- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 0 - 3 Months
XP: BFers- Two days back at work / supply concerns. :( Please help!!
So I went back to work yesterday. I am able to pump three times at work. I feed DS between 4 and 5am, and then my first pump is at 9am. Both days I got 10 ounces. Then with each subsequent pump at work, I got less and less. (i.e. today I got 10oz @9am, then 6oz @12:30pm, then barely 4oz at 3:00pm) I then went to breast feed DS at 6pm (my breasts didn't feel full at all, even though it had been three hours), and he seemed incredibly unhappy. He sucked, pulled off, sucked, pulled off until I had a let down... sucked through that for about twenty seconds, then sucked, pulled off, sucked, pulled off. I tried to switch sides and he was just too upset. I switched back and forth a few times before I just gave up and cuddled him. He ended up falling asleep and is now snoozing on the couch next to me. His next feeding will be before we go to bed, anywhere between 8:30 and 9:30pm. I'm scared that I'm not producing enough for him once I pump all day.
The past two days, I've pumped about 20oz while at work. Currently, that's enough to get him through the day at my MIL's (3 bottles of five ounces, plus one extra just in case, which he almost never takes). But once I'm home, it's like my breasts are completely empty and don't refill after my last pump... it just gets to be less and less. Why does this happen!? Am I not going to be able to feed my baby?? 
I'm freaking out. It makes me upset when he's upset.
The other thing that is worrying me is if I'm afraid I'm having issues now, and he refuses to stay at the breast in the evenings between letdowns, how does my body ever respond to an increase in demand as he grows?? How is it going to be come the weekends? Also, how do I know when to increase the amount in his bottles?? He's been content with five ounce bottles for a few weeks now.
Why is breastfeeding so scary, yet it's how your baby is "supposed to be" fed? I'm already having a tough time being away from him, and now I have the additional stress of "am I going to be able to feed him"??
Any kind of support and advice would be awesome. Thanks ladies.
Mr. & Mrs. O: Est. 6/27/2009, Jacob Ryan 3/3/2010, Owen Matthew 8/14/2012!
:::In My Life, I've Loved You More:::
CHARTS
:::In My Life, I've Loved You More:::
CHARTS
This discussion has been closed.
Re: XP: BFers- Two days back at work / supply concerns. :( Please help!!
Are you taking fenugreek yet? My LC put me on 3 pills a day when my milk wasn't coming in and it's really increased my supply.
HTH.
[url=http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=UBB&utm_campaign=tickers][img]http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1a1ae8.aspx[/img][/url]
i am not pumping right now but my body naturally does do the same thing that you are talking about, i can feel in the morning how full i am and by the end of the day i am emptier and my dd feeds more often- i think i produce milk the best when sleeping.
on another note- with my first when i went back to work i pumped so here are my thoughts
1) you will know when he needs more when he is not content with 5oz or when he starts wanting to eat more frequently
2) in order to increase your supply you will need to pump more for a few days- like 5 sessions instead of 3-or hopefully you could just feed him more on the weekend and up your supply over the weekend
i am not pumping right now but my body naturally does do the same thing that you are talking about, i can feel in the morning how full i am and by the end of the day i am emptier and my dd feeds more often- i think i produce milk the best when sleeping.
on another note- with my first when i went back to work i pumped so here are my thoughts
1) you will know when he needs more when he is not content with 5oz or when he starts wanting to eat more frequently
2) in order to increase your supply you will need to pump more for a few days- like 5 sessions instead of 3-or hopefully you could just feed him more on the weekend and up your supply over the weekend
I've been back for over 2 weeks and I still get less and less as the day goes on, but my baby hasn't gone hungry yet. Let your body get used to the new schedule. Also, did your baby have previous experience with a bottle? When mine first started having a bottle all day (we'd practiced like once a day or less before I went back) he would also be off and on and annoyed initially when I got home. Breasts are harder work than bottles and there's not the instant gratification thing. That can be frustrating for baby initially but they get used to it. Mine is doing great now and I've been back for less than a month. I'm impressed at how well he's adjusting. Keep at it and don't stress, because that doesn't help supply at all.
One thing I'd add is to make sure you're taking the time to eat plenty and drink a ton of water. If I'm running around all day and forget to grab lunch or drink a lot of water, I definitely notice a dip in my supply.
Treat yourself to a warm bath at night to help relax you and keep your spirits up
You're doing a GREAT JOB!
:::In My Life, I've Loved You More:::
CHARTS