I feel...

DawnLilly

1. Like super mom today. After two very rough weeks, DS is both swaddle broken and napping in the crib.

2. Like I've missed something in the week since I've visited the June board.

3. Anxious, because no matter what I do my milk is gradually and substantially decreasing. I EP and a month ago I was pumping 6 oz every four hours, then 5 oz two weeks ago, and now barely 4 oz every four hours. I'm going to have to start supplementing soon and I'm more than a little disappointed.

How do you feel today?

RedRose87

1. Dear super mom, please share your secret? DS is starting to fight the swaddle but getting him to sleep without it is like pulling teeth! He just moves and moves and moves and rubs his face and ears and claws at me. I want him to go to the crib as well as break from the swaddle (Currently he sleeps with me - he is 3 months)

2. I missed a morning and felt like I'd missed a lot. Don't worry it's easy to catch up lol

3. I am sorry about your supply decreasing. I can understand but not totally relate. I saw I only want to breast feed till 6 months but I know that I also said when he was born I would only go three, and every time it seemed like I'd have to quit I was so upset. Have you tried drinking hot tea? For some reason that gets my boobs flowing.

4. As for how I am feeling... exhausted. DS is going through a growth spurt/wonder week/teething/wakeful-sleep regression extravaganza for 2 weeks now and I am soooooo tired. 

DawnLilly

We alternated arms in the SwaddleMe then went to both arms out then we went to a sleep sack. I feel like getting put in something was a huge part of his nighttime routine. The napping in the crib was harder. We both cried a lot. We got the no swaddle down first, gave that a week then went to the napping issue.

I never swaddled DS for naps wanting him to associate that with night time. Well, Sunday morning was cold so for his morning nap I wrapped him in a blanket. He went right to sleep! No crying, and he slept longer. So I did that for all naps Sunday and Monday even though the blankets not real tight and he ends up mostly out of it. Then today I was able to put him down in the crib with no blanket. I broke the swaddle, then gave it back to get us to nap in the crib. Then once he realized it was a secure and okay placed to nap I took the swaddle away again.

Sorry about the fussy time. Ours was mostly self induced. I hope it gets better for you.

anonsouthernbell

Why do you think you will need to supplement?  4 oz is still a good out put.  Do you know how to feed a bottle of bm to mimic bfing?

Socialworkgirl

Good luck with your pumping.  I EP too and I know it is such hard work and takes such dedication.  Just remember, even if you have to supplement, some breast milk is better than none and your efforts will still benefit your LO.  This is what I tell myself when I worry that I will have to supplement.

 

As to how I am feeling...

1. Super thankful for a great 3 day visit with my dad. It is so much fun to see him interact with DD, who is his only grandchild.  It is also awesome that he takes such joy in changing almost all the diapers!

 

2. Super ready for DH to get back from his business trip Friday, and completely in awe of single moms and those with DHs who travel a lot.

 

3. Resolute that I am going to stop spending every waking moment obsessing about DD's sleep and take each day as it comes and continue to do my best and then let it go if she doesn't take a good nap or gets overtired. 

DawnLilly

anonsouthernbell:

Why do you think you will need to supplement? nbsp;4 oz is still a good out put. nbsp;Do you know how to feed a bottle of bm to mimic bfing?

Right now I'm only producing about 25 oz a day. DS drinks 30 oz. For the last few days I've had to pull from my freezer stock.

Sigir

Have you tried fenugreek? It can work wonders at uping supply.

jess9802

Are you pumping overnight? Have you tried going every 3 hours during the day instead? Maybe add back a pump session? I don't EP but I do pump at work and understand the stress of trying to keep supply up and maintaining that freezers stash.

DawnLilly

jess9802:

Are you pumping overnight? Have you tried going every 3 hours during the day instead? Maybe add back a pump session? I don't EP but I do pump at work and understand the stress of trying to keep supply up and maintaining that freezers stash.

He's been STTN since he was five weeks old from 97 am but I still get up to pump every night. I pump at home every three hours but at work can only pump twice Every four hours. I have tried steel cut oats but not fenugreek sp?. I think getting my period back at 28 days pp and every month since then has had a big part in it. My supply decreases in the days prior then never goes back up.

Sigir

Search kellymom for info on fenugreek it might be just what you need to bump up your supply to where you need it to be. I used to be a lactation counseler years ago and I always recommended it to EPing moms if they were struggling w a decreas I supply. Works so much better than oatmeal alone.

jess9802

DawnLilly:

jess9802:

Are you pumping overnight? Have you tried going every 3 hours during the day instead? Maybe add back a pump session? I don't EP but I do pump at work and understand the stress of trying to keep supply up and maintaining that freezers stash.

He's been STTN since he was five weeks old from 97 am but I still get up to pump every night. I pump at home every three hours but at work can only pump twice Every four hours. I have tried steel cut oats but not fenugreek sp?. I think getting my period back at 28 days pp and every month since then has had a big part in it. My supply decreases in the days prior then never goes back up.

Boo. That's frustrating. The only other suggestion I have (apart from fenugreek; never tried it but my LC recommended it in the early days) is to change your pump membranes and valves if you haven't done that. Rumor has it that can make a difference if pump output starts to drop. I hope you're able to get it figured out. Good luck!