My daughter will be eleven months on the fifteenth of this month, she has always been breastfed, never even tasted formula. I work full time and pump on my lunch, I was usually able to get enough for the next day that way. Lately I seem to be getting less and less milk when I pump, I still seem to be able to satisfy my daughter when she nurses though. I noticed a few months ago that I was mainly having problems while I had my period (which I read was very common) but the last month or two my milk poduction did not completely pick back up afterward and this time it looks like it will be really bad if I don't just dry up completely. Our pediatrician told me that I can start her on whole milk as early as eleven months but I still have over ten days to go till then and was really wanting to go a little longer if possible. My question is what would other moms do? I have tried all I can come up with to increase my milk eg. mother's milk tea, drinking lots of water, pumping for longer time periods, and still no increase at these times. I don't know if there is something else I can try or if I should just go ahead and try cows milk when all my reserves are up( I do have a few bottles of frozen breastmilk that has been being used to suplement my slowing supply but that is almost used up). I do only pump the one time a day but doing much more pumping just won't really work for my schedual (I have pumped early morning and late night but that just got too draining) Thank you in advance for your help and ideas.
Congratulations on doing so well for so long!
Not certain if it's been mentioned, there is a lot of good advice in here.....
If you can afford it consider a hospital grade rental pump. They really do work a whole lot better and can make a difference.
I went from breast milk to formula then to whole milk. If you are not wanting to go the whole milk route formula can extend it a bit.
Best of luck!
This happened a little earlier for me with my son - turns out I was pregnant!!
Other times when I needed a boost, I would "power pump" as suggested by my lactation consultant. Pump in short sessions every 2 hours. This always worked for me when having supply issues.
When I had to supplement, I would mix formula (in your case cow's milk would be ok) with the breastmilk in a few pumped bottles. It worked well for us.
Good luck!
I've had this issue every now and then (my daughter will be 12 months in 20 days). I do a little extra pumping when I'm home. I pump for a few minutes after each feeding or if it has been a couple hours and she doesn't seem to need to nurse right then. It seems pointless at the time because I only get about 1/2 ounce at each pumping, but it is a little bit of milk for when I'm at work and it ends up increasing my supply. I also find my supply decreases when I'm really busy with work, taking care of the kids, housework, etc. So I try to get in a little down time (my husband can just suck it up and deal with a messy house or clean it himself). That with the other things you mentioned usually help with my milk supply. However, I also will give my daughter a little juice or formula every now and then to supplement. It just takes the pressure off me to "produce." I have to remind myself that it's not the end of the world if she drinks something that doesn't come from me. =) I know that she'll be continuing her transition to not being dependent upon me for nutrition and that is a good thing as it means she's growing and developing as she should (which still is a hard transition for me). Hang in there and congratulations on breastfeeding exclusively for so long!
The same thing happened to me toward the end of the my baby's first year - and it stressed me out about the fact that I wasn't producing what I used to. I got a car adapter, and would actually pump on the way to work and on the way home, and once at work. I would say you should definitely pump more than once a day. Your almost to a year, so really, that is comendable!!! Be proud for being a great mama!
Kudos for doing the pumping/working thing! I've been there and done that and it's a tough year, but you're almost there. You've gotten a lot of great suggestions. For me, it always boiled down to supply and demand. The more I pumped, the more milk I got, but it usually took a couple of days to catch up. Don't be hard on yourself. I, like you, obsessed about every last drop of milk, but I can honestly tell you that your child will be fine no matter what you do. Contrary to what one of the posters said, it is absolutely FINE to mix breastmilk with other things like formula or milk. In fact, breastmilk will actually HELP your baby digest new things in her system like milk or formula. If you do go ahead and try cow's milk, just look for signs of allergy and if she has any problems you may want to just buy a can of formula and do that until she hits the year mark. Best wishes to you!
Dear A.,
Please read this with your humor cap on!
Honey, please..please..please....just relax and enjoy your precious little girl. Don't make mothering harder than it has to be. Whether you choose to try (strive which is not relaxing) to breastfeed for 10 more days or to give her milk....ask yourself some questions...Will it really make a difference? Is this going to scar her for life? Will she drop 10 points in IQ? Will she hate you for stopping 10 days short of her 11 mo. birthday? If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions...then, please...keep striving! Otherwise, let it go.
Breastfeed her once a day if you like and supplement as needed. It is NOT recommended to mix breastmilk with other things like formula or milk. Let her have a "pure" taste for what she is drinking.
Another benefit is that you will have less discomfort as your breasts dry naturally. If you are only trying to breastfeed for 10 more days why in the world would you want to increase production. Sounds like your body is trying to prepare your dtr. for the transition. Just go with it or not!!! It is totally up to you!! Just do what is relaxing for BOTH of you where you can enjoy each other. Life is too short and they are grown before you know it!!!
PS. There are no magic dates for anything where growing up is concerned.
Observe and listen....those will be your best indicators for progression with her. For example... if dtr. at 18 mo. comes to you and says "dirty", "dirty". Are you going to wait to potty train b/c somebody says "Don't until she is 2?"
I in no way mean to sound condescending. I just want to teach you and other young moms that it is OK to trust yourself and to question things sometimes. Most areas are gray when raising children and no baby comes here with a manual that says "How to raise me". This is what I found most fun about raising my 3 kids! (all adults, now). They were all different in every way!!!
Loving parents, some form of sustenance, and discipline are what a child needs to thrive. I wish you the best in your adventure in motherhood! I know you will do a great job!!!!
Here's a little more encouragement..those 3 kids I told you about! Everyone one of them is awesome in their own right!!! I couldn't have asked for more! God is the author of their lives and I have "no worries". I just get to ENJOY the fruits of my labor pains!!!! HEEHEE!!
K.
my hx: pediatric/nsy rn
Totally just do cows milk. She will be fine. I always 100% breastfeed my babies but around 10 1/2 or 11 months I start to cut out a few feedings and because I don't want to start formula I just do cows milk in a sippy cup and they do just fine. And if your doc says it's fine then go for it. You can still nurse her when you are home and still pump at work so she still gets some breastmilk but the cows milk and table food will fill her up and is healthy.
I have read the other responses and just wanted to add one suggestion: eat steel cut oatmeal and take a calcium/magnesium supplement.
I had similar problems and those two things helped. My supply would really dip at menstruation and sometimes ovulation too.
Also, take comfort in knowing that even one breastmilk feeding a day is beneficial. In months, 10.5-12 that's all my son got. I remember reading somewhere that if a baby gets only on feeding a day of breastmilk, he/she will still reap much of the benefits (antibodies, etc) of those who get more. Knowing that made me feel so much better!
Get her a can of formula and use that until you can switch her over to whole milk. If you still have pumped milk left, you might mix half breastmilk and half formula for a few days to get her used to the formula. I don't really know if they taste different or not, but that might help if they do. Good luck.
If I remember correctly from my days of nursing, FREQUENCY is what increases milk supply..... pumping or nursing longer doesn't really do much, but think about a child's growth spurts.... they want to nurse more often.. that builds up the milk supply.
If you can add an extra pumping (maybe before you go to bed) that may help increase the overall supply. Don't try to pump for a long period, as that may irritate the nipples, just more frequently.
This worked for me when I went back to work:
1. Eat oatmeal, the original old fashioned type. You can add milk, fruit, or whatever but stay away from the instant as it is not as beneficial. There is argument over whether this is myth or fact, it worked for me. Think moo.
2. Always drink a glass of water before you pump, or breastfeed. ALWAYS.
3. Make a photo album with your child's newborn pictures and flip through them while you are pumping. (I keep a small brag book in my pump case.) Becoming emotional usually gets the milk flowing!
4. Don't drink caffeinated beverages, soda, or take antihistamines. Caffeine, sudafed and allergies meds will dry up your sinuses and your milk!
5. On your non-working days nurse as frequently and as long as possible. Babies are the best pumps!
6. Call La Leche League or go to their website: http://www.llli.org/resources.html for more help.
Good luck. ;)
I had to leave town on a work trip when my oldest was 11 months. I had a hard time building enough of a stock pile for while I was gone. I think supply just drops because they are more dependent on food at this point and your body knows it. I was told we needed to wait until my son was older than 1 year, so we introduced formula for his 2 midday feedings with bottled breast milk for morning and evening. Even though I had been pumping like crazy before leaving in addition to nursing (high demand) on the road I could barely pump any milk no matter what I tried.
I agree with another poster that you are stressing yourself out too much trying to be a perfect mom. It's ok to relax. If you are considering introducing milk anyway, I would slowly (1 feeding at a time 1 week at a time) replace a breastfed bottle with formula in a sippy cup. Continue to nurse during the same times you usually do on work days for as long as you want. Your baby will still get all the benefits of breast milk but your stress will be less. I nursed longer than 14 months with my older kids during night and morning. Just because you wean off some feedings doesn't mean you have to do all.
