amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

fericito · 03-06-2003, 12:16 PM

Ever since I went back to work my supply has gone down hill FAST... I had a ton stored in the freezer and just this morning we RAN OUT...I've been pumping every day but I only seem to get enough for one or two bottles and dd drinks more during the day then at night when I'm home to nurse. I've tried everything I've read, I'm taking lots of Fenugreek, eating oatmeal and drinking plenty of water, but I can't get my supply back up to enough to feed her when I'm gone... (I've tried power pumping, weekend pumping, etc., but pumping never yeilds more than enough for one or two bottles...when I'm lucky (dd is drinking 5-6 ozs per feeding)

I'm afraid we're going to have to do formula while I'm at work but dd gets so constipated...

Any advice???

fericito · 03-06-2003, 12:20 PM

I forgot to say dd is only 3 months old and has only been nursing for 2 (she was in the hospital on a feeding tube for the first month)

RocketScientist · 03-06-2003, 12:31 PM

Have you tried doing an early morning pumping (when your supply is usually highest), either in addition to, or while she's nursing (pump on one side only)? What kind of pump are you using? How often do you pump during the day while away from you? Is it in a stressful location (ie people come by and you're not able to lock a door, or you're trying to pump in a cubicle or bathroom)?

I don't recommend "power pumping" - pumping for a longer amount of time is not usually as effective as pumping more frequently.

fericito · 03-06-2003, 12:35 PM

I don't know how early is early pumping... I usually pump about 7.30 which is after I'm settled at work... I try pumping every 2-3 hours while at work. The power pumping I referred to was what a lactation consultant at the hospital told me to do which is pump for 10 min, stop for 10, pump for 10, stop for 10, etc. for an hour each day... but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

I'm using the purely yours pump by ameda...

tandemmama · 03-07-2003, 03:36 PM

You say you've tried power pumping and weekend pumping...but what about power nursing and weekend nursing? If you can take one weekend and don't do anything but nurse, nurse, nurse as much as possible..take the baby in the bed and lay with your shirt off and just let the baby latch on and off throughout the weekend as much as you can...use a sling and offer the breast very very often. I did this when my supply dwindled (I worked as well) and it always brought my milk back up! course you have to find time to pump during the weekend too, that's tricky.. guess you could pump when baby sleeps?

good luck mama! I used to cut it so close that I'd have to call dh when I'd pump at work and he'd drive to my work and pick up the milk so he'd have it for the rest of the night...(I worked nights)

mom2jflc · 03-07-2003, 06:02 PM

I second the power nursing idea - I always found it to be much better stimulation than a pump. I also have some other ideas. First, are you drinking enough while you are at work? I know that sometimes I get busy at work and don't drink as much as I need - even not lactating. When you are lactating, it's that much more important - if your body doesn't have enough water, it won't make as much milk. Second - are you sure it's a supply problem, and not a let-down problem? I had a terrible time with let down with the pump. Having something that smelled like my baby, like an article of clothing he had worn or a blanket he had used, helped, as did switching to the Avent Isis pump. It's a hand pump, so maybe a little less convenient, but it's quiet, more comfortable than my electric pump, and I got much better let down with it. Another idea is to close your eyes, relax and think about your baby for a few minutes before you start to pump.

Good luck! I know how frustrating it is to try to balance work and motherhood, much less work and breastfeeding. I hope you find something that works for you.

my_4_loves · 03-07-2003, 07:27 PM

Hi! I'm an LC and a fellow Amity Mama brought your post to my attention. You've gotten pretty good advice so far.

Some key points to remember:

1. Nursing will *always* provide better stimulation than pumping. The baby's mouth works in a very different way than a suck-and-release pump. The Purely Yours is a great pump, but you may want to consider renting a hospital-grade Ameda pump (that way you can use the kit that came w/ your PY) for a week and see if you can tell a difference.

2. If you're not at work, I would recommend having a nursing-only rule. That way you're not tempted to pump & bottle feed (and thereby reducing the amt of actual nursing she's doing)

3. The water, fenugreek, oatmeal are good things to try. You may be at a point where you would like to try a prescription medication. There are two: reglan and domperidone. They do require a prescription from your doc, and they do have some side effects, make sure you look an the information thoroughly.

4. If your daughter was in the hospital, you may have not been able to pump/nurse enough during that critical first two weeks. We know that the more you pump/nurse in the first two weeks the better your supply is long-term.

5. Are you still nursing at night? If your baby is sleeping through, I would recommend pumping at least once in the middle of the night. The reason is that if you don't, your baseline hormone levels will gradually drop over time...thus further reducing your supply.

6. Also remember that skin to skin contact can boost your milk supply as well. You may want to take some skin-to-skin naps w/ her on the weekend & consider co-sleeping if you aren't already.

I hope some of this has helped & that you can increase your supply. But remember, that any amount of breastmilk is better than none at all. So, if she ends up getting a bit of formula during the day...you are still doing a wonderful thing by nursing her every chance you get.

Take Care,