Working moms/mums - come and share tips and support!

[MJMom]

marcimommy~ I ditto Malia's comments.  You have every right to request a schedule as well as get Logs.  As you know, we just started with a nanny this week and when I was interviewing, that was important to me that they not only follow the prescribed schedule (Or at least try to with the 45 minute nap monster lurking!) but to also do a Log.  She's been fantastic and even started reading the BW books as well!  But most every one I interviewed said that they would.  If they won't follow your schedule, I would move on.  It's your good money paying for them.  They work for you, you are the employer.  You have every right to request that and expect it.

Btw, good to see you here too!

Good luck!

[Anita S.]

Marcimommy- I didn't see...how often will your LO be in her care? I know that my dd is only in a sitter's care for two days per week, and it really doesn't upset the routine if for some reason she is unable to keep to the "perfect" schedule. I just get her back on track when she's with me.

I think it's important to decide on a PRIORITY. I told my sitter, if her naps are off because of extra activity or whatever at the sitter's place, JUST KEEP TO THE FEED SCHEDULE. I found that focusing on one detail as the most important left enough room for error, and still kept a rhythm to her day. The feed is at 11 and 3, no matter what....and now solids at 12:30. It has worked well for dd, even though some days she comes home overtired because of activity around her during naptime, she bounces right back on days she's at home with me.

As important and valuable as a routine is, I found the most important thing for my own peace is that she LOVES her sitter and is HAPPY when she comes home at the end of the day. No matter what else happens (and believe me, I LOVE MY BW!!) as long as my daughter receives TLC and is somewhat held to a flexible schedule, I'm happy. And she's happy.

Don't stress over what hasn't happened yet, either. Our babes are SO ADAPTABLE. Follow your heart and let your lo let you know whether it works for her.

Best of luck, and in the long run, you'll know what's right for her....but sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet and hope for the best! My thoughts are with you.

-Anita

[kris dg]

  The only problem is that I have a hard pumping.  I'm only getting about 1 oz per pumping session.

CDKs Mom, I'm the same.  I can only pump about 1 oz to 2oz per session.  Does that mean I should pump ont he other breast everytime I BF my DD and every hour thereafter to get more EBM?  That's like me doing nothing but that the whole day.

I am fortunate that I own my own business and can decide when I go back to work.  However, if I take too long to go back, I might lose my clients. 

Did those of you who pump more than 2oz per session get that from the start or did that build up gradually?

[Jacob's Mommy]

hi - can i find out from anyone how do they maintain their supply when they working.  I have been working since June and recently it seems my supply is dropping.  I have tried fenugreek and drinking malt but doesn't seem to help.  I usually pump twice - once at 10am and 3pm.  I use to be able to pump out 360ml in total now i can barely do 300?  any ideas

i'm a bit panicky  - i guess i am anxious about introducing formula (i kinda enjoy BF and it seems the only thing I have done successfully without struggling).  just for some info, LO is on 4hr EASY and has about 140ml per feed and still has 1 bottle at 4am.

Thanks...sherry

[Anita S.]

hi sherry!

I had the same trouble. I finally gave in when dd decided she didn't want to bf anymore. Fast flow nipples are more her style!

However, when I did work to maintain, I found that Traditional Medicinals makes a Mother's Milk tea that, when I had three or five cups per day, it increased my supply. It's not unpleasant tasting, and it really seemed to do the trick.

My concern (unfounded?) is that without the regular hormonal stimulation of the baby suckling, the quantity dwindles anyhow. I don't KNOW that, but it's what I felt.

Best of luck. And remember that there will always be things you do well as a mother, and things that you aren't yet expert at. Most important is the love and concern you show for your lo. And LOVE is where it's at! Not necessarily just your breast!

-Anita

[Muriel - Elisa's mama]

hi - can i find out from anyone how do they maintain their supply when they working.  I have been working since June and recently it seems my supply is dropping.  I have tried fenugreek and drinking malt but doesn't seem to help.  I usually pump twice - once at 10am and 3pm.  I use to be able to pump out 360ml in total now i can barely do 300?  any ideas

i'm a bit panicky  - i guess i am anxious about introducing formula (i kinda enjoy BF and it seems the only thing I have done successfully without struggling).  just for some info, LO is on 4hr EASY and has about 140ml per feed and still has 1 bottle at 4am.

Thanks...sherry

weel I am now stopping to pump at work and only do BF mroning & evenings because I am getting too tired and need time for myself to recuperate, but up to now when I sense that my milk production was getting lower I was drinking fennel tea and it worked like a million! sometimes too good that elisa had trouble keeping up with the flow, then I knew I had to stop the tea!!
I hope it helps!
Muriel

[marcimommy]

kris - your LO is very little. It is normal that you can only pump 2-3 oz at the time. It is a demand-supply thing. when she gets older and can eat more at one time your supply will go up. For now you can try to pump on the other side when you BF her or pump right after feeding. How long do you think you will be able to stay home? I think you should wait at least 6 weeks to return because according to my experience that's how much your body will need to establish good breastfeeding. 

sherry - I went through the same thing. Fennel tea and Mother's Milk tea has helped me a lot. Also make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and rest enough and take prenatal vitamins. do not stress yourself about it, that will just make it worse. Some days I still can't pump enough and than I have to supplement with formula. No worries, just pump as much as you can and fill up the rest of the bottle with formula. Also if you r LO is on a full 4 hours EASY he should be able to eat more than 140 ml per feed. Perhaps if you up his feedings during the day, he would not have to be fed at 4:00 a.m. anymore. 

[Jacob's Mommy]

hi all

thanks so much for the advise will definately go out and get some tea. 

hi suzanna - what i would give for DS to drink more milk.  I just increased his bottle to 140ml and he never finishes it (most of the time he leave about 10 - 20mls).  At times he'll only take 80mls and if he's really grouchy less!!!  I guess that's y i still DF and keep the 4am feed.  DS is a grumpy baby and it's really hard to get him to drink from the bottle but I am open to suggestions on how to get him to drink milk from the bottle - I have literally tried everything even my pead has run out of ideas!!!   She says most likely he won't take more cuz he knows he vomit it out so just be patient and he'll take more feeds when he is ready!! sigh sigh

[marcimommy]

Sorry Sherry, I don't have a shot.  My LO gulps away 8 oz in 15-20 min , no problem. 

[Muriel - Elisa's mama]

Hi! I sure agree with suzanna, it also took me 6 weeks to feel like BF was part of normal daily routine! You start to know how your baby reactions are to different situations and so on, also when he/she is taking the BF well or is just playing with your nipple for fun!!   So Kris, no worry for the pumping, you will get more and more suprise later of all what finally can come out of your breasts and that the milk keeps on getting more without you doing anything!!!!
 
Muriel

[MJMom]

sherry - I went through the same thing. Fennel tea and Mother's Milk tea has helped me a lot. Also make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and rest enough and take prenatal vitamins. do not stress yourself about it, that will just make it worse.

I'm just tired thinking about it!!!

I echo Suzanna's comments as well re: 1 - 2 oz.  I could never get more than that when my LO was little.  well, littler.  

I actually have to work really hard to keep milk supply up.  I did read that the sucking action is what keeps the milk prod up and I'm thinking it is dependant on the mom... and for me, I need it!  Where I can pump 15 oz during the day on Monday, by Friday I am down to 9.  During the work week, I pump 3 times a day, although my LO only eats twice.  During the weekends, I pump immediately after each feeding during the day to boost the milk production and to start the week with a little extra milk.

This is after I started taking Fenugreek.  Before, I was barely getting 8 oz a day.  I'm definitely going to try that Fennel tea.  pumping on the weekends is really getting old!

Riddle me this though...  when I pump at work, it's 4-6 oz at a time.  When I pump immediately after a feeding on the weekends... I get 4 oz... is it me, or is that just WEIRD!!!

And to echo Muriel, it really is amazing what can come out!  And if you detach too early from the pump...  I'll leave it at that...  every one who has done that knows what I'm talking about!!! 

Btw Hi suzanna ***waving madly***  good to see you here!

[kris dg]

thanks guys for the encouragement.  sometimes i feel bad when i hear other people are able to pump so much because i do want to give BF to Isabella for as long as i can, even when i'm back at work.

[MJMom]

Definitely don't feel bad.  I'm definitely not a marathon pumper.  But I'm also very committed to this.  And I remind myself of that when I get irritated at bringing my pump home!  And pumping on the weekends.  Etc.

On another note... I have never so much just wanted to say forget it and try to be a sahm.  I just do not want to go back to work.  It's been a month.  I'm getting used to it... and I would just rather be at home with my LO.  <sigh>

[Muriel - Elisa's mama]

hi! sure don't feel bad!!!!
I just also remembered another tip: take a photo of your LO and look at it when pumping!! that also help very much to make your milk come up! I tell you it works too! It help you focus on you and your baby at the time of pumping and make your "love hormones" (oxcytocine if I am correct?) work for you!!
This was a tip I got by the lady who comes at your place few hours per day for 8 days after the birth,. We have a special system here in the netherlands: someone comes to help you in your house and give you an hand to learn how to bath and so on your LO! As we have this sytem, then we also can give birth at home (which I did! and found very nice!! even if I planned to go to the hospital at first with epidural but I did not get the time to get there at the end!!
So may be it works for you! I also did some yoga classes as preparation for the birth and I still use some of the excercices when pumping when I see it stresses me up or so!
well, in any case, sure you give a lot of love to you LO and this is even better than BF milk so keep the love that what makes you the  real mama on and just relax about the milk! milk is always replacable, the mama love not!!

and sure I also miss my LO when I am at work which make my concentration level very low compared to before!!  it is like my all focus is gone (I used to be a harder worker, just because I liked what I did!! now it seems a bit less interesting!!) and i am looking at my watch at the end of the afternoon!! crazy how things shiffted!!
anyone experiencing this??

muriel

[marcimommy]

Oh yeah, same here. I can't wait to get out of the office by the end of the day! DH usually goes to pick the baby up first and then picks me up. So DS is usually right there when I get out, which is good. Least I don't have to wait to get to the day care to see him! 

kris - don't worry! Everything will fall into place as time goes by. the first few weeks are hectic but it gets better after that! You see, you will be able to pump 6-7 oz by the time your LO is 5 months old