Lactating Ladies! - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

muffintop · 03-20-2006, 09:19 PM

Hi! Just thought I might start a questions thread for us breastfeeding/pumping moms out there.

I have a 4 1/2 month old DS who has been on breastmilk exclusively since we left the hospital. I returned to work when he was 8 weeks old and have been pumping with my dual electric. Knock on wood my breastfeeding experience has been great. No serious latch issues, let down was painful at first but now not troublesome, in fact in the begining I had an overabundence of milk - fast flow and DS would even choke but again everything worked itself out.

Well, after pumping at work for almost 3 months I am starting to find my supply isn't what it used to be. Of course I now can sleep thru the night without having to get up at 2 am to pump off engorgement but during the day my output has been flucuating. My morning 20 minutes can usually produce 9 to 11 oz and afternoons about 3 to 4oz, but the last couple of weeks I have been only getting a daily total of 10 to 11 oz, sure sounds like a lot but DS is now drinking 20 oz a day (4x 5oz). My freezer that I was so proud of filling in January is starting to become empty. I have decided to start pumping again at night after DS goes to bed for 10 to 15 minutes. And again early in the morning - pump one breast empty and let him feed on the other before I go to work.

I am also wanting to try the herbal "fenugreek seed" for increasing my milk supply - it comes in a tea form or as a supplement of capsules (total 3500 mg daily). Some ladies have said it works wonders increasing milk supplies, anyone out there try them out? Thanks in advance

Happy Babies Everyone!

Gayle0000 · 03-21-2006, 05:40 AM

Has your baby started solids yet?

Never tried the fenugreek.

Whenever I want to increase my supply, I just pump or nurse a little bit more and my body responds within 24-48 hours. I know pumping is a PITA, but it's the easiest most natural way to get more milk. Since you said you didn't have trouble producing milk before, your body will likely adjust to the extra pumping pretty easily. You say you are pumping extra...is that not working?

I know the feeling of watching the freezer supply dwindle when you've worked so hard to build it. I know that when I worry too much about my milk, the stress makes me produce less. When I stop thinking/worrying about it so much, I can make more milk.

Added Later...I was thinking...are you pumping at work during the day, or are you doing the big pump when you get home? I SAH, but my best friend (also exclusively breastfed & worked) said she got more milk overall when she pumped throughout the day. She said she tried doing the big pump when she got home and she was only making enough milk to just get by.

dizzygirl · 03-21-2006, 02:34 PM

Great thread muffintop! I am exclusively BF as well, and I've made it to 10 months! I honestly didn't go into it knowing I would do it, but I haven't had any trouble either. Well, other than your occasional blocked duct, mastitis, or nursing srtike, he he, but it has been worthit. Like the other post said, you just need to pump more often, and your body will respond. Also, your milk supply does dwindle naturally later in the day, so don't worry, it is also more high in fat at that time.
I also wouldn't suggest any herbal help, it kinds scares me......but my goodness, I give you tons of credit for pumping and working all day, I stay at home, so I honestly don't know if I could have done it like that!

FLAngel · 03-21-2006, 04:52 PM

Hi Muffintop.. My dd is 5 1/2 months and I also started back at work when she was 8 weeks. Like you and others, I worked so hard for my freezer supply but as work became more and more hectic I found less time to pump and consequently my day time supply began to dwindle and so did the freezer. I had worked so hard to bf exclusively that I started to feel disappointed about the idea of giving her formula, but at about 5 months I had to as she was not getting enough while at the sitters. So, since then I have mixed her bottles with as much breast milk as possible and the rest formula. T my suprise he has never shown any aversion to the mixed bottles, nor have I noticed any changes in her bm or mood, etc.

If you can build up your supply, thats great, but I just wanted to share my solution as I know how apprehensive I was and would have appreciated someone telling me that it was ok

Good luck!

ps- my lactation consultant once told me to drink a dark beer/stout in the evening to encourage let down and boost supply.

muffintop · 03-21-2006, 07:51 PM

Gayle - We haven't started any solids on doctor's orders till 6 months due to a mild excema rash DS has. Adjustments to diet can cause allergies to worsen. As for pumping I just started adding more sessions yesterday in the evenings 10 pm and early mornings 7 am. I have been pumping thruout the day at work, usually at 10 am and 2 pm (sometimes at lunch)

dizzygirl - I am not too nervous about trying the herbal supplement, I actually learned about it from a lactaion consultant - I am not going to take as much as the website said (3200 mg per day as stated in my previous post) but only 2 per day (1 am 1 pm) 610 mg per the bottle. I got a bottle of 200 for about $12 at a local nutrition/organic store.

FLAngel - I have thought about giving him supplements of formula but have put it off for a little while - last time we tried to give him formula (10 weeks) he wouldn't have anything to do with it. Completely refused it. If things don't work out with increasing my pumping output I'll have his caregiver mix formula and milk and see if he takes it.

My orignal goal was to breastfeed for 6 weeks, when I reached that goal I thought why not 6 months? - as the time gets closer I keep going back and forth as to continuing exclusive breastfeeding but as for now I am determined to continue as long as possible.

Thanks for all the responses to my question!