I need advice regarding my baby's feeding patterns. I am back at work and pump every 3 hours, getting about 3-4 ounces each time, but noticed my supply has been decreasing. My 4 mo old has been strictly breast fed, and now the babysitter is saying she is still hungry after 3 to 3.5 oz of breastmilk. He insists she needs at least 4 oz or else she gets really fussy. During the weekends, I breastfeed her every 2-3 hours, or whenever she seems hungry. I was really hoping I could strictly BF up to at least 6 mos, but now I feel sad that I'm not producing enough milk.
How should I go about increasing my milk supply and should I start supplementing with formula? If so, which formula is the best?
Thanks so much for your help.
I would recommend Nestles Good Start, it was easier on my daughters system than Similac. We also had to switch my daughter to Soy, because the Cows milk based formula made her really gassy and fussy.
I had the same thing happen around 6 months. I rented a hospital grade pump for 2 weeks and pumped like MAD. I also ate lots of oatmeal and took fenugreek & blessed thistle. My milk supply increased and I nursed my DD until she was 13 months.
I also pumped 1st thing in the morning before DD woke up. I was usaully able to get a ton of milk at this pumping session. I did this everyday regardless if I worked or not. It really helped me store enough to use while I was away from DD. Other than that I only pumped while away from her.
Good Luck!
A.,
Hi. I was just suggesting that pumping one breast while breastfeeding can sometimes produce more milk. You might try that. And for my own info, how often do you wake up during the night for feedings? I'm getting up 2-3 times and am wondering if that's normal.
L.
Hi A.,
It's been 13 years but I was in a similar boat when my son was 7 months. My milk supply was dwindling and I didn't know why. For 2 months, I took fenugreek supplements to try to help boost my supply, pumped and nursed more, and began offering formula (similac) as well. I mixed the breast milk w/ the formula at first, then gave 2 short bottles, 1 of each as he accustomed (mixing unequally in favor of formula first to transition) -to get him use to the different flavors gradually... just in case we'd end up having to switch completely to formula, which we did not. I had advice from a lactation consultant on what I did and it really helped. I kept it up even when I didn't think I was going to get my supply boosted, just kept at it those 2 months. I was fortunate that my milk did come back strong enough and we resumed breast milk only (in bottles, too, then sippy cups) until our son was 1yr (then switched to milk -cow, then soy, then goat, then cow again when our sno could tolerate it by age 2). I can't recommend similac as the best (though it may be, I don't know), but it's what we used 13 yrs ago.
Congratulations on motherhood, btw. :o)
I was in a similar situation -- I went back to work right at six weeks, so i was pumping every 3 hours usually 3-4 oz like you. I noticed it was getting harder to pump 3oz as the weeks passed. I drank a TON of water, and when i got home from work, I breastfeed my son exclusively. I also breastfed him on demand during the weekend. Drinking a lot of water throughout the day really helped me pump more milk. Now i'm pumping about 6- 8 oz during the 8 hr work schedule. Don't worry too much about it -- stress can inhibit your supply as well. On the days that i didnt pump regularly, my mom (who watches my son) would supplement with formula, and i would give her everything i pumped that day for his feeding the next day. So he only had formula on an as needed basis....hope this helps!
can you try to add pumpings on the weekends to stock up? it might take a while to produce anything substantial, but it sounds like you just need a couple more ounces a day.
i really like the nursing tea from herblore. you can find it at tiny tots in campbell. i drank a lot of it and i think it helped me keep up my production when i went back to work.
we used similac and then enfamil next step when i had to start supplementing. i had enough to get me through the end of my work, but my supply dropped drastically when my son started eating more solids around 10 months. i just couldn't pump enough out for whatever reason.
anyway, if you can find time, try adding a pumping on saturday and sunday to stock up. do you have a freezer stash?
www.kellymom.com
is a great resource.
Hi A.,
I too wanted to breastfeed only but didn't produce enough milk even with pumping so I had to supplement with formula. I continued to pump and breastfeed while introducing the bottle. In the beginning I mixed the formula with breastmilk at 1 part formula and 3 parts breastmilk. Unfortunately I started getting less and less breastmilk at each pumping and would even have to give my daughter a bottle after she breastfed. My mother had the same problem. The lactation consultants I spoke with told me to pump AFTER each feeding and every 1-2 hrs at work if I wanted to increase my production. I wasn't able to pump at night after she ate because she was VERY colicky and would only sleep if she was on me. (for the first 2 months) I liked Nestles Goodstart formula but my daughter is lactose intolerant so we used soy at her doctor's suggestion. I know there is negative research on soy but I have also found TONS of positive research also. The AAP hasn't said anything negative so I wasn't worried. I applaud you for trying to keep your daughter on breastmilk only. Not only is it better for her, it is SO much cheaper! Good luck and get in touch with La Leche League, they were a huge help.
~L.
