Nursing - Austin, TX

I am in the same boat. Last week, I was only able to pump half of what I was pumping before. I started taking the herb, Fenugreek, and it has really helped with my milk supply. My 6 month old is growing like a weed, and it's hard for me to keep up. I'm still having to supplement with formula, but not as much as last week. I hope this helps!

Good luck,
L.

Try looking at website Motherlove.com
I use a product called More Milk which seems to have helped.
L.

Most of what I would say has already been said. I just wanted to add:
1) it might help to take a nursing holiday if you can. Just really dedicate a weekend or a day off to nursing. Make nursing your main priority for the day so that your baby can work on increasing your supply.
2) Perhaps try a different shield on your pump. If the breast shield doesn't fit you properly, it will be like a bad latch and the pump won't get as much as it could.
3) Do you pump both sides at the same time at work? If not, definitely try that. I always got tons more when I did both sides at once.
4) Try breast compression while you are pumping (make you hand into the shape of a U, and gently put pressure on your breast. This should increase the flow for a bit. When the flow backs off again, remove your hand. If the flow picks up, let it go until the flow decreases. Then rotate your hand and do it again. Keep going until you have circled both breasts).
5) If the teas or herbs don't work for you, there are prescriptions that can be given to increase milk supply. You could talk to your doctor about that.
6) Also, at home (especially if you do the nursing holiday thing), try to make sure that all/most of the baby's sucking is at your breast. If your baby is sucking on a pacifier or a thumb, you are missing out on valuable stimulation that would increase your milk supply.
Good luck. You are doing something amazing by pumping for your baby. As some other mothers say, you're doing a very difficult thing, and you should be proud of yourself for making it this far.

You may want to try tandem pumping. That is when you pump on one side while nursing on the other. This may help you build your milk supply up a little. The problem is that babies are much more efficient at extracting the milk that a pump is (no matter what type of pump.) You may want to consider a different type of pump. I used a hand pump and found that it was much better than an electric pump. I was able to control the pressure more and seemed to get more milk out at a time.

Also make sure you are mixing the breast milk and formula so that babies tummy can get accustomed to the change without any excess gas etc.

Hang in there, just keep it up as long as you can, you're doing great!

You've already been given good advice, I will just add that you should be proud of yourself for nursing so long. Don't beat yourself up over it, and if you can continue to BF while supplementing, at least your little one is still getting the benefits of nursing. Remember: The more you pump the more you produce. It may seem like it is BC of going back to work, but your hormones may be changing again, keep up the great work.

Hi F.,
Keep pumping, the more you pump the more milk you will produce. With the change in your daily routine and getting back to work that might be stressing you out which will slow down your production. Eat oatmeal every morning this helps produce milk and drink Mother's Milk Tea. I did both these things and was able to pump and still nurse my daughter who just turned 6 months old. I work full time too. It is very hard I have to admit but you can do it! Don't be sad we ALL go through this and it will take time! If you can only give her a bottle of your milk that is still better than nothing, if you have to give her formula that is okay. She needs milk. Good Luck!!

I have a 6 month old and started having the same problem a few weeks ago. I contacted a lactation specialist and she recommended taking fenugreek 3 times a day as well as pumping both breasts at the same time as frequently as possible and nursing as often as possible. It took a few days, but my milk has finally come back. I hope you find something that works for you too.

F.,

Are you stressing? Because if you are that is a major reason for the decrease in your milk supply. I too am nursing and I discovered that no matter how much water you drink or how much protein you have in your diet, if you are stressed out...you won't produce enough milk.

Good advice is to listen to soothing music while you are pumping and meditate and tell yourself, "I have more than enough milk, my child's nutritional needs will be met with the milk and love only mom can supply."

Try this and I guarantee you will be see a surplus. Trust me on this.

Written with love and care,

W.

I had a similar experience. I went back to work when my son was 12 weeks old. I rent a hospital grade pump and was pumping 2-3 times a day. It wasn't until he was about 5 months old (he turned 6 months old on Jan 24th) that I noticed a significant decrease in the amount I was producing via pumping. I got very concerned and did all kinds of research. I've tried every possible remedy out there. And ended up having to supplement my breastmilk with formula at daycare. It saddened me too. I really wanted to keep him 100% but just couldn't. My son currently receives 50/50 bottles (50% breastmilk because I still continue to pump) and 50% formula.

What I learned was that pumping (while a good second method of gathering milk)isn't as effecient a method as the baby. And that nearly every working Mother I spoke to had this problem at exactly the same time that we did (4.5 - 5.0 months). It's really hard to keep up the milk production at the same rate when you are not with the baby. Which is sad I know.

I'll tell you what I have tried.

-Drinking huge amounts of water - did that and it didn't help
-the lactation consultants at Tx Childrens where I rent my pump recommended taking fenugreek (don't take it as the bottle directs) take it 3 pills 3 x a day to increase milk production. I did that - didn't help
- i read about another supplement that contained Fenugreek called More Milk Plus ( found it only at Central Market for about $21.00 a bottle - for 60 capsules), all the reviews I read swore it was a miracle .. it didn't work for me and I took it faithfully until the bottle was done
- I've read eating oatmeal (the real kind not instant) increases milk production - tried that, it didn't work
- I already nurse on demand, but added another pump session at home at night and tried to add a 4th a work for several days to let my body know to produce more .. that didn't help .. I get about 2.5 ounces at nighttime after he goes to bed - but found pumping 4 x a day at the office just too difficult.

I know how you feel, I was so disappointed when I had to start him on formula .. we only give it to him during daycare .. otherwise on the weekends/nights .. I feed on demand and we started solids at 5.5 months.

Just know that anything (breastmilk) you continue to provide for her is still better than nothing. And also know .. if none of these suggestions work for you - you have done the best you can. I have to tell myself that all the time.

Good Luck.

there are teas and herbal supplements that you can get. try searching for lansinoh and see if they have anything. or you can call a lactation consultant.

I can recommend a book called "Nursing Mothers, Working Mothers" that is supposed to be amazing and written by a woman who was successful at doing both for something like 18 months.

Good Luck!

Hello F.. I have a 6 month old girl and nursed and pumped until she was 5 months. I too had trouble keeping my supply up. Then I read on a website somewhere to try Fenugreek. They come in these capsules and smell like maple syrup. You can get them at GNC pretty cheap. Anytime my supply started to go down due to stress at work or whatever, I would start taking the capsules (I think its like 2 or 3 pills 3 times a day or something like that) and my supply would get back to normal and even increase. I also bought a better pump. I was using the medela which after I bought my Avent Isis Duo, wished I had purchased it sooner. Medela was painful to me and took 15 minutes to get two ounces. With my Avent, it took me seven minutes (once i mastered it) to get 5 ozs. Thats a lot for me. Anyway, Fenugreek and a better pump seemed to work for me. Good Luck and keep up the good work.

M.

Hi F.,
It might be that she's going through a growth spurt and would naturally be nursing every hour or so. Is it at all possible for you to go to her daycare and nurse her there during your lunch break or something like that? The more natural nursing stimulation you have from the actual baby, the more milk your body will produce. So, perhaps try pumping more often, try to nurse her more during the time that you're with her (so let her just nurse on demand as much as possible), and try to keep your stress from work at a minimal level as that can reduce your supply, too.

Good luck! I'm a working mom, too, so I know it's hard, but you're to be commended for continuing to nurse & pump!!
Best wishes,
Amanda

My advice would be to nurse as much as you can when y'all are together - this will help your supply more than anything! On the weekends and over night (if she's waking at night) - NO BOTTLES, even if they're EBM. Her stimulation of your nipples is the best thing.

ALso, eating oatmeal every day can really help your supply. You're drinking plenty of water! You might think about drinking 3 cups of Mother's Milk tea a day (found in the natural section of many grocery stores - Traditional Medicinals is the brand I know). Relax while pumping. Another thing to think about is the size of your the breast shields on your pump. If you have the Medela PIS, those flanges are a size that not all women are. I had to get the "large" size (ordered over the internet) and it made quite a difference in my pumping output! The smaller size restricts milk ducts.

ANy day you have off or take off, make sure and nurse her then, too. She'll be going through that 6 month growth spurt soon (or is a little early now!) and you're really going to see a dip in your supply unless you make sure and have her on the breast when you can. I think that's why a lot of people give it up altogether or start supplementing at 5 or 6 months old. I've even heard that it's a good idea to take a "nursing vacation" every once in a while - taking a day off where you do nothing but be hang out with your baby, nursing whenever she wants (on demand), and providing yourself with food and water as needed. I was a teacher, and whenever we had a day off (like MLK or the like) in the week, that's what I would do and it would make a world of difference in my pumping output!

Hang in there. Many people will tell you there is no shame in giving formula and you've done great so far. I agree, but I also understand where you are coming from. I didn't want my son to have any formula, either, and managed to make that happen - but I worried about the pumping each and every day that first year!!! Now I'm a SAHM, and I love that I don't ever pump! So while it's ok and you shouldn't beat yourself up over having to give some formula, I totally understand that you don't want to do it - and that's ok too! www.kellymom.com might have more advice on this. I love that site for all its information!

Take fenugreek and blessed thistle herbal pills. They work great for increasing milk supply (in conjunction with drinking lots of water, of course). :-)

Get some "Nursing Tea" I like the yogi brand the best! Drink that I think it will help! Plus watch what you eat, cilantro and parsley can decress milk as well, some medication as well.
I nursed my 2nd kid for two years, two months had a 3 week break then gave birth to my 3rd and she is now 9mon, I feel like I have been nursing for ever! (not a big pumper, cause I'm at home. don't know if that makes a difference? I don't think it should)
Good luck!

The only way to produce more milk is to feed/pump more until your body realizes what you're wanting. Then, it will produce more. But, that may not be practical at this point. Don't be sad. You can still nurse for a while longer. She'll still be getting some natural nutrients from you and you have done a good thing so far! Be proud of yourself. I couldn't bring myself to pump at work. I know the sacrifice you have made and it is a tremendous one. Be grateful for the technology that has allowed it to happen thus far. Know you have done the right thing. If you wean entirely, consider buying the formula with DHA.

My favorite referral is La Leche League. These are women who have personal and certified training in breastfeeding and breastfeeding issues. There may be a local group in your town or city or you can visit their web site and type in your question. This is their web site address: http://www.lllusa.org/

From the list you give, I see that the your four children were born eight years apart, then four years, and then 13 months apart. Whew! and Hooray for you! I would be giving you a pat on the back for breastfeeding this long if I could meet you!

You might explore the possibility that your baby is getting ready for some solids and may not be as dependent on breast-milk as before. Or you may find that returning to full-time work has reduced the amount of time you spend breastfeeding (pumping is a poor substitute). With reduced time at the breast, there will be a reduction in milk production. It certainly sounds like you are taking care of yourself. I hope you find just the right answer. Good luck.

I also experienced a dip like that when I worked and pumped. I took mother's milk from www.motherlove.com. I also took clothing to work with me that my daughter had worn (pjs, hat, etc)as well as a current picture. I used it to think about my daughter which helped increase my supply. Also make sure you are pumping both sides at the same time.

In the evenings I would pump one side while she nursed on the other. And even after I fed her on one side I pumped it anyway while she nursed on the other.

Basically, nurse and pump together as often as you can. It will take some work but you can get your supply back up.

I have breastfed 4 of my children and remember a few things that the lactation lady mentioned: 1) It is possible to drink too much water and that can decrease your supply of milk and dilute it to the point where your baby doesn't get all the benefits. 2) most moms notice a decrease because the baby is getting bigger and her appetite is increasing, at which point, you may need to add some rice cereal etc. 3)There is an herbal supplement just for breastfeeding that has been used by moms for years called Fenugreek. I have taken it and it seems to help. It does make your urine and even your skin have sort of a maple syrup smell. Strange... You can get it at most health food or vitamin stores. Anyway, I know how you feel -- at 6 months, she is probably ready to start some other foods. Feed her the breastmilk that you DO have available first, then give her cereal, formula and/or baby veggies to fill her up afterwards so she still gets the benefits of the breastmilk for as long as possible. Hope it works for you!

I agree with Umber and Albraziel about nursing as much as possible. Like everyone else, when my baby was around 5 months I didn't think I could keep up--I stuck with nursing and the frustration (both hers and mine) and in about two weeks my supply seemed to have doubled just from letting her nurse as much as possible (even though this was hard for both of us until supply/demand balanced again). One thing to emphasize which others haven't so much....try to be patient with nursing--it will balance if you give it time. Good luck!

Hi F.,

First of all, congratulations on nursing and pumping! Your committment to your babie's health and development is inspiring.

I'm a training laction consultant and if I had a nickle for every time I heard a mom say that she's worried about her milk supply...

The truth is that at this point our milk production does not diminish, it becomes perfectly balanced. That means that you're no longer producing more milk than she needs, and that your body and your baby are in a synchronized rythm. You produce, she drains. Pumping becomes more difficult because your body knows the difference between her and the pump. Your body knows it doesn't have to save up the milk for her during pumping times and it isn't going to let as much down as when she suckles, either. Do keep pumping, though, as the nipple stimulation and draining are important. You can also try a different size shield on your pump.

You can try manual expression instead of the pump. It is more work but some women have better results manually.

Please do not think that you're not making enough for your baby just because you're not getting what you expect from a pump. I was never able to get more than 3-4 oz. out with a pump after the first two months. But my babies were nursed exclusively until 6 months and I continued to nurse for at least one more year for each of them.

If your baby is growing, wetting diapers and generally thriving then your breasts are producing perfect amounts of milk.

If you have started her on solids then your milk supply will be a little lower, again just because of your body being perfectly synched with her needs.

If you need to increase your milk supply you can lie around naked with her in bed for the weekend, touching skin as much as possible and having your husband wait on you. Drink as much water in bed as you possibly can and your milk supply will go up within 24 hours.

Good luck and congratulations on being a great mom!

I tried everything when I had that problem. I took the herbs, drank the tea, ate oatmeal every single day, compression, pictures, etc, etc. For me, that stuff did not work. What finally worked (and I hate to even suggest this since I am sure your mornings already start early and are busy) was to wake up early and pump before the baby woke up. I would only pump for about 10 minutes, but after about a week of doing that, it seemed to increase my overall milk supply during other pumping sessions. I still had/made plenty of milk for his first of the morning feeding, too. I will not lie, though - it was not fun to get up earlier than I already was and deal with yet another pumping session!

hope the other stuff works for you! good luck!

Pump the other breast while you nurse, that should increase your flow.

The EXACT thing happened to me when my daughter was 5 1/2 months old! I pumped and pumped and would get out so little that I had to start supplementing, as well. My lactation consultant determined that I wasn't eating enough fat, or calories. So, I ate and ate....and still my milk production went down. Every time I pumped I would get less and less....my husband started calling it "white gold". Then, my lactation consultatnt told me that it was because I did not have her nursing on me all day, and that stimulus was different than the pump...and for some women, once the baby didn't suckle as much, their milk production went down. To make matters worse, my daughter started to prefer that faster bottle nipples to my own. There is an Herbal remedy called "Mother's Milk" that you can get at the health food store that might help, or....showing up at her daycare mid-day and nursing her might help. Good luck....I eventually started making a Goat's Milk formula and supplementing till about 7 months, but after that, my milk dried up.