September 2015 Moms

Working and breastfeeding ... more of a STM question.

Hey mamas! Just wondering how many of you STM mom's were able to meet your breastfeeding goals with your first? I started off with an awesome supply now it's hard to pump 6oz during my first morning pump. Every week I seem to get a little less. I wanted to BF for 15 months, but at this rate I will be lucky if i make it 6months. I pump 3x's a day Mon-Fri and it is such a change from hardly ever pumping. I don't replace MOTN feedings with a bottle because I want her to nurse as much as possible to stimulate my supply. This means I'm up at 4am and nursing her in my work clothes before i leave the house at 7. Plus just washing the pump parts every night, lugging my pump bag around it is all just a huge pain in the butt! I keep it up because I know it is best for her, but man it is hard, hard, hard.... 

Re: Working and breastfeeding ... more of a STM question.

  • I'm dealing with the same. I ran through my meager freezer stash during a particularly stressful week so I'm having to supplement with formula once daily so as not to shock her system with any sudden change. I produce just enough, so I really notice a supply drop when stress or poor hydration come into play. I keep it up because it's best, I can do it (although sometimes it sucks!) & formula is expensive! I feel your pain. Good luck meeting your goals!
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  • Yiggle09Yiggle09 member
    edited November 2015
    You can try lactation cookies and things tons of recipes on pinterest. Google galactogogues for good bf foods. There's something called power pumping. You pump till empty then take a ten min break. Pump again then another 10 break then one last pump. It's supposed to mimic cluster feeding help supply try doing this 3 days in a row for one session. Pumping between 1 and 5 will also help because the milk hormones rage at that time
    Eta 1 and 5 am
  • I recommend getting more pump parts too. I'm a FTM too, but I have several sets of flanges and 2 coolers and a ton of Medela bottles. It's been way easier for me to pull out the cooler from work and the cooler from the sitter and all the other stuff and get it all ready for the next day with extras of everything. And I have a big super cute bag that I carry one cooler, my pump and my laptop in so I dont feel like it's such a pain in the ass if that makes any kind of sense.
  • You can do it! This is my third and while I have yet to return to work with this one, both my other boys were EBF until over a year and I went back at 6 weeks with them. I added an extra pumping session after baby went to bed but before I did. Also if you have time, pumping after the first morning feeding usually gave and does give me currently a few extra ounces.
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    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • No advice, but just know you're doing an amazing job! However long you can keep it up, and whether or not you meet your goal, you tried your hardest and did your best. And that's enough :) Good luck, and take it easy on yourself!
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