If you quit pumping...

superisa00 · May 2009

Are you glad you did? I have been pumping only getting about 3 ozs a day. (major problems bfing) Supplementing w/formula. It seems like a waste of time to me because I have such little milk. Please send me your honest thoughts on the matter, I'm on the fence right now. TIA

Garnetbaby09 · May 2009

I fought with supply issues and pumped for 10 weeks. It was tough. For me I quit because I was missing out on bonding with DD and putting way to much pressure on myself.

Have you tried fernugreek or reglan to up your supply?

yo.mama · May 2009

Have you tried fenugeek, blessed thistle or mother's milk to increase your supply? What about pumping more frequently or power pumping sessions? Have you tried bfing again, in conjuction with pumping? What were the bfing problems?

dmogmo · May 2009

I did it for most of the first month and I am glad I did. I didn't have supply issues but bf'ing was a horrible experience for both of us from the get go and I never ever ever would have kept it up for that long even if I hadn't switched to pumping. That said, the every three hour schedule was driving me insane. I still pump maybe once or twice a day and will as long as my supply allows but I'm happier now. I wish I could have done it longer but I personally am fine with giving him formula. GL!

Mrs.RockyM · May 2009

first off, you might want to wait a week or two before your supply is really going or try eating oatmeal, drinking lots of water, and using supplements (more milk plus I've heard is good). Around 5 or 6 weeks I was able to get maybe 1-2 ounces per boob per pumping session. It just all of a sudden increased. Only way you'll ever get enough is to make sure your pumping every 2-3 hours daily. I pumped every time DD fed. We switched to bottles after a couple of weeks because we had such problems. It was a VERY hard (emotionally) decision. Ive been pumping ever since and I've never been able to exclusively pump. For about a month and a half, half her bottles were formula and the other half breast. Now, I'm trying to adjust my schedule to get ready to go back to work and my supply has diminished like I'm getting maybe 4 oz total, and I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it to contine pumping. they say every ounce of breastmilk is good, and whatever you can get is better than nothing, but I think you have to really decide if you think it's worth it. I'm not sure either right now. I think I'd much rather spend the time with her, but I don't want her to not get my immunities and all that stuff.

superisa00 · May 2009

yo.mama:
Have you tried fenugeek, blessed thistle or mother's milk to increase your supply? What about pumping more frequently or power pumping sessions? Have you tried bfing again, in conjuction with pumping? What were the bfing problems?

I have tried all the things you listed. (my sil and I worked for 2 weeks to try to up my supply) I am still taking the fenugreek and mother's milk tea. I haven't tried bfing again, DS is tongue tied and we were never able to get a successful latch even with a nipple shield. I worked with a LC for the first 2 weeks of his life with no success. I am at my wits end here. Angry

MrsAlliP · May 2009

superisa00:
yo.mama:
Have you tried fenugeek, blessed thistle or mother's milk to increase your supply? What about pumping more frequently or power pumping sessions? Have you tried bfing again, in conjuction with pumping? What were the bfing problems?
I have tried all the things you listed. (my sil and I worked for 2 weeks to try to up my supply) I am still taking the fenugreek and mother's milk tea. I haven't tried bfing again, DS is tongue tied and we were never able to get a successful latch even with a nipple shield. I worked with a LC for the first 2 weeks of his life with no success. I am at my wits end here.

I quit pumping between 3-4 weeks. After several lactation consultants, constant baby weight checks, fenugreek, pumping every 2 1/2 hours around the clock, oatmeal, and lots of tears, I had to accept that I might not ever pump more than 1/4 ounce combined at a time. Also, DD looked like she was latching perfectly, but the scales proved she took no milk from the breast even with a nipple shield. It was a really hard decision to stop, but it was the right one for me.

I do wish though that I would have had someone check my thyroid earlier. Right now, my doctor thinks I'm having issues with my thyroid that could explain why my milk supply never came in.

I know how hard it is. You'll have figure out what's best for you whether you stop pumping now or wait a while. I pumped for as long as I could take it. I now have no regrets about stopping pumping and formula feeding. My job is to love my baby and feed her. I fed her as much breast milk as I could. She's a happy, healthy formula fed baby girl.

kissakissa · May 2009

i just stopped bfing this past week and am regreting it terribly. I also had issues with supply i was only making enough 4 two feedings during the day and at night but once i went back to work pumping was too much of a pain. My daughter was really upset the first few days she was looking for it at night to soothe her and i really felt bad but it was too late once i stopped pumping my supply dwindled within days. I still have a little coming out but that just makes it worse i wish i would have kept it going.

kissakissa · May 2009

We had the same problem my daughter was tongue tied but we went to the dr and had it snipped and she did much better problem was that we waited to long to do it. I would recommend doing it as soon as possible there's no needles involved and the baby can eat as soon as it's over.

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