back to work part time

[eva026]

Having read that I still don't understand. If milk production is driven by supply-demand now, then surely pumping till empty after the morning feed and 1.5h after the BT feed should in theory increase production. I see the opposite effect and have just spent 1h pumping and hand expressing to only get 70ml of milk (DD needs 150ml for her DF).
Also since I have always had these pumping sessions at these times, surely the body should keep up production at the same times once supply is established?
It's always been WU feed, pump 150ml, BF throughout the day, 9.30pm pump 100ml
I used to use 150ml for the DF and then freeze the rest. Over the last month or so DD has still been hungry after the BT feed and I have been using the 100ml left over to top her up. Then the pumping dropped to 100ml in the morning and 90ml at night and this morning I only got 100ml pumping and now 70ml....
Yesterday and today have been so bad supply-wise I am starting to stress about satisfying DD at the NF.
I'm eating well and drinking enough (2.5l a day), sleeping as much as possible, eating oatmeal every day, drinking lactation tea, what more can I do?
BF has been such a struggle and we are almost at 6mo, I've been over the moon that we got this far and was hoping to make it to the end of the year. I'd hate to stumble now.

[Fiver]

You say you're drinking 2.5L of water, is that because you're that thirsty or because you feel like you should drink more?  As I understand it, you should drink to thirst as drinking to excess can actually be counterproductive

Stress/anxiety also doesn't help.  I know it's easier said than done, but your body knows what it's doing, so if you can try to relax about BF and believe that it's capable of sustaining your baby, you may find it's easier going.

So much of BF is psychological as well as physical.  You're doing great

[eva026]

ok trying to breathe:) I know when DD was going through her nursing strike I was fine pumping, till I found out that pumping alone may not be enough to keep producing milk - suddenly during one day I was hardly pumping anything at all! Maybe that's what's happening here too, I it there staring at the milk spurting out and stressing every time it slows.
It's hard to be relax about it all though, especially with DD bobbing on and off and acting like I don't have enough.

The amount has come about more or less by trial and error. Over the past few months, if I drank less my supply decreased. I have a very low thirst and can happily get by on 1l a day. I find the more I drink the thirstier I get though. It's really just 1 monster cup of weak coffee with milk in the morning, 1 bottle of water and 2 big cups of lactation tea.

[Fiver]

Cover up the pump and watch the TV instead?

[Erin M]

And don't think of it as an "all or nothing" type thing either -- I used to nurse dd1 for AM and BT and give formula in the daytime after about 7 months or so due to my work schedule. 

[eva026]

I used to nurse dd1 for AM and BT and give formula in the daytime after about 7 months or so due to my work schedule. 

Thanks for that, I was starting to feel very down.
It's a supply issue for sure. The NF (5h break from NF pump) I could only fill her up by giving both sides and doing breast compressions - not even sure she got enough because this morning her nappy was nowhere near as soaked as it normally is.
On wake up same thing, my breasts feel empty and had to put DD on both sides. I'm pumping now but only getting a trickle.
I'll wait till the end of the week and then re-evaluate the situation. Maybe it's a hormonal thing since it started when AF  finished.
I also have an underactive thyroid and am on meds for that, so I'll go in for a blood test at the weekend to see if they need adjusting. 

[eva026]

Just one more question, so it's important that they get BM as long as possible, even if they get formula too, not that they are EBF as long as possible to get the health benefits?

[barbaraz78]

I think that, if you can, the best would be EBF until solids are introduced. After that, he has other food anyway, so I think it is not a big difference having some formula too. That said, I think that the most bm she gets, the most benefits she has. But on the other hand, try not to stress too much about it, you have already done a great job bfing for so long, so I would take what it comes and if you need to supplement with formula it wouldn't mean you dd will suffer for it. There are several ff babies, and I know many of them. Take it easy as much as you can.

[Erin M]

You can get benefits from any amount of breast milk -- regardless of if it's just part of the time. 

[*Ali*]

Definitely lots of benefits including the immunity they get from any amount of breast milk.
Have you considered fenugreek for your supply?

[eva026]

I actually though it was in the tea I was drinking but it turns out it's fennel seeds, will go to a pharmacy and ask if they have anything like that.
 I have been doing a pumping marathon in the morning and 2h in the evening with 20 min breaks and things look to be better. DD actually fed all day today without coming off and whimpering for more and I got 20ml more during the morning pumping session than I had been getting.

[shivi]

I can post you my leftover fenugreek - still in date till end of this year - as you can't get it in Wawa, or at least couldn't while I was still bfeeding xxx

[eva026]

That would be great thanks!
Will PM you my address

[shivi]

no probs x

[eva026]

I started taking the fenugreek yesterday, thanks to Shiv :*, and I just pumped 140ml in my morning session! Is it possible that it's working already?