Intro & a ?

HorseLover11 · December 2014

I've been meaning to come say hello (dirty lurker here!!) as its so nice to see many familiar names from pgal. I had my beautiful angel baby girl mid sept and couldn't be more blessed. Shes 10.5 weeks now. I would share more details/photos but I'm a tad internet shy

I've been EBF so far and as she's getting older she's eating a lot more. She started STTN at 7 weeks (8pm-7am) Her eating schedule is 7am, 1030am, 130pm, 430pm and I pump at 730 when DH gives her the last feeding. I also pump one boob in the morning before or during her 7am feeding (she only takes one side). She now takes almost 7.5 oz at night and a weighed feeding during the day she ate 6oz (probably eating 31-32oz). I know this is on the high side but she was 30% for weight and 70% for height just 2 weeks ago.

her ped is perfectly happy with her health and growth and says she'll probably be eating 8oz soon. I just don't know how I can keep up with her when she goes to daycare as I only get 4-6 oz a session. Anyone else have big eaters? (I read all over the Internet that no breastfed baby takes more than 4oz at a feeding!!)

Wifey xo · December 2014

Welcome, and congratulations on your little girl! My son has always been a big eater and I recall 5 6oz bottles a day after my milk supply vanished at 4 months. He is still a great eater with solids, and will eat a huge variety of healthy foods (anything we give him!). He was in the 85th for height and weight a couple of days ago, and his Dr is perfectly happy- just genetics . (my side is tall)

BootsOrHearts · December 2014

Hey lady! I think I remember you from TTCAL days. Welcome and congrats on your rainbow!

I don't have any experience with big eaters, my guy is the opposite. He still only drinks 4oz of formula at a time at a year old.

I did a lot of pumping though and I have some tips for getting more milk out. When you're away from her during the day, you will want to be pumping at least every 3 hours, or as often as she would have been eating at home, but then babies can get more milk out than a pump can so you might have to pump more often to get enough for her. Breast compressions really helped me get more milk out. Google 'hands on pumping' for videos. Obvsiously NSFW videos, haha! You really have to play around to find out what specific technique works best for you. You can also play with the 'let down' button if you have one, to try and get more let downs. You will want to pump for at least 15 minutes at a time. Can you add another pumping session late at night before you go to bed? Also drink tons and tons of water. That's all I remember, ha! It's been a few months since I've pumped. I won't lie, I don't miss it.

HorseLover11 · December 2014

@Wifey xo‌ Glad to know someone else's baby has a big appetite!!

@BootsOrHearts‌ those are great tips and I will definitely try some tonight - I'm excited to know there's some things I haven't tried yet! I was active on ttcal and def remember u

kateitho · December 2014

Welcome and congrats on your little one!

HorseLover11 · December 2014

@mamalamb10‌ - when else do you think I could feed her as she's full and happy with her schedule now (eating every 3 hrs during the day)

porterlove525 · December 2014

Congratulations on your daughter! I have a big eater, but he's always been off the charts for height and between 50-60% for weight. He started off eating every :30-1 hour! It was insane.

What has worked for me is sending DS to daycare with no more than what I pumped the day before. I have a terrible time pumping and it was a big adjustment at first, but DS has been doing just fine on 3oz bottles, even though he was taking 5oz+ in a bottle when I went back to work. I made the mistake initially of listening to daycare that he needed more milk, but in the end he really didn't. Babies don't have to work as hard with a bottle as they do with mom so she could be taking in more than she really needs in her bottles. And a lot of moms can scale back on those few day bottles and baby will make up any "lack of" milk in their last night nursing session or morning session. You could do some test runs in the weekend or a weekday where she's fed bottles all day and you pump every 3hrs and see what you net out and go from there.

I will second drinking a ton of water, avoiding foods known to lessen supply, eating foods that boost supply, pumping for 15-20mins or even a 1/2hr if you can and LOTS of compressions like Boots said. I massage the crap out of my boobs while pumping. Never go more than 3hrs between pump sessions and you can always "power pump" on the weekends to help. Also play with your pump to see if faster/slower, more/less suction, etc helps. Watch videos or look at pics of your LO too while pumping, it can help with relaxing and a better letdown.

And I hope she continues to STTN for you! My little man is almost 8 months and has never come close

HorseLover11 · December 2014

I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement and it brought a smile to me knowing others out there understand. It was definitely a trying day and I literally cried over spilled milk when filling bottles and I knocked one over!!

the bright side is that I am able to get my $ back on the dr brown's pump I originally bought and hated (I purchased the pump and style from a good friend and that worked great at first but output is slowing down) so at least I can feel better about buying a new motor if need be as her pump was used for nearly 2 yrs straight.

I will continue to chug water and adjust settings and massage the heck out of my boobs!!

porterlove525 · December 2014

With an older pump the motor may definitely be going, but also try replacing your parts (tubing, flanges, valves, etc). And any parts that require boiling it helps to boil every now and then. Seems like it wouldn't make a difference, but it can really help output. I have a Hygeia and the manual recommends replacing parts every 12 weeks.

Also, most insurance companies now cover hospital grade pumps for free, or at a fraction of the cost. I got my pump for free

something to look into if you haven't already.

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