Breastfeeding Support Group
While breastfeeding is recommended by many doctors, it is not as simple as it seems. This is a community dedicated to parents who are choosing to breastfeed, providing a safe place to discuss everything from pumping, to questions of whether baby is getting enough, weaning, breast care, scheduling, supply, and more.
I went back to work when my DD was just about 9 weeks. I pumped 5 times a day and was getting about 20-22oz. I was just getting by with making my DD's daily needs with that (I'm able to bf 2-3 times a day as well...and then all weekend ofcourse). I've been taking Alfalfa and Fenugreek too.
Well, last week I took the week off of work. (DD was 17w) I thought this would be a great opportunity to get my milk supply up because I'd be feeding her directly and having her back on the boob would help my supply. I WAS SO WRONG!! Towards the end of the week it was like she wasn't getting anything. I was feeding her like every hour and then breaking out the formula to give her. She's been getting cereal in her bottles (to help with reflux) for the past 4 weeks, so I thought she was used to getting the bulk in the cereal and that's why she was so hungry. I even started her on solids that week (with my ped's ok...DD was showing all of the signs of being ready to eat).
So, now I'm back at work and I'm literally getting 1/2 when I pump....only about 10-12oz in my 5 pumps a day for 2 days in a row now.
I let my supplimenting taking slide a little during my week off. So i'm dillegintly back on those...and I know all of the other stuff...like staying hydrated, etc.
Has anyone had a major decrease and was able to get it back up??
She's only 4.5 months and I was hoping to make it minimally to 6 months but as close to a year as possible.
Well, last week I took the week off of work. (DD was 17w) I thought this would be a great opportunity to get my milk supply up because I'd be feeding her directly and having her back on the boob would help my supply. I WAS SO WRONG!! Towards the end of the week it was like she wasn't getting anything. I was feeding her like every hour and then breaking out the formula to give her. She's been getting cereal in her bottles (to help with reflux) for the past 4 weeks, so I thought she was used to getting the bulk in the cereal and that's why she was so hungry. I even started her on solids that week (with my ped's ok...DD was showing all of the signs of being ready to eat).
So, now I'm back at work and I'm literally getting 1/2 when I pump....only about 10-12oz in my 5 pumps a day for 2 days in a row now.
I let my supplimenting taking slide a little during my week off. So i'm dillegintly back on those...and I know all of the other stuff...like staying hydrated, etc.
Has anyone had a major decrease and was able to get it back up??
She's only 4.5 months and I was hoping to make it minimally to 6 months but as close to a year as possible.
Stay hydrated, keep pumping and put baby to breast as much as possible.
Another suggestion, add an additional pump 1 hour after your am feed... my LC told me that helps increase supply. I do that and I think it helps.
Good luck!
Right now, my pump schedule is approxiamtely: 5:45am, 8:30am, 12pm, 3:15pm.... then I get home and normally feed her between 5-6pm and then at night when I put her down I found that I seemed to be empty...so I've been giving her a bottle (4 oz with cereal) and then I bf her. Then I pump again around 10:30 when I go to bed.
My morning pump (which I was getting 7+ oz and have only been getting 4 oz) was lack luster again today, but my first two pumps at work were pretty good. So, I hope that it is slowly building back up.