Stressed Out Nursing Mom

Pumping increased my supply so keep trying. Also, if you decide to supplement with formula, go slowly. Try 1/2 bottle a day and go up in increments. Still pump and keep breast milk on hand in small batches because formula can constipate at first and the breastmilk will keep things moving.

My son always seemed to eat more than I could make. We had always supplemented with formula. At 6 months my son did not want to breast feed any more. I tried multiple times and was not able to get him to breast feed. I ended up just pumping until he was 11 months old. It was really tough with my work schedule but it was worth it.

Around 10 months my supply dropped dramatically. I would pump 30 minutes for 1 ounce. I kept it up for about a month. I had a stash to supply the last month for him.

Pumping and supplementing may be a good option at this time. It stressed me out more than I thought was necessary. You have made it so far, that is awesome! Some breast milk is better then none.

Your body can keep up! That is the #1 myth of breastfeeding: moms think that they cannot keep up, but wetnurses of the 1900s and before were allowed to nurse 7 kids at once! I know moms that nurse toddlers and newborns together. Moms that nurse on one breast only because they lost one breast to cancer!

Realize that a pump is rarely a good indicator of what you make. No pump can replicate a child perfectly. And breastfeeding is such an intimate, multi-sensory experience that most moms must be with their child to nurse well.

I suggest pumping WHILE she nurses. Be relaxed and confident and by all means, up her baby food intake (my son ate a few small JARS a day at 8 months and is still nursing today at 20 months!). I nursed my daughter till she self-weaned at 3.5 years.

Also, your daughter may nurse for only 4 minutes because at 8 months, she is becoming more active and busy. She is also a "Super" nursling, meaning she can power nurse your breast.

I am a long time nursing mom and run the Cape Cod Breastfeeding Moms club and own My Mamma's Milk. Breastfeed her as much as possible AT THE BREAST. As long as you nurse her at the breast when you are with her (no bottles!) your milk will ramp up. And by all means, feed her more baby food - she is probably going through a growth spurt. But I would never give up your breastfeeding relationship with her! If you have nursed her successfully this long then you have the ability to produce plenty of milk.

Peace-Love-Boobies!
:)

I am not a working Mom, but I did notice that around the 8-9 month age my son went through a quasi-nursing strike. Cosleeping allowed him to continue nursing on demand at night, therefore stimulating my supply to keep up. While not for everyone, I found that it was very helpful is maintaining an adequate supply, as he didn't nurse much during the day. That additional time nursing might help with your supply. I also second the idea to pump while you're nursing. That was one of the few ways to get myself to let down for the pump. YOu are doing a great job, and although this forum is great for advice, definitely get in touch with a LC or your local La Leche league. they might have better advice and resources, as well as personal, face-to-face support.

By 8 months my son was eating 2 meals a day of solids and getting 3 bottles a day of pumped milk. The increase in solids helped me be able to keep up with his demands and I pumped daily even on weekends. It sounds weird, but stress and worry can impact your supply! Just my opinion but I would increase solids, make sure you're pumping on the weekends to jump start the week, nursing as much as possible when you're with her and RELAX! It's hard to work and pump and do all of that. Even if you can't keep up you can always give her formula at daycare or whever she goes while you're at work and then nurse at night.

Don't you think the baby is picking up on the stress you are feeling? My thoughts are that if bfing is causing you this much stress, how can it be healthy for either of you? Like a PP said, formula is not poison and you've done a great job! Let go of the guilt and find a plan of action that works for you AND your baby!

HI A..
I could have written your post! My son is now 1, but the same thing happened to me. I went back to work when he was 5 months old. I am a teacher, so I would nurse him in the morning, and pump on my lunch and my prep period. I would only get about 3 oz TOTAL! I then decided to start pumping to and from work. I was getting about 8 oz. all day. He was taking about 10-12 oz.
Yes, you can increase the amount of food that she eats, but please remember, then you will start making less milk. That is what happened with me. My son had been sleeping through the night since he was 5 months old, and at 10 months, he started getting up because he wasn;t gettting enough during the day. After alot of thought and consideration, we started him on formula at 101/2 months. I too had wanted to nurse for a year.
I know I tried my absolute hardest and did everything I could to continue. I tried the mothers milk tea and the tablets. I drank tons of water. The next baby I have I will pump like a mad woman in the beginning to have a good "stash" built up so that when I go back to work, even if I dont pump enough, I will have plenty of extra.
Whatever you decide to do, please know that you are a great mom and that your daughter will be healthy and happy! PM me if you have more questions.
S.

Yes, drinking from a bottle is easier for a baby because it is just gravity. Versus drinking from a breast, requires a whole other technique for "sucking" and mouth/tongue coordination and the baby sucking to get the letdown going etc. So, some babies start to reject breast drinking.
My son was a bit like that... and by 12 months old, he weaned himself.... and he would literally SHOVE my boobs away and not want it... but would take a bottle. But, I kept nursing him until 1 year old... despite.... and he did so... but was grumpy about it at times. But... he did latch on for a LONG time... so I know he was getting to the hind-milk and nursing sufficiently. And I saw/heard him drinking... and swallowing.

For the 1st year of life, solids is NOT a baby's primary source of nutrition. Breastmilk and/or Formula is. "Solids" for the 1st year, is pretty much just an introduction to "food" and eating. If you increase her solids... then that will make her too "full" to nurse, or to take her bottles. You should ALWAYS nurse or give the bottle BEFORE solids. Otherwise, if you give the solids 1st, this makes the baby "wean" from breast/bottle.
This is also per our Pediatrician.

I know it frustrating because she rejects breast for the bottle because its easier. And even if she is at the breast, she barely stays latched on long enough to even get to the hind-milk. For a baby to reach the hind-milk... it takes about 15 minutes of sucking. Otherwise, they are not getting the full benefits of the breastmilk...

And pumping is not easy and often times not much gets pumped out. I was like that too.... even though I had a lot of milk in my breasts. It just didn't pump out a lot. I could tell my kids were getting a lot of breastmilk however... because I breastfed exclusively.. and they grew like weeds and their weight-gain and "height" growth was in the upper 95-98th percentiles, Consistently, and they were always satisfied after nursing. Except during growth-spurts, when they nurse more often and just more, 24/7.

Main thing is... that baby get enough intake... and not substituting breastmilk with solids.
She has to get adequate intake... and at this age... she most likely can drink more than just 4-5 oz. bottles of your milk. A baby that age... typically drinks more than just 4-5 ounces..... and more than just 3 bottles a day.

I know its hard... but if she just will NOT direct nurse from your breasts... she STILL has to get nourishment... via pumped milk. But if that is not adequate intake... then you need to supplement with Formula. Although lots of Moms abhor that. It is a personal decision.

She may also be rejecting your breasts... because there is not enough output. This is common as well... when pumping. It diminishes milk supply.
Perhaps, even if she just latches on for 5 minutes... have her latch on frequently once you get home.. to stimulate your breasts to produce more.

For me, at least my son went to 1 year old with breastfeeding... but by that time, he really just had it. He weaned himself. Then I segued him to whole milk... and toddler formula. Per our Pediatrician. Because he was a very picky eater and just would not eat solids many times. But still, despite, his weight gain/growth was good and healthy.

Try asking your Pediatrician, or a Lactation Consultant.
Every situation is different.

all the best,
Susan

If you daughter is in daycare I would nurse her as long as you can. Don't feel bad about supplementing her! Breastmilk is always best. You've done a great so far. So if you've had it, don't beat yourself up. If you want to stick with it, then do.

Creating breastmilk is of course hormonal, but it's also about rest, hydration and possibly supplements. There is no way a pump can extract as much as a nursing child would. So I bet the pumping is part of the reason you don't get much...it just doesn't suck the way a child would. I too had difficulties when I went back to work after my first child.

What about nursing her first thing in the morning and last thing before bed and skipping the pumping? You should have plenty of milk for those two feedings. That way you still get to nurse and bond with her, she still gets the antibodies and nutrition only your breastmilk can provide and you don't have to stress at work about pumping, storing, etc.

8 mos is nothing to balk at. No matter what you decide, your daughter has had a great start and she's lucky that you pushed nursing as long as you have. Give yourself a break. Enjoy your time nursing her instead of stressing about your supply. If you can't get your supply up, maybe just do the am/pm and enjoy feeding her with full breasts.

Cheers

I have the same problem - the L puts out much less than the R side does. He also seems hungry after he breastfeeds and he can't even get any out of the L. And, you being stressed makes it 100% worse. Again, I've been there, just a few week ago. I've resorted to pumping and giving it to him in a bottle. The more you pump, the more you get -- supply and demand. I've also given him formula and he's totally fine with it. Good Luck.

I would try to keep nursing. My baby was on table food at 7 months old (she hated baby food), and nursing on demand. Babies need either milk or formula until they are 12 months old. Mine went through a nursing strike at 9 months and I almost lost my supply. I just kept offering at every opportunity and pumping when she refused the breast. I wasn't getting much out with the pump and began to panic. It passed though, and then we finished out the year.
Good luck!

First, don't necessarily watch the time she nurses. My daughter was a power nurser and could finish a side in like 7 minutes (sometimes even a bit less) and she was def getting all the good stuff.

Are you using slow flow nipples in her bottles. If not you need to be. Makes her work harder just like if she were nursing.

I would certainly be nursing her first thing in the am when your supply is most plentiful. Nurse her when you get home, nurse her before bed. You could also try pumping the side she is not using when you get home. Get what you can then and when she pops off for the next side pump the side she just left.

As S H said, do not increase solids so that you can decrease her milk intake. Breastmilk is primary right now.

Baby will always be more efficient than the pump so what she gets when nursing and what you pump are verydifferent things. You might also try renting a hospital grade pump these last few months to see if that helps. Having the right pump can make a world of difference! I know this from experience.

While at home I would pump while you nurse. If you do this for a bit your supply will increase so that one breast will be enough for them to feed on and you can store what you get from the other. It is also easier to pump while they are nursing as you have the natural stimulation. This will increase your supply, and give you more milk for while you are away.

Hey girl! I was gonna suggest you try the Mother's Milk tea. That's what i used and after 2 days i finally had enough milk for hannah without having to pump ALL THE TIME! I had to drink 3 cups a day but it worked like a charm. You can get the tea at a health food store and i saw it in the special foods section at Kroger. I might have a box here you can have to try. Hang in there you don't have long before she's 1! But if you decide your done then that's ok too....you have worked hard at it for over 6 months....that's quite an accomplishment, esp working full time. : )

Maybe not what you want to hear, but my advice would be to relax and not let it get you stressed. All three of my kids nursed great, but they all weaned themselves (against my will) between 8 and 9 months -- and that's with me being home and able to nurse them whenever they wanted! I just kept nursing as much as they were willing and the time kept dwindling until we finally stopped entirely. It was an easy, natural progression once I accepted it. It sounds like you've made a huge effort, and done a great job nursing this long. If letting her wean is the best thing for your family right now, don't let that "1 year" ideal stand in your way. As for a more food, less milk approach, my understanding is that they still need a lot of their calories from milk at this age, but I guess there might be debate on that. Best of luck. Congratulations on your little girl.

I know exactly where you are at. All the ideal dreams and plans and then things change. Having had baby #4 I would recommend that you destress yourself and be proud that you made it this far. You are working and so put your daughter on formula and food. Fill her up, relax and enjoy having your body back. Eat and drink what you want and enjoy watching her grow knowing you gave her a fantastic start.
We Mums can be so h*** o* ourselves and others can be so critical. Take the positive and roll with it.

Good luck with the journey.
From one Good Mum to another....

I feel your anxiety! I have an 8 month old daughter and sounds as if we have similar situations between intake, work schedule, etc. except mine is still nursing about the same...once in the morning, 3 bottles at school, and then nurse 2 times before getting to bed. The only thing I am doing different, and this isn't for everyone but I get up every night at 3 a.m. to pump. I get enough for 2 bottles in this one session. At work I pump a total of a little over 1 bottles worth. I can't give up the night pump or my supply drops and I get really behind.

I had a scare a couple of months ago and my supply dropped. I asked my GYN for Rx for Reglan to help, and her response was very grounded...why stress out a body further when it is clearly telling you it is? Made sense to me. Agree with some of the other ladies, and remember formula isn't poison and don't beat yourself up about the possiblity.

Good luck...I know this is very stressful. Just the anxiety of wondering how the feed will go can decrease your supply. Hang in there Mama!

Eight months is pretty great! I didn't make enough after three months for any of mine and had to supplement or stop altogether. I was just thankful I was able to for that long. Sometimes our children are ready to move on before we are, you will find that in many instances thoughout their lives. Best Wishes!

YOU GO MOM! You are already a statistical miracle and be proud:) This is a "evolution hump" or a "runner's gap" and re-evaluation and action will make you feel strong!

I was fulltime and pumped with both as well. At 8 mos during my work day, my daughter and son were taking 2-3 jars of food, and four 6-8oz bottles.

I would nurse before leaving, pump 3-4x with a Medela double 15 min in a quiet, darkened room in a chair you can slump toward the floor in (really helped to calm, gravity working for you, concentrate on babies, massaging to help letdown = production around 4-6 oz total versus 2-3 total). Then home to nurse before or after dinner, another jar food, another nurse before bed, and I did cosleep so much nighttime "snacking."

Should you not wish to cosleep, during "hungry times" I would pump around 2-3 am when very relaxed and house nice and quiet -- really good production then too (more like 5-6 oz versus 3-4):).

I stopped pumping at 12 mos and stopped nursing at 15 mos.

My grandmother swore by a beer a night and she nursed 9:)

So... feed her some more solids, don't be afraid to supplement as she's still getting your good milk, and try a few other actionable-behaviors.

YOU ARE GREAT AND STRONG!