desperate to make it work!

[marimul77]

Hi everyone!

I will be going back to work in just over a weeks time. That means I will be missing out on breast feeding my LO at 7 pm and 10.30 pm. The plan is to give her formula at those two feedings instead. I know that this is going to affect my supply. I have tried pumping the last few evenings but I only get an ounce from both breasts combined   I had Lo weighed today as she has been waking up from what seems to be hunger every 3 hours for the last ten days. I have fed and fed and then fed her some more to no avail, she is barely gaining an ounce a week. I am scared that when I go back to work my supply wont be able to handle it. This is crazy as I used to have a bad over supply isue for the first three months. Let down now takes forever to come at night and the poor thing cries in frustration. I so wanted to breast feed till she is a year old! I have been advised by the health visitor to start her on protein rich and starchy solids as she needs to put on some weight. She is below 0.4th centile now. I want to breast feed all day except the evenings. Is this feasible? I am scared to cut back on breast feeding in case my supply cuts back too much. will taking fenugreek help in this case?

Marianne

[Mama2boys]

bumping it up for you

[mum101]

Hi,
I'm sure you'll get some good advice from the girls on here, just wanted to say that I think you could keep offering her a breast feed all and any time all day and formula.

Re pumping at night, I doubt anyone would get a good amount at that time and after your milk has established.  I'd say she'd be fine to have formula at night and breastfeed in the day. make sure you give her a breast feed before any solids and keep putting her back on as often as possible. I couldn't maintain a supply of pumped milk when DD was 5-6 months.

Re supply just keep offering, I hear many girls say drinks lots of water, try the fenugreek (I've not tried it, but a few girls here seem to have had success) and make sure you still get lots of rest while you work and take care of your LO's. You could use compression on your boobs as well (I can see when DS starts swallowing more when I do this and I do it at the end of the feed, so he's getting more of the fatty milk)

I'd say as long as she keeps accepting a breast feed and even if it ends up being one or two a day and a small portion of her intake, she's still getting the benefits of breast milk. 
 

[Samuel's mum]

Your pumping output at night may be more to do with not achieving a letdown rather than supply overall. This is a common problem and letdown can be even harder to achieve in the evenings especially as the pp says if your body isn't used to pumping at that time. Pumping is often a habit thing - your body gets used to pumping at a certain time and it can take a few days to establish a pattern. With achieving a letdown it can help to use a warm compress during the pump and even have a warm shower or bath just before. Nipple stimulation helps too. Even if your output isn't great you can still send those precious signals. Fenugreek helps the majority of people. 3 capsules 3 times a day. Works particularly well with blessed thistle alongside. Make sure you are drinking plenty too.
You sound worried. I am on my phone so I can't view your profile. Are you in the UK? It might be worth phoning a helpline or La Leche League in most countries and having a good chat with someone qualified. Talk about weight gain and maintaining supply at work and even how to introduce solids while minimizing the effect on your supply if that really seems like the best thing to do. Your supply will alter when you go back to work but lots of people are able to maintain mixed feeding for as long as they wish. The more 'demand' from your milk supply the better. Are you happy with your pump? Is it in need of a tune-up?
HUG

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Hi, just wanted to jump in and say that i too had weight gain issues and im now at nearly 9mths and things are going well

You really can get this sorted !!!!!

What i did to get things moving is doing lots of feeds to send those signals for 'more milk please'. If your on a 3 hr i would offer every 1.5 hrs through the day, if your on 4hr then feed every 2hrs (if she'll take it that is). You can also switch sides as many times as she will let you, i used to wait for a letdown then switch then wait for another letdown and switch again and as many as you can do.
At first i used to think that my ds wasn't getting anything at each feed but when i got him weighted he had put on loads.

I've got everything crossed for you

Kate x