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Questions about Supplementing/Feeding Schedule

[Deleted User][Deleted User] member
in Breastfeeding

My DS is 8.5 months and I've been pumping during the day at work since he was about 3 months old.  I've always had to work to keep up with him and never had much of a freezer stash to speak up.  Over the last several weeks I've been getting less and less when I pump.  I am renting the Medela Symphony and all of the parts are new within the past month, so I know it's not the pump.  I get about 8-10 ounces during the day that I have been splitting up into two bottles.  He's at the babysitter's from 6:45 am to 4:30 pm and usually gets 3 bottles of breast milk (if I can get an extra pumping session in during the evenings) or two breast milk and one formula (usually about 4oz of formula). Well yesterday the babysitter was worried DS is not eating enough and she thought that he needed more formula.  He had two 6oz bottles of formula and an 8 oz bottle (she combined the two bottles and he drank all of it) of BM yesterday.  What I pump during the day keeps decreasing.  What's the best way to supplement?  Should the BM bottles be spread out more through the day or does that even matter?  I also suspect he's getting less and less during our nursing sessions in the evening.  Should I still be aiming for a total of 24 oz of BM or formula daily?   @amyg* or any other mamas who've been through this  do you have any recommendations? 

Here's his typical feeding schedule:

6am- nurse or give 5oz bottle of combo BM/formula

Babysitters- 9am- 4-5oz BM; then 2 1/2 oz of fruit puree 

12pm- 4-5oz formula; then 2 1/2 oz of veggie puree

3pm- 4-5oz BM 

4pm usually puffs or Cheerios for an afternoon snack

5:30pm nurse followed by modified BLW dinner

8:00pm nurse to sleep

1-3  MOTN feedings

 

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Re: Questions about Supplementing/Feeding Schedule

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member

    I think she's just so used to giving babies formula that she thinks he should be eating more.  I'm glad to hear that though because I was feeling pretty good about the 4-5 ounce bottles. 

    I spoke with one of the LCs at our hospital about all of this and her solution was...more pumping after he eats.  I'm not sure I'm up for that, but I guess I will give it a try... once again.

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  • BootsOrHeartsBootsOrHearts member
    Yeah the only real way to up your supply is more nursing and/or more pumping. :-/
    **Warning: Losses and living child mentioned**
    BFP#1 1/31/12, EDD 10/6/12 Harrison Gray born sleeping @ 18w6d. You changed our lives little guy.
    BFP#2 EDD 10/29/13, C/P 2/25/13, Bye little Ish, we barely got to know you.
    BFP#3 EDD 12/21/13, Baby Boots born 11/23/13 My rainbow baby!
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    January PAL Siggy Challenge: Good Advice
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    I guess I didn't realize I could really up my supply at this point (I've already tried everything before), but the LC was confident that I could.   
    BootsOrHearts said:
    Yeah the only real way to up your supply is more nursing and/or more pumping. :-/

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  • BootsOrHeartsBootsOrHearts member
    anr02 said:
    I guess I didn't realize I could really up my supply at this point (I've already tried everything before), but the LC was confident that I could.   
    BootsOrHearts said:
    Yeah the only real way to up your supply is more nursing and/or more pumping. :-/

    Oh yes! Just takes some patience and persistence. I hope it works out!
    **Warning: Losses and living child mentioned**
    BFP#1 1/31/12, EDD 10/6/12 Harrison Gray born sleeping @ 18w6d. You changed our lives little guy.
    BFP#2 EDD 10/29/13, C/P 2/25/13, Bye little Ish, we barely got to know you.
    BFP#3 EDD 12/21/13, Baby Boots born 11/23/13 My rainbow baby!
    image

    imageView Full Size Imageimageimage
    January PAL Siggy Challenge: Good Advice
    image
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    I was told early on that once your supply starts decreasing it's really hard to get it back up. I've done everything before (power pumping, oatmeal, all of the recommended supplements, etc) to try to get my supply up and it's never worked for me. I've had so many working mom friends who said the longer they pumped at work the less and less they got. I guess I just thought this was how it would go for me as well. I'd like to keep breastfeeding past a year, so I'm definitely going to try everyone's suggestions again.
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    @casey78 is it a formula versus breast milk quantity issue? There seems to be limited info and/or education out there on this. My kid's system doesn't seem to be able to handle the extra formula. That just makes me feel worse about not making milk more for him.
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