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Working Moms
aubergebride
member
Working mom that bf...
aubergebride
member
in Working Moms
How long did you bf? Were you able to keep up your supply and pumping. I'm only on my third week of being back to work (things are going well so far) and I'm hoping that I can bf my little guy until a year old. I need some good inspirations/stories because everyone around me (besides my dh) is like "your supply is going to drop off" or "you probably wont be able to pump to a year". WTF?
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Re: Working mom that bf...
I'm still doing it, and still pumping more than DD drinks every day! It can be done. I had a lot of people tell me it would never work, too, but as long as you are consistent with pumping it will be just fine. The only two things that have caused a dip in my supply are AF and the one time I had a high fever for a week, but both of those are just temporary.
Here's a good book to read. It's got good information and is also just fun! Good luck to you.
I pumped for DD until 11.5 months and she self-weaned the morning/evening feedings at 22 months. We had to supplement 1-2 bottles a week with formula starting at 7 months because of business travel.
DS turns 1 year old today and hasn't had a drop of formula. I'm going to keep pumping for a few weeks until he starts drinking more cow's milk at daycare. But I plan to stop pumping soon and just nurse morning/evening until he's done.
It can be done. :-)
I am still pumping once a day at work, in fact right now, and still nursing at home 3-4 times a day plus more on weekends. You CAN DO IT! I make sure to stay hydrated and be relaxed while pumping.
Don't listen to the naysayers!!!
I nursed DS full time (and pumped at work) till 12 months and I've continued to nurse him at bedtime till now (he's 16 months).
It is a huge committment and hard ( i won't lie to you), but you can be successful! You have to carve out time to pump at work, and I had to pump a lot at home to keep up, but it is do-able and DS never had a drop of formula!
set little goals for yourself and never let yourself stop on a bad day!
I did it until she turned 1. It's a lot of commitment, but if you stay on a schedule, drink your water, and get your calories, you can keep up your supply. Good luck!
I pumped at work until my DS was 12 months (nursed until 15+ months) and I never once needed to suppliment with formula. I worried about whether I was pumping enough, but eventually I just decided DS would get what he gets and I wouldn't stress about hitting some quota for the day. The amount fluxuated day by day. My son was consistently 90% for height and weight, so the doctor said I was doing fine. Sometimes I got really sick of pumping at work, but I'd just make it to the weekend and then 2 days at home was enough of a break to get me through the next week.
You can do it! Prove those people wrong!
With my first, I had supply problems from the beginning, but I still pumped for her for a year and nursed her till 15 months.
My second is 11 months old today. I've been back to work since she was 4 months. She's never had a drop of formula and I've actually donated 500-600 oz of breastmilk to the milk bank.
completely possible
As the pp all state--it is hard work but you can do it!! I nursed/pumped (2-3 xs and nursed exclusively on the wk ends) until DD was 12 months then nursed on nights and wks until she was 14 months while we weaned. My supply dipped but I would increase water and ate better, plus i took fenugreek. I also travelled 5 days a week, every week for 4 from when DD was 3 months until 7 months) and managed to keep my supply by pumping 3 x a day and then every 3 hrs at night (that was rough)!.
GL!!
I'm still pumping, really hoping to make it to a year! I'm still pumping twice a day at work and once before bed, and I have about 50 bags of milk in my freezer, so I'm pretty sure we'll make it
If I wasn't really determined and slightly stubborn, I may have given up, but I'm really glad I've stuck to it. I've also been able to donate a lot of milk to orphans in Haiti and sick babies in need.
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
You can definitely do it! DD is 10 minths old, and I still pump and BF. Be prepared for your supply to vary, depending on AF, illness, and stress. Mine has dropped and rebounded several times. Just keep going, drink water, eat oatmeal, keep BFing when you are with LO.
Take their doubt as a challenge - every time someone says "You probably won't make it", tell yourself "I'll show them!"
Set goals along the way - make it to one month back at work, then three, then LO's six month mark, then nine months, and then you will be so close to a year you will want to make it to that goal, too.
I'm still bf'ing and pumping at work but ditto not being hard on yourself if you end up having to supplement a little. I was so sad when I had to but just keep in mind that at least your LO is still getting mostly BM. I got over it quickly.
My supply varies and if I have a big drop fenugreek or mother's milk tea has helped me to maintain my supply. GL it is totally possible!