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

[elliesmama]

Maybe you ladies can help me out.  I am a musician and have a very weird schedule and sometimes cannot pump at the same time everyday.  And sometimes I have to be on stage and miss a feeding (nanny gives her a bottle) and then by the time I'm off stage it's time for the next feeding so I don't have time to pump.  I'm only pumping maybe once per day so that I can have a little stockpile since I only need bottles on the weekends really.  Is all of this inconsistency going to have an effect on my milk supply, or can I assume that dd will let me know if it's a problem?  Lately she's been a little more fussy at the boob, but she always comes away at least looking satisfied. 

thanks!
laurie

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

I'd let her be the judge.  Breasts can be fairly flexible.  If you know you're going to be on stage during a feed, you could always pump just before you go on (or whenever possible!), then feed her after, and if you're still quite full after her feed, pump then too.  If she's seeming a bit fussy lately, she could be heading towards the 3 month growth spurt...

[elliesmama]

you know, i bet you're right.  i think she is in a growth spurt because she's been fussy and waking up at weird times and is eating for like 45 minutes at a time instead of her normal 20-30.  thanks for reminding me that that was coming up!  i will try to pump before going on stage...it just gets so inconvenient because usually i'm setting up my stuff before and then packing up or meeting people afterward, so it never seems like there's enough time and privacy to do that. 

[valeamalia]

Hi Ladies, I am joining your group. I also have a weird schedule Laurie. I only work afternoons but not the same hours every day.  I teach Ballet. With my First Daughter, I always forgot to pump and it didn't help my supply. So now I try pumping at the same time that LO should have eaten or as Erin said before (a class, in my case). 

Suzanna, I am the same way, I always forget to drink water, but never Soda (Coke), I know this is a horrible addiction, I start everyday wanting to drink more water but I end up drinking only Coke.

Ana

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Hi Ana - welcome!! My concern about the Coke would be the caffeine - do you drink decaf?  Caffeine will work against your hydration, remember (and it also gets into the bm and could keep you lo up!)

[Anita S.]

Also, the phosphorous in the fizzy beverages can interfere with a person's absorption of CALCIUM!!

-Anita

[Muriel - Elisa's mama]

LADIES, MILK GOD SAYS TO DRINK PLENTY!!!
water is the best or fennel tea works fine too! what i do is that o bought a big 2 litres water bottle that i fill in the morning so i can monitor what i drink, if not it is the last thing i think of and so far it helped keeping the milk supply!
 

[elliesmama]

I have a hard time drinking water too, so I went out and got a huge 32oz water bottle that I try to remember to bring with me during the day.  Drinking two is my goal...don't often attain it, though. 

Pumping has gotten extremely difficult for me the last couple days so I've slacked off, which probably doesn't help.  I usually am able to get 2 oz per session (only one session per day)...but yesterday and the day before I could not get one single drop from the right side!   I know I need to keep pumping, but it's hard to find the motivation with such low output!  We don't have a concert for the next couple weeks which makes it even less pressing to me...

[valeamalia]

Thanks ladies, I needed to read that. starting today no more coke. Lots of Water

Gotta Make the Milk Gods Happy  

Ana

[Muriel - Elisa's mama]

I have a hard time drinking water too, so I went out and got a huge 32oz water bottle that I try to remember to bring with me during the day.  Drinking two is my goal...don't often attain it, though. 

Pumping has gotten extremely difficult for me the last couple days so I've slacked off, which probably doesn't help.  I usually am able to get 2 oz per session (only one session per day)...but yesterday and the day before I could not get one single drop from the right side!   I know I need to keep pumping, but it's hard to find the motivation with such low output!  We don't have a concert for the next couple weeks which makes it even less pressing to me...

laurie - keep it up!! courage i know pumping is hard but with time i tell you it gets better!! take some picture with you of your LO it also helps keeping focus and help the milk to come up too!!
muriel

[valeamalia]

Laurie, all I can say is I understand how you feel, but try to extract so you can BF as much as you can it is worth it

[elliesmama]

Thanks, ladies, for the encouragement!  I'm going to try to get up the energy to pump tonight--I hope it gets better! 

[Anita S.]

I remember that when I would pump one hour AFTER a feed, it really increased my supply. And seriously, the Mother's Milk tea is VERY effective, esp. taken "as directed" (4-5cups per day).

Best wishes, and power to the tatas!

-Anita

[MJMom]

Anita, when you drank the mother's milk tea, did you also take fenugreek or "more milk" or fennel tea?

I bought all of the above.  Yes... all of the above, but then didn't want to over kill so I've been doing half of the recommended of all of them.  Not sure if it's helping, but at least my supply hasn't continued it's dip and it's remained steady for a whole week and a half now.  That at least is progress. 

[Anita S.]

I only used Traditional Medicinals Mother's Milk tea. Sometimes I would have about 2 or 3 cups of chamomile tea, as well.

I was off dairy, suspicious that it was cuasing my dd some digestive trouble, but I kept up my calcium supplements. Being a (slightly) older Mom, I was concerned about calcium, esp after dropping dairy.