xp from BF board **LONG** but need advice re: cutting out a pumping at work & how this affects w

clee254

 

-->

XP hoping anyone here has advice..Thanks! 

Hi all..first post here so I hope I'm doing this correctly..

Some background info:

I had my baby in early February and when I was pregnant I really wanted to EBF for a year.  I took 12 weeks off after I delivered and returned to work almost 2 months ago.  At first, we had some issues with latching and needed to use a nipple shield. Then we had issues with my nips cracking/hurting ALL THE TIME, oversupply issues, and then finally about 6 weeks PP, we got into a nice little groove.

It was really important for me to BF because DH's family has a long history of allergies/illnesses so I thought EBF would be the best thing for DS. It is, of course, the perfect food, no?

While I was on leave, I started building a freezer stash for when I returned to work. I didn't have that much, around 60 oz or so. Fast forward to the night before I returned to work: I had pumped 2 5 oz bottles over the weekend for DH to give to DS (he was on paternity leave still) and figured that I would pull 5 oz from the mini-stash so I could get the rest of my crap ready for work. DH was getting ready to pour the thawed milk into a bottle (we like to prep everything the night before) and decided to smell & taste it -- IT WAS FREAKIN' SOUR!!!!! Not only was I stressed out about leaving DS and going back to work and having to pump 3x at work, I now had to deal with elevated lipase (which I tested high for a few years back but didn't make any connections until we thawed the BM) and sour milk! I did what others would have done..got up in the middle of the night (DS was sleeping 5 hours) and pumped for the 3rd bottle. Did this for a week because lo and behold, I was not producing enough at work to make DS's 15 oz needs. We started pulling 5 oz from the freezer stash every night and mixing in the "sour" milk with fresh and I pumped before I went to bed instead of getting up in the middle of the night. Any extra BM was scalded and frozen. 

I was stressed out ALL THE TIME. On edge and screaming at/picking fights with DH every night because I hadn't met the 15 oz for the next day's feed (MIL is watching DS until he starts daycare in Sept.). I was eating oatmeal for breakfast and popping Fenugreek (12 capsules/day) and Blessed Thistle (9 capsules/day) like candy. Didn't make much of a difference.

Around 2 weeks ago I finally realized that I hated the monster I had become. I was sick and tired of picking fights with DH because I needed someone to lash out at. Poor dude admitted that it was to the point where he was going to start staying at work late then come home to me!!

So...(please no flaming as this was a very difficult decision however I needed my sanity and if I continued the path that I was on, I'm sure my marriage would have fallen apart and I would have ended up in a padded cell)... 2 Saturdays ago, I made the decision to give 3 oz of BM & 2 oz formula for the 1 pm feed and I cut out my 1 pm pump at work. I feel so much better, not so pressured and now we make up the difference of what I pump (still pumping 2x at work) with formula. I also changed my original BF goal to 6 months thinking that it seems more realistic. DS is going to be 5 months next week. I figured that he'll probably start getting some purees soon so maybe he'll drink less from bottles (2 5 oz bottles instead of 3) when I'm at work? 

Here's my question: If during the week all feeds are 3 oz of BM & 2 oz of formula -- how do I do this on the weekend? I figure if I cut out the 1 pm pump at work, I need to not nurse or pump at this time on the weekends. I also don't want to dip into Monday's supply, so would I just give a whole 5 oz bottle of formula?

Also, I'd like to stop pumping at work by Sept. however I want to continue to nurse when I'm at home. Is this possible? My thought is that by this time, DS would probably get 2 bottles of formula with some solids and I'd nurse him before I leave for work and on demand after work.

Thanks for reading this..I know I probably didn't make any sense and rambled on and on.

vmm0016

First of all no flames here!  As I look back on my BFing adventure I realized I should have stopped at 10 months.  I was a nervous wreck, eating oatmeal, drinking tons of water, all the tricks to get you to produce more.  DH was laid off and I didn't want to have to spend money on formula when I could just pump, at the end I was pumping 6 times a day.  I made it to a year but I was near insane!  So, cut yourself some slack!

On the weekends I would just bf and cut out pumping.  You may not even have to feed formula.  This was the case for me anyway.  You just have to play it by ear and see what happens.  If your LO is still hungry after feeding from you then I would make a 2 oz bottle of formula.  Good luck! 

 

Tikat

No flames from me either! We went through a similar experience with DD and honestly after month 2 of exclusively pumping I took it one week at a time. When we hit 9 mths I switched her to formula and haven't looked back as the time consumed by pumping was spend so much more productive! - Like playing with my child.

I know from friends that it is absolutely possible to continue BF'ing when you are home and  feed formula when DS is with a DCP. Give yourself a break!

jnealet

I think you're doing great, don't beat yourself up over not making it a year, 6 months is wonderful, shoot 12 weeks is fantastic too.

I nursed solely on the weekends, it would help keep my supply up during the week, so I didn't see a dip in what I pumped.  I would just skip the pumping session and nurse as normal.  You'll probably see a greater output in your supply in your after 1pm session for a little while.

I don't think give your LO solids is going to lessen what he drinks from a bottle, it didn't for us.  But its still a good thing to start giving him and lunch is a good option since you won't be skipping a nursing session.