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Babies: 9 - 12 Months
peanutontheway
member
Mixed feelings re: BFing
peanutontheway
member
My supply has taken a major hit. It's been going on for about 3-4 weeks and I think I'm starting to regain some supply.
I was beside myself at first. I was going to have to start formula and didn't want to, wanted to make it a year, etc etc. We've gone thus far without starting formula (I went and bought a couple cans just incase). Some days are literally ounce by ounce while I'm at work. I have a can of formula at my moms and said she can give her a couple ounces of formula with BM if she has to, she hasn't had to yet.
Now I kinda wish I had my body back. How nice it would seem to just give her a bottle and not have to worry am I wearing the right bra, where can I NIP, is she going to cry this time because my let down is slow.
I've honestly stopped trying to up my supply and just let what happens happen. She nurses with me about 4-5 times a day and takes about 20 ounces when I'm at work. The problem seems to be that I can't pump enough at work because of the stress and time constraint. My supply seems to be slowly going up now that I've quit taking fenugreek and just put it on the back burner so to speak.
I wish I could make up my mind.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Mixed feelings re: BFing
Can you do something to get your supply up, like take fenugreek or power sessions on the weekend?
I'm sorry. I am starting back to work at the end of the month and worry about not being able to pump enough either. I figure once he hits 1 year I can go to whole milk during daycare. It's frustrating. Just do what you can, if you have to add some formula to your pumped bm, that's ok too.
I've experienced just about everything you wrote, but I am laughing about planning your clothes so you can NIP. I do that constantly, and I hate it. If I'm going to be out with DS for more than an hour, I have to dress for it!
My nascent blog
I hate it too! I have to wear this bra and if I wear this shirt my spare tire will hang out if I NIP, but if I wear these pants I can't wear that shirt.
AHHHHHH!!!!!
I'm not a nurse but I also work on a hospital floor and I wouldn't be surprised if the stress and time crunch really affected my pumping output at work. It got to the point where I would be lucky to get enough for one 6 oz bottle when she was taking 3 of them at daycare.
I recently stopped, and FF during the day and BF Sarah in the morning and at night. I may stop doing that as well since she often wants a bottle anyway. My supply was sucking hardcore before I made the switch. I just go so tired of stressing over it (thereby making it worse) and busting my hump to try to get it back up with little success. The only thing that really worked was Reglan but it made me miserable so I stopped.
I'm kinda sad I didn't make it to my goal, but I'm proud of how long I did it. I BFed longer than nearly every new mom I know, and I had success BFing after a reduction. I'm also a lot happier at home right now. Sarah isn't constantly on my boob all day long, so I can get stuff done at home. And she's put on some weight and seems happier as well. It's given us much more of a schedule at home. And I can still comfort nurse her if it's necessary, but I've also noticed I don't need to do that as much either.
It won't be the end of the world if you decide to quit, or do just drop down to BFing her in the morning and before bed and stop pumping at work/maintaining your stash. You did awesome so far and she will continue to thrive either way. Just do what's best for both of you.
Sarah - 12/23/2008
Alex - 9/30/2011
"I say embrace the total geek in yourself and just enjoy it. Life is too short to be cool." - Shirley Manson, Garbage
You're a US aren't you geeky? I know you feel my pain. What I don't know is how you got away from that godawful desk to pump everyday. We have 2 US on our floor and the charge nurse doesn't take pts and they still have a hard time getting away from the desk.
Thank you for making me feel better. I know it isn't the end of the world and I know she will be fine either way I decide. I just can't make up my mind right now. Today, I still want to BF. Yesterday I was ready to be done because she was attached to me for what seemed to be all day. Tomorrow? Who knows.
I recently made the decision to stop pumping at work and I am slowly weaning from the pump. DD has really lost interest in nursing during the day on the weekends and is totally fine if I give her a bottle as opposed to nurse during the day. She really slowed down how often and how much she drinks at daycare. Some days she barely takes 8oz now that she is on 3 solid meals and snacks. Yesterday was her first day with a bottle of formula at daycare (I tried a bottle at home to make sure she didn't reject it). The daycare ladies said she took 4 oz of formula after drinking all of her BM bottles. I had to say that I was relieved a bit and I am feeling better about it now.
It was a really hard decision, but pumping at work is really getting old and the fact that she isn't drinking as much makes me realize that it is time to start weaning. Even though your little one may not be in the same boat as DD, I totally understand not wanting to pump anymore. It is tough to sit in a room without a baby and pretend like it is the same as nursing. Don't beat yourself up about it. You did great and pretty soon your LO will be on more solids anyway, so the need for so much BM decreases.
Yup, that's me. I only got to pump twice a day (sometimes only once!) and it was hard but I work really fast so I thankfully never managed to fall too far behind in my work. Everyone was really understanding while I was still doing it, too. I have NO idea how you manage it. I don't even know how some of the nurses get off the floor for smoking breaks, let alone a 20 minute pumping session.
And I know exactly what you mean. She would be on me and fussy all day and I wanted to quit. Then she would be in a mood and I would comfort nurse her and she'd calm right down and I was thankful I was still doing it. But I don't feel as bad about is as I thought I would, if that makes sense (once I got over the initial guilt, which was also less than I expected).
Sarah - 12/23/2008
Alex - 9/30/2011
"I say embrace the total geek in yourself and just enjoy it. Life is too short to be cool." - Shirley Manson, Garbage
First, congrats! BFing is hard, and pumping at work is really tough! Just wanted to let you know I was in your situation. Around 7 months my supply started to tank. But I was able to make it through. DD started taking less BM at daycare when she started eating more solids so that helped. I also pumped a little on the weekends to help build up my freezer supply more. Really, my supply did tank once I got closer to a year but I had a good freezer supply.
If you're undecided, then maybe just take it one day at a time. There were plenty of days I wanted to give up. But I tried to focus on my goal of making it a year. I was dying to get my body back too. But its only a few more months. Those last couple months are hard because it was a struggle to keep up my supply and I was ready to be done. But after making it to a year, I was able to step back and be glad that I kept going, even though it was a frustrating experience.
Whatever you decide you've done a wonderful job!!
I was EXACTLY like you - was determined to make it a year, absolutely didn't want to have to spend a dime on formula, etc.
And then, we started supplementing. The weight was instantly lifted off of my shoulders. I wasn't stressing constantly about how much milk I was pumping and I felt like I could finally breathe again.
It's gotten to the point where I'll sometimes just have DH handle DS in the middle of the night for feedings. The freedom is awesome.
DO NOT feel guilty if you have to supplement. You've made it this far EBFing and that is *amazing*. And just because you stop pumping, it doesn't mean you can't still nurse in the mornings and evenings if you'd like.
GL with your decision. I really do know *exactly* how you feel right now!
i know that deciding to wean is a big deal and an emotional one too! I decided to start weaning dd at 6 months because I wanted my body back. I weaned one feeding and was a complete mess! I cried all day. I decided that it wasn't worth it if I was going to be that emotional about it! then at 8 months, Charlotte started weaning herself. She was too interested in the world around her to stay focused on my breast. I gave her a bottle of formula and she was completely happy and satisfied. I knew then that it was time to wean and I was fine emotionally because she was the one who decided it was time.
So I guess what I am saying, is that if you cant make up your mind, keep trying to pump. GIve yourself a week and maybe you will feel different about stopping. Listen to yourself! Also, you've done a great job pumping this long!!
I could have written this post. I just wanted to make 6 months My supply is dwindling and I'm taking fenugreek and blessed thistle. I'm stressed about pumping at work so that makes my supply lower. We gave ds his firsst bottle of formula yesterday b/c I can't pump enough. I'm tired of beating myself up over it. I know that I am doing the best I can.
It's a hard decision to make. I wish there wasn't such a guilty feeling associated with stopping BF. Whatever decision you make will be the best one for you and DD. Making it as far as you have is quite an accomplishment. You've done great
I know how you feel. I'm currently pumping only 5-7 oz/day and it's taking up to an hour to get that. I've been on the fence for about a month about whether to stop pumping at work and/or to stop nursing completely. I'm still doing both, but I think I'm going to cut down to one pumping session per day next week and then quit pumping at work the following week. I'm planning to still nurse in the mornings and at night for a while, but we'll see how it goes.
Don't feel bad if you have to supplement. I started supplementing a few ounces a day about a month ago. At first I felt really bad about it b/c I had planned to EBF for a year, but now it relieves so much stress that I don't think twice about it.
Good luck with whatever you decide. You've done great to get this far.