Help - How much milk *should* I be producing at this point?

Re: Help - How much milk *should* I be producing at this point?

• Hey Jellisy

  November 2011

  DS is 10 months and 20 lbs, and much like you a work trip cut into my supply last month.  I pump 9 oz during the day and DS eats one other 4 oz bottle of formula in addition to table food (no more purees) 3 times a day.  I am just using this opportunity to naturally slow down nursing.  My body did the same thing with DD about this time and I fought it but eventually succumbed to 1 bottle of formula a day.  On the weekends, I nurse DS the same as I normally do and only supplement if he seems hungry.  When I do, I make a 4 oz bottle but he only ever drinks 2 oz so I think he is getting close to what he needs.  Milk is produced as you empty your breasts so he is still getting something at all nursing sessions.  (DS still nurses at a dream feed at 11pm and one other middle of the night session).       
  

  From December 29, 2011

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• mssaint

  November 2011

  I pump 10-12 oz a day at this point. LO eats that in 2-3 bottles while I'm at work, and we nurse 3-4 times when I'm at home - sometimes a short session when I get home, longer before bed, middle of the night and then a short session in the morning. He eats 3 meals a day of solids - oatmeal and fruit puree in the morning, puree and some table foods at day care and then puree and table foods at night.

  He doesn't ever act hungry and he poops and pees plenty, so I assume he gets enough. He has never eaten a lot, and he's a small kid anyway (still in the 10-15th percentile for weight). He is nowhere near 21 pounds, but the doctor doesn't seem concerned about his weight.
  

  

  Report0 Reply
• Sofka

  November 2011

  my friend went to cow milk at this age, this may be an option if the Dr OKs it.  I think it's natural for the body to slow down at this age, you can certainly try to increase your supply but if he's already taking some formula, I don't see a reason to kill yourself.

  Report0 Reply
• WinesNot Whines

  November 2011

  It's really up to you. If you keep pumping, you should be able to maintain your supply for a while. You could try Fenugreek for a couple of weeks to increase your supply, and then see if keeping to a regular pumping schedule will help you maintain it. But if you're already giving formula and he's doing fine on it, I don't know how much effort you want to put into it.

  

  Report0 Reply
• belizeitornot

  November 2011

  kellymom says that boobs feeling/not feeling full isn't a good indicator of supply.

  i don't know how much you should be producing, but when i was pumping 3-4x a day i would get anywhere from 4-6oz per session. i just stopped pumping entirely last week and leading up to that i was down to one session and got about 5-6oz/day (i stopped pumping when i routinely was getting 4oz because that was less than a feeding).

  how many letdowns do you have when you pump? can you try sticking it out for an additional one? i usually got a 2nd one about 20-25 minutes in, and i could get another 1+oz per boob by waiting for the 2nd letdown. beyond that, i guess it just depends how long you want to stick out BFing. at a year (even slightly before) you can introduce cow's milk, so if you are ok supplementing with formula until then, it don't think it's worth it to try supplements to boost supply. if it's something you want to keep up without supplementing until a year, i'd try the fenugreek and adding in an extra pumping session.

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• belizeitornot

  November 2011

  also, i have at least half a bottle of MMP that i'm not going to use since we've weaned entirely. you're welcome to it if you want it!

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• umdbride

  November 2011

  I'm in a similar boat in that my supply has been fluctuating a lot, but still generally lower than it used to be - it's also taking longer to let down and I rarely feel engorged even after several hours. 

  A month or two ago I'd average 10-12 oz during 2 pumping sessions while at work. Now, even with fernugreek, lactation cookies, and pumping 3x/day at work I get between 7-10 oz.  I've also started pumping around 11pm before bed to get an extra 2 - 4 oz (depending on how much DS ate before bed) and that helps, particularly on days I pumped less at work. 

  DS drinks 10oz during the day, and we nurse in the morning and before bed. I think that's probably less than most kids total milk intake, but lately he's been very uninterested in nursing or bottle feeding.   He's best in the morning and before bed, but otherwise it's a struggle to get him to drink.  He still has plenty of pee and poop and is about 20 lbs (and looking chubby) so I try not to worry.  We have our 9 month apt next week and I plan to ask about it. 

  ETA: DS also eats about 12-16oz (3-4 jars) of purees with oatmeal, 1/2 a banana, and table food while at DC. We give him table food for dinner too.

  

  Report0 Reply