Working Moms

Keeping up with LO?

I posted a couple days ago about frustration pumping at work.  The room that I use is always in use.  Fortunately, facilities has agreed to reserve the space for me for 30 minutes 3 times per day, so at least that issue is solved and I can pump on a regular schedule.

Unfortunately, even when I do pump on a regular schedule I am barely keeping up with LO and some days I have to dip in to my freezer stash, which isn't that big to begin with.  I am pumping 5 times per day.  I do not pump over night, but generally will nurse once during the night and once in the morning.  Any tips?  I am thinking about trying fenugreek and blessed thistle.  I probably need to drink more water and maybe add oatmeal to my diet.

I hope to avoid supplementing if possible, but of course will do that if necessary.

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~Working Mom~Breastfeeding Mom~Cloth Diapering Mom~BLW Mom~

Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
Shawn and Larissa
LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!
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Re: Keeping up with LO?

  • Other than what you've already mentioned (water being the biggest one), I don't have any suggestions.  I never went as far as taking supplements to keep up my supply, and our BFing days ended entirely at 7.5 months.

    GL!

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  • Some things that helped for me:

    Mother's Milk Tea

    Lots of water

    Billy porn to look at while pumping (a little photo album of pictures of him - helped stimulate my let down)

    Also, massaging well pumping

    And try to nurse more often.  Or maybe add a pumping session or two on the weekends to up your stash for the week.  Good luck - it's really frustrating.

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  • I got the most milk pumping right after our morning feed.  Seriously, I think it was twice as much as any other pump sessions throughout the day.  Do you have time to add a session then?
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  • At the recommendation of pedi I tried fenugreek, and it worked wonders for me.  They sell it as a tea, but I found the capsules more convenient/effective.  I actually had to be careful about oversupply until I figured out the right amount to take for me.  Drinking plenty of water is certainly a biggee.


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  • Everything above said. Plus you will need to add a pump sessions at night. pumping after bfing as well. I supplement one bottle of formula a day as well.
  • I tried fenugreek, water, Mothers Milk tea and was given a rx medication. It made me sick and only allowed me to increase milk a little each day. I stopped pumping and bf earlier than planned. I didnt produce enough milk. We were also supplementing with formula when he was 4 weeks. I tried it for 5 months and it just was not working, then I was stressing out because of it, with going back to work, finding time to pump, not pumping enough, being sick from the meds. We stopped all together and it was the best decision I could have made. I was so much happier.
    Natural M/C:@5 wks 7/31/07 Natural M/C:@5 wks 12/27/09 Missed M/C, D&C:@9 wks 06/13/11
  • imageFeb3:
    I got the most milk pumping right after our morning feed.  Seriously, I think it was twice as much as any other pump sessions throughout the day.  Do you have time to add a session then?

    That's already one of the times I pump :(

    image

    ~Working Mom~Breastfeeding Mom~Cloth Diapering Mom~BLW Mom~

    Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
    Shawn and Larissa
    LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
    LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • imageMissLinz:
    Everything above said. Plus you will need to add a pump sessions at night. pumping after bfing as well. I supplement one bottle of formula a day as well.

    I keep hoping to avoid pumping through the night :(

    I think I'll give it a shot over christmas and see how it goes

    I think at this point we are open to supplementing with formula

    image

    ~Working Mom~Breastfeeding Mom~Cloth Diapering Mom~BLW Mom~

    Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
    Shawn and Larissa
    LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
    LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I used more milk plus, on the recommendation of my lactation consultant.  I think that helps.  I could not make myself get up to pump at night, especially since DS woke up to nurse until he was 9 months or so.  I did pump on weekends, usually once about an hour after a morning feed session (when DS was usually napping). 

    If you have your own office, you can try "power pumping" by pumping on and off every ten minutes for an hour or so.  I was able to do it and keep working, so I did that now and again.  Are you using the quick pump setting on your pump to get a second or third let down?  That helped me.

    If you have some time off for Christmas, you can also try pumping for 10 minutes after every time you nurse (even at night) for 48 hours.  My LC had me do this early on and it really helps.  You may not even get anything during that pumping session, but it stimulates your body to produce more.  It's a total PITA, though.

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  • My LC suggests Goat's Rue to increase supply.  Supposedly it is better than Fenugreek/Blessed Thistle.  She said to find it by itself, but the More Milk Plus has it in it and if that is all you can find use that.

    I only serve what I pump.  So Lexi gets my first pumpings worth of milk for her first bottle, the second for her second, and her third for her third.  It's worth at least considering.  Lexi usually gets a 5-7 ounce bottle, then a 3.5-4 ounce bottle, and another 3.5-4 ounce bottle.  It works better than having three bottles with the same amount in them for her.  Lots of BF babies are overfed too so I would make sure your daycare provider isn't overfeeding. 

    I eat oatmeal every morning and I carry my water bottle everywhere.  I make a point to drain it at least twice in the work day.  Also make sure you are getting enough protein. 

    Mama to Lucy (7/06), Lexi (5/09), and Max (11/11) M/C 12/17/10
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