Am I spinning my wheels? BF related.

[Deleted]

So I have never had great pumping output-- I work 3 12 hours shifts and even at the beginning, I had to pump 6 times a day, plus morning and night on my days off to get enough milk to send with V for one day (15 ounces-- she isn't a huge eater). My supply took a dive when my fucking period started when she wasn't even three months old. I've spent $100s renting hospital pumps, taking herbs, etc. My supply seems to be still going slowly downhill to the point where I am lucky to pump 6 ounces in 6 sessions. I've been supplementing with what I have in the freezer (not much left) and then some formula for her last bottle of the day if necessary. When I am home with her, I don't usually supplement (I try if she seems fussy and she usually won't take the formula). I worry that she's not getting enough milk when I am home with her and I'm starting to feel like I'm wasting my time BFing. It makes me really sad because I really wanted to BF until she was a year old, but I don't know what more I can do? Would you switch to formula or just keep plugging along until nothing is coming out anymore?

[ijack]

IMO it wouldn't be worth it to pump 6 times and get 6 oz. Obviously it's up to you, but I hate pumping and wouldn't keep straining myself to make it work. It's one of the reasons I'm okay with weaning next month because my pumping output has gone from about 6-8oz/session to 2-3oz/session.

[bunch]

That would not be worth it to me either. I'm sorry Lilly

[karinothing]

You know I am a super pro-BFing advocate. . . but I am not sure pumping 6 times a day would be worth it to me (I don't even think I would have time to do so). I assume you have marathon nursing sessions to try to build up your supply? What about prescriptions (although I know they have side effects).

[oregonpachey]

I agree with the other posters. Pumping 6 times a day to get 6 ounces is really time consuming.

If you decide to go the formula route, please don't be disappointed in yourself. I know that's easier said than done but truly, formula isn't bad. You did a great job BF and pumping!

[Deleted]

May 16, 2012 12:41:37 GMT -5 karinothing said:

You know I am a super pro-BFing advocate. . . but I am not sure pumping 6 times a day would be worth it to me (I don't even think I would have time to do so). I assume you have marathon nursing sessions to try to build up your supply? What about prescriptions (although I know they have side effects).

She won't marathon nurse. She'll only suck for a few minutes on each side and then she's just done. She screams and arches her back if I try to make her do more. DH is not on board for domperidone or anything like that-- he thinks it isn't worth the possible side effects.

[pierogigirl]

I would keep nursing when you are together. Pump output =/= nursing output. I am a poor responder to the pump so I'm not sure if I would keep pumping, but I think I would. That doesn't mean you should. Do what makes you enjoy the time with your LO the most.

[karinothing]

May 16, 2012 12:45:07 GMT -5 @lilly said:

May 16, 2012 12:41:37 GMT -5 karinothing said:

You know I am a super pro-BFing advocate. . . but I am not sure pumping 6 times a day would be worth it to me (I don't even think I would have time to do so). I assume you have marathon nursing sessions to try to build up your supply? What about prescriptions (although I know they have side effects).

She won't marathon nurse. She'll only suck for a few minutes on each side and then she's just done. She screams and arches her back if I try to make her do more. DH is not on board for domperidone or anything like that-- he thinks it isn't worth the possible side effects.

Boo. Has she been diagnosed with anything that would make her arch her back? Or do you think it is just supply related? Like the PP said, if you still enjoy nursing I would probably continue to do that when you are together and then supplement when necessary.

[Deleted]

May 16, 2012 12:49:15 GMT -5 karinothing said:

May 16, 2012 12:45:07 GMT -5 @lilly said:

She won't marathon nurse. She'll only suck for a few minutes on each side and then she's just done. She screams and arches her back if I try to make her do more. DH is not on board for domperidone or anything like that-- he thinks it isn't worth the possible side effects.

Boo. Has she been diagnosed with anything that would make her arch her back? Or do you think it is just supply related? Like the PP said, if you still enjoy nursing I would probably continue to do that when you are together and then supplement when necessary.

They tried to say she had GERD at first, but I think it was baloney. I think it is just supply related (and she's never been a big eater).

[karinothing]

May 16, 2012 12:52:53 GMT -5 @lilly said:

May 16, 2012 12:49:15 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Boo. Has she been diagnosed with anything that would make her arch her back? Or do you think it is just supply related? Like the PP said, if you still enjoy nursing I would probably continue to do that when you are together and then supplement when necessary.

They tried to say she had GERD at first, but I think it was baloney. I think it is just supply related (and she's never been a big eater).

Yeah, i think GERD and Reflux are overdiagnosed in babies. Does she have the right number of wet/dirty diapers? Some babies are small eaters and I think Kelly's mom says that it is possible that they could only average 19oz a day. How does she do on solids?

[Deleted]

May 16, 2012 12:55:03 GMT -5 karinothing said:

May 16, 2012 12:52:53 GMT -5 @lilly said:

They tried to say she had GERD at first, but I think it was baloney. I think it is just supply related (and she's never been a big eater).

Yeah, i think GERD and Reflux are overdiagnosed in babies. Does she have the right number of wet/dirty diapers? Some babies are small eaters and I think Kelly's mom says that it is possible that they could only average 19oz a day. How does she do on solids?

She LOVES solids-- she eats 3 2 oz fruits or veggies, plus a big dollop of Greek yogurt (or oatmeal, etc) daily.

[jenny1223]

DS arches his back and pulls away when he's not getting any more from the breast.

I tried everything short of domperidone to get my supply back up after getting DS's tongue tie fixed. I tried power pumping sessions, herbs, days of nonstop nursing and nothing worked. I decided to stop pumping when I went back to work because, like you, I was getting hardly any milk and it just wasn't worth it to me. DS gets mostly formula and I still BF as much as I can.

I would BF and then offer a few oz of formula to see if she's truly still hungry.

[slug*bug]

I got to that point, too...but my supply drop happened later (9ish mos. was my second...and steep...drop) Luckily, I had just enough of a freezer stash to make it to a year when we switched her to whole milk during the day, BFing when I'm at home.

That said, I had been fighting a diminished supply for awhile and had decided that if the freezer stash didn't hold, we'd switch to FF rather than continuing to fight, which was a huge step. (I made myself literally crazy trying to get to 12 mos. w/DS...I shouldn't have been nearly so hard on myself: it's my one regret and I vowed not to let myself be consumed by it this time around.) I was down to about what you're getting...if I had a 10 oz. day at the end I was celebrating b/c it was so unusual.

I was making DH crazy worrying about it and I realized that the kids probably could feel my stress about always being hooked up to the pump, too...I love BFing, but for that amount of stress? Not worth it.

[beachdweller]

If it were me, I'd quit if you are only making that small of an amount. Just not worth the stress of pumping all day at work to me if such a small percentage of her intake will be BM. The supply thing is so unfair and so different for each person. In a 10 hour day, I pumped three times and would get about 30 ounces. If I had to pump 6 times to get 6 ozs, I would have cried. You've done a great job getting her to 7 months of BM!

[Deleted]

May 16, 2012 12:47:25 GMT -5 pierogigirl said:

I would keep nursing when you are together. Pump output =/= nursing output. I am a poor responder to the pump so I'm not sure if I would keep pumping, but I think I would. That doesn't mean you should. Do what makes you enjoy the time with your LO the most.

This is also my advice. Some people are not good pumpers. If she's having enough wet/dirty diapers when you are w/ her I woudln't be concerned about her not getting enough. I would pump once, maybe twice during the 12 hour shifts so my supply doesn't completely tank and then I would continue to nurse on my days off w/out supplementing. I think she's old enough at this point that you can do that w/out ruining your supply.

[satama]

That really sucks. It would not be worth it to me to pump that much for that small of an output. At that point if I was not willing to try meds I would just do formula while at work, but still nurse at home if I wanted to. If my milk dried up and I could not continue to nurse after trying all of that I think I would be ok with that, and just accept using all formula.

[Deleted]

May 16, 2012 13:33:25 GMT -5 @iamnotyou said:

May 16, 2012 12:47:25 GMT -5 pierogigirl said:

I would keep nursing when you are together. Pump output =/= nursing output. I am a poor responder to the pump so I'm not sure if I would keep pumping, but I think I would. That doesn't mean you should. Do what makes you enjoy the time with your LO the most.

This is also my advice. Some people are not good pumpers. If she's having enough wet/dirty diapers when you are w/ her I woudln't be concerned about her not getting enough. I would pump once, maybe twice during the 12 hour shifts so my supply doesn't completely tank and then I would continue to nurse on my days off w/out supplementing. I think she's old enough at this point that you can do that w/out ruining your supply.

She is having plenty of wet and dirty diapers. The reason I was still pumping so much at work is because I was worried my supply would drop if I didn't....I guess maybe I will try to cut back to just a couple pumping sessions at work, supplement with formula as I need to and see what happens. UGH. I'm so disappointed that it hasn't worked out the way I wanted it to, but I can't make myself crazy over this anymore.

[barefootcontessa]

I did not read replies -- so sorry if this has been mentioned. I recently lost my supply because I was pregnant. I miscarried so I am trying to get my supply back. I have had good luck increasing by power pumping. I think Kelly Mom describes it, but basically it involves pumping for ten minutes, resting for ten, pumping for ten, resting for ten, and continuing for an hour or two. The times I have done it I have used my rubber bands for hands-free pumping while I work on my computer or fold laundry, whatever. You might want to try this and see if you can jump start things. It took about 3-4 nights before I noticed a difference.

That said, I would not pump for just six ounces. Are you open to meds? I would not quit cold turkey because I would be concerned about what it would do to my baby's gut flora. My first son had major GI issues when I just stopped at a year. GL.

[Deleted]

May 16, 2012 13:55:48 GMT -5 barefootcontessa said:

I did not read replies -- so sorry if this has been mentioned. I recently lost my supply because I was pregnant. I miscarried so I am trying to get my supply back. I have had good luck increasing by power pumping. I think Kelly Mom describes it, but basically it involves pumping for ten minutes, resting for ten, pumping for ten, resting for ten, and continuing for an hour or two. The times I have done it I have used my rubber bands for hands-free pumping while I work on my computer or fold laundry, whatever. You might want to try this and see if you can jump start things. It took about 3-4 nights before I noticed a difference.

That said, I would not pump for just six ounces. Are you open to meds? I would not quit cold turkey because I would be concerned about what it would do to my baby's gut flora. My first son had major GI issues when I just stopped at a year. GL.

I have not tried the power pumping. Did you just do it for an hour or so at night after baby went to bed? I could give it a whirl.

[Ashley&Scott]

Are you eating & drinking enough water while you're working? I know you have a very busy job.

Have you tried breast compressions while pumping?

Have you tried looking at pictures and videos of V while pumping?

What level are you pumping on?

Ditto barefootcontessa try power pumping. Here's a link on kellymom about increasing output, I'm not sure if you've read/tried these things yet.
kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/pumping_decrease/

If her diaper output is good then I wouldn't worry about her not getting enough when you're bfing.

Hang in there!

[Deleted]

IF power pumping fails (and it worked for me, so there's hope!), I would only nurse when with her, and supplement with formula. I wouldnt quit nursing all together, because babies are much more efficient than a pump- but no way would I do 6 sessions if my output was only 6 oz.

Kellymom should be very helpful. Don't give up yet.

[barefootcontessa]

May 16, 2012 14:04:06 GMT -5 @lilly said:

May 16, 2012 13:55:48 GMT -5 barefootcontessa said:

I did not read replies -- so sorry if this has been mentioned. I recently lost my supply because I was pregnant. I miscarried so I am trying to get my supply back. I have had good luck increasing by power pumping. I think Kelly Mom describes it, but basically it involves pumping for ten minutes, resting for ten, pumping for ten, resting for ten, and continuing for an hour or two. The times I have done it I have used my rubber bands for hands-free pumping while I work on my computer or fold laundry, whatever. You might want to try this and see if you can jump start things. It took about 3-4 nights before I noticed a difference.

That said, I would not pump for just six ounces. Are you open to meds? I would not quit cold turkey because I would be concerned about what it would do to my baby's gut flora. My first son had major GI issues when I just stopped at a year. GL.

I have not tried the power pumping. Did you just do it for an hour or so at night after baby went to bed? I could give it a whirl.

Yes, after baby goes to bed for the night. Ten minutes on then off about hour or hour and a half. I never get much out but the next morning I feel a noticeable difference in supply. You can also try pumping for 5 minutes after she nurses to see if that helps.

All that said, I wouldn't feel bad if it does not work out. You gave her seven months and there is nothing you can do about your hormones. GL.