Back to work breastfeeding vent

asc34 · August 2013

So here I sit. 1:20 am with a warm compress on my boob desperately trying to pump away this clogged duct. This is my 3rd pump attempt tonight and it just keeps getting worse. I'm praying this isn't the night she skips her 4 am feed because nursing was the only thing that worked the last time this happened. I'm losing my steam and patience with breastfeeding. My supply has dropped since returning to work. I am a physician in an emergency department so you can imagine how hard it is to get away to pump. I'm completely exhausted all the time. Last night I worked the evening and got home at 2:30 am. She woke up at 3:30 so I slept from 4-7 with a couple naps throughout the day before returning to work. I'm entering a string of overnights next week and I'm sure I will get the equivalent of a couple naps in between shifts. I have made it 4 months and I'm committed to 2 more but I just don't now how much longer I can physically do this. Im so worn down. I'm fine with formula - I just feel emotional that I may need to stop earlier than I want. End vent.

08summerbride · August 2013

I feel your pain. Clogged ducts have kicked my butt this tike around. I was ready to call it quits last month, and feeling guilty about it because I made it 7 months with my first. I came to terms with it, but DS didn't cooperate. I gave him formula twice and he projectile vomited both times, so now I am up with you pumping to try to get enough milk for ds to make it through the day.

I understand your feeling guilty, a happy rested mom is just as important.

zipscheer07 · August 2013

I have the same problem. I would pump every 3 hours and only get 1/2 an ounce. Its overly frustrating and I was hoping to make it to 6 months as well but my body has other plans. I feel very guilty not being able to supply her with the breastmilk but I'm lucky that the formula is fine with her.

hatroopes · August 2013

I can relate. Right now, I'm hoping I can even make it to 6 months which has always been my goal. DD is now taking 30oz at daycare between 7 and 5 and I've been making six 5oz bottles. Yesterday her teacher said she was hungry and screaming every 2 hours so I may need to increase her bottles to 6oz. I can't keep up with her! I'm able to pump about 20-22oz in 3 pumping sessions, so I now have to squeeze in a couple more to keep up or use my freezer stash.

It's takes a commitment for sure!

katie6/26/04 · August 2013

Have you tried taking lecithin capsules for the plugged ducts?

Erin10408 · August 2013

hatroopes said:

I can relate. Right now, I'm hoping I can even make it to 6 months which has always been my goal. DD is now taking 30oz at daycare between 7 and 5 and I've been making six 5oz bottles. Yesterday her teacher said she was hungry and screaming every 2 hours so I may need to increase her bottles to 6oz. I can't keep up with her! I'm able to pump about 20-22oz in 3 pumping sessions, so I now have to squeeze in a couple more to keep up or use my freezer stash.

It's takes a commitment for sure!

She is drinking 30 oz in 10 hours? Holy moly. That seems really excessive....I don't think anyone could keep up with that. Shouldn't breastfed babies drink 1-1.5 oz per hour that you're away? Maybe they are overfeeding?

hatroopes · August 2013

Erin10408 said:

hatroopes said:

I can relate. Right now, I'm hoping I can even make it to 6 months which has always been my goal. DD is now taking 30oz at daycare between 7 and 5 and I've been making six 5oz bottles. Yesterday her teacher said she was hungry and screaming every 2 hours so I may need to increase her bottles to 6oz. I can't keep up with her! I'm able to pump about 20-22oz in 3 pumping sessions, so I now have to squeeze in a couple more to keep up or use my freezer stash.

It's takes a commitment for sure!

She is drinking 30 oz in 10 hours? Holy moly. That seems really excessive....I don't think anyone could keep up with that. Shouldn't breastfed babies drink 1-1.5 oz per hour that you're away? Maybe they are overfeeding?

I thought they might be too, but she isn't spitting up excessively and is gulping down the bottles so she truly is hungry. She's been this way since she cut out her MOTN feeding - she typically sleeps from 8:30 till at least 5 so I think she just may be getting all her calories during the day. She also barely nurses when we get home in the evening - she's just so exhausted and is ready for bed.

Erin10408 · August 2013

hatroopes said:

Erin10408 said:

hatroopes said:

I can relate. Right now, I'm hoping I can even make it to 6 months which has always been my goal. DD is now taking 30oz at daycare between 7 and 5 and I've been making six 5oz bottles. Yesterday her teacher said she was hungry and screaming every 2 hours so I may need to increase her bottles to 6oz. I can't keep up with her! I'm able to pump about 20-22oz in 3 pumping sessions, so I now have to squeeze in a couple more to keep up or use my freezer stash.

It's takes a commitment for sure!

She is drinking 30 oz in 10 hours? Holy moly. That seems really excessive....I don't think anyone could keep up with that. Shouldn't breastfed babies drink 1-1.5 oz per hour that you're away? Maybe they are overfeeding?

I thought they might be too, but she isn't spitting up excessively and is gulping down the bottles so she truly is hungry. She's been this way since she cut out her MOTN feeding - she typically sleeps from 8:30 till at least 5 so I think she just may be getting all her calories during the day. She also barely nurses when we get home in the evening - she's just so exhausted and is ready for bed.

Wow...thats really interesting! My girl is the opposite...she sleeps from about 9-6:30/7:00am, her dad feeds her a bottle before daycare, and she eats 3 4oz bottles at daycare from 9-5:30, but then nurses like crazy when we're home together. Well, good luck keeping up with your hungry girl!

asc34 · August 2013

I haven't tried lechitin since this was #2 but I will definitely consider it. Thankfully, my daughter woke up and was a hero. She worked really hard and unblocked it!

JSS1002 · August 2013

If you feel like you need "permission" to quit (I did!), I hope this helps: you need to do what is best to make sure both LO and YOU are healthy and if that means you need to wean her, go for it!! I weaned before going back to work and am so so happy that I did -- it seriously improved the happiness level of my whole household and improved y relationship with LO and DH! Good luck with WHATEVER you decide!

mariahrb · August 2013

hatroopes said:

I can relate. Right now, I'm hoping I can even make it to 6 months which has always been my goal. DD is now taking 30oz at daycare between 7 and 5 and I've been making six 5oz bottles. Yesterday her teacher said she was hungry and screaming every 2 hours so I may need to increase her bottles to 6oz. I can't keep up with her! I'm able to pump about 20-22oz in 3 pumping sessions, so I now have to squeeze in a couple more to keep up or use my freezer stash.

It's takes a commitment for sure!

My LO takes in 17.5 oz while im at work. I have to pump 6 or 7 times a day to get that much and I barely get by, most days I actually come up short. I pump on the weekends to make up the difference during the week. My freezer stash was 60 oz now I have 10 oz. Its super hard work to keep up and its stressful and tiring.

I think you might have an overfeeding issue there too.

skidderdo · August 2013

I'm a physician too, but outpatient... it's nuts trying to pump every 3-4 hours in between patients (seriously i have to turn my pump on turbo so i dont spend more than 7 or 8 minutes pumping), but I can't imagine trying to do that in an ED!! Or with a clogged duct! Long-distance high five to you, mama, be proud of however long you make it! Wonder-woman.

Mandmeesh · August 2013

Erin10408 said:

hatroopes said:

I can relate. Right now, I'm hoping I can even make it to 6 months which has always been my goal. DD is now taking 30oz at daycare between 7 and 5 and I've been making six 5oz bottles. Yesterday her teacher said she was hungry and screaming every 2 hours so I may need to increase her bottles to 6oz. I can't keep up with her! I'm able to pump about 20-22oz in 3 pumping sessions, so I now have to squeeze in a couple more to keep up or use my freezer stash.

It's takes a commitment for sure!

She is drinking 30 oz in 10 hours? Holy moly. That seems really excessive....I don't think anyone could keep up with that. Shouldn't breastfed babies drink 1-1.5 oz per hour that you're away? Maybe they are overfeeding?

THIS. yikes! That's a lot for a bf baby

asc34 · August 2013

JSS1002 said:

If you feel like you need "permission" to quit (I did!), I hope this helps: you need to do what is best to make sure both LO and YOU are healthy and if that means you need to wean her, go for it!! I weaned before going back to work and am so so happy that I did -- it seriously improved the happiness level of my whole household and improved y relationship with LO and DH! Good luck with WHATEVER you decide!

Thank you -- isn't it crazy how much guilt comes with this? I agree that I need to be healthy too. My mom reminded me yesterday that my baby would rather have a happy rested mommy than a bottle full of breast milk. I'm going to keep going as long as I can but I have to come to grips with the idea that it might not be as long as I want.

skidderdo said:

I'm a physician too, but outpatient... it's nuts trying to pump every 3-4 hours in between patients (seriously i have to turn my pump on turbo so i dont spend more than 7 or 8 minutes pumping), but I can't imagine trying to do that in an ED!! Or with a clogged duct! Long-distance high five to you, mama, be proud of however long you make it! Wonder-woman.

Thank you. I struggle to get away to pump - I try to pump once right before my shift then twice during it (10 hour shift). I just tell myself that unless someone's dying, things can wait 15 min. Easier said than done though with a waiting room full of patients getting impatient at the length of time they are waiting! Honestly, it's the overnights and evening shifts that are killing me because I can't just sleep during the day like I used to pre-baby. Now I have to wake up every few hours to feed or pump. I'm exhausted.

JSS1002 · August 2013

asc34 said:

JSS1002 said:

If you feel like you need "permission" to quit (I did!), I hope this helps: you need to do what is best to make sure both LO and YOU are healthy and if that means you need to wean her, go for it!! I weaned before going back to work and am so so happy that I did -- it seriously improved the happiness level of my whole household and improved y relationship with LO and DH! Good luck with WHATEVER you decide!

Thank you -- isn't it crazy how much guilt comes with this? I agree that I need to be healthy too. My mom reminded me yesterday that my baby would rather have a happy rested mommy than a bottle full of breast milk. I'm going to keep going as long as I can but I have to come to grips with the idea that it might not be as long as I want.

Yes, it is crazy -- and silly that we feel guilt! What really matters to your baby is that her mommy loves her and spends time with her, whatever time that is. And that she is fed. SHe doesn't know the difference! I had a wrist injury that had forced me into EPing by the end, and I found myself gettnig so hung up on "one more oz!" that I wasn't getting the quality time with my little guy that we both needed and wanted. Good luck! You're doing a great job!

pinottoparenthood · August 2013

I'm so sorry :-( I am a teacher and started back at work Monday... Ended up with a plugged duct Monday night. I feel like I have no life and no time and no friends because whenever I have a minute of downtime, I am hiding Ina dirty book closet hooked up to my pump... But I am already just barely pumping enough and I'm only a few days in! And DS used to STTN but now he is waking up at 3 am again... Maybe just transition issues. I feel your pain. But when I nurse him first thing in the morning and he pulls off to grin at me mid-feed, it's worth it. Definitely going to stop pumping at work as soon as he turns one if not sooner, though. Hang in there!

pinottoparenthood · August 2013

hatroopes said:

Erin10408 said:

hatroopes said:

I can relate. Right now, I'm hoping I can even make it to 6 months which has always been my goal. DD is now taking 30oz at daycare between 7 and 5 and I've been making six 5oz bottles. Yesterday her teacher said she was hungry and screaming every 2 hours so I may need to increase her bottles to 6oz. I can't keep up with her! I'm able to pump about 20-22oz in 3 pumping sessions, so I now have to squeeze in a couple more to keep up or use my freezer stash.

It's takes a commitment for sure!

She is drinking 30 oz in 10 hours? Holy moly. That seems really excessive....I don't think anyone could keep up with that. Shouldn't breastfed babies drink 1-1.5 oz per hour that you're away? Maybe they are overfeeding?

I thought they might be too, but she isn't spitting up excessively and is gulping down the bottles so she truly is hungry. She's been this way since she cut out her MOTN feeding - she typically sleeps from 8:30 till at least 5 so I think she just may be getting all her calories during the day. She also barely nurses when we get home in the evening - she's just so exhausted and is ready for bed.

I know it's easier said than done, but if I were in your situation, I would try really hard to get her to eat more in the evenings. Maybe try a dream feed or two if she just won't stay awake? Then she will drink les during the day and nursing is soooo much easier than pumping, especially when you are at work all day!

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