Working FT & BFing Clicky Poll

3Girls3xsTheFun · October 2011

BFing was going great until I returned to work. Just curious if I'm the only one.

[Poll]

Kymbirleigh · October 2011

Mine tanked when I returned to work, so I took some supplements to boost it back up. After a few weeks I've been able to keep up and even backed off on the supplements.

CarlaAndJames · October 2011

Yes, but it's definitely a lot of stress and effort. Before, I admit to thinking that women who quit BFing bc they were working did it because pumping was merely inconvenient. I was completely wrong. Even pumping 4x a day and on the weekends, plus taking supplements, I come up short most weeks. I still have some freezer stash to back me up, for now. I want to make it to 6 months before introducing solids, so I know her milk intake will probably go up some, and I'm not sure how I'll keep up!

JavaVino910 · October 2011

Sorry you are having trouble with your supply! It seems like 100% formula during the day and breastmilk when together would be a vicious cycle, causing your supply to go down even more. It seems like you would have to pump during the day (even if you don't get enough and would need to supplement with formula).

CarlaAndJames · October 2011

Also, my plan if I run out of freezer milk and can't keep up, is just to supplement what I don't get with formula. I'll still pump as much as possible and give her everything I pump, I'll just top it off with formula. I really want her to be 100% breastmilk, but I'd much rather give her some formula than let her be hungry! And at least she'll still be getting as much breastmilk as I can make. (which would still be at least 90% of what she's getting if I can keep up current supply. I'm usually only short an oz or so each day!)

3Girls3xsTheFun · October 2011

JavaVino910:
Sorry you are having trouble with your supply! It seems like 100% formula during the day and breastmilk when together would be a vicious cycle, causing your supply to go down even more. It seems like you would have to pump during the day (even if you don't get enough and would need to supplement with formula).

Thats what I was doing. I had a large freezer stash, but it was gone in a few weeks. I was taking fenugreek, mother milk tea (barf!) and eating rolled oats like it was going out of style, nothing worked. I finally gave up. I still nurse her, but it's more for comfort, I don't think she's getting anything.

I probably could have been more successful at pumping but my job doesn't afford me the 4 breaks I would need -- unless I wanted to use my vacation time to cover the 20 or so minutes I was "taking off" each time to pump

richelleleigh11 · October 2011

I had some supply issues when I first returned to work and worked with the LC to try to increase my supply. The biggest threat to my supply was stressing about it though. I only have enough for what he needs the next day and there have been a few times when I haven't been able to get home before he's due for his feeding from me so in those cases he got a bottle of formula and I pumped and we had an extra bottle of BM for a while.

jkchs2003 · October 2011

I chose SS because didn't fully fit in any of the choices. DD is getting nursed in the AM. Then at DC she get 1 formula bottle and 2 BM bottles. She is nursed when we get home, then nursed a couple hours later. This is when it all goes to hell. She will nurse but not very well, and I will always end up having to give her some forumla after that feeding. I usually try to nurse her before bed, but she won't, so she always gets formula then. If for some reason she doesn't seem full after her 5oz of formula before bed, I will nurse her til she is full. It's so weird.

Kymbirleigh · October 2011

3Girls3xsTheFun:
Thats what I was doing. I had a large freezer stash, but it was gone in a few weeks. I was taking fenugreek, mother milk tea (barf!) and eating rolled oats like it was going out of style, nothing worked. I finally gave up. I still nurse her, but it's more for comfort, I don't think she's getting anything.

I probably could have been more successful at pumping but my job doesn't afford me the 4 breaks I would need -- unless I wanted to use my vacation time to cover the 20 or so minutes I was "taking off" each time to pump

This pisses me off. It's not like pumping takes up an hour at a time... I don't see why they can't allot 20-30 minutes a few times a day to allow a nursing mother to pump. I get irritated because I see people who go outside every hour on the hour and spend 15-20 minutes smoking outside. Irritates me that it's okay for someone to go do something unhealthy, but a nursing mom can't go take that same amount of time to do something healthy for their child. Ugh...*steps off soapbox*

Sorry, I just think it's ridiculous when employers aren't flexible with nursing moms.

PS... Rolled oats... Ugh. I was right there with you. I didn't notice a major difference with anything I tried besides More Milk Plus.... And my supply seemed to increase the second I stopped stressing about it. Basically when I decided to give the lactation nurses at my hospital the middle finger.....

kimbo1216 · October 2011

Kymbirleigh:
Mine tanked when I returned to work, so I took some supplements to boost it back up. After a few weeks I've been able to keep up and even backed off on the supplements.

That's great news!

kimbo1216 · October 2011

I will say that I have been very fortunate. I express about 35 ounces each day. When I snack a lot, I can usually get another ounce or two, lol. Lately, work has been too busy, and I've noticed I've gotten an ounce or 2 less than normal.

Anyway, I went back to work early (4 weeks), so I started pumping at 3. Since my supply wasn't established by then with BF'ing only, I think I was able to up my supply and ended up with an over supply. I do wonder if it would have been different if I went back to work later.

brobin01 · October 2011

I breast feed and pump. I am able to provide 2 4oz bottles to our caregiver most days, and then she eats one 4 oz bottle of formula if she runs out of breast milk.

I pump twice at work, getting about 6-10oz to provide for the next day. Then I breastfeed every evening, and the entire weekend.

I work 8-4pm

Telly21182 · October 2011

I voted SS, but I EP and there was a week that he had to get supplemented with 1 F bottle a night during a growth spurt.

mari_gold · October 2011

I have been lucky. I pump more than I need every day and am able to build my stash still.

march2008 · October 2011

I've been back to work since the beginning of October and things are going well so far. I pump 3 times during my 8-hour shift and I'm able to get more than enough milk for DD. I usually have enough excess milk after the 3 sessions to even freeze 2 extra bottles worth. I had over supply when DD was first born though and I had to work with a LC to slow my body down. The LC told me that because I once had over supply, that I probably wouldn't have any issues keeping my milk supply up so long as I'm breastfeeding whenever I'm with DD and pumping every 3 hours that we're apart. So far, so good! Pumping at work definitely isn't fun, but I'm starting to get used to it and I use it as a time to relax and think of my daughter while we're apart.