Seeking Help - Houston,TX

Get a good pump (Medela Pump in Style) and keep trying. Pump often to increase milkflow. Studies have shown that breastmilk is much better for babies than formula. It helps with immunity, general health, brain development etc. Good luck!

2 ounces is a god amount in the beginning stage--you are still very much at the beginning! It can take a while for your body to get used to a pump so don't give up! In the beginning i only pumped an ounce andi too went back to work. The key is to keep pumping. If you don't have enough stored up fo soley breastmilk then by all means you will have to introduce some formula in the mean time. You don't have to give up breastfeeding either. The other thing you can do is keep pumping while at work and then you will be able to give some bottles with breastmilk and some with formula. Make sure you have a really good pump too. If you do decide to wean completely, do it slowly like others have said. One bottle every couple of days. Breastfeeding and pumping is alot of work, but it is worth it in the end and remember, it's not forver either! If your work is understanding about you needing to pump, (which legally they have to allow you time to) then it is also nice to have that time as a break too! If you really don't want to give up breastfeeding, dont. you can look at websites like lalecheleague.org or www.kellymom.com they offer really good advice and support. Please don't forget that it's only been a month! Don't push or rush yourself too much!! hang in there!

No, she will not get the same nutrients. I'm pretty sure 2 oz is just fine depending on how often you pump and how often she eats. Your pediatrician can help you with this, they should be able to tell you how many ounces she needs per 24 hours. If they arent a help, La Leche League International can. Google them and find a leader in your area. Call a bunch until you get someone, they are happy to help. Another resource would be a lactation consultant. If there was one on staff at the hospital you delivered, you should be able to do a free phone consultation. Many will do a phone consultation for free so just try it. I really encourage you to try these things before you try to wean. She is getting so much from your breastmilk right now. She can't get the same immunity from sickness from formula that she can from your breastmilk.

That said, if you find out 2 oz isn't enough or you can't pump often enough, I encourage you to continue to pump what you can and nurse her at night. New studies show that some breastmilk is better than none so you can supplement with formula. If your milk supply drops due to not pumping enough, you know at that point you did all you could. Please don't worry that you can't leave a big stock of breastmilk for her when you go to work. That isn't a reason to wean. You will build it up while you are at work and she can have formula in the meantime.

That said, if you finally arrive at a decision to wean, repost and I will add some things for you. Please know you are doing a GREAT job! It is hard, I know. But its totally worth it that your baby has a smaller chance of cancer, obesity, and sickness because you chose to breastfeed. I'm nursing my son and even though I have low milk supply and have to supplement, he didn't get the nasty cold that everyone else in the house had-it was the breastmilk protecting him. You can do it!

Hello! I have a four month old and pump at work. It is hard but thankfully I have a place that I can go to pump and my boss is very understanding. You wont get that much at first. Try feeding her then pumping afterwards, it's a supply and demand type thing so if you tell your body you need more, you will make more, it usually takes about two days for it to start making more so don't get discouraged at first. That's if you do want to still try to breastfeed. It really is better than formula but if it doesn't work out don't beat yourself up about it, many babies are fine on formula. To wean her you would just give her formula instead of breastfeeding and pump when you need to in order to relieve the pressure you will get from not breastfeeding. Again, if you want to continue you can do it, it just takes some exhaustion at the beginning but it will pay off! I usually stock up on the weekends while I'm home and pump as much as possible after I feed my son so I can get more stored for while I'm at work the next day. I hope this helps!!

Another suggestion besides the many good ones you received... my midwife gave it to me and actually worked. Stay in bed with your baby with lots of skin contact (very important!) for a whole day, resting, playing and breastfeeding whenever she looks for that. A bit demanding, I know, because you need the help of somebody with meals, but it's a wonderful and peaceful experience and exactly what a mommy's mind needs to stimulate milk production. Best of luck to you!

Congrats on the new baby!

I understand that everyone has their own reason for weaning and I can't judge how pressing this is for you. It would be wonderful if you can return to work and still breastfeed. Formula is not a replacement for breast milk but it is the next best thing. And trying to measure how much you are feeding your baby by looking at the amount you get with a breast pump is a poor method. A breast pump just mimics the baby and isn't nearly as good as the actual breastfeeding.

One thing I have been told is that you can better judge how much your baby is ingesting by looking at how much is coming out (urine and bowel movements). Saying I "only pump 2 oz. of milk" is not accurate at all.

To get started weaning, introduce a bottle and see how it goes. You want to watch for runny bowels. You may find your baby doesn't tolerate that kind and a talk with your pediatrician will help you.

Also be careful that you don't ignore the feeling of full breasts. If you experience this, you may need to pump or hand express to relieve the pressure. Leaving it alone could lead to an infection of the duct glands, which is quite painful.

Good luck and send me a private message if you want.
D.

I breastfed both of my kids till a year working full time. If you still want to try breastmilk, get a good pump (Medela is great and you can find a gently used one on craigslist for about 100$). Drink a lot of water and pump after each feeding at home. You'll probably have to leave the house and let someone else give your baby a bottle with your milk and most kids it will be hard and there will be a lot of "bottle and nipple" research - breast babies are picky. It might take a week or more, but eventually they learn. Sown herbal shops sell special tea that will increase your milk production. And if you pump at work at almost the same time and about every 3-4 hours your body will adjust. I live Houston, work full time and made it through 2 kids on sheer determination not to use formula. If you'd like you can email me and I'll try to help as much as I can.
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i would have given anything to get 2oz. if you can give your new baby breast milk for six months studys find it very helpful in preventing childhood cancers, for brain,eye development and other things. i never made an ounce for an entire day. so i had to formula feed. actual feeding the baby direct is best for milk supply instead of pumping. my son was always in the 90% in weight being a formula fed child. he is fine. i understand how hard it is to breast feed and how frustraiting it is. there are things you can do to up the supply but if your wanting to go formula i recomend using SAMS CHOICE formula its way cheaper and the exact same ingredients. ask your pedi. look online to compare prices...the can is twice as big as other stores sell. good luck momma...it does get easier.

The best way to wean is slowly so you do not get a breast infection. Eliminate one feeding at a time every couple of days. You could also try both BFing and Formula feeding. You can BF when you are with baby and have her drink formula when you are working. You may still need to pump while you are at work so you do not get engorged.
No your baby does not get the same nutrition when you use formula. Human Breast Milk is made for Human babies and no lab in the world can duplicate breast milk. It is far superior to furmula. Breast milk is always changing to meet your childs needs!!
Many Blessings, K.

Have you spoken with a lactation consultant? Have you tried to listen to a recording of your child crying while pumping or look at a picture? Are you sure you want to ween? What type of pump do you have? Is it electric double pump? If you are trying with a hand pump, that could be why you are not getting much milk out. Also it is hard to get to the let down if you are not used to pumping.

If you are sure you want to ween, just start supplementing bottles instead of nursing. Do one bottle a day for a few day and gradually go up.

Nutrient wise, they are the same. But breast milk has antibodys that formula does not.

Good luck.

Please don't wean, your baby is soooo little. Every little bit of breastmilk is worth more than it's weight in gold compared to formula. Formula doesn't come close nutritionally to the natural makeup of breast milk. There are important ingredients in your milk that simply can't be duplicated. 2oz is great! That's all they can take when they are so little!

You said your are going back to work very soon.

Let the person know, whomever is caring for your baby, to feed on demand.

Next, try and introduce bottles & Formula to your baby BEFORE your start work... some take to it, some reject it. So you need to see how your baby adapts to it.

Next, you can still breastfeed at night or when you come home from work... nursing her on-demand... and your body and its output will adjust to that.
So... try not thinking you "have to" stop nursing "completely". MANY Moms... nurse at night when they are home or on the weekends.... and when Mom is at work, baby gets a bottle of Formula or pumped milk.
But the key is to nurse ON-Demand when you are home... and even when your baby goes through "cluster-feeding" during growth-spurts, and at night.

Pumping output does not reflect the quantity that is in your breasts.
For me, electric pumps did nothing and I hated it. For me, hand-pumps worked better. You have to try it, IF you want to continue to pump.

Or, ask a Lactation Consultant, what is best...
but meanwhile, your baby needs to feed... so, you will have to provide her with something, ie: Formula, when you are at work. Because right now, you will NOT have enough stored Breastmilk, to supply her with for an entire day.

Store whatever pumped milk that does come out, and try to accumulate that.

But yes, the "Plan B" is to use Formula. Ask your Pediatrician what he/she recommends.

But you do NOT have to "wean" nor "stop" breastfeeding COMPLETELY. You can still breastfeed at night, when you come home from work. So, your baby can STILL get your milk, and she will simply be supplemented with Formula during the daytime. Many Moms do that. And their babies are completely fine and healthy and normal.

You need to do what you need to do... and bottomline is that baby gets fed. Regardless of "how"... via bottle or Moms breasts.

Ask a Lactation Consultant for suggestions... and your Pediatrician for recommendations on Formula.

All the best,
Susan

Why don't you try just formula feeding during the day and breastfeeding all the times you are with her. Every day longer she nurses will benefit her. You can if you think you can. Laying down at the end of the workday with her and letting her nurse will be a great stress reliever. Have your doctor reccommend a formula that is gentle on her tummy. You may have some milk at first at work but the body is amazing at how it "learns" to produce milk at the times when you have demand for it. Is there no possiblity of going to nurse her once during the workday?

I had the same thing happen to me... tried to pump after 1 month and got nothing! The issue is that your baby is drinking everything, so there's not much left to pump (a good thing, actually!)

Once you go back to work, you'll be able to pump b/c you'll be full from not feeding your baby for several hours. If you can, find a place to pump during the day and save that stuff for your baby.

I kept this up for one year, once I got a routine going, it was easy. I'd feed my baby in the AM and at night. It's worth it to keep it up as long as you can, but your baby will be just fine w/ formula otherwise.