Not Enough in the Boobs

Do you mean that you are taking an anti depressent? They made me stop breastfeeding when they put me on Prozac. Said it wasn't good for my little girl so I had to stop. Just wondering.
I really don't have any advice I was just wondering about that....what help I am huh?

C.

PLEASE PLEASE DON'T WORRY. THIS IS VERY NORMAL. YOUR LITTLE BOY IS GETTING MORE FROM YOU THAN YOU ARE GETTING IN YOUR BREAST PUMP. THE PUMP WORKS GREAT BUT THE BEST PUMP IN THE WORLD IS THAT BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY YOU HAVE IN YOUR ARMS. SO WHAT I WOULD DO IS PUMP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND THEN TO MAKE MORE MILK GO AHEAD AND MIX YOUR FORMULA WITH YOUR BREAST MILK. THIS WILL HELP AND YOUR SON IS STILL GETTING BREASTMILK IN WITH EVERY BOTTLE. TRY TO PUMP AT WORK AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN. I AM SURE YOUR COWORKERS WILL UNDERSTAND. (LET'S HOPE) I AM A NICU NURSE AND I DID THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I WORKED ON THE WEEKENDS AND NOT DURING THE WEEK.. SO MY HUSBAND FED MY SON ON THE WEEKENDS MY BREASTMILK WITH A BOTTLE AND IF NEED BE SOME FORMULA. (SOMETIMES HALF AND HALF OR FULL STRENGTH).
THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO INCREASE YOUR MILK SUPPLY: EAT WATERMELON AND/OR OATMEAL ( I LEARNED THIS IN A NURSE LACTATION CONFRENCE), OF COURSE LOTS OF WATER AND SLEEP, AND YOU CAN ASK YOUR MD TO PRESCRIBE REGLAN...(THIS DOES HAVE SIDE EFFECTS SO YOU NEED TO WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS)

WELL GOOD LUCK!! HOPE THIS HELPS!!

M. (MOM TO 3 BEAUTIFUL BOYS PARKER 6YRS BF 6MONTHS, PRESTON 3YRS BF 16 MONTHS AND PORTER 15 MONTHS BF 12 MONTHS)

My two cents....

First of all you sound like tons-of-fun! Loved reading your request.

Okay.. now to biz-niz...

My son is 15 months old and I still breastfeed him. When he would have to go to day care twice a week I would obviously pump so he could have it there. Well-even with my "wicked expensive Medela breast pump" I still wasn't getting enough. It's as if Mona and Lisa (that's what I named "them") KNEW that it was a pump doing the suckin and not my fat little boy!

What I had to do was this... Maddox would sleep until around 8am so I would set my alarm and wake up at 6. I would set out all of the "stuff" to pump the night before so I could do it with one-eye open. I would pump then, stuff it in the fridge, and hop back in bed. By doing that I was about to get that little bit extra that I needed to put in his bottles while he was at day care. Yes, it sucked having to get up early. But-you only lose about 30 minutes of sleep (if that). I think there were plenty of times when I fell asleep while pumping..lol

Also-your little man should be ready for rice cereal soon! So-don't get discouraged. He's probably just trying to let you know that he's ready for some "big boy" food. Since he's so close to being put on food I would recommend not using any more formula than you're using already. It's a bad cycle to get into... use formula b/c you don't have enough breastmilk.. then the breastmilk quits comming in as much b/c you're using formula... HOPEFULLY when he starts on food you can cut the formula out all together (if that's what you want to do).

Good luck to you. Email me if you want a "loony" mom friend. I need some. Good grief how I need some. Or..maybe I just need the happy pills you have... either or. lol Oh..I'd almost bet money that you're a Gemini? Am I right or wrong? haha...

J.

There are two main products that work VERY well. They are both herbal suppliments. The first is called Fenugreek. This is a pill that you would take 2-3 pills 3 times a day. It usually takes about 72 hours to start working. The second is a suppliment called More Milk Plus. This is a liquid capsule that contains Fenugreek, Blessed THistle, Nettle and Fennel-all ingredients that increase the milk supply. With this pill you would take 1-2 pills 4 times a day and it usually works in about 24 hours. We carry both at our shop which is called The Breastfeeding Shoppe-we are located at 2155 FM 1960 Rd West or you can shop online at www.thebreastfeedingshoppe.com. Both work very well at increasing breast milk production. If you have any questions, you can always call us at ###-###-####. Hope this helps you.

N.

I found that your boobs will catch up...it takes a few days, but then you'll start producing a lot more milk. I'm breast feeding exclusivley, and a little trick to make you produce more is pump after his feedings with you. So that first feeding after work just pump when he's had his full. You won't get much, but you'll start building up a bigger milk supply.

My small advice, b/c you got plenty of it, is this. Are they sure he is hungry? I always felt like everyone else always blamed hunger for any fusiness. I nursed too (not as a full-time working mom) but at any cry people would always try to pass off the baby to me "he's hungry, here you go". I know that doesn't address the milk issue but that is almost always an issue for nursing moms. Good Luck.

I had a similar problem, although different situation. I couldn't produce enough milk so supplemented with formula (which, of course, doesn't help increase my own milk supply). I tried pumping more often (I hated pumping, even with the Medela), which helped a little, although not enough. In the end I had to keep telling myself that at least my daughter was getting SOME breast milk, and that was enough to keep me going until we weaned when she was a year old.

this is going to sound more seedy, but to increase my milk supply a glass of half milk and half guiness always did it for me within 30 minutes to an hour after drinking you'll be ready to let down. any chance you could have one on your lunch break, before your afternoon pumping session? they also have teas that are supposed to increase your milk supply if you're uncomfortable with the alchohol. pumping more often is the best thing though, even if you get nothing on your first few tries, it will come in for the extra "feeding". if you can't get it in at work, maybe do it right after work, before you pick up your son, all the hormones that come from being around him will boost your supply quickly again once you're in his presence so you won't have to worry about, not being able to feed him when you get him home. also you could try fitting in a pumping after he goes to bed. also, pumping after he's done feeding was always really effective for me. good luck!

hey couldn't you do both forumla and breast feed?

"mothers milk tea" works miracles, you can get it at kroger in the new age section, i swear by it and so does everyone else i have bought it for

Not sure what part of town you're in but there is an excellent breast feeding store on the corner of FM 1960 & Kuykendahl - they sell the minerals (or whatever they are!) that help increase milk production - I took them with my 2nd child and never had any problems. However, I think your best bet is to try and pump at night. I know it's a pain as you just want to be able to sit down, relax a bit and snuggle with your baby but if you can pump after you put him to bed, or when you first get home from work - just that little bit of extra may be just what you need. Also, how long do you pump each time? I found that when I pumped longer, I would have almost a 2nd letdown of milk so I could get out anywhere from 8 to 12 ounces at one time. Just stick with it - even if you have to supplement, if you're giving him some breast milk then that's great. Don't beat yourself up over what you can't do - just look at what you can.

Fenugreek is a natural supplement that helped me a great deal. Also drink as much water as you can tolerate and then drink some more.

You could also just supplement with formula. We did that with both of our boys with no problems.

without knowing how often your son eats, I would suggest if they think he might be hungrier, first of all he should start eating baby food and that would kind of cut down on the formula/breastmilk he needs/wants. and second perhaps you could send an extra bottle and third, my doctor recommended I start putting a formula size scoop of rice cereal in every other bottle.

i wish you luck. and for future reference, if the daycare people knew what they were talking about, they would know that you should try the baby food idea and/or rice cereal.

Speak to your doctor, or the baby's doctor. Don't take any drugs without consulting the doctor, they are the experts here.
Best wishes.

I breastfed my daughter for 10 months, and at 4 weeks I was back in school full time and had the same issues with pumping that you are having. Breastfeeding is all about supply and demand, the more deman, the more the supply. Pump at homne before and after work, and pump on the weekends even while you are breastfeeding exclusively. And up your intake of fluids and calories. You need to eat a bit more and drink a LOT more while breastfeeding. I would try these things first before resorting to any type of drug. And contact the local La Leche League for guidance also, they were a God send to me. My daughter is 14 now and she has been remarkably healthy all of her life, which I credit to being able to breastfeed for so long, despite the demands of school and work on my ability to do so. Just be patient and persisitent and do not give up!

C.-
I breastfed my son until he was 54 weeks old and I had the same problem with him too, for a while. What my lactation consultant told me to do is: after you feed at night and in the mornings, use your pump. At first you may not get very much milk, but your body is a wonderfully weird thing. If you keep pumping after feeding, your body will think your baby is still hungry and will automatically produce more milk. Then you can bottle the excess milk and send it to daycare. It may be a little inconvienant for the first couple of times but after a while, you can pump out the leftover milk in no time... It was worth it to me, I did not supplement at all so I had to do it to keep the little "bottomless pit" fed.haha. I hope this helps.
-H.

I didn't have a strong enough supply to nurse my son either. Through a search online I found out an herb called Fenugreek. You should check out with your doctor to see if it would react with meds, though.

The same thing happened to me. Drink lots of water and eat lots of chick peas(garbanzo beans). They bring in milk. My mom had told me this and I thought it was wives tale and then one day I read it in one of my breast feeding books. Put them in your salads, yours soups and anything else you can think of. Good luck.

C.,

Don't worry. Pumping with a pump is not nearly as efficiant as your son. Kids will amost ALWAYS take more from a bottle than you pump. I think you are completely normal. Send more milk to school with him and breastfeed the rest of the time. Keep pumping at work. I agree you could try to pump extra at work. You have to think of it like this, Your son is going to get more milk from you than your pump will, so you really don't know how much he is taking. Also when your breasts are empty your son may continue to suck to pacify himself, if he does that with a bottle he will take more. Your son is used to more sucking and harding sucking from the breast than it takes to eat from a bottle. So he will take more, Now It shouldn't be lots and lots more but 2-3 oz a feeding is not excessive. You can also mix his formula with breastmilk. My son had to have extra calories so I used breastmilk instead of water to mix formula, but you can just half and half it. He will probably taste the breastmilk in there and be comforted. Just so you know I pumped exclusively for the first 6 weeks of my sons life while he was in the NICU then breast feed him until he was a year old. I also worked full time. Just relax and do what is best for you. There aren't rules out there that you have to exclusively breastfeed or your children wont benefit from it. Remember life isn't about extremes. If you can only breastfeed once a day that is one more time than not all. Formula is wonderful stuff and that can satify your child when you are not around, it is not the evil menace. SO relax, breastfeed your beautiful baby every chance you get, give him formula other wise. Dont feel guilty, you have to work and you are doing the best you can. Good luck and enjoy your breastfeeding experience

Hello C.,

Many mothers find that their milk goes down once they start emptying their breast less than 8-10 times a day. For a little while we can keep up but the more we empty by a pump and the less we nurse the baby, the breast decrease production. The best way to increase your supply is to use the breast more. DO not go more than 3-4 hours without breast stimulation. Nurse the baby before you leave for work and then pump both sides till empty. Don't let yourself get too full at work....full breast make less milk than empty. Nurse the baby as soon as you get home and all through the evening. After baby nurses the last time at night, pump till empty again. There are meds that can help but you are correct, some of them can increase chances of depression. The best way to increase a supply is to use the breast!

R. Riddick RN IBCLC

Good for you for trying. I never seemed to get enough when I pumped. He may have to take more formula, or, at four mos., he may be ready for rice cereal. You might try sneaking in an extra pumping at work, or, better yet, pump on weekends when you're home with him, and more relaxed. I loved breastfeeding, but I didn't work when I did, so I feel for you. I took an herbal supplement to increase my milk supply, didn't cause depression,it was Fenugreek,found it at an herbal store.It seemed to work pretty well. Maybe tell the daycare to put a little rice cereal in the breastmilk to thicken it up. Good luck, and pat on the back for breastfeeding!

There is nothing wrong with supplementing with formula at 4 months of age. My daughter needed alot more than I could make by the time she hit 2 months and she is just as rambunctious as I expect any 2 year old to be. I know how awsome it is to be able to have that skin to skin contact with your baby, bonding is probably the best time you will ever have with them. But sometimes, you have to just ease the formula, which is very good for them these days, and just accept that your baby is getting a bigger appetite. :D Good luck.

There are a couple of things you can try. First, try drinking "Mother's Milk Tea" to boost/maintain supply. Many women have success with that. Another thing, know that you have to stimulate your breasts (either pump or baby) about 8 times in 24 hrs. to keep up with supply. Try picking a time (usually supply is most in the a.m.) to not only breastfeed on the weekends, but pump as well. It would be good if it was at a time you were already getting to pump anyway. Breastmilk production works on a law of supply and demand, so breastfeeding/pumping more often will boost supply. Also, when pumping, pump a minute past the time you see that last drop. This will trigger your brain to produce more.

Are the ladies at daycare saying that he is still hungry after the 4 oz.? If so, then you will need to increase the amount you send. Pumping on the weekends, as well as breastfeeding him then, may be just the trick you need to increase supply and have extra to send to daycare.

Congratulations on providing your son with such a great start in life!

Ask your doctor about a medication called Reglan. It is normally used for reflux but has been found to increase breastmilk supplies. Go to www.breastfeeding.com and they list all the different methods for increasing milk supply. I did Mother's Milk Tea (tastes nasty but works), Brewer's Yeast tablets and Reglan. The combination of all three of these worked for me.

At four months my son was alredy getting cearel..the milk wasn't getting him full. He's fine. I think it's ok to up the ounces. Your baby will be happy a full.

This may seem like a given, but I suggest pumping and storing (freezing) to get ahead of the game (on the weekends, when you have more time and energy to devote). The more you pump AND feed the more your production will increase to meet the demand. You can combine milk pumped on different occasions if you aren't making enough to fill a 6-8 oz freezing bag in one sitting. So if you're BF'ing him exclusively on the weekends, pump after he gets his fill, whatever you can, and squeeze in extra pumping in between, even if it's only a couple ounces and not enough to empty the breast entirely. Just make sure that he AND the stored milk are getting to the extra fatty, nutritious hind milk that comes later as the breast is emptied, not just the sugary foremilk. Also, though I've never used them, I've heard the local La Leche Leaugues are really helpful. The Houston website is: http://www.ykc.com/LLLHouston/ - they even have a Houston Area Helpline at ###-###-####... Good luck! =)

Hello C.,
Congrats! Try a herbal pill called Fengreek, and there is a tea also. Good luck!

J.

You may have already heard all this in previous responses, but there is a tea you can get at the health store called Mother's Milk that is supposed to increase milk production. Also, drinking lots of water helps. You might also try pumping after you nurse him to catch anything that is left and encourage your body to produce more milk at each nursing. Pumping around the baby helps me because if he's not there it is hard to have a let down. Don't give up, and good for you for trying to keep nursing. It's hard to nurse and work and I think it's so commendable that you're doing this for your baby. Good luck.

When I went back to work, my time of pumping did not last long either. I believe I breast fed until she was a little over 6mo. With the stress of being back at work and trying to be on schedule with pumping, I was a slave to my Medela too! It is tough to juggle it all at. I would not take a drug to increase your milk supply. It just might be time to slowly work his way off breast milk completely or continue to suppliment with more formula to give your self a chance to catch up. Maybe on the weekends, you can also do some catching up....just a though.

Hi C.,
First off lots of luck in continuing to breast feed your son even through working a job with traditional hours! Thats awesome! I always had problems getting my body to "produce for the machine" as one well known lacatation consultant told me, so I am not much help in that department, but I will say that when I was concerned about not producing enough milk in general I tried using Fenugreek (wholefoods) and actually got engorged it worked so well! Hope that works and best of luck to you~
A.

I'm currently having the same issue. I've heard from several different moms that Fenugreek, sold at health food stores, works really well. I'm not sure about the depression part. I've never heard anything about that specifically. If you take it 3x daily you should see results quickly. If you smell like maple syrup, then it's working. I'm going to try drinking more water and eating more oatmeal for the next 3 days, then I'll go out to get the Fenugreek.