Breastfeeding/pumping questions

[isabel]

Add yours!

Depending on how long my kid sleeps, I sometimes I go as much as 12 hours between feeds on one side. For example, he ate on both sides at 8pm, DH bottle fed him at 1, and then I fed him at 5, but he only ate on the left. I am just now pumping at work, so my right side has gone 12 hours. It is huge and so full, but was only just getting uncomfortable right before I got up to pump. Is this bad? Am I going to kill my supply doing this? I really don't want to pump MOTN. Last night was the first good night of sleep I've had in a long while and I've been feeling like crap lately because of it.

Is it important to pump on a specific schedule? I sometimes vary it depending on when DS eats, so usually between 8-10 in the morning and a similar adjustment in the afternoon, 1-3. Does this matter or should I be sticking to specific times?

[Blue Moon]

How old is your baby? Only 10 weeks? I would not go 12 hours without anything that young. I could never muster up the energy to pump MOTN either, but I could usually drag myself out of bed to nurse. I would pump after the 5am feed at a minimum if your LO doesn't eat on both sides.

I would have my H give a 12/1 am bottle sometimes too, so what I'd do to maximize my sleep would be to go to bed immediately after I nursed around 8/9. Then H would take the 12/1 bottle, and I would get up and nurse at the next feeding. I could usually get 6 hours that way, which made a huge difference.

I have messed with my pumping schedule at lot these last few months because of work scheduling things out of my control. My supply mostly stayed the same.

[Blue Moon]

Jun 17, 2015 9:13:03 GMT -5 milliep said:

I am no pumping expert by any means, but when I'm up to feed DD in the MOTN and her first nursing session in the morning, I nurse on one side and pump on the other.  I bring my hand pump into my room before bed so I'm not fumbling trying to get it together MOTN.  I'm uncomfortable after about 6 or 7 hours though and leaking by then, so it's a little different for me.  

What can I add brewers yeast to other than a smoothie or cookies to boost supply?  I have some banana nut muffin mix, can I add some in there or will it be gross?  

I think you can add brewer's yeast to most baked goods and things like oatmeal, etc.  I prefer to take Brewer's yeast tablets though.  I get them on Amazon. 

[linz]

Did anyone's supply drop when working out? I just started running again and it's been down. Eat and drink more? I'm not as hungry some days so have a hard time adding in calories.

[anna7602]

I'm not too comfortable when I go twelve hours without feeding on one side. When DS STTN (which has only happened once in the last 10 days due to illness), I nurse him on one side before he goes to sleep around 6:30pm, and then I pump that side just after feeding him when he wakes up around 5 or 6 am. (The side I nurse him on was last used around 4:30pm the previous day, so still in the 12-ish hours range.)

In your case, I would probably pump on the other side at 5. But, I need the extra pumped milk for bottles. If I dropped my morning pump, I 'm sure my body would adjust, just like it adjusted when I dropped my MOTN pump.

[Blue Moon]

@milliep Yes, it's just like a vitamin you swallow. I use these: www.amazon.com/dp/B002O8U99I/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1434550949&sr=1&keywords=brewers+yeast

I take 9 a day, 3 after each meal. I've been forgetful with it lately and my supply is down so I think it does help.

[Blue Moon]

Also isabel can you pump while getting ready for work? I pump every morning while I'm doing my hair/makeup. I'd be standing there in the bathroom anyway, so it's not really a big deal to strap on the hands-free bra and pump at the same time.

[Deleted]

Jun 17, 2015 9:05:43 GMT -5 isabel said:

Add yours!

Depending on how long my kid sleeps, I sometimes I go as much as 12 hours between feeds on one side. For example, he ate on both sides at 8pm, DH bottle fed him at 1, and then I fed him at 5, but he only ate on the left. I am just now pumping at work, so my right side has gone 12 hours. It is huge and so full, but was only just getting uncomfortable right before I got up to pump. Is this bad? Am I going to kill my supply doing this? I really don't want to pump MOTN. Last night was the first good night of sleep I've had in a long while and I've been feeling like crap lately because of it.

Is it important to pump on a specific schedule? I sometimes vary it depending on when DS eats, so usually between 8-10 in the morning and a similar adjustment in the afternoon, 1-3. Does this matter or should I be sticking to specific times?

I am pretty sure I've had all the problems with my breasts, but I did get mastitis I'm pretty sure because I wasn't draining my right breast frequently enough and I don't think I ever went 12 full hours. It was early pp, but I would keep that in mind not to push your luck.

[isabel]

Jun 17, 2015 9:28:22 GMT -5 Blue Moon said:

Also isabel can you pump while getting ready for work? I pump every morning while I'm doing my hair/makeup. I'd be standing there in the bathroom anyway, so it's not really a big deal to strap on the hands-free bra and pump at the same time.

My morning routine is absurdly fast. I got out of bed at 6 this morning, showered, and was dressed and ready to go by 6:15. I don't wear makeup and I just run a brush through my hair and let it air dry. 10 of those 15 minutes were in the shower. So, that probably won't work.

I could pump after feeding him in the morning though, depending on when he wakes up. Some mornings it's not necessary because he's woken up more than once. I think I'll just adjust as necessary and pump if it's been a long time.

On the plus side, I've gotten at least 13 ounces so far with this pump and the right side is still going.

[anna7602]

Jun 17, 2015 9:42:18 GMT -5 @charky said:

Jun 17, 2015 9:19:45 GMT -5 linz said:

Did anyone's supply drop when working out? I just started running again and it's been down. Eat and drink more? I'm not as hungry some days so have a hard time adding in calories.

YES. I tried for a few weeks and my supply tanked, so I decided to delay getting back into running until I wean. Powerade seemed to help a little.

I'm jealous of women who can run and still BF.

Ack, I'm so embarrassed and humbled and have had my mind-blown to have a revelation like this so late in the game. My pumping supply has been so much lower with DS the whole time than it was with DD. I've rationalized it 80 different ways, but the huge difference is that I've been running since about 4 months pp, when I wasn't a runner at all until DD was about 3.5 or 4 years old. 

Man.