I can do this...

Liz&Eric

I am basically just venting here, but would love some perspective as well. My almost 6MO has been drinking more than I pump and I have a dwindling freezer stash (less than 20oz), so I have been adding pumping sessions to get back some freezer milk. However, we are entering the 6 month growth spurt. I started the week off with 18 oz of pumped milk and he drank it ALL yesterday. SIGH. I told daycare today that I am having trouble keeping up and I would love to try only feeding him 4 oz at a feeding if possible. Some days he is fed 5+ oz at a time at daycare. I hope that was the right thing to do. Of course I am second guessing that now. (Mom guilt sucks.) I can totally handle him drinking 15oz from 9am-5pm, but 18oz a day is going to make it really hard for us. I am nervous about not being able to keep up even with pumping 4x a day. I don't have supply issues I don't think. I respond well to pumping, so I get quite a bit of milk during the day and since I have added pumping sessions I think my body is going to start kicking it up a notch. Did I mention my guy is NOT STTN and wakes to eat at least 1x? I am crossing my fingers that this week will renew some confidence that I can continue to keep up with him. We have started solids, but he isn't loving everything just yet. We are sort of still in "practice mode". 

laxkal23

There's is a great article from kellymom online about how much Los should be drinking, how to calculate it and compares amounts for bfed and formula fed babies. It all discusses possible causes of over feeding and how to help. Between 1-6 months bf babies should nt increase that much and on average eat 25 oz/day. 5+ oz seems like a lot. CJ is younger but eats only 4-5 oz every 3-4 hours.

Kristen050

Yes you can do it! I also struggled with this with DS1. I would definitely have a conversation with your daycare about feeding and trying other ways to soothe before giving extra ounces. Obviously feed him if he is really hungry though. My LC says BF babies only need 3 to 4 ounces every 3 to 4 hours.

Also can you add in extra pumping session after you feed him before work or after he goes to bed? With DS1 I was away for 12 hours and he was in bed when I got home. I pumped one side when I fed him in the morning, 4 times at work and when I got home.

You may also be starting solids soon so maybe that will help a little bit. Good luck!

Liz&Eric

Kristen050:

Yes you can do it! I also struggled with this with DS1. I would definitely have a conversation with your daycare about feeding and trying other ways to soothe before giving extra ounces. Obviously feed him if he is really hungry though. My LC says BF babies only need 3 to 4 ounces every 3 to 4 hours. Also can you add in extra pumping session after you feed him before work or after he goes to bed? With DS1 I was away for 12 hours and he was in bed when I got home. I pumped one side when I fed him in the morning, 4 times at work and when I got home. You may also be starting solids soon so maybe that will help a little bit. Good luck!

It's always nice to know I am not the only one. I am now pumping 4x a day. Morning on the opposite side, 2x at work and 1x at night after he goes down. I hope this will help me get a jump on some extra milk. I just hate not having much in the freezer. I never had this issue with DD. She hated bottles and we had a whole freezer full of milk. I talked to daycare and I think they understand now. I gave them the green light on solids 2x a day last week, so hopefully he will start liking them and eating more of that soon. He just LOVES Mommy's milk. :-)

cmhicklin

Can you add some power pumping sessions on the weekends? 

An article or LC might tell you about how much your LO should be eating, but I would definately watch and make sure 4 oz is enough.  At 5-6 months, my DD was eating 5 oz every 3 hours, and she was in the low range weight wise. 

alie78_80

18 oz in 8 hours, your LO is being overfed at daycare.  No wonder you can't keep up.

Rule of thumb is 1 oz every hour you are gone, 1.5 on the high side.  Your DC is feeding more than 2 oz each hour.

Liz&Eric

alie78_80:

18 oz in 8 hours, your LO is being overfed at daycare.  No wonder you can't keep up.

Rule of thumb is 1 oz every hour you are gone, 1.5 on the high side.  Your DC is feeding more than 2 oz each hour.

This is making me feel better. I am going to keep pumping my little heart out so we can put some more backup milk in my freezer, but I am hoping my talk with daycare is going to be the ticket to our success. We can do it! I just have to keep telling myself that. :-) Thanks for the feedback. 

angelicbrunette23

you CAN do it!!!!