Pumping enough

Sundown2014

I just went back to work today and I'm short 3 oz.  for tomorrow.  Did this happen to you when you first went back to work?  How did you increase it?  I really want to make this work, so any advice is appreciated.  TIA

SavedByLove

Hang in there.  Most likely the stress of going back to work & leaving your baby is not helping matters.  Did you get any sort of freezer stash built before you left?  I pump once in the am on Saturday & Sunday.  It's annoying to never get a break from the pump but those weekend pumps help get me through any shortages during the week or go towards my freezer stash.  Make sure you are drinking water at work and try to not get too stressed (way easier said than done!).

Sundown2014

I did get 5 full work days of breast milk frozen.  It does make me feel good to know I can fall back on that.  I drank a ton of water today.  I think I might need to increase my calorie intake though.  Hopefully tomorrow I won't be so worried about pumping and it will work out better for me.  I was thinking of taking those pills that help your supply...the fenugreek stuff.  Would increasing calories and fenugreek help?

SweetRachel

I go back to work friday and I am worried That I won't pump enough. I only have 20 oz stored in the freezer. I started taking fenugreek Sunday so I haven't really seen a difference yet. I am detecting a hint of maple syrup so maybe it is starting to work. I am trying to drink a lot of water to. I am stressing that LO is going to have to be ff. during the day.

QueSrah

It can take your body a week or two to get in the swing of pumping.  Try not to stress too much, since that will only make it harder.  Increasing calories can help.  Oatmeal can help (I generally had instant oatmeal as my second breakfast when I got to work).  More Milk Plus is a supplement with fenugreek and other stuff that can help.  Try doing breast compressions while you pump (I think I read about that on kellymom.com).  You could try adding an additional pumping session before you go to bed, assuming that's at least a few hours before your LO wants a night feeding.

madladybride

For the first few weeks, I pumped 1x after she went to bed and 1x each Saturday and Sunday. (I had lost most of my stash due to thrush). Make sure you are eating enough and drinking enough water. I ate lactation cookies on the weekends and in the evenings I would drink Mother's Milk tea, which seems to help. Actually, I drank the tea 2x a day.

dizzycooks

My supply dipped after getting a clogged duct and I found drinking lots of water and eating oatmeal for breakfast helped.  I planned to have oatmeal everyday when I return to work the increase so so noticeable and I'm hoping it will offset any dip that may occur.  I also pump every morning an hour after she has her 4am feeding.  I figure I'll be getting up at that time when I go to work anyway.

amyc216

I come up short quite often!  I was dipping into my freezer stash, but ran out of that last week.  Now I just pump when I get home as well to make up the difference.  If I come up too short I'm going to have to supplement with formula.

iluvmylab

I pump less during my working hours than he eats, but I pump first thing in the morning right after I feed him so I usually have about 4 oz more than I need if I add that in.  You can try to add another pumping session if that's possible.  I can only pump twice a day, but he eats 3-4 times when I am not home.  You can try taking fenugreek and eating oatmeal too.  Make sure you are drinking enough water and bring some pictures of your baby to look at while you pump.

MBandBud

madladybride:

For the first few weeks, I pumped 1x after she went to bed and 1x each Saturday and Sunday. (I had lost most of my stash due to thrush). Make sure you are eating enough and drinking enough water. I ate lactation cookies on the weekends and in the evenings I would drink Mother's Milk tea, which seems to help. Actually, I drank the tea 2x a day.

All this for me, too.  I pumped before I went to bed - and that so helped my stash.  Sometimes I would also pump in the AM just after nursing and before leaving for work.  It was a lot of work but it helped increase supply and stash. 

Hang in there - you will get it.  Keep building that stash so you don't have to stress and don't be afraid to use it.  I held my stash sacred and wound up donating it after we were done bf and I wish I had used it more for backup and date nights instead of stressing. 

Get rest, eat enough, pump for a second letdown - and hang in there! 

laabeja

Pump in the car on your way into work and on your way home. There'd be no way I could keep up with the amount DS eats if I didn't do this. It also helps me avoid pumping at night and on the weekends. 

OUKap

I pump until I have enough. I pump one side while feeding her in the morning, on the way to work if I have a morning meeting, at lunch, in the afternoon, and sometimes in the evening after she goes to sleep. I also freeze Friday and pump enough on the weekends to send fresh on Monday. I send 16 oz a day.

I don't take anything extra, just eat well and drink lots of water. I heard fenugreek can make you lightheaded and I am worried about passing out.