Changing My Mind About Weaning

Carrie - posted on 02/15/2009

Working and Pumping sucks, doesn't it?  Read the book "The Milk Memos" it's wonderful.  Also, check out this link on relactation.  http://www.kellymom.com/bf/adopt/index.h...

You might call an LLL leader in your area for help as well.  www.llli.org

Breastfeeding doesn't have to be all or nothing.  If you decide to keep a few of the sessions and still suppliment for others, you can :)  I stopped pumping at a year, but kept nursing morning and night until 20mo.

Marguerite - posted on 02/14/2009

Were you still pumping at work or during your time away from your son? I pumped at work when I was away from my daughter, and I am still breastfeeding her now, she is 18 months. She breastfeeds in the am when she wakes up and at night when she is going to bed, and if for some reason she wakes up in the middle of the night also. I have heard that the fenugreek works and there was another mom here on circle who had a less expensive herb that does the same thing. I will try and find it again and tell you!

Candi - posted on 02/14/2009

Update on the fenugreek - works fast!  And I smell like a pancake LOL!  Maybe this is why it is supposed to also work as an aphrodisiac - a big breakfast is my husband's favorite meal :)

Jenn - posted on 02/11/2009

Supply and demand. Dring a TON of water...I mean, like "Ug, I am going to be sick..." amounts of water. My lactaction consultant gave me a recipe that REALLY helped my milk supply...coupled with the "I am going to be sick..." amounts of water, you will take 3 Brewers Yeast Tabs and 1 Fenugreek 3 times per day. Your urine will smell like maple syrup, but hey...everybody likes waffles LOL. It works, I plumped up like crazy. There is a product out called Mother's Tea, you can get it at High Health or GNC, it tastes really good and you can drink up to 3 glasses a day. Good luck mama, you are doing an amazing and selfless thing here!!!

Bethany - posted on 02/11/2009

I had a similar problem with milk supply.  I called my lactation nurse and she said to take the fenugreek and also to pump after every single feeding.  Even though you probably won't pump any milk, it stimultes the breast to let your body know it needs to make more.  I found both things to work great.  Also a close friend, who is a dietician, told me that it takes your body 2-5 days to catch up when a baby begins to eat more....so sometimes just hanging in there when it's frustrating can pay off after a while. 

Cristina - posted on 02/11/2009

Thank you everyone!  I'm going to work tonight and I'm going to pump, pump pump!  I will try every two hours.  I'm going to the store first thing when I get off in the morning to buy some fenugreek.  Also, I had never heard of the oatmeal thing. Thanks!

Candi - posted on 02/11/2009

Are you pumping enough at work?  When I started back with my oldest, I pumped 3 times a day (eventually, I got down to 2 after he started on solids).  With your schedule, you should probably wake up to pump a couple times as well, even if it's just temporary to try to bring your milk back.  I just started fenugreek today as I'm going back to work after my second son next week, but I've never used it before so I don't know if it will work.  Our daycare test runs have shown him to have a voracious appetite and I know I'm not producing as much as I did the first time around.  I'm also pumping an hour after he nurses and at night to trick my body into extra production.  It's got to be hard working overnights like you do - good luck! 

Allison - posted on 02/11/2009

Fenugreek works great, and you can also try oatmeal (for breakfast, or oatmeal cookies!) Make sure you drink plenty of water and put him to the breast as often as you can - milk production is a supply and demand thing, so the more he nurses the more your supply will increase. Also, make sure you're pumping at least 10 minutes per side every few hours (don't remember the actually recommendation - take a look at for specifics) for a little while until your supply boosts. Also take a look at kellymom's article on bottlefeeding a breast-fed baby - often babies take in more from the bottle than they actually need or want.

Good luck! I'm sure you can get things working again soon :-)

Jodie - posted on 02/11/2009

hey hun try and let him latch on as much as possible this will increase and if you can, try pumpin at work as the motion will make your body produce more the more you do the more you produce good luck