Working Mums......plse come in

PiggyBride

I have been back to work for over 2 months now and my LO is just over 5 months.  I will not be introducing solids to she is 6 months.  This past month or so she has been feeding every 2 hours and I feel my milk supply is decreasing as she is demanding so much more.  I was hoping to hold off with substituting with formula to she was at least 6 months, but it looks like I may have to start using it in the next few days as my stash is almost gone.  When did you start subbing, how much did you have to sub with and what did you do to ease the guilt of not being able to produce enough milk for your LO.

EllaSmella

I had the same problem as you at just about the same age. I would encourage you to talk to your care provider first to ensure they are not over feeding her. It's very easy to overfeed a breastfed baby, and that's what was happening with my LO. Kellymom has some great resources that you can use to help you figure out how much your LO should be eating as well as some good resources for care providers to help them understand the difference between formula fed babies and breastfed babies.

ABizzity

How much is your LO eating at daycare and how long is she there?  You should be able to keep up in a perfect world but not all can!  We've been lucky in that I havent had to supplement but there have been periods where I have had to dip into my stash.  We started solids right before 5 mo and it has worked out wonderfully by taking some of the pressure off.  I still send DS with 12-16oz of milk daily and he is there for 8.25hrs.  He drinks at least the 12oz every day, sometimes a full 16.  He also gets 2 solids while there. 

I would make sure they arent overfeeding and go from there.  Good luck!

kat81again2

Your LO is probably having the 6 mo growth spurt a little early. DS did at the exact same time. We didn't start solids until 6 mo but I think we could have (should have?) started during this early spurt. I had a good enough stash that he made a real dent in it but I didn't have to supplement and I got back on track. 

If your DD is STTN, I recommend pumping before you go to bed (e.g. 11pm, midnight) after she goes to bed (e.g. 7, 8, or 9pm). It is just free milk, basically, because by the time you and she get up in the morning (or even if it's a late-night feeding, like 3am), you'll have plenty of milk. If she does get up to eat at night, consider pumping one side while you offer her the other; it's the same sort of deal. 

Also, consider starting solids a bit early. Regardless of solids or formula supplementing, I would recommend only doing them while you are at work. That way DD is still demanding you (and keeping your supply up) while you are around her. And you keep pumping as much as you do now, so that the same amount of milk will be available as before.

I think it will work itself out and you won't have to use formula from now on forever. You can probably just do a little bit of supplementing and then go back to EBF. But only if you really take steps to keep nursing & pumping whenever you can. 

Jennifer Ruth

I never had to supplement.

Talk to your daycare and make sure they are not wasting any milk.

If you need to, add another pumping session.

cchill01

We had the same thing - around 5.5 months.  She all of a sudden would eat huge bottles (5 or 6oz).  Then 3 weeks later she was back to 4 oz.  I agree that it might be a growth spurt.  I would do anything you can to avoid supplementing, because it will only increase the supply issue.  Coud you add a night time pumping session, or pump over the wknd to catch up?

bridetobein05

My supplu tanked the other week and a friend of mine said to try "mothers milk" tea.  I found it at target and drank it twice a day for about 5 days and my supply TOTALLY came back!  I was actually pumping more at each session than I had in weeks.  I also tried pumping at night before bed.  I have been waking up feeling a lot more full too.  i am only drinking the tea every few days and then skipping some if my supply seems fine.  i don't want to over-do it.... not sure if that is even possible:)  Good Luck Mama- being a working mama is tough- if you have to supplement- feel good that you got your LO this far!

law8296

I would echo other poster's comments on asking whoever she is with during the day how much/how often they are giving her.  This "could" be a possible solution. 

I would also suggest letting her nurse as often as she wants when you are with her and NOT giving any bottles when you're home with her unless you need to.  Have you also tried power pumping or taking any supplements to see if this increases your supply at all?  Do you have a good pump and possibly a hand's free bra that can help matters?

That all said- I can certainly sympathize with the situation you are in.  I went back to "part-time" status (3 days/week) when DS was 6.5 months old; within a month or so I started noticing he was taking in more than I was pumping.  I was told some of this can be attributed to the fact that they will drink more from a bottle because they are not also getting comfort from it like they do the breast.  Added to that is the fact that your pump will never be as efficient as baby is.  I asked my daycare provider to give DS an amount that would satisfy him (he also was taking in solids at that point) but not be a full bottle.  This worked out to being around 4.5-5 ounces two times/day.  I fed him in the morning before work and if I remember correctly, two more times before bedtime and I think he woke once during the night to nurse until he was about 8 months old.

That all said- my supply with the PUMP still did not keep up with the growing amounts he wanted by bottle as the weeks went by---so we added half formula (I had free samples from the pediatrician- so we never ended up having to buy it) to half breast milk.  This worked until he was 11.5 months old and we transitioned during the day while he was away from me to cow's milk and I was only nursing morning and night until he was about 13 months old---then he was done and so was my supply.  he was much happier with the amount he was getting of cow's milk in a sippy versus from Mom.