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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
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Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again. Updated: Got my mojo back thank you!!!
I don't know- does anyone else have these problems? I go through periods where I just don't produce enough milk. I don't know what it is, but it's stressing me out so much. For awhile I had a huge freezer stash- about 100 oz. Now I have like 30 oz. and I'm not going to be with DD tonight (I have an event to go to and won't be home til like midnight) so she's going to be using most of that up. I pump 4x a day and I just don't get that much anymore. I wonder if it's because she's been waking at night and nursing 2x where as before she would sleep through the night? Has my body just not caught up? Also, she's drinking more at each feeding- up to 6 oz. from 5 oz. Whatever it is, I'm stressing so badly which makes it worse, I know, but I can't help it. I've been drinking water like a fish and I just ordered more of those fenugreek/thistle supplement drinks because they seemed to help before but I'm just so worried that I won't be able to continue breastfeeding her and I'm not ready to be done yet. She just turned 6 months last week.  Any advice is appreciated.
Message edited 11/11/2016 11:20:37 AM.
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Posted 11/3/16 9:22 AM  |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
Member since 2/09 20494 total posts
Name:
Me
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Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Oatmeal made from steel cut oats
Fenugreek
Mothers milk plus supplements
Brewers yeast
Dark beer- try an oatmeal stout
Flaxseed
Lactation cookies
Also try power pumping 1x a day- 20 mins pumping, 10 min break, 10 mins pumping, 10 min break, 10 mins pumping.
Avoid peppermint and cold medicines
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| Posted 11/3/16 9:46 AM |
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evrythng4areason
And then there were 4
Member since 1/10 5224 total posts
Name:
Kayla
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Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Around 6 months when dd started solids my supply dropped a bit too. By the time I stopped pumping at 11 months I had basically nothing in the freezer and was just working to pump enough for the next time I was leaving her, but I was still able to nurse her until almost 14 months
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| Posted 11/3/16 9:59 AM |
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Summergrl14
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/16 625 total posts
Name:
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Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
How old is your DD? My supply significantly dropped when I went back to work and started pumping, plus it was around the same time my DD started solids and sleeping through the night.
Try the mother's milk supplements and tea. I heard fenugreek does work, but I never tried it. I also would make these peanut butter oatmeal lactation cookies and they really did help. At one point I even started leaking again lol.
Unfortunately, for me, once my supply dipped so dramatically my DD refused to nurse. I was still able to pump and give her some breast milk till she was almost 12 months, but she was no longer into nursing.
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| Posted 11/3/16 10:13 AM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by evrythng4areason
Around 6 months when dd started solids my supply dropped a bit too. By the time I stopped pumping at 11 months I had basically nothing in the freezer and was just working to pump enough for the next time I was leaving her, but I was still able to nurse her until almost 14 months
This makes me feel a bit better about it. She did just start solids so maybe that's part of it, too. Not having anything in the freezer makes pumping each day so damn stressful. And I pump for 20 minutes each time and usually just barely scrape by what I'd use the following day. Plus my job is just not very flexible with the time they give me. I use my coffee break, my lunch break, and then I take a quick break towards the end of the day to pump. I am given the time and space but just so and I still get the stink eye from them.
I just pumped now and had a good pump- 7 oz. but it always goes lower as the day goes on.
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| Posted 11/3/16 10:23 AM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by Summergrl14
How old is your DD? My supply significantly dropped when I went back to work and started pumping, plus it was around the same time my DD started solids and sleeping through the night.
Try the mother's milk supplements and tea. I heard fenugreek does work, but I never tried it. I also would make these peanut butter oatmeal lactation cookies and they really did help. At one point I even started leaking again lol.
Unfortunately, for me, once my supply dipped so dramatically my DD refused to nurse. I was still able to pump and give her some breast milk till she was almost 12 months, but she was no longer into nursing.
She's 6 months. I've been back at work for 4 months so I have a pretty set pumping schedule down, but I'm just not getting as much it seems at each pump. She's been STTN since 2 months, in fact, just the last few nights she's been waking up to nurse. And that's when I started noticing the dip. I'm *hoping* maybe my body just hasn't caught up to her increase in demand yet.
Mmmm peanut butter oatmeal cookies sound really good- do you have the recipe? I'd love to make them! I do have the milk makers lactation cookies but they don't seem to help as much. The UpSpring milkflow supplements are what I was using and they helped, but my supply evened out and I ran out. I just got some more though so I'm hoping they help again.
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| Posted 11/3/16 10:26 AM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by ElizaRags35
Oatmeal made from steel cut oats
Fenugreek
Mothers milk plus supplements
Brewers yeast
Dark beer- try an oatmeal stout
Flaxseed
Lactation cookies
Also try power pumping 1x a day- 20 mins pumping, 10 min break, 10 mins pumping, 10 min break, 10 mins pumping.
Avoid peppermint and cold medicines
Yeah I have to try power pumping again. I did that the last time I noticed a dip in my supply but I did so much else so I'm not sure what really made the difference- I started with the milkmakers oatmeal cookies, the milkflow drink supplements, power pumping, increasing my water intake all at the same time. I've just been getting home so late and I feel like I have no time to power pump. Gah it's so stressful! 
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| Posted 11/3/16 10:29 AM |
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Summergrl14
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/16 625 total posts
Name:
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Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Here is the recipe I used.
http://www.organicmamacafe.com/2012/07/flourless-lactation-cookies-monster-cookie-style/
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| Posted 11/3/16 10:38 AM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by Summergrl14
Here is the recipe I used.
http://www.organicmamacafe.com/2012/07/flourless-lactation-cookies-monster-cookie-style/
Thank you!! 
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| Posted 11/3/16 11:12 AM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7634 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
I was never able to pump enough at work and had to pump over the weekends until my DS was like 10 months old. I am now still BFing my DS and he is a toddler (although we are finally down to 1-2 times a day - thank goodness!!!)
I would pump on Saturday and Sunday mornings right when I got up. I would also pump first thing in the morning during the week BEFORE my DS woke up. I would wear my hands free pumping bra and pump as I did my hair and make up.
Good Luck!
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| Posted 11/3/16 11:39 AM |
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racheK
Hudson's Momma
Member since 10/10 2853 total posts
Name:
Rachel
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Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
The more demand, the more supply so I would say that the night feedings won't affect your day production--she needs more, you make more. Do you know that she is being pace fed during the day you are at work? They say breastfed babies only require 1-1.5 oz for every hour you are away. My son is a BIG boy and only takes 4oz every 3 hours but he's fed slowly so has a good gauge on when he's full. If we let him, he'd suck down 6-7 oz but we feed slowly.
Are you a part of any breastfeeding FB groups? I highly recommend joining one (I am a part of a few) and you can ask lactation consultants the same thing!
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| Posted 11/3/16 11:42 AM |
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Are you eating enough??
I know everyone pushes water and so I drank a ton but on days I wasn't consuming enough calories I didn't make as much milk. It took me awhile to figure it out.
Best of luck
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| Posted 11/3/16 11:48 AM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by PitterPatter11
I was never able to pump enough at work and had to pump over the weekends until my DS was like 10 months old. I am now still BFing my DS and he is a toddler (although we are finally down to 1-2 times a day - thank goodness!!!)
I would pump on Saturday and Sunday mornings right when I got up. I would also pump first thing in the morning during the week BEFORE my DS woke up. I would wear my hands free pumping bra and pump as I did my hair and make up.
Good Luck!
Yeah the mornings is when I make the most but I just never know when to fit it in. Generally, she sleeps through the night (except the last few days  ) and then wakes up at 5 AM to nurse, goes back to sleep until about 7 or 8 and nurses again. So I feel like that's the prime milk making time shot. Then it's usually about 10:00 AM, and every 2.5/3 hours. I'm just not sure when to fit it in. 
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| Posted 11/3/16 12:38 PM |
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SnickNNick
In our new house!!
Member since 8/08 2119 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Have had similar ups and downs - DD is almost 8 months and I had a lot of stress at work for a few weeks a couple of weeks ago, and was struggling. Things have leveled back off but one thing that helped me was pumping the other side while she nursed during the morning feeding. I use the manual pump and pump out about 2-3 ounces, and she still nurses off of both sides. That helps top off if I don't quite make enough at one of my work day pumps (I try to pump 4 oz each time, three times a day, and she drinks 4 oz each time. I always send a 4th bottle and sometimes she drinks it, and that's when I really have to dip into the freezer). One of the things I read is that it's important to really empty to stimulate more production, and that helps to do that too. I still do it on the weekends, though I don't pump otherwise on the weekends unless something is going on and I'm away from DD, but that gives me an extra 4-6 oz. from the weekend that I can usually put right into the freezer.
I also agree with eating enough - I am at the lowest weight I have been at in many years and I think it's because I am not eating enough with all the BFing, and on days when I am really stressed and pressed for time and not eating, those are the days I have struggled.
Try not to stress and take it as it comes. You are doing a great job!!
ETA: Just saw your post about finding time in the morning - that's the great thing about using the hand pump while she nurses the other side - you do it at the same time! I typically pump the left while she nurses on the right, and then by the time she's ready to switch I have 2-3 oz and she nurses on the left. Sometimes I pump the right too, sometimes not, depending on how long she was on. I have the Avent Manual Comfort. I use my Specta S2 during the day, but the manual pump is great for this and I think it's actually more efficient when baby is nursing the other side because the letdown is already happening!
Message edited 11/3/2016 12:43:54 PM.
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| Posted 11/3/16 12:41 PM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by racheK
The more demand, the more supply so I would say that the night feedings won't affect your day production--she needs more, you make more. Do you know that she is being pace fed during the day you are at work? They say breastfed babies only require 1-1.5 oz for every hour you are away. My son is a BIG boy and only takes 4oz every 3 hours but he's fed slowly so has a good gauge on when he's full. If we let him, he'd suck down 6-7 oz but we feed slowly.
Are you a part of any breastfeeding FB groups? I highly recommend joining one (I am a part of a few) and you can ask lactation consultants the same thing!
Hmmm I don't think they do generally pace feed her. But she never spits up or is sick, she's gaining weight steadily in a healthy way- she has little baby roll thighs, but she's generally on the thin side since she's long, so I'm not sure if it's that she's eating too much... sometimes I DO feel like people who watch her are too quick to give her a bottle if she's fussy, but if I say so I get the side eye like I'm a bad mom and I'm trying to starve my daughter to make it easier on myself. Though, that judgement could be all in my head.
I'd love a recommendation for a BF group on FB, I'm not part of any!
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| Posted 11/3/16 12:41 PM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7634 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by Momma2015
Posted by PitterPatter11
I was never able to pump enough at work and had to pump over the weekends until my DS was like 10 months old. I am now still BFing my DS and he is a toddler (although we are finally down to 1-2 times a day - thank goodness!!!)
I would pump on Saturday and Sunday mornings right when I got up. I would also pump first thing in the morning during the week BEFORE my DS woke up. I would wear my hands free pumping bra and pump as I did my hair and make up.
Good Luck!
Yeah the mornings is when I make the most but I just never know when to fit it in. Generally, she sleeps through the night (except the last few days ) and then wakes up at 5 AM to nurse, goes back to sleep until about 7 or 8 and nurses again. So I feel like that's the prime milk making time shot. Then it's usually about 10:00 AM, and every 2.5/3 hours. I'm just not sure when to fit it in.
DS would sometimes nurse at 4:30-5 am and I would still pump at 5:30. He would then nurse again at 6:30. He was SO much more efficient than the pump. I was never very good at pumping and would get so frustrated. The morning pump, I could easily get 6-10 ounces depending upon when he last nursed.
Your best option might be to try to pump on the weekend mornings. Then you can build up your freezer stash a bit. That's what I found to be the most useful.
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| Posted 11/3/16 12:49 PM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by MerryChristmas
Are you eating enough??
I know everyone pushes water and so I drank a ton but on days I wasn't consuming enough calories I didn't make as much milk. It took me awhile to figure it out.
Best of luck
I *think* I'm eating enough... I'm definitely not losing any weight, that's for sure.
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| Posted 11/3/16 12:59 PM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by PitterPatter11
Posted by Momma2015
Posted by PitterPatter11
I was never able to pump enough at work and had to pump over the weekends until my DS was like 10 months old. I am now still BFing my DS and he is a toddler (although we are finally down to 1-2 times a day - thank goodness!!!)
I would pump on Saturday and Sunday mornings right when I got up. I would also pump first thing in the morning during the week BEFORE my DS woke up. I would wear my hands free pumping bra and pump as I did my hair and make up.
Good Luck!
Yeah the mornings is when I make the most but I just never know when to fit it in. Generally, she sleeps through the night (except the last few days ) and then wakes up at 5 AM to nurse, goes back to sleep until about 7 or 8 and nurses again. So I feel like that's the prime milk making time shot. Then it's usually about 10:00 AM, and every 2.5/3 hours. I'm just not sure when to fit it in.
DS would sometimes nurse at 4:30-5 am and I would still pump at 5:30. He would then nurse again at 6:30. He was SO much more efficient than the pump. I was never very good at pumping and would get so frustrated. The morning pump, I could easily get 6-10 ounces depending upon when he last nursed.
Your best option might be to try to pump on the weekend mornings. Then you can build up your freezer stash a bit. That's what I found to be the most useful.
I think I'm going to try that this weekend. I may look into a manual pump as well so I have the option to pump one side while she nurses on the other.
I do try to empty them as best as I can but I feel like they're almost never empty- which seems counter intuitive since I'm also not getting enough to cover her feedings! There's always a bit still trickling out, but slowly. I've tried multiple pumps, replaced parts, tried different sized flanges....
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| Posted 11/3/16 1:05 PM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7634 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by Momma2015
I think I'm going to try that this weekend. I may look into a manual pump as well so I have the option to pump one side while she nurses on the other.
I do try to empty them as best as I can but I feel like they're almost never empty- which seems counter intuitive since I'm also not getting enough to cover her feedings! There's always a bit still trickling out, but slowly. I've tried multiple pumps, replaced parts, tried different sized flanges....
Good luck! I never thought I would make it to a year and now I'm nursing a 2.5 year old. (Yes, I'm still making milk).
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| Posted 11/3/16 1:18 PM |
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soontobemommyof2
My boys...my everything <3
Member since 4/15 3635 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by Momma2015
She's been STTN since 2 months, in fact, just the last few nights she's been waking up to nurse. And that's when I started noticing the dip. I'm *hoping* maybe my body just hasn't caught up to her increase in demand yet.
This is what most likely is happening, there's been an increase in demand so ur body will increase the supply but it'll take a little bit of time, especially since the increases have been because of actually nursing and not because of pumping, babies are way more efficient at emptying the breast so by the time u have ur pumping sessions, u're breasts probably haven't filled up yet. Give ur body a little bit of time, it'll most likely catch up. Also do not stress, believe me, I know it's almost impossible not to but it'll count against ur milk production. Just keep doing what u're doing, u're doing great mommy!
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| Posted 11/3/16 2:55 PM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Thank you guys so much for your kind words. I don't have a lot of breastfeeding friends/family. Most of the time they just say "Why don't you just switch to formula?" which I know is fine, but I want to do this so badly. I really enjoy nursing her and bonding with her and I'm doubly proud of every ounce she gains, every inch she grows, every milestone she hits, every little chubby roll on her body because I did that- all with my body! It absolutely astounds me. I didn't even think I'd make it this far- my original goal was give it three months and now I've done double that and I don't want to quit now. So thank you all again! Your advice and just overall support really help!
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| Posted 11/3/16 3:30 PM |
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evrythng4areason
And then there were 4
Member since 1/10 5224 total posts
Name:
Kayla
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Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
I would probably pump around 630. However, it does sound like your supply may be just working to catch up right now, which can take a few days.
You've got this mama!!
Modern tribal mamas is a good fb group.
Also, feel free to contact me whenever you need-I'm certainly no expert, but I nursed Ashley for almost 14 months while working, and so far am nursing this one also, and I'm planning on going for just as long.
Eta-as for the leaking, I leaked like a crazy person for like 10 months
Message edited 11/3/2016 4:05:00 PM.
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| Posted 11/3/16 4:04 PM |
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CL2012
LIF Toddler
Member since 1/13 374 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
You mentioned you had a lot in the freezer but not so much now, so does that mean you've dipped into freezer supply without pumping as much as you're feeding the baby? That will definitely lessen your supply. My goal each day I pumped was to pump at least as many ounces in a day as my baby was fed in a bottle. That almost always meant I had to add an extra pumping session at night around 9pm while baby was sleeping. I usually couldn't get enough ounces from the 3 sessions I pumped at work to cover the day's bottle intake. If your baby consistently, day after day, drinks more from a bottle than you are pumping then your supply goes down. I also never gave a 6oz bottle of breastmilk. The most he ever got was 4.5oz and that .5oz was a concession I made to his babysitter who also gave me side eye, suggesting he needed more ounces and I didn't want to budge from 4oz. Breastfed babies ounce intake doesn't increase with age like formula fed babies. My son would get 4.5 ounce bottles every 2.5-3 hours pretty much until almost a year old when solid food took a more pronounced place in his daily diet. I could have never kept up with 6oz bottles with my pumping. And I would bet money that when your baby nurses from you, she is not nursing 6oz of liquid out. I bet she is getting full on less.
Paced feeding is key for the bottle giver and try to pump as many ounces in a day as are given in a bottle. It may take a few days for your body to adjust to an evening pumping session but in a few days you will probably get a few extra ounces out that way. Good luck!
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| Posted 11/4/16 2:24 PM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Posted by CL2012
You mentioned you had a lot in the freezer but not so much now, so does that mean you've dipped into freezer supply without pumping as much as you're feeding the baby? That will definitely lessen your supply. My goal each day I pumped was to pump at least as many ounces in a day as my baby was fed in a bottle. That almost always meant I had to add an extra pumping session at night around 9pm while baby was sleeping. I usually couldn't get enough ounces from the 3 sessions I pumped at work to cover the day's bottle intake. If your baby consistently, day after day, drinks more from a bottle than you are pumping then your supply goes down. I also never gave a 6oz bottle of breastmilk. The most he ever got was 4.5oz and that .5oz was a concession I made to his babysitter who also gave me side eye, suggesting he needed more ounces and I didn't want to budge from 4oz. Breastfed babies ounce intake doesn't increase with age like formula fed babies. My son would get 4.5 ounce bottles every 2.5-3 hours pretty much until almost a year old when solid food took a more pronounced place in his daily diet. I could have never kept up with 6oz bottles with my pumping. And I would bet money that when your baby nurses from you, she is not nursing 6oz of liquid out. I bet she is getting full on less.
Paced feeding is key for the bottle giver and try to pump as many ounces in a day as are given in a bottle. It may take a few days for your body to adjust to an evening pumping session but in a few days you will probably get a few extra ounces out that way. Good luck!
Well, I generally can pump enough to cover the next day's intake, but like you said, that's with 4 sessions. 3 at work and one middle of the night session while DD is sleeping. But I've had a few events at work and been shorthanded so I haven't pumped as much. Add on top of that that I've had to stay late so she's gotten an extra bottle and that seriously dipped into my freezer supply. Also, and I hate to say it and sound ungrateful, but whenever I would leave DD with anyone (my parents, ILs, etc.) even if it was just for an hour to run to the store, they would immediately defrost a bag of milk. So then I'd have to use it and sometimes I wasn't at liberty to pump. I know I'm all jacked up and I'm so nervous that I won't be able to get back on track now. I have to be more religious about my pumping but it's so hard when I'm not at home and I haven't been home every single weekend. I'm hoping things calm down now and I can get back into a routine.
I'm thinking the same thing about the ounce intake. My sister watches her in the morning and she goes to daycare in the afternoon and they just pressure me so much to give more more more. They're even pressuring me now to give her more solid food. I give her solids once and that's at night at home with me in between feeds.
I'm doing my fenugreek/blessed thistle supplement, power pumping, drinking tons of water and blue gatorade (which someone said was really good for it) and I'm going to make the lactation cookies tomorrow night and just keep power pumping and pumping throughout the night and everything. I'm just so disheartened. I'm not ready to quit nursing her yet.
ETA: I nursed her last night at about 7:30 and then tried to power pump at 9:30 and got NOTHING. Just a few drops of milk. I tried replacing some of the parts with new ones I had on hand but it made no difference. I don't know if maybe there is something wrong with my pump, too. Because she woke up again at 12 and then 3 and there was definitely milk.
Message edited 11/7/2016 8:25:26 AM.
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| Posted 11/7/16 8:22 AM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ugh breastfeeding woes.... again.
Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for your advice! It seems I was just off schedule or her night wakings were using up some of my supply and my body hadn't caught up yet. I'm back to pumping 20 oz a day and started to stash more in my freezer again! I did a few days of power pumping, drank tons of water including my fenugreek/blessed thistle supplement, and picked up some more lactation cookies since I haven't had a chance to bake any at home.
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| Posted 11/11/16 11:20 AM |
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