2 questions!!

[melulla]

Hi Girls,
My lo is 10 weeks old wakes once a tnight around half 2 for  a feed and then wakes for the day between 6 and 7. His last evening feed is at 9. Fot the past few weeks i have been pumping most mornings trying to get a stash together for exams i had and a wedding i have to go to. Ususally id express between 2 and a half and 4 ounces depending. However the past week or so he has been seemed unsatisifies after oner side and i have oiffered the second. When i do this he gulps gratefully!!. He is quick feeder and empties a side in 5 - 7 mins. This hasnt been a prob as he usually only looks for both sides in the afetnoon feeds when it is normal for me to be less full. However this am he took both siodes for the first feed and when i wen to pump an hour later i only got half and ounce in total!!! - help Whats going on. I hopew this isnt a sign of things to come cause im relying on building up my freezer supply and it has been going well enough to now. The second qustion is  well not really a quastion  - Im  just looking for reasurance thatn it is ok to give second breast when i know for defo that first is empty or almost (i always can squeeze a tiny bit )

Sorry for the ramble
Melulla
xx

[daisymelan]

You will always be able to squeeze a little bit, so the best way to tell if he has finished is to listen to his swallowing patterns.  It will be quick at first and slow down as he's getting the hind milk.  Make sure he gets the hind milk before you move him to your second breast.  So, it sounds like you are doing everything perfectly.

Your lo could just be hitting a growth spurt or maybe his demands have changed.  If you continue to pump when you would usually, I'm sure your supply will go back up to what it once was, but since he's getting that milk, it will take a bit to get it back up.  I would perhaps  up the number of times you pump in a day if you are currently only pumping once.

Hope that helps.

P.S.  I can appreciate how you want to stock pile that milk!   

[JacobMarksMummy]

Yes, I agree your due a growth spurt anytime soon and if so things shud settle down in a few days. If its not a growth spurt I still shouldnt worry as your body will soon get used to making that extra milk. Remember to try and pump at the same time every day and you'll probally notice that after 4-10days your supply will have upped and you'll be able to pump more than half an ounce.

[melulla]

Thanks for the advice girls. Pumping seems to be on the up although he is back to just one boob in the am so maybe thats why. The night i posted he slept through til 5 which was great. All that extra milk did the job for one night at least!! Have calculated il need to have around 40 ounces expressed for that wedding which is now in 10 days time. at the rate im going this is goingt to be impossible. Im only getting max 2 and a half ounces in the morning. It looks like ill have to try formula for one or two feeds. i want to try this with him myself the once before leving him with my sister for the night of the wedding. Can you recommend the best way to go about this ie what time feed to try him with, how much etc. Im heartbroken at the thoughts of it but it has to be done. Im not back to work for another two and a half months so wanted to leave introducing formula for anoither month and a half at least,
Thanks
Melulla
x

[jbepko]

You could always add another pumping session or two in...it'll give you more freezer stash. Plan to pump about an hour after a nursing. Your body will respond my producing more milk and he will receive enough from you.

[daisymelan]

You could always add another pumping session or two in...it'll give you more freezer stash. Plan to pump about an hour after a nursing. Your body will respond my producing more milk and he will receive enough from you.

Ditto!  I would work on pumping a few more times a day, if you do, your supply should increase enough and fast enough to get what you desire.  BTW, you don't have to clean your pump after every time you use it.  Maybe pump once, put it in the fridge and pump again after the next feed.  Then freeze this. 

The formula is a tough one as a lot of bf babies don't like the taste of it.... and you aren't going to like this, but usually the only way to introduce it is to do about 75% breastmilk and 25% formula for 3 days, then change the ratio to half and half for three more until you get to full formula.  My lo did not like the taste of formula and it took awhile to get one that he liked, even doing what I just suggested.  But you never know, you may be lucky and find one that your lo likes straight away.

Again, I think pumping more is the key.  Drink lots and lots of water, relax, concentrate on your lo and pump, pump, pump.  Even dry pumping increases the supply.  Can you pump while you nurse?  This is the best apparently.

Good luck.