First Q:

I am working full time and recently switched shifts. I was making a lot more milk when I was working and pumping during second shift, and now that I am working 1st, I am having trouble keeping up with my baby. I thought I would try that "Mother's Miilk tea" but am kind of nervous about it. Is it TOTALLY safe for baby? Does it work? How long of drinking it do you start to see a difference in the amount you are making? My freezer supply is getting to a bear minimum and I am getting freaked out. Which I am SURE isn't helping the milk making either. Oh well. Answers and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

I haven't tried that, but I have tried Fenugreek, which I found worked GREAT!!

I went on it to make a good freezer stash, as I am going on a little mommy holiday and DH will stay home with ds.

I noticed a huge difference after taking it for 3 days. I felt fuller in the mornings, and was able to pump an additional 2 oz more than usual. Sometimes even more, depending on how much ds would nurse. I also have been pumping after my evening nursing sessions, which I wasn't able to do before. I mamaged to get a freezer stash of 70 oz & counting in no time!! (which is a lot for me!)

I have read a lot about it and it is completely safe!!

Anyways, good luck. I hope someone has some info on the tea for you!!!

I'm thinking about starting fenugreek too. So far I have definitely found that eating oatmeal daily and drinking lots of water helps boost supply. I also find that it comes and goes -- some weeks are lower than others, just naturally. I'm learning not to get nervous about it when it happens, and trying to freeze a bag here and there when supply is up, so it's there when supply is down.

Also, the best way to boost supply is pump pump pump and nurse nurse nurse. See if you can add a pumping session somewhere in your day. I found that adding one in the morning helps. On workdays I nurse when the baby wakes up, then shower, then pump before I leave for work.

HTH

Here's a link to some info on the Tea you're interested in.

http://www.kellymom.com/herbal-rem_j.html#milktea

I too am a supporter of oatmeal, you can read more about it at this link.

http://www.kellymom.com/herbal-rem_n.html#oatmeal

Second Q: Ideas for back to work mommy

I didn't have this problem when I went back to work in May so I'm not sure what's up... I've been back teaching school for a week. I'm not pumping even half of what I was getting during the summer months if I had to pump. I'm nursing her at 6am before I leave, then I pump at 9am. I pick her up by 1:00 pm. (I teach half-time.)

I've been having to pump at that 9:00 time and then at night an hour after she goes to bed I pump a little more to get her enough for the bottle she takes at the sitter.

Any ideas for how else to boost production?
Also, how much does lack of sleep effect this? I've been getting about 6 a night.

Any info you mamas could give would be appreciated... BTW, I don't think it's my pump... I have a double pumping Medela.

www.pumpingmoms.org has a lot of info on it regarding supply boosters etc. What I remember is that you need to drink plenty (at least 8-10 full glasses of WATER a day), cut down on caffeine because that can actually reduce your hydration levels, rest enough (it doesn't sound as if you're getting enough), and some supply boosters are mother's milk tea and/or fenugreek (enough to make you smell like maple syrup). I also found it helpful to concentrate on my baby (you could bring in a picture of her, and/or a piece of clothing with her smell on it), plus massage my breasts before pumping.

Since your baby is getting older, is she eating any solids yet? That might put the pressure off you. You could also try pumping on one side while she nurses when you get home, to take advantage of the let-down.

Keep in mind that it's much harder to let down for a pump than for a baby, especially if you haven't been doing it for a while (over the summer). Also you're more likely to pump more at the beginning of a week than the end, because you're usually more rested at the beginning.

I hope this helps!

Try fenugreek and lots of water.
I think you can start fenugreek at one every meal time and up it to 6 or 9 a day. Drink lots of water. I think I read somewhere that oatmeal will help increase your milk supply, but can't remember where. Also you will pump more in the morning than at night.

I will pick up some mother's milk tea tomorrow when I'm in town. I read up on the fenugreek on the link you sent me... I'm gonna look around tomorrow and try to find it.

I'm sure you're right about the sleep part. I'm taking a nap during the afternoon with the kids (when they actually nap at the same time). It's hard to get enough sleep and still see my dh because of our work schedules. I end up staying up later than I should so that I can see him for 2 hours a day. Urgh... but this way our kids aren't at a daycare as much.

I'm sure I'm not drinking enough water. I'm really horrible about this at school. I'm just going to have to start making a special effort. Usually I'm lucky if I can sneak out the drinking fountain once... maybe some bottles of water.

Thanks for all the info so far. It's got me thinking about what I need to do.

She has started on juice a little. She's 5 months so solid food is around the corner=)

Third (final) question
Here is the deal. Ds is 5 months old and I have nursed him on demand except for two feedings a week when I am teaching my college course and because he was not gaining weight I did supplement but only after he had nursed for at least 15 minutes. He has not been gaining weight in the last 2 months and I can tell that my milk supply is going down hill fast (actually, over the last couple of days it has been almost non-existent).

A few weeks ago I was told that my pituitary gland is not working effectively and guess what, that little gland is what secrets prolactin which is what stimulates lactation

I am currently on mineral supplements and a booster for my pituitary gland to help get me back into shape. I also ordered a drug called motillium which is used for acid reflux but is supposed to have a side affect of increased lactation.

Anyway, after all of this rambling, what should I do. I seriously was only able to nurse twice today and had hardly any milk left. Is it possible to bring back my milk supply if it has dwindled this much? Has anyone else tried this drug before? Will pumping while I am supplementing help bring back my supply? Could ds's bottle supplementations be effecting his sucking reflex enough to make my milk supply dwindle?

If you were in my shoes would you take a drug to try to continue to nurse or would you switch to the bottle. Supposedly, the drug will not pass into my milk.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

If it were me, I would take the drug and continue nursing rather than not be able to breastfeed. Breastmilk has so many benefits, I want my kids to have that.

I would pump and nurse as often as possible. As soon as your supply seems greater, I would wean baby off the supplements.

Good luck, I hope it gets better soon!

i second sticking to the nursing... pump and try the drug. have you been to the health food store? there are herbs that have helped increase milk supply... drinking a ton of water? do you have a LLL nearby? i'd be on the phone with a leader asap... what kind of pump are you using? also, does your son still like to nurse? even a little nursing would be better than none.....

hope your milk comes in for you, keep us updated!

Ds was fine with nursing up until the last two days. Now he screams when I try to nurse.

I have the purely yours breast pump by Hollister.

I talked to a LLL person but she is on maternity leave so she put me in contact with another mom and that mom is who told me about the drug.

This is just really frustrating because I desperately want to nurse but my son is extremely underweight and I am afraid that he may be permanently effected if I can't start nourishing him properly.

Oh Dear!
First let me say, YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!! :D
Try not to stress out about it, stress can have a negitive affect on your supply.
Drink plenty of water, eat a TON of oatmeal and get some fenugreek! I've never heard of that other drug, but I know that fenugreek works wonders for most moms.
I'm off to find more tips to help you increase your supply.
It sounds like you are going to have to continue to supplement, but as SOON as your milk get's back up to speed, it would be GREAT if you could cut the supplementing totally out.
Is it possible to bring back my milk supply if it has dwindled this much? Will pumping while I am supplementing help bring back my supply? Could ds's bottle supplementations be effecting his sucking reflex enough to make my milk supply dwindle?
The answer to all of those questions is YES!
I think a good goal for you would to get your supply back up enough to pump BM for those 2 feedings and cut out formula all together.
I'll be back with some links on supply increase.

http://pub80.ezboard.com/fbreastfeedingmomsfrm35.showMessage?topicID=17.top ic
http://pub80.ezboard.com/fbreastfeedingmomsfrm3.showMessage?topicID=47.topi c
http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/all_about_fenugreek.html
http://www.parentingweb.com/lounge/bf_herbs.htm
http://users.erols.com/cindyrn/feungr.htm
http://users.erols.com/cindyrn/notenough.htm

You have gotten some very good advice so far. If you wouldn't mind, I would like to know his weight history. This will give us a better idea of what steps to take first.

If you can, please contact a IBCLC. She will be able to help you greatly.

Hang in there!

DS was 7 lbs. 11 oz at birth and 7 7 when he left the hospital. We don't vax so I don't have weights from well baby visits but we do weigh him occasionally at home.

At six weeks I took him to our family doctor and he was 9 lbs. 4 oz. at 12 weeks he was 10 lbs. 5 oz. and now at 22 weeks he weighs 11 lbs.

I contacted my doula today and she is a licensed lactation consultant. I am going to discuss the situation with her tomorrow.

I am trying everything I can: fenugreek (6 capsules per day), oatmeal, mothers milk tea, frequent nursings, I just started taking domperidone (6 tablets per day). I am also trying to nurse freuquently even though Ds does not want anything to do with nursing.

Due to my inactive pituitary gland and low amounts of prolactin, I am not sure if these things will help me be successful or not but I am willing to try.

I'm so glad you got ahold of your Doula. With any luck, she'll have experience in this matter. If she doesn't, she may know someone that does.

I'm very proud of you for sticking with this and trying things to increase your supply even though you're not sure it'll work. Either way, in the end, you can be proud of yourself for putting in such a great effort! :)

Try to ask her about using an SNS today. That may help keep baby interested in the breast.

From the numbers, I see that he obviously is progressing in weight gain. However, he's a little under where he probably should be. I don't feel he's so far off as to cause alarm, just keep getting those calories in him!

If the mineral supp's, the fenugreek, domperidone and everthing else you're doing works....you're gonna have some kind of milk production!!! :D

YES! An SNS would probably be the way to go!
I hope your doula has some info for you.
Please keep us updated! :D