huge stash of frozen BM. My milk supply dropped significantly after i went back to work. I think this was due to DS starting solids and not being able to pump consistently at work. I ran out of frozen breastmilk at around 7m and only nursed in the mornings and night. At 8m, DS was on formula and solid food only. I had a lot of guilt about not BFing longer.

With DS#2, I was not working, had no frozen stash and still stopped at 8m.

For me, BF and teeth don't go together.

Re: FTWM and BF'ing

I've been back to work since DD was 12 weeks (she is 27 weeks now). I didn't notice a decrease in supply until my first pp period at 4 months.

I pump twice a day at work and would usually get 10 oz my first session and 8-10 the afternoon. At 3-4 months, dd was taking 4-5 oz bottles (3 or 4 while I was at work) so I had plenty and did not have to pump at night when i got home and I would just nurse her.

Now at 6 months + she is taking 3 sometimes 4 6 oz bottles while I am away AND I am getting less milk. 6-8 oz my morning session & usually 6-8 in the afternoon. So now I pump once more when I get home and get 6 more oz that way. I also try to pump on the weekends the side she is not nursing from to help buffer through the next week. She onlly started solids this past sunday so she may or may not drink less bm. haven't noticed a difference yet

I also went through my freezer stash when I was pumping very little one week so try to build it while you are on maternity leave!! that saved me from resorting to formula.

Don't worry about not being able to count the oz is lo is nursing. As long as lo seems satisfied and has wet dirty diapers and is gaining weight, it's fine.

And babies are definitely more efficient at getting milk out than a pump. sometimes I will feed lo after a pumping session adn she will still get a letdown and eats enough.

Re: FTWM and BF'ing

So while I'm on maternity leave, I should stock up in my freezer. How do I go about in storing and feeding her? Do I pump right after I BF?

Re: FTWM and BF'ing