Deciding Whether or Not to Keep Breastfeeding.

I also pumped when I went back to work and found it time consuming. I realized that it was more important to me to leave work on time and see my daughter at night than to pump at work and have to stay late so I could finish what I didn't get to do while pumping! Also, when I started pumping, I wasn't pumping enough to justify all the time pumping. Once I made the decision and starting using formula, I was much happier. It's hard enough to work with small kids, you shouldn't feel guilty about breast feeding as well! (although working when the kids are older is sometimes a nice break!)

When I went back to work I continued to breast feed only in the morning and at night. My son would have formula all day. It worked out well that way because I did not have to pump and my body adjusted so well that I never even leaked while at work. We did this until he was 9 months old (at had teeth and bit me). If you do not want to give up BFing all together this is a great solution.

Is staying home versus working an option? I am not judging; I worked and pumped with my first two babies, because I just thought that was what new moms did, not because I had to. I could have changed some things in the budget that would have allowed me to stay home for a few years until they were in school. With my second two children, I cut way back on working, and only had to pump rarely. I was able to do it financially, but I realize not everyone can. Just a thought....

keep breastfeeding.Since you can't stay home with your baby I give you great credit for striving to keep nursing and increasing your milk supply as the baby's needs grow. Breast feeding is the healthiest food for your baby. Its got nutrients that cows or goats milk doesn't have. Of course, what you consume gets to your baby thru your milk.
Babies naturally nurse more and more to produce more milk. That is..after the milk stops coming they keep on sucking. That's how the production is increased. Only the baby can tell how much more to suck. A hint might be gotten from finding out how much your baby uses a pacifier or sucks on his/her fingers, etc. Its not how often you nurse but for how long.
La Leche is an old organization which promotes breast feeding and they might be a good source for help. maybe they know of research on the question of how to increase production while only being able to nurse your baby after work. Some places have day care near the workplace so mothers can nurse during the workday. Maybe someday things will be more child friendly here.
Japanese women tend to nurse their babies until they are one year old so I think you should try to do it as long as possible. Hopefully at least until she/he is 6 months old which is about the time to start with food.

Hi K.,
I first just need to say that I completely understand how you feel. I had a similar experience with my little girl when she was first born. I can recommend Mothers Milk Tea by Traditional Medicinals and also a supplement called Fenugreek (look this up to see if it's right for you, because I don't remember the details) for increasing your milk production....also just drink tons of water. You're body needs to be fully hydrated in order to produce milk. It's difficult when you have to go back to work and try to balance it all. Especially when she is so young....I had to do the same. Breastfeeding is always best for the baby, so I would encourage you to try to pump and breastfeed for as long as you can. But, I think it's important to weigh everything and see what's best for everyone. If you are getting upset and are feeling overwhelmed then then you're milk will not be as plentiful...you're body is in hyper-sensative mode right now and responds to everything that's going on in your mind and body. What's most important is that you truly enjoy all that this fleeting time has to offer. I encourage you have a talk with your heart and your body and work it out...whatever the outcome. Which ever you decide, don't beat yourself up! If you do decide to switch to formula full time I really encourage you to seek out the highest quality you can find. There are Organic formulas on the market that I recommend you research and seek out...even if you can only buy them on the net. Getting your baby the highest quality, organic brand formula (if you choose to go that route) may make you feel better if you choose to go to formula. For now, you should reach out to someone in your community that can help you further with the breastfeeding...the hospitals often have nurses that specialize in that or you can contact the Laleche League....(look it up online). Good luck K.! Try to take it easy, breathe and enjoy this magical time in your life!
Love and light to you,
S.

S. T.
Holistic Health Counselor, member of the AADP
www.shannontategiordano.com
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Hi K.,
I pumped for my last baby while I worked with an ISIS manual pump in my car from the time he was 2 months til 13 months. For many moms, 3 ounces is a typical output from a pumping session. How long do you pump for?
"Working Without Weaning" by Kirsten Bergren is a great resource, you can purchase this book online.
I'd suggest trying to fit in a pumping session in the morning, just after you feed your baby (or feed on one side, pump on the other). Many women have a higher supply first thing in the morning once your baby is not a newborn anymore. Take advantage of the letdown you already have. When you nurse your baby at home anytime, do the same, pump whatever's left after your baby is done eating. I'd suggest nursing your baby when you get her to daycare, then a quick pump in your car before going into work. Be sure to carry some wipes and fresh breastpads with you, that should help with the milk smell
If you are using your own time at work, such as lunch, I don't see why your employer would have a problem with this. There is info out there for employers about lactation programs and the benefit to employers of lactation programs and moms pumping such as less employee absenteeism because baby is sick less.

Keep breastfeeding. I breastfed for 14 months and never got more than 4 oz when I pumped. Try to find time at work to pump. Your baby is more important than whatever is going on, and it is law that you are allowed the time to do so. Any amount of breastmilk is better than none for your precious baby. Enjoy that closeness, she needs it as much as you. On the weekends try to nurse as much as you can to keep your supply going. You are very lucky that she will go easily from breast to bottle, some babies don't. My advice is stick with it, until at least 6 months. You might regret it later if you stop now.
L. CNM

Great job so far! I am still breastfeeding and pumping at work (about 10-15 mins 3 times a day) I only get about 1.5-2 oz each time I pump.. and its getting worse since she is on solids... I have been letting the daycare providers give her a bottle of formula after the breastmilk that I do give them.. Try not to be discouraged even though its hard.. breastfeeding is such a bonding experience and it will get even better!
Follow your heart and do what you think is right and what is easiest for you!

Congratulations to you! I pumped for my 1st baby for 6 weeks from the time he was 6 weeks old to 12 weeks old- and I needed to supplement with one bottle of goat's milk per day to keep up with his appetite. I was fortunate to be working in a hospital with a nice setup for pumping but it was still SO HARD- no time for a real rest on breaks or lunch, I felt like I was running all day.

Sounds like you're stressed about pumping at work; you're still doing your baby a huge favor by nursing when you're not at work, and your milk flow will get used to your nursing schedule. I think you'll be doing both yourself and your baby a favor by nursing when you're happy and relaxed, and not worrying about pumping if it gets stressful. Sounds like a nice thing to be able to stop in at daycare to nurse her at lunch tho- and don't let coworkers who don't understand or who give you a hard time bother you. In the scheme of things, their ideas about how you mother will mean nothing to your baby! Your baby will just know that she gets to see her mommy during for lunch, and what SHE thinks is so much more important, right?

Hi K.,

I nursed both of my children until they were 1 1/2, or so. I let them decide when they wanted to start weening. I was lucky in that I was a stay at home mom. My sister nursed her son and supplimented with formula, because she did have to go to work. It was hard for her, but she would say that the time she did have to nurse him was worth it, because it let her feel close to her baby.

Healthwise, nursing, even only a little bit, is best for the baby and for you as well. Your child will get the nutrients she needs, and the bond it builds between you two is worth the stress. I would suggest you keep with it for as long as you possibly can. As for the girls at work, well, who cares? It is your baby, your body, and your right. When they are older and have children, they will get it. In the meantime, they don't really matter. The decision is yours, not theirs.

If you decide that you can't do it anymore, then that is fine as well. It is your body, and you need to do what is best for your situation. You have nursed, and even if you stop right now, the benefits your daughter has gotten cant be taken away.

I can tell you from experience, though, when you stop nursing, it is kinda sad. I found it depressing, because it meant my child didnt "need" me as much. Also, I really loved the bond, and enjoyed the special one on one time that nursing gave to me and my children.

If it were me, I would try my best to keep nursing as long as possible. Either way, I wish you luck and happniess. If you have any questions or want to talk, feel free to send me a message. Good luck.

Liz

I am very blessed to be able to stay home and nurse my son but I know if I were in your shoes I would not be able to make the sacrifices you are making. I am a terrible pumper, I get maybe an ounce if I am lucky. Your milk production will regulate itself to how often you nurse so maybe you can nurse him in the morning and at night and give him formula during the day? He may reject your breast at some point put if the current situation is stressing you out then know that plenty of healthy babies just drink formula and they are just fine. Don't feel guilty, I know you want the best for your child.

hello K.,
why don't you try pumping at home after you 've nursed your baby and you freeze the milk?you 'll feel relax and you'll produce more milk.
Sometimes,it takes more time to adjust the pumping production.As a mom suggests,you can feel more comfortable with another type of pump(some places rent electric pump).
Good luck !

I think you need a different breast pump. I have a Medela pump in style and it takes only 5-10 minutes to get out as much as it can. Be aware that babies are able to get out more than a pump can, even the best pump, so your daughter can get more out than what you are pumping. I encourage you to keep breastfeeding because your daughter will benefit from it. If you are unable to keep pumping at work you can still breastfeed her at home without losing your supply. You make the most milk at night, so you will still make enough to feed her when you are home. If you want to increase you supply, you can drink the mother's milk tea. It helped me. Also, for more advice, go to http://www.kellymom.com
It's a great site with tons of breastfeeding advice.
Good luck!

congratulations to you! I nursed my son till 1 week ago, he is now 13 months. I went back to work part time at 4 months and pumped as well, i never got more than a few oz at a time but i continued to plug away at it. the hell with what other people say/feel/act...its your baby, your body,your choice to nurse your child. if you take a long break, then so be it. your child is more important than anything/anyone. its hard to increase your production if you cant nurse more frequently..is your boss ok with taking frequent breaks to pump? if you could pump every 2-3 hrs your production would go up, takes about a week...the smell of milk is strong at times, i used to keep Victorias Secret body spray with me all the time and give myself a little squirt now and then..dont give those 2 young girls another thought..one day they will be mommies and will understand. keep nursing if you can, its just the best thing for your child :) D.

YES! Continue to nurse...contact your local LaLeche League to answer all your questions - Or the hospital where you delivered should be able to direct you to a lactation consultant...they are wonderful, and will be extremely helpful to you.
Best wishes...
J.

You might consider supplementing with formula instead of pumping, and then nursing her when you can. The nursing is still the best thing for your baby, and doing it when you can is still great for both of you. I nursed all 4 of my children, but also took over a half hour to pump 2 or 3 ozs., so I would supplement with formula when I couldn't be there to nurse them. I nursed all of them until they were at least a year as I felt it was great for both of us.
Best of luck to you and your baby!

I struggled with breastfeeding with my first two babies, and I was always a terrible pumper, so I completely understand. It can be extremely stressful when things don't work perfectly, so you need to make your situation work for you and your sweet baby...

If I were in your situation, I would breastfeed at home and supplement with formula while you are at work. Your baby will still get lots of the the benefits of nursing even if you are not nursing exclusively. Your body will ultimately adjust to her at-home-only feeding schedule, so don't worry about her not having enough milk or weaning. She might wean, but she is pretty young, so I doubt it.

I'm not sure how often you are pumping at work, but you shouldn't just drop it cold turkey or you will probably experience painful engorgement, etc. So I would back off slowly dropping one pumping session at a time to let your body adjust.

Good luck!

Same thing with me concerning pumping and found they are not accurate whatsoever. They will never help you produce as much as the baby can. I found that after some use of it, I have actually developed blocked milk duct because they don't draw all milk out. If you can, keep nursing. My mid-wife told me the solution to produce more milk because I drank sooo much water and still couldn't produce enought and started drying up around 3 1/2 months as with my second one. The solution was take Fenugreek and I got them at the Health Food store near me. Also, they have tea bags too, but that isn't as potent as the Fenugreek, but it'll help. Also, if you eat peanuts and garlic will help, but I don't know if your baby would like garlic. My third son liked garlic, but did not like onions!! He would not nurse if I ate garlic, so I avoided that while nursing. Pediatricians don't want nursing mothers eating peanuts because of peanut allergy, I am allergic to raw peanuts and regular peanut butter (ie Peter Pan) but not the natural peanut butter (Teddy Bear) and my boys did not develop peanut allergy. You do what is best for you and your baby. I hope you can find a way to solve the issue of breastfeeding while working. I don't work outside of home because I would be spending my money to daycare when I can stay home with my boys and do things with them. I won't have much money afterwards to spend on bills or anything because daycare are expensive!! You do what is best for you and your babies and never mind those "bratty" girls in your office!!! :)

I can completely relate to you - went through the same thing at work with my second son (28mos). I also felt guilty for not trying harder to b.feed my first one (6 1/2y.) longer than 10 weeks.
So, the second time around I did this: I knew I really wanted to b.feed as long I could (no guilt involved) and I did it 7mos. I bought a good 2sided pump, hands-free bra, disinfecting wipes, Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags AND a good book. I explained to my boss that I will be using my lunch break to pump (2x30 min)and that I would appreciate if they could allow me to use a room that has a key (you don't want anyone to walk in on you:)Plus you need to be able to relax). They were OK with that - they let me use a storage room (with a window - close those blinds please:). Yeah, everybody knew - so what...A young coworker asked me one day - "So, how did it go?" I just said "Great! You want to help next time?" - He never asked me again. Please do not feel that you are asking them to go out of their way to help - if you ask, they must help you, in any way they can, to provide you with whatever they can. If you don't have time to pump 2 times - do it once. But if you really don't want to do this - than don't torture yourself.
I must say that I miss breastfeeding my kids - I think that I miss the closeness with them, looking at their content faces...
Hope this helps and good luck :)

I think that you should continue to breastfeed when you can because it is the optimal nutrition for your baby and optimal bonding for you and your baby. The more the baby feeds the more you will produce. Because you are supplementing with formula you are going to only produce what she has been taking. If you keep pumping once a day (most milk production is in the morning) you can build up that extra amount. I also think it is a law to allow breastfeeding mothers an extra break to pump. You may want to look into that. Babies also can suck out more than we can pump out. I've noticed that with pumping and him feeding. I hope this helps. Good luck!
-M.

Don't let the opinions of others guilt you into anything. Do what works for your family. Your baby will get all the nutrition she needs from formula and will bond with you if you hold her during feedings. If you can make pumping work that is great too. Just don't fall into any guilt traps.

You have a lot of great posts. The ones I like say make sure you have a good pump, like the Medela Pump n style. Bring a picture of your baby (or even better, a recording of her voice) to look at/listen to while you pump. Find somewhere you can relax at work, lock your door if you have an office, turn the ringer off your phone (just don't forget to turn it back on - LOL). Try to pump twice a day for about 20 minutes, and don't worry about how much you produce, the more relaxed you get with the process, the more milk you'll get. If you decide it is all too much for you, I would still breast feed at home for as long as you seem to have milk production. But remember, even if you stop altogether, your baby still was breast fed during the most important weeks, the rest is just gravy!

Good luck, don't let the girls in your office freak you out. You're actually doing them a favor by exposing them to the whole process so it will be easier on them if and when they ever have kids. Depending on how young they are, and what their exposure to breastfeeding was growing up, they may be a little freaked out by it and need an adjustment period too.

You need to make the decision that is right for you. I know that I felt guilty when I was faced with the same dilemma. I went back to work and had to pump in between meetings and found that I just didnt want to anymore - which I am sure didnt help the production issue. I would still breastfeed in the mornings and the evenings and gave up pumping, then I gave it up all together because I realized that it was more of a comfort thing for me and not for him. He could care less if it were me or a bottle..so I knew it was okay to stop. But if you enjoy the closeness with your baby, then continue it. You will know when the time is right to stop. It is a natural thing.
As for the girls you work with - please dont care what they think or say...it is none of their business.

My BEST advice to you is do what you feel is best. Go with your instincts. That was the one thing my pediatrician told me and its been the best advice that i use every day with my 11 week old son! I breastfed for 6 weeks, but I just wasn't producing enough milk for him. He was cranky between feedings (and he was eating at one point every 1 to 1 1/2 hours). We tried a day of just formula and realized that he was HUNGRY! I felt so guilty at first to stop breastfeeding because everyone would say "You HAVE to keep breastfeeding no matter what". Well, I am 33 years old and was a formula fed baby and so was most of our generation and I turned out just fine! YOU go with your gut and what you feel is best for your baby and for you!

Good luck!!

what would i do, i would pump when i could at work and get those girls to understand by law you are able to. i would also pump after each feeding at home a bit to try and get a stash going on in my freezer and build supply. i might make sure i get right home and always feed her when i walk thru the door and before i leave no matter what. i might pump during the night somewhere in between her feedings to add more milk. and i wouldnt worry terribly as any breastmilk is better than none, so if you give her 3 oz BM first then the rest formula, thats fine. the only thing you CANNOT do is to ignore "upping time". when your body isnt making quite what she needs, she is going to want to eat, but you might not be full. its very tempting to either give additional breastmilk or formula in the bottle but then you are starting a cycle of her needing more, your body doesnt know she needs more, you give formula, so your body doesnt make more. its very important to stay away from that. if you feed on demand, but always pump just a bit after the feeding, you should always be one step ahead of her and never have issues, assuming your pump is good. when you pump, often you get less than what she gets from the breast. now, you could pump, then you can have the babysitter give her formula or hopefully frozen milk after if needed, but you cannot supplement while you are feeding her at home to avoid not increasing when needed.
all you need to do if you want to stop pumping is to feed on demand when home and on weekends, the human body is amazing. if you want to stop pumping, please consider feeding her whenever not at work. you wont regret it, they are little for such a short, enjoy that closeness. good luck!!!

K.,
Congratulations on deciding to breastfeed and give your baby the best you have.

Pumping is hard. That being said, do what you can - every little bit helps. Pump more often, even if you only get dribs and drabs, 'nothing to speak of' or only 1/2 ounces. The more you pump, the better your supply will step up and fill-in. Drink water both before and while you are pumping.

Your child is not starving, nor will you starve them with what you are currently doing.

You won't run out. I pump and if I get 3 oz, I call it a very lucky day. It isn't easy, doing this - it isn't convenient - it isn't a lot of things - but it is an irreplaceable bonding you have only a short time for (and in the US society, it's even shorter unless you break the norms!)

You can do this because you ARE doing this! You can love the closeness for a little while longer, every day you put off weaning is another day your baby gets your best.

The more you do this - and if you pump at home, the faster - the more milk you will get in a shorter time. It does improve.

http://breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml

There are other websites for breastfeeding, and improving your supply.

One way to boost things that might work that you might enjoy is simply having a bowl of oatmeal in the morning, or oatmeal cookies during the day.

You might also rent a hospital-grade pump for a little bit, to see if that improves things - my pump was a hand-me-down and was so tired by the time my son was 6 months that when I bought a hand pump it was like night-and-day!

Good Luck! If you need more info on increasing your supply (I just went through that), please feel free to contact me.

M.

I truly beleive that breastfeeding helps the immune system of a child because you are giving your immunites to your baby that is in the milk. Also, they cannot choke on it, it just gets absorbed into their body, so that has always been a relief for me. Your body will adjust to your time schedule and will have enough milk for the times you need it...so intelligent our bodies aren't they? You may want to compramise and send some formula to the daycare and just nurse in the morning and evening times when you are with her. As far as increasing production goes, if I was low, I would always EAT MORE and DRINK MORE WATER and get some REST. That always helps increase your supply. Good luck and hang in there. It can be tough in the beginning, but it is so worth it!

Even if you decide to stop pumping I, myself would still breastfeed when you do. Even a little breastmilk is better than no breastmilk. This isn't an easy decision, I wish you a lot of luck in making one.

Please don't stop breastfeeding--it's so good for you and your baby, and such a wonderful, comfortable, bonding time. If you're stressed trying to pump, you won't produce as much. There is a tea made to increase production(try GNC or even natural food section at grocery store). Great thing is, if you have to cut out certain feedings/pumping times, your body will gradually stop producing at that time, but it won't affect your other feedings. It's supply and demand. We gradually cut out feedings as my daughters got older, and ended up only nursing when she woke up. Hope this helps-good luck!

Hi K., I am struggling with this same issue. I am breastfeeding my second child and she's almost 6 months now. I work full time so I pump 3 times a day at the office. I get a lot of milk when I pump, which is unusual (I use the Medela Pump In Style and I tend to get 4-5 ounces every 3 hours). I breastfed my son for 8 months when my supply dried up because I was 3 months pregnant again. Here's what I have done to make it easier, because I truly do want to breastfeed as long as I can.

I have 3 sets of pump supplies, so I don't have to spend time at work washing them, if I don't have the time. I pump for 15 minutes each time I pump. I pump at my desk and can actually do it hands free. I found a position that works, and I put my shirt over the tops of the pieces to hold them in place.

Supply: Are you double pumping? That helps get more. Also, I eat oatmeal every day for breakfast, which is supposed to be good. I saw someone mentioned fenugreek - I haven't done this but I have heard it works well too. I read advice at kellymoms.com (not sure of exact spelling but you can google it) and found that to be helpful.

For both my kids, when 8-16 weeks old, I pumped immediately after the first feeding of the day, and that was "excess" milk that I have frozen. The more you do this, your supply will increase. I also pump after the bedtime feeding.

When you feed your baby during lunch, bring your pump, and pump on the side that's not being nursed on - this will get a good pumping amount and over time increase your supply.

People in the US have such weird issues about breastfeeding. The way I get around rudeness in the workplace is I talk about having to pump, and I dare someone to say something. I travel for work, and I have left meetings saying "excuse me, I'm a nursing mom and I need to go pump". With women colleagues who are mystified, I offer to let them see how it's done. When they see it, they have a new appreciation for what I'm doing. (Moo?). :)

I have gone on 3 business trips and pumped EVERYwhere under all conditions. Including sitting in my seat on an airplane. I just draped a blanket over me and did my thing. My first business trip was when my youngest was 3.5 months (very sad for me) and I brought all the milk home on the airplane - over 90 ounces in little plastic bags! (replaced all the frozen milk my husband had to use while I was gone)

So here's my advice. If you want to keep breastfeeding (and I totally understand wanting to stop and weighing what's REALLY best for the baby - which first is a happy mom), make pumping easier - disregard what people say, buy a couple of extra sets of parts so you can do the washing at home, pump when you can - even 5 minutes is good, use the batteries instead of dealing with plugging it in, buy those Medela pump wipes so you can just wipe everything off instead of having to wash and dry the parts. Drink lots of water too!

I hope this is helpful. Whatever you do for yourself and the baby is the right decision. I love that I've been able to breastfeed, but I know it's not possible for everyone to have the same experience. Whatever is right for YOU is what's right for the baby.

Hi K.! I am also a 34 year old first time mom. I have an almost 6 month old beautiful boy who I just adore. I breast fed him up until about a month ago when he was about 4 1/2 months old. I am a teacher and I went back to work at the end of April. I pumped once a day at work (all I had time for) and breastfed when I was home with him (mornings and evenings). I thought that would be enough pumping to get me through the end of the school year and then breastfeed through the summer. Well, after all that, when school got out and I would pump at home (he got a formula bottle sometimes) I would only get about 4oz COMBINED! I felt awful because I had been trying so hard to do the best for my son and wanted to keep it going. He began to kind of wean himself too. He was more interested in what was going on around him when he nursed anyway. But I felt bad. I was sad that he was "growing up" and didn't seem to have that need for me. Eventually, you'll get used to the idea of giving your daughter the formula. You should feel good that you gave your daughter a good 4 months of breast milk. Some babies don't even get that. I think you will still find that bond with your daughter too as she gets older. My son and I are so in love with each other and we connect so much now that he's developing communication skills and reacting to me more. I think that it will just take time to get used to the idea. I wish you luck and remember, it's harder for us than it is for the babes!

Hey K.. Awesome job so far! I was a SAHM and still found nursing incredibly challenging, so good for you. One thought I had - do you feel a let-down when you nurse or pump? Do you think you have an effective pump that is triggering a let-down so you can get the most milk? Sometimes it can take a while to condition the body to have a good let-down, so give it some time. Also, you could look into renting a more effective pump. I own the Pump In Style, which is nice, but I rented the Medela Symphony for a while and I LOVED it. Just a thought. Good luck!