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

[Muriel - Elisa's mama]

hi carolyn!
well here (in the netherlads! ) for all babies breastfed, the midwifes advise to give only hypoallergenic baby formula, not even try any other milk until  real solids are introduced! so you see, things vary a bit everywhere.
I have to say i buy the hypoallergenic of nutrilon and never got any problem when completing the BF with bottles. especially i am now giving 3 BF and 2 bottles and it seems to work out without allergy. I am quite glad because we have a lot of allergy in the familly so may be it works for you too!!
and oh my good you lucky woman 11 oz is really a lot!!!!! your LO is already really really lucky to get that much so don't make your life too complicated, especially with 2 kids and working you alreday have a busy life!!! you can already be proud of all your current efforts, not everyone would do so!!
if you don't manage to get more milk pumped just try to find another milk that suits the allergy OK! sure there is many brands around, may be one fit your LO!
in any case you know we are all admiring your 11oz!!

good luck vibes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

muriel

[Anita S.]

And as I have posted before, my SIL went back to work and was having trouble keeping up with her ds needs....her good friend told her "You know, formula isn't rat poison!"

Keep it in perspective. It's nutritious and good for babies. BF is best, but there are wonderful alternatives in this day and age and we can all be grateful and rest easier knowing our babies will not only not starve, but also thrive with other options. And YOU can stop worrying about it.

I know when I began supplementing with a couple of formula bottles per day, I felt a bit strange about it at first. Claribel had colic and I thought for sure she would react poorly to formula, but a friend suggested I give it a try for a couple of days. You can always change your mind! To my surprise, she had no adverse reaction! I used one for gassy/fussy babies, with 1/4 the lactose of others. It isn't as expensive as hypoallergenic and she still loves it at almost 10mo!

Working moms (by that I mean also working out of the home, because SAHMs are workling, too!) need to strike a balance, and that balance is always changing. Go easy on yourself and remember that you're doing what's best for you and your baby. Everything will work out.

-Anita

[marcimommy]

OK it seems your LO had more serious reaction to milk than mine. My DS was just gassy and his stool turned mucousy from dairy bot no blood. they say either way around 1 year they get better. If he started having these symptomes around 5 months old, than I would still stay away from dairy and soy at least for 2-3 more months. In any case before using hypoallergenic formula, I would try the Enfamil Gentlease or the Nestle Good Start with the comfort proteins. (That's the one in the orange package) These are milk based but the proteins are already predigested (broken down into smaller molecules). they cost the same as regular formula and taste much better than the nasty hypoallergenic ones. Also how many ounces per day do you think you will have to supplement? I have to supplement about 4-5 oz a day and a can of powdered formula lasts for a whole month (sometimes less), so it's not that expensive, only about $15 per month.
I can see how you can't squeeze another pumping into your already busy schedule  I'd say don't worry about having to supplement a little bit, he still gets mostly BM and soon his milk intake will probably decrease any way because he will start getting more and more solids. 

[MJMom]

How did you know to avoid dairy and what made you try eating it again? 

When DD was 1.5 weeks old, the colic began.  After the 5th night of crying 4 hours straight, I was feeling pretty desperate and read everything I could on colic.  When I heard it could be something that mommy was eating, I gave up everything that it could possibly be based on what I read online and in books.  Then at 8 weeks, I slowly started re-introducing foods to see if they caused a reaction.  The only thing that caused a reaction was milk products.  after that, I just would try it once every few weeks.  Just 2 weeks ago it didn't cause a reaction.

[carolynq]

I certainly appreciate all the support!  And I feel pretty good about my 11 ounces (on a good day) now.  I don't have a problem with supplementing - with both previous kids I needed to supplement by about 11 months, I just couldn't pump enough.  It's more a cost issue for me.  I will certainly look into the Enfamil Gentlease or the Nestle Good Start and see how he reacts to those.  I would like to avoid supplementing for another couple months, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it.  I just wondered if there was information out there to help me keep going.

I'm glad to hear that he might grow out of the diary problems.  I had nightmares about having to nurse past a year (I hit a limit around 13 months where I just can't take it anymore).

He's being a good eater, so I hope soon he will be eating enough to not need so much milk.  Right now he's teething and so he's decreased his solids intake.  I never needed to send more than 9 ounces per day for my daughter.  This boy caught me by surprise with how much he needs.

Thanks for all the support.  This is a great site.  I'm looking forward to trying dairy in my diet - giving up ice cream has been a killer!
Carolyn

[MJMom]

Thanks for all the support.  This is a great site.  I'm looking forward to trying dairy in my diet - giving up ice cream has been a killer!

Are you kidding me!?!?  that was always my "test" dairy substance!  And I've had it almost every day for the past 2 weeks!!  And none of that grocery store stuff.  no way.  It's been Ben & Jerry's and Hagan-daaz.  And I'm talking from the B&J and H-D stores!!!

[MJMom]

Holy boobies Batman!!!!

So, I've been averaging about 11-13 oz a day total with 3 pumpings.  2 during the day at work and one in the evening.  My "dream pump".   

So, I don't know if it was the chickpea curry I had last night or the beer, but in my first two pumps of the day I totalled 11 oz.  Haven't done that in weeks!!!!  And I got SOOOO Excited!

Then as I was skipping to my desk, I thought of Carrie... who gets that in one pump session and thought WOW!!!! Power boobs!!!

But I'm very giddy with glee with what I have now!! YAY!!!

[carolynq]

Congrats!

If it makes any difference - I only got 7-9 oz at a time when I was pumping for my daughter.  I think this time its mostly my son's demand that has boosted my supply.

Carrie

[lyndsy_p]

Hi all...marking my place as I am going back to work Oct 16. I am going to make it clear to my salesmen that pumping is a "no interruption activity!" I plan to pump at the regular times that I'd feed my LO if I were home...I work some wonky hours, so some nights I won't be able to even tuck her in

Alissa...SOOOO pleased that your yield has increased! You give me hope Girl! I am totally committed to pumping, but was worried that pumping wouldn't stimulate the milk as much as Grae would. I have the mother's milk tea on hand just in case.

Lyndsy

[MJMom]

Lyndsy, if you ever want more hope, I have a thread out there for ALLLL the things I did to finally pump enough in a week to feed LO!  Her 6 mo GS helped kick it up too!  She increased production, and then we started feeding solids.  So she isn't drinking more milk now, but I have higher yield!  YAY!!
That has just been the past week!  I now have 42 oz frozen in my refrigerator and I already have milk ready for Monday and Tuesday!
Dedication to the end result helps!

I am soooo grateful as I know other moms will try every thing they can and still cannot produce enough   

Welcome welcome.

And allow yourself the first month to just randomly cry having to leave Grae.     It gets easier.
Although I still find myself practically running home to see Marina!

[lyndsy_p]

Thanks for the tip about the GS.....I have been stocking up the freezer reserves as well, I have 55oz as of today. Hope to get at least 100oz by the 16th

I'm sure I will be a crying mess....behind closed doors though. Manager to a workforce full of men doesn't allow for emotional breakdowns!

Lyndsy

[MJMom]

Yeah... I ran into the VP of my division in one of my crying spells.  I'd been back like a week.  Luckily, I knew he was a decent caring guy.  Asked me later if I was OK.  He was also the same guy who approved my working from home on Wednesdays to keep milk production up. 

[valeamalia]

Does anyone has some advice on how to keep milk supply if I have to go on a trip and can't take LO with me, I'll be gone for 2 weeks.

[MJMom]

YIKES!  I would assume you want to pump the whole time you are gone and additionally take fenugreek, but I don't have any real experience.

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Pump, pump, pump, pump, pump!  My sister went to Australia when her ds was 7 months old- she pumped for months ahead of time to have mostly EBM to leave for him.  When she was away, she pumped pretty much every 3 hrs during the day and a couple of times overnight, and had no trouble maintaining her supply. The night pumping can be especially helpful - but frequent sessions are important.  You also will need a really good electric pump - rent if you don't already own one.