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Drop the Pump, Nurse when together

Myetta - posted on 10/26/2010 ( 2 moms have responded )

118

4

So i work 40-45 hours a week and am away from my 6 month old from 6 am till about 5 pm. She usually doesn't nurse until about 7 pm then I'll give her solids, a bath, then nurse her to sleep. She'll wake up once or twice and nurse, then in the morning around 5:15 she'll nurse for a little bit.
When i pump I only ge tlike6 ounces out total, I've taken fenugreek and dirnk the mother's milk tea, hoping to build up a supply for her at the daycare...but nothing works...I sometimes am able to sneak in a quick pump session when i get home if she's asleep and my other kids don't need me.
My question is will my supply stay how it is, and be there when she needs it * weekends and evenings* or will it eventually dry up because I don't relaly pump every single day every 2 hours...with my job i really can't. get the 15 minute break free, but everytime after that I have to basically take and just not be paid for it...and then battling the other moms here for the breastfeeding rooms, and between meetings nad such. I'm at a loss of what to do.
Ideally I'd like to just nurse my baby when we're togethe rand she drink the 2-3 formula bottle while at daycare...I just want my supply safe.

sorry it's so long

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2 Comments

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Brittany - posted on 10/26/2010

196

6

Wow 6oz at a time? That's great! The most I could ever get was like 2oz for a half an hour to an hour of pumping. I would pump frequently during the day and combine the bottles to get 1 feeding or a little less.

Your supply will not stay the same if you stop pumping but I agree with Lisa, above me. It's better to send her to daycare with solids and water if you cannot pump at work. =)

Minnie - posted on 10/26/2010

7,075

9

It sounds like you've found a good solution to make things easier for you at work. Pumping can be very time consuming and frustrating and being able to forgo it must be a relief.



It must be a little worrying, though, thinking about how your body will respond to the change and you are concerned about how much milk you will have for her during the weekednds.



Your body will make how much she takes. If you regularly nurse her at your breast in the evenings your body will continue to make milk. About the weekends- you are never truly 'empty' and are always making milk. The flow might not be as fast at those times though, once your body adjusts to you not pumping during the day. She will likely simply nurse more frequently on the weekends to get what she needs- you'll probably find that come Monday your breasts are a little full from her frequent nursing.



You mention that you want to give her formula during the day. One thing that you might find helpful is simply sending her to her caregiver with solids and water and only nursing her at home. That will save you money and she won't have to have formula. As long as you are nursing her often when you are together (and during the night, which is excellent for maintaining good milk production) she does not need a supplement during the day.

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