Pumping is not as Effective

Meredith - posted on 10/29/2008

Dita - I have had similar problems with my almost 4 month old. I'm only at work three days a week and between weeks 12 and 16 we did great. Suddenly in week 17 my pumping just wasn't cutting it. I'm working fenegreek and increased water an dpumping more often, but I just couldn't keep up. She suddenly wanted to eat all the time. I have a fantastic sitter who has helped me with introducing some supplements (we do six ounces of breast milk and 2 ounces of formula combined). The sitter insists that she thinks we'll only have to supplement as long as the growth spurt lasts. We're at six days now and I think she is decreasing her intake some. At the most she was taking almost 20 ounces in a 3 hour period. There is no way I could have kept up with that! I hate to admit that she has been sleeping really well with some formula at night.

Seema - posted on 10/29/2008

I started back to work when my baby turned 6 weeks old, and have had no issues with milk production. I pump at work about every 3 hrs..(and also thruout the night even if my baby is sleeping). My body produces about an oz. an hour. So I don't think my milk production has reduced any from pumping. My baby is now 16 weeks old and I have not had to use formula yet. I have a double electric pump, but I only use one of the pumps - alternating sides every min. or so. I find that I produce more that way rather than expressing milk from each side completely at once.

Colleen - posted on 10/29/2008

Try fenugreek. I take 3 capsules 3 times a day. You'll also find that you will pump more at work, than at home since your baby is not eating while you are there. You'll have some better days than others. Good luck!

Stacey - posted on 10/29/2008

Try pumping for 5 extra minutes when your milk is done coming, this tells your body that you need to produce more, a nurse told me this and I tried it and it does work.

Dita - posted on 10/29/2008

Thanks ladies.

Melissa - posted on 10/28/2008

I taught with all three of my children, and I breastfed all of them. A few pointers.... drink TONS of water. Every time you nurse, everytime you pump, drink a glass of water. Increasing your water will increase you milk supply. A few more tricks I have learned... bring an article of clothing with you from the baby.... his scent will help you let down. Also, a gentle breast massage will help you express more milk. You will gain in milk expression amounts as time passes, and when you haven't been around the baby in a while. Start expressing and storing whatever you can now, even if it is a few ounces, so you will have a little supply stored up. Just don't give him formula!

Emily - posted on 10/28/2008

Check out www.kellymom.com
There is a milk calculator somewhere on there. I believe that when baby is away, one ounce of breastmilk per one hour away is the goal. I left my baby with 4 oz bottles to be given about every 3 hours when he was away from me (from 8 weeks old to one year). This worked great for us. So, I think 6 ozs is too much at once. Breastmilk is so different than formula and should never be given in those quantities.