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Babies: 9 - 12 Months
Lulu0802
member
If you're BFing, you've returned to work, started solids, and AF has returned
Lulu0802
member
How do you keep your supply up?
My pumping output has tanked in the last few weeks and I fear the end is coming near. It started to go down about a week before AF came back. Then it bounced back a little, but not to where it was to start with. Then in the last week or two it's nosediving again. I'm about to get AF again and I have a cold, so I know these both play a role, but I hate only getting an ounce, maybe 2 if I'm lucky, each time I pump. And I'm worried my supply will just get worse each time I get AF.
Please help!
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Re: If you're BFing, you've returned to work, started solids, and AF has returned
No AF yet, but are you still feeding at night? I know that has helped my supply tremendously. Yeah, it sucks to get up at night, but if it helps BF'ing, I don't mind as much.
Lately, I've been drinking Mother's Milk tea (I think that's the name), and on those days, I'll pump an extra 3 ounces vs. the days I don't drink it, which is huge for me. You might try it.
I wake up an hour before LO and pump. It sucks, but it gives me enough milk that we are (at 7 months) still on BM and no formula.
::raises hand::
at first I tried to power pump at night for a few days, then I tried to start pumping at night, then I stopped pumping in the evening all together. I was getting maybe an ounce after 20-30 mins. It was not worth it. I get about 10oz (give or take 2 oz) on 3 pumps. my LO takes 3 bottles of 5 oz each, so I'm shy about 5 oz a day. I have about 40 oz in my freezer but that is all. I started to supplement with formula about a month ago and now he takes one bottle of formula and 2 of BM. Once I accepted that my LO would not be EBF, I'm much less stressed. I still exclusively nurse on weekends so I know he is getting enough, just my pumping output sucks. GL
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I do this too. I get up at 5am and pump. Then get ready and feed DD at 6:30am before I leave for work. It's the only way we've been making it so far because I can at least get 3-5oz at that session.
Wow, I could've written this word for word. Luckily I have a freezer stash, that is dwindling though, so I've been relying on that. Around 7 months my supply started to go down and down. I'm only pumping enough for 1/2 a bottle for her, so I've been sending 1 fresh bottle and 2 frozen ones to the sitter during the day.
I've upped my water intake, tried fenugreek, I'm eating oatmeal like always, even made lactation cookies again. Nothing is helping for me. I'm almost at the point where I think I may start supplementing during the day so at least she can get milk from my freezer stash up til her 1st birthday.
It's so frustrating so I feel your pain. I really wanted to breastfeed her for 1 year but I do not see that happening. I wish there was a magic pill. I may try more milk plus capsules and see if those work. Sorry I have no tips but good luck and try to hang in there!
Thanks all! P started sleeping through the night just recently, so I bet that's been having an effect also. She seems to nurse just fine so I feel like it's not so much a supply issue as a pumping one.
We are going on vacation next week so I'll be able to nurse her the whole time and not pump for an entire week... bliss! Ok, I'll probably still pump when I can to keep up supply and in case DH & I decide to go out to dinner one night, but it will still be nice to not have to rely on the pumping every day.
I also have a freezer stash that I've been dipping into a little bit. It was over 300oz before, but now it's only 280oz or something. I hope with that and a few suggestions here I can keep pumping and nursing for another 5 months. Ugh... 5 more months!
I've been very lucky that my supply hasn't gone down really at all. I can generally get 10 ounces from my first pumping session of the day. I used to pump twice (and would get 5 ounces from my second session) but am now only doing once and have enough in the freezer that I should make it to a year no problem.
DS does still get up once at night to nurse though, and I agree that has helped keep my supply up.
My supply sucks now. Sick, AF, STTN, etc. all have contributed. I started cutting back on the amount of milk I send to daycare.
https://www.workandpump.com/freezerstash.htm
What do you mean that you started sending less milk? Did you just send less oz in each bottle, less bottles? Please elaborate? How did you LO do with getting less at daycare?
I've actually started sending MORE and she usually ends up with 1 bottle left now. We were doing 6 oz, but I bumped it up to 6.5.