Breastfeeding at 6 months plus and poor milk supply

Emily - posted on 08/04/2010

Thanks ladies. Will persist with expressing. Luckily she does feed often so i must hav a good supply for her.

Julie - posted on 08/02/2010

I agree with the other moms. You are doing a great job and I also have a hard time trying to find the right time to pump. My son nurses till im dry so the only time I can pump is first thing in morning. Instead of putting breastmilk in the cereal try water or juice.

Jessie - posted on 08/02/2010

I am nursing my 12 month old and I have never been able express much for milk. It used to really stress me out but I learned that it did not indicate my supply. I think you are doing fine with your supply. I am not sure if whole milk would be ok with the cereal or not, ask you childs doctor next time you have a visit. I know at 6 months I used a little bit of juice and milk so I wasnt using up all my pumped milk for cereal. I dont really give him juice as a drink but a little bit in food works for us.

Kathy - posted on 08/02/2010

Sounds all good. Just make sure you breastfeed her often to make sure your supply is good.

Lerin - posted on 07/30/2010

No problem! Try not to stress about it, do what feels best for you & your daughter. Try not to let people's opinions get in the way of what you feel is right. If you have to say something whenever the weaning question comes up, just tell them 'thanks for your concern, but that's my decision to make when I decide that it's time.'
Good luck!

Emily - posted on 07/30/2010

Thanks Lerin, that helps. I think I wanted the reasurrance that expressing only a little milk is ok. I will have to find more time to keep expressing to build up a stock of milk then for when my little one needs more for her cereal. I'm happy to bfeed till 1 or beyond. I don't have anyone around me that is particularly pro breastfeeding so I find it hard sometimes when the weaning question comes up. I know I don't drink enough water during the day so I know there are some things I can do to help my supply a bit. Sorry, I think I'm rambling. Thanks again.

Lerin - posted on 07/30/2010

Expressing milk usually only yields about .5-1oz at time, so you're doing fine. What you are expressing is not an indication of how much milk you actually have b/c your baby is the most efficient method of emptying the breast- no breastpump- electric or manual or if you're doing it by hand is as effective as the baby.
I would def. hold off on regular cows milk until your baby is AT LEAST 1 yr old. Human digestive systems are not designed to digest the milk of another species and your babies's is still relatively immature.
Pumping in the morning is usually the best time to express. If you only need to express to mix with her cereal, then I wouldn't stress about it too much.
As far as 'breakfast milk' do you mean when you start giving it to her in cup to go along with the cereal? If that's the case then I would try to fit more expressing sessions into your day. Fresh milk will keep about 3 days in the 'fridge. You can freeze it if you won't be using it before then, but freezing can alter the taste. Also your baby may not like taking breastmilk out of cup. You can give diluted apple juice in a cup if you want her to learn how to drink out of a cup now, but it really isn't something that she absolutely has to know how to do. Nursing at the breast will provide her all the 'drinking' that needs til age 1.
Also our doctor said that as long as you are breastfeeding, after age 1, then cow's milk is not necessary, as babies are still getting all the vitamins and appropriate fats from breastmilk.
Good luck!