Pumping & Breastfeeding

First of all three's no sin to supplementing with formula so allow yourself to relax. Muy first child was all breastmilk for the first year. My second child was always starving (big boy) and I had to supplement with formula.

Second - make sure you're bringing in a lot of fluid to your body. I was never a water drinker - but became one when nursing. When you sit down to nurse you must drink a large glass of water. I used to water-down non-citrus fruit juice instead of water and that worked. When the babies were still under 4-5 months old I'd pump twice a day at work (my boss was OK with me breaking my normal 1 hour lunch into two half hours) but as baby got older I'd pump just once during the day at lunch time and I'd produce plenty.

Third - once you relax about your self-imposed requirement of breastmilk only - maybe you'll produce more. Your goal of breast milk only is not bad - it's good to want the best for your child. But - you must also be realistic. If you have to supplement with formula yoru baby will be fine - I am certain. YOu can still pump, you can still nurse baby when you're together. Enjoy her!

It doesn't sound like low production is the issue (is she growing appropriately?), but it would behoove you to try to adjust her nursing schedule. You need to try to get her to nurse longer at each feeding. You don't say why she stops (falls asleep, unlatches and seems uninterested, fussy and won't relatch, etc). I would guess if she nurses longer she will get more milk, and most importantly, more of the hind milk which is richer and fattier and will keep her satisfied longer. Maybe try nursing her, then burp her when she stops, if she seems uninterested in relatching take a ten minute break or so (not an hour) and then try to finish the feeding ideally on the same side she started on to get that hind milk out.
Has she taken a bottle of breastmilk at all? Does she go longer between feedings if her last was from a bottle? How much does she take from a bottle?
Pump and save what you can, even it is only 2oz per day that adds up over time and gives you a backup supply to work with when you return to work. Do your best to pump for her when you go back to work but if you need to supplement some with formula to cover your absence then so be it, no big deal. The nursing at home can continue on as long as you like. Just because you can't pump to cover 100% of her feedings doesn't mean you failed or have to quit altogether, it is fine to do 80% breastmilk/20% formula, or whatever you can provide for her. Just avoid formula when you are home or have the option to nurse, that is when it begins to negatively impact your supply. And some women just never respond well to the pump, it is not a good indication of supply (although pumping 2oz after a morning feed leads me to believe this won't be a problem for you).
Check out kellymom.com, a great, reliable resource for all things nursing. Also look into a LeLeche League meeting, they are generally very supportive and encouraging and full of good advice. If the first group you attend doesn't seem a good fit for you try to find another. Their website is llli.org. I hope you find sleep soon.

I pump at work (oh the joys of that experience) and breastfeed at home. I get between three and four ounces total each time I pump. I do not produce enough pumped milk to keep my 3 month old son exclusively breastfed with bottles at daycare. Currently he gets 2/3 breastmilk and 1/3 formula. He's happy and growing, though, so all is well in my opinion. He nurses well when I am home with him and that makes me happy. I had a stockpile but it was used up by my MIL through miscommunication. I haven't worked on replacing it because I can't be bothered. I would rather spend my spare time with my boys and my husband not tethered to my pump. Formula is certainly not evil. If you have to supplement when you return to work, then I still think you are doing really well.

My 3 month old son is good about nursing on both sides for about 15 minutes per side. He goes about 2 to 3 hours between feedings. He sleeps one four hour stretch at night too. He has been like this from the get go more or less so I won't take any credit and can't give any advice on how to get there. I would think time would even things out. Your daughter is still very young. In the very beginning my son ate a lot on some days and it felt like all I did was have him attached to my boobs.

In contrast my first son was the total opposite and my breastfeeding experience was an utter failure with him. He fell asleep (read comatose) after five minutes of nursing and would not be stirred no matter what I did. Within 20 minutes he'd be awake and hungry. Rinse and repeat. After eight weeks I was a walking zombie and he was losing weight from not getting enough to eat. He wound up on formula and that's the best decision I could have made for my family. He thrived and finally started gaining weight. We tried supplementing with formula and it made matters even worse. I nursed less, pumped more, made less milk, supplemented more and so on in a vicious cycle. I would caution you about supplementing. I know your husband’s heart is in the right place but it’s misguided. If you do choose to supplement, then you still won’t get off the hook so you won’t be getting any more sleep necessarily. You will have to pump while your husband feeds your baby. Otherwise, your body will produce less milk because of that skipped feeding. If you are awake to pump, you might as well just nurse I argue.

With all of that said I pump three to four times per day at work. Each time I make between 3 and 4 ounces of milk total. One side always makes one ounce more than the other side. I do not notice producing more in the mornings than in the afternoons. I did buy smaller shields because the ones which came with my pump where too big. Pumping with the too big ones was very painful. I use the pumping bra which not only allows me to be hands free but more importantly keeps the shields correctly in place at my breasts during the entire fifteen minutes. I divorced my Boppy pillow. I use a Breast Friend pillow now and that makes a world of difference. My son isn’t quite so snuggly warm and he’s properly positioned on a firm pillow so he nurses better. I have noticed my pumped milk output is directly tied to how much water I drink. On Monday I produce less than I do on Friday. I drink less on the weekends because I am busier and not able to focus so closely on how much water I drink. Hence the low output come Monday. My target is 1 liter of water every two hours. That number is totally made up but I notice it keeps my milk output on target. Drink TONS of water. It makes a huge difference. I supplement with an herbal supplement which contains fenugreek and other lactation support herbs. I don’t notice a big difference with the supplement but every little bit helps. Someone on here suggested Smartwater which I have tried. I haven’t noticed the water helping but the amount of water helps. I use the old Smartwater bottles to help me keep track of how much I am drinking. Finally I try to keep stress at bay because that hurts my output – stressing about pumping counts as excessive stress too. I try to stay healthy. I have been sick twice in three weeks and that hit my supply really hard both times.

My lactation consultant suggested before I return to work I pump twice per day (morning and night) to start with so I wouldn’t be stressed and wouldn’t be taking milk away from my baby. One hour after feeding him I would pump both sides for 15 minutes. If he was hungry early, I could feed him that milk while nursing him. I used a syringe to inject the breastmilk into his mouth while he was latched on (the same method I used when I supplemented with formula during his first week). You might consider using a syringe to supplement your baby while she nurses. It might spark her interest to nurse longer. Once I was in a routine, she had me add a third pumping session at noon. Now that I am pumping at work it has gotten much easier to be honest. Pumping and nursing at the same time is a lot of work. At work I am pumping to replace a skipped feeding. It doesn't feel so overwhelming to me. I pump every two to three hours from the last time I fed my baby at home. If I feed him at 6, then I pump at 9, noon and 3. Sometimes if I am feeling ambitious and it’s a slow day at the office, I will throw in a fourth pumping.

I would suggest back off on how much you are pumping, ratchet down your stress level, enjoy your babies, kiss your husband and let some of the housework slide even more. The newborn phase doesn't last long and you don't want to miss it by being stressed about nursing. I did that with my first and it is a huge regret I have. Good luck and job well done.

It sounds like you are not having a letdown reflex when pumping, which is perfectly normal at this point. It takes practice. Do you feel that "tingly" feeling and then a rush of milk? A little trick is to pump the other breast while baby is nursing on one. Sounds weird, and your husband can help you at first, but it is the easiest way to get your body to release to the pump at first. It's a brain problem, NOT a physical inability to produce. Your baby is still very young. EVERY nursing mom is exhausted at this point, wants to supplement, considers throwing in the towel. Hang in there, and trust me it gets so much easier once baby and your body get used to everything. It will work, and with all the benefits and huge cost savings of breast feeding, it's totally worth it. You can try la leche league for some free help and support. It does help if you drink plenty of fluids, more than you used to. There is a tea that is supposed to help called "mothers milk", I would try that too. Good luck, hang in there, and it will get better!

HiTrish,

I commend you on your committment to nursing. As a nurse midwife and a mother of two, who nursed for a long time, here are my thoughts.

1:. She needs your hind milk. Lactation consultants say babies need to nurse for 12-15 minutes to get that. You didn't say why she wasn't nursing longer. Try to get her to nurse longer. Try nursing on one side for 12-15 minutes, then pump on the other side. They say it takes at least 2 hours to replenish your breasts. 2 hours from when you are done nursing. You are nursing two frequently.

2. Drink Mother's milk tea, by traditional medicinals every day. It is a great way to get your water in and some herbs to help your milk supply.

3. Consider More milk plus supplement. You can read about it.

4. Eat high fat food to help you milk quality. Don't worry about the weight now. My didn't come off until 8-10 months.

5. Kellymom.com is an excellent resource.

6. Does the hospital that you delivered at have lactation consultants on staff. They should be available for free consultation.

7. Keep a log to help you.

You never said anything about how your babies weight is. Is she gaining enough weight? Take her in for a weight check.

I would be open to having your husband give your daughter one bottle at night so you can get some sleep. That will help you over all in all areas. Feed her before you go to bed and then have him feed her for her next feed.

How is she sleeping? A great book is, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child," by Dr. Marc Weissbluth.

Please let us know how you are doing and feel free to contact me off mamapedia.

Blessing, fellow mom.

I didn't get much when I tried pumping with my firstborn.
But I had tons of milk, in my breasts.
I used that hand held pump by Avent.

For now, just direct nurse whenever you can.
That will make your body produce according to your baby.

Then, does your baby latch on, correctly??????
The ENTIRE areola should be in baby's mouth, not just the nipple tip.
Your baby is only 7 weeks old.
What do you mean she only nurses for 3-5 minutes? You mean she falls asleep? Or just unlatches? Try getting her back on, to nurse longer.
It takes about 15 minutes, for a baby to get to the Hind Milk.
Make sure she is latching on, correctly.
And make sure your are producing enough milk.
My kids, nursed from both breasts each session. And nursing took time.

A baby needs to nurse on demand. 24/7. It is not snacking.

IF you supplement, then your body and milk production, will lessen.
But then again, once you start work and if you do not have enough stored breast milk, you have to give baby something. Otherwise, baby can get dehydrated. And thus, you might need... to then supplement with Formula.
I know a baby, in which the Mom used to only give the babysitter ONE bottle of breastmilk for ALL day. She told me (yes, I was that babysitter) that her baby didn't drink much, and that is all she could pump. But that is crazy. A baby needs more than that. And in fact, the Mom later told me, that by the time her baby was 5 months old, her baby had to go to the hospital for dehydration. Twice. The baby didn't latch well, the Mom was not keen on checking about her milk production, and her baby was simply not getting enough, intake. I told the Mom this. Anyway, finally, they had to supplement with Formula.

You do what you have to do.
So that, your baby will get, enough intake. Daily. 24/7.
This is not about how much sleep you get or not.

Or, you can nurse while you are at home after work, and in the mornings. But supplement when baby will be at a Sitter.
- Have you already given your baby a bottle or are you just storing the breastmilk? Some babies will not take, bottles. My daughter was like that. You need to see if your baby will take, a bottle. Before you start work.

Stupid computer ate my post.

Some ideas: get fitted for the right sized horns for the pump and make sure that you have a good pump. Don't cheap on them (if the sticker shock kicks in, look at formula prices). Most lactation centers will sell alternative sized horns. You can pump one side and nurse on the other and switch for the next feeding. Since you have a son, remind yourself that this too shall pass. Newborns are all about feeding, pooping and sleeping even if it makes the parents exhausted! Think about what you need to do and what you might do. Your DH sounds wonderfully involved. Have him help so you can nap and not be such a zombie since you are up at 2 and 4 and 6...occasionally I handed DD to DH (like at 4AM and I was just out of my mind). He didn't feed her, but he did diaper her and sing to her, etc.

I never had a huge stash. Maybe 15-20 oz to get started. Then things got better b/c at work I was replacing a nursing, not trying to add to it. How much I got depended on the hour. AM might give me 6-7 oz and PM might give me 2-4, and stress on Friday might be less. I measured out her bottles and labeled them so that if they had to "short" her a bottle, it was the last one. Then she was home with me and could make up for it.

I personally never got the hang of it, but some people nurse while wearing baby and doing other things. I also got DH to make me snacks I could eat one handed.

If your lactation center (see if the hospital has one) has classes, look for a "working mom" one. That helped me - to see what other moms were going through.

Also, keep hydrated, eat oatmeal (I ate cookies) and drink mother's milk tea.

kellymom.com is a good site

Honestly, it sounds like your production is pretty normal. Pumping isn't as efficient as nursing and some women have a harder time producing for the pump.

You don't have to give up on breastfeeding, but you could consider offering some formula. You sound like you are turning yourself inside out to breastfeed exclusively. You have to take care of yourself. You need more sleep and less stress about milk production. It really is ok to use formula if you need to. I very successfully breastfed both my sons with as-needed supplementation. It was a huge relief to me to realize I could nurse but still get a few uninterrupted hours of sleep or get some time to myself while the baby had a bottle of formula. Breastfeeding doesn't have to be all or nothing, and it shouldn't take over your life.

My son also nursed every 1-2 hrs around the clock. At nine months he still nurses that often during the day even though he is eating solid foods, but he now only eats once/night. I was told that this is normal. Pumps never worked for me. However, I was able to manually express quite a bit by hand.

My kids all ate that way too. One side for maybe 5 min. I personally didn't pump this time (4th) until I went back to work. I pumped both sides 2-3 times a day while at work - 3 times when he was tiny then switched to twice after he started food at 6 months then eventually down to 1 time until 2 weeks ago. I didn't put pressure on myself to get a supply stashed & committed to supplementing when necessary. He just turned 1 Friday & total I think I purchased 3-4 cans of formula. Now for 2 weeks he drinks whole milk during the day & & I nurse him at night. You'll produce enough once you're at work as long as you can regularly pump. My kids never were big eaters and I typically would produce from 6-12 onces a day. I will say I'm lucky that I work at home so my pump was always in my office and it wasn't inconvenient. The most important thing or advice I can give is to give yourself a break & don't put so much pressure on yourself. Do what you can. Whatever that is is good enough!

I had the same issue! Frequent nurser, no sleep, feed/pump/repeat.

I resolved it somewhat by pumping while I nursed. Sure it was a juggling act, but I felt that I was "tricking" the pumped breast into thinking another baby was on it!

You might find that if you supplement one or two feedings that you might make more milk. Plus, rest can take care of that too.

Some of us were not "natural born producers." Do what's best for you and the baby.

I supplemented after a few months because my "girls" were just not producing enough for my little one's growing appetite. I had the "breast" of both worlds because I still nursed her during the night/morning and after work.

Good luck

Please do take the advice of those who say to relax and drink lots of fluid. Have you tried to contact LaLeche League? They're still around and usually have weekly meetings. It's a good support group, and they offer advice to one another. You can usually call the leader for suggestions as well. It really sounds to me that your little one isn't nursing enough at a time and too often. Maybe holding her off between feedings just a few minutes more each time? How often will your daycare feed her? If they're not willing to feed her as often as you're doing, that could be an issue. Just something to think about. Hugs to you! Being so exhausted is awful, don't put more pressure on yourself to add to it. Hugs!

Hi T.!

Such good advice from so many people! I just want to chime in and say that it sounds like you are doing such a great job and trying to give your baby what's best for her! Make sure to eat as much as you want (the next year is NOT the time to diet) of healthy (and some treats, too!) foods and drink tons of water.

I know you're tired and it's really hard to function while feeling that way. I definitely remember those days. Are you trying to feed her in the side-lying position at night? If you can learn that position, you may be able to nurse her and doze. It's not as good as full-blown sleep, but it's better than sitting up a bunch of times a night. Also, like your doctor says, she will grow out of this stage, and while it seems like it's going on forever, it won't.

Right now anything you pump out is bonus milk, because you are feeding full time and she's happy and getting what she needs. Remember that once you return to work, all you need to pump out in a day is what she will eat in that day. I pumped with both my children until they were slightly over a year, and I never got much more than two ounces from each breast, sometimes much less, especially from one side. I had friends who could pump out four ounces from each side with ease, but I never could. Some women make more milk, some women make less milk, but if you are rested, hydrated, and healthy, you should be able to make the amount your baby needs.

Another thing to consider: your baby can get the milk out much more effectively than any pump. Do you have a good quality electric pump? It's worth the 300 or 400 dollars to invest in a really high-quality pump. I had a Medela and a lot of people like Ameda also. One of my friends loved the hands-free Medela Freestyle.

Finally, don't forget that your baby goes to your breast not just for nutrition, but also for comfort. The more you provide for her oral needs now, the better for her in the long run. You may find that she has a need to suck that extends beyond her need to feed. You're not just feeding her when you nurse, but mothering her at the breast.

Your husband sounds so supportive! Take him up on all of his offers to do chores, and also to comfort your baby if she's waking, but doesn't really need to eat. Sometimes a dad can rock, dance, sing to, or wear a baby and lull them back to sleep, allowing mom to sleep a little more.

Good luck to you, and congratulations on providing your baby with such a wonderful, loving start!

Good for you for trying!

Early on, I did not pump well but I kept at it. I had a handheld though and I could get about 2 oz per side (I think). Sometimes 3oz. Eventually I was able to fill 4 oz per side. If you supplement at night, your milk will go down because you won't keep feeding. I slept with all my kids and when they wake up at night, I just laid on my side and fed them. When you say your child "snacks"... on what? At 7 weeks, shouldn't it all be breast milk? I'm just curious.

I know people have mentioned drinking water and eating oatmeal to increase production. Maybe get a better pump as well? I also pumped at work. I think the electric ones are big and bulky so I really liked my AVENT.

You will be just fine. Drink lots of water, relax (and realize your baby isn't yet eating much anyway), freeze whatever you get (ice cube trays are fantastic for this - freeze cubes, pop them into ziploc's or other containers, get out what you need.

Talk to the hospital - don't they have a lactation that will speak to you without charge? Contact LaLache, read Kellymom.com (no relation to me) and chill. You won't get much right now. That is normal. Try pumping while feeding, try pumping with your favorite music on your headphones. Drink lots of water. :-)

Supplementing is not a solver now because the less you pump/feed, the less milk you make - ie, it can sabotage your intentions. Hang in there and talk to the league and read kellymom on these subjects, there is great advice out there. You will be just fine! (Look up the growth spurt cycles too - that often helps expain why your baby is eating the way they are).

Remember that when you go back to work you'll hopefully be pumping there too so you only need enough for the first few days you're back. I would suggest trying to keep her on one side and pumping the other at the same time as her stimulating the let down will help both breasts let down so you won't have to work so hard. She might be taking more than you think. Some babies are just very efficient nursers, my 2nd never nursed more than 10-15 minutes at a feed but was getting plenty. If she falls asleep nursing, wake her up or try to feed her when she first wakes up rather than waiting until she's really hungry or wants to go to sleep again.

Hi T.
You sound exactly like me about 8 months ago! LOL My daughter only ate about the same time on one breast, snakcing throughout the day, and waking every 2-3 hrs during the night to eat. I got no rest for about the first 3 months. But i too was so and still am committed to breastfeeding. Keep doing what you are doing - you're doing great! Every baby is different and if she is gaining adequate weight 5-7 oz a week (i believe it was - check kellymom.com great website!) then youre fine. Every lactation consultant i talked to told me to get my daughter to nurse more and both breasts but she would refuse and i didnt believe i should be forcing her to eat because she knew when she was hungry - in the beginning she was gaining 13 oz a week! I also had a hard time with pumping. dont know if you feel your milk let-down but it took me a while to get milk let-down with the pump and it wasnt until i got it that i was able to pump 4-5 oz at a time. i would also suggest a manual pump in the meantime which i think helps trick your body better to make more milk because you have to massage the breast to get the milk out. try also to call local hospitals which have lactation offices because you can talk to a lactation consultant for free over the phone. some hospitals also have breastfeeding support groups. i called a few hospitals before i found a lactation consultant i really liked. try not to supplement - you have enough milk and baby gets most benefits with exclusive b/f-ing. try to take the baby to bed with you and bf in bed - that gave me a few extra min of sleep. im a healthcare provider and my daughter was a huge snacker but as she got bigger and her stomach got bigger she would eat more and increase the time between feedings. I think its actually worse for us that we are healthcare providers because we overthink everything and worry about things when there is no problem! and my husband constantly is telling me im trying to find a problem that doesnt exist. Youre doing great, keep bf-ing, the tiredness and hardwork all pays off!!
ps im still b/f my daughter and there are times at work when it gets very hectic and im stressed and when i go pump i only can get out 2-3 oz total! and this is all normal.

I was lucky because I had a lactation consultant in the hospital and after I got out that I could communicate with for free.

1. Pumping for some is more difficutl than nursing, and others can pump better/more than nursing.

I pumped for 10 mins after the milk was comming out and that is how I grew my supply. I would Nurse my son for 10-15 min on each side and then pump for 10 mins.

I used Fenugreek, 3 pillls 3 times a day. Make sure you are hydrated. Oatmeal, wheat bread seemed to help my production.
I see you are in Elgin, but if there is some way you can call LaGrange hospital and get the lactation dept. Joanie might be able to help you. If she can, she will watch you feed, offer tips, make sure your pump is set up right (the cone make sure it is right) etc. and give you that type of assistance. They usually weigh the baby, feed, then weigh agian to see how much they are getting. She migh also be able to tell you a resource by you.

Have you tried the lelache league? They are not a demanding as before, they have groups that meet and most of the leaders are very helpful and will sit one on one with you to help you acheive your goals.

I was fortunate to make enough milk,and my daugther had to be bottle fed BM because she would not nurse but I think that had to do with her acid reflex and a slightly toung tied.
http://www.llli.org/

Good luck