I don't know if I can pump anymore

[LittleGriff]

I feel so sad and stressed out and thought it might help to get some feedback here. I have an 8 1/2 month old who I have exclusively breastfed (and is happily eating solids now as well). I breastfeed her brother for 15 months. (Until the second pregnancy made it too painful, otherwise would have probably gone longer.) In normal life I have overabundant supply.

The problem is that starting about 2 months ago I have been working very long hours and we stopped co-sleeping. (I needed sleep and she was very happy in her own bed and sleeps from 8p-7a - amazing! : ) And I am struggling to pump enough milk and my supply is dwindling.

I leave the house by 5 a.m. and usually fit in a pumping session before. At first I could get 8 oz (4 on each) in that session but now am lucky if I get 6. I then try to pump every 2-3 hours through out the day. At first I ended up with about 16 oz at the end of the day, now I can barely get 10-12. I arrive back home about 4:30 p.m. We have all afternoon and evening for breastfeeding but that's really only about 3.5 hours! As she goes to sleep by 8 p.m. usually. And I try to pump more if I can bear it.

I use two manual pumps.

The nanny says she seems to need about 20 oz while I'm away which I am just barely able to provide and can never build up a reserve, even if I try to pump weekends. Plus, my daughter is really distracted and not that interested in nursing very much when I am around.

I am just completely exhausted and stressed and sad. I know formula can be helpful but it just pains me to give it to her when I know my body can produce milk for her. I keep telling myself just 3 more months ... but I don't know if I can make it. My job is very stressful. My husband is very stressed about his job. Raising the two kids, paying all the expenses, keeping the house in order, etc .... I just need one less stress in my life. Maybe this is it?

Any thoughts? Thanks!

[GoestoShow]

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Edited by GoestoShow - 1/4/11 at 9:02am

[Ellien C]

If you stop pumping, can you still continue to breastfeed? That's what I did. I stopped pumping around 10 months because I was tired of lugging the huge electric pump back and forth to work, I wasn't getting very much and it was interfering with my work. I gave her "graduate" formula for the next 4 months or so, but we continued to BF in the evenings and weekends for literally YEARS! My daughter was 4.5 when I mommy-led weaned her. Would something like that work for you?

Stopping pumping doesn't mean stopping BF.

[crunchy_mommy]

I don't pump and I WAH... so not sure if what I'm suggesting is feasible... but have you considered shifting her schedule a bit? Maybe try to get her up a little earlier or go to bed a little later to fit in an extra nursing session... Have someone bring her to you during your lunch break for a feeding... have the nanny hold off on the last bottle of the day so she will be hungry & nurse well when you get home... just some ideas... sorry that things are so stressful for you right now!!

[kerc]

Everyone else posted my ideas thus far but I didn't want to read and not post.

You are doing a great job so far. Whatever you decide you've still made it so far on the nursing front. Pumping is more demanding than just nursing.

[JollyGG]

First of all you mentioned that you are using a manual pump. I would suggest renting a really good electric pump for a while and see if that helps.

With my first I had a mediocre pump. Having a good pump for my second really made a difference both in the way I felt about pumping and in how much milk I produced.

On the weekends I would recommend both feeding her and pumping for a few minutes when she's done if possible after feedings to try and get your supply up.

I also second a PP suggestion that the end of pumping does not need to mean the end of breast feeding. I breast fed both my kids to 15 and 16 months. But I stopped pumping at 6 months. I simply really really hated pumping (though as I mentioned it was better with a better pump). I fed formula when I was at work and breast fed as much as possible when I was home. It worked out very well for us. I did find that I had to give a few bottles on the weekend as my supply was able to accommodate her normal nursing sessions but not my work hours. But that wasn't a big issue for us. Overall it worked well for us.

Best of luck on whatever you decide.

[gbutterflykissesm]

I can't say I know exactly how you feel, but I would if I were in the same position. I EBF my 7mo, work 9 hours a day and pump. And if this were to happen to me I would feel the same way you do. It can be so stressful and depressing.

And pumping sucks. It gets so old so fast. I am pumping as we speak! Ugh! Knowing you can BF for a long long time, even if not exclusively, would give me a lot of relief.

I think that you sound really stressed, though, and that can really deplete your supply. Is that something you can tackle first? Finding a way to eliminate that stress, whether it's supplementing temporarily, pumping less?? It sounds like you are pumping SO much. You've BF for so long, and formula isn't the devil. I know how you feel... I would be so hesitant to start formula too, EBF is so nice, but it really isn't the devil. Would supplementing a little and pumping a little less help to relax you? Maybe try it for 2 weeks or a month. Perhaps your supply will increase a little once you are able to decrease your stress level.

One other thing, though--is your nanny certain that your DD is hungry and not just fussy? Some people give food when the baby is fussy but maybe was not necessarily hungry. I assume that is the root of your stress... that you feel you're not able to give your baby as much as she wants, and you're leaving her hungry. If she is doing great with solids, could your nanny try to increase solids to keep her hungry?

And one last thing... I have an overabundant supply too, but pumping with 2 manual pumps I normally get half as much as usual. I just can't keep up the level of intensity needed to create more letdowns after the first one or 2. So maybe if you were able to rent an electric pump, you would be able to pump a lot more than you do now. I would definitely look into it if it's a possibility.

Hang in there! Baby is getting older, and it's ok if you need to supplement and just BF when you're home. It's an inevitable transition, and it is so hard.

[MeepyCat]

I'd strongly recommend a better pump. Can you rent something, or borrow a double electric for a week to see how it works out? I can't imagine doing what you're doing with manual pumps. You have all my respect and sympathy on that one, but really, try a better pump before giving up. (I strongly recommend a hands-free bra too. And this is shallow, but you mention being stressed - a hands free bra and a trashy novel in my pumping kit made pumping sessions even kind of relaxing some days.)

If you find that you do still want or need to stop pumping, I agree with the PP who say that the end of pumping is not the end of breast feeding. I nursed my son evenings and weekends for nearly eight months after I stopped pumping at work.

Also, keep in mind that pumping isn't all or nothing. It's fine to pump what you can and make up the rest with formula or with solids.

[gbutterflykissesm]

Originally Posted by MeepyCat

(I strongly recommend a hands-free bra too. And this is shallow, but you mention being stressed - a hands free bra and a trashy novel in my pumping kit made pumping sessions even kind of relaxing some days.)

Or try this trick from kelly mom. This and being able to surf the web makes my pumping breaks relaxing and stress free!

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/h...e-pumping.html

[Alyantavid]

I'd try an electric pump, something to distract you while pumping and if you still need to, supplement. I'd definitely keep nursing at home. But don't feel guilty, you're doing an amazing thing.

[Poodge]

The above posters gave great advice. I just wanted to offer a . I am in a similar place right now and it is very hard. Pumping is not easy. You have (and are) doing great things for your LO!

[aran]

When my supply dwindled, I used a hands-free pumping bra thing and a hospital grade electric pump, and worked at the computer in my office through really long pumping sessions so that I would get multiple letdowns. It helped tremendously.

Also, by 8.5 months, my DS1 was starting to increase his intake of crushed/pureed veggies and fruits (avocado with pear juice was a fave) and I would just supplement whatever I could pump with that rather than formula. For some reason, I felt much better about using fruits and veggies than using formula to fill his tummy while I was gone.

[almadianna]

get a better pump! i have been able to pump for 3 years straight and it is only because I have two PISA from Medela they are awesome pumps.

[readytobedone]

Originally Posted by LittleGriff

The nanny says she seems to need about 20 oz while I'm away which I am just barely able to provide and can never build up a reserve, even if I try to pump weekends. Plus, my daughter is really distracted and not that interested in nursing very much when I am around.

20 ounces in 12 hours is a ton. there is virtually no way your DD needs 20 ounces in 12 hours. i see that you're not co-sleeping/nursing overnight, which is understandable. but is there any way you could fit in an extra nursing sometime in her 11 hour sleeping period, since you go to work before she wakes? that might lessen how much EBM she needs during the day.

i don't think you need to stop pumping. you just need to figure out a way that your DD won't take so much by bottle and will take more with you. [ETA: i read you are down to 10-12 a day at work, but i bet you could easily get more with an electric pump!]

the nanny might be feeding her at every little whimper vs. trying other things. we had one sitter who did that. the others all managed on one ounce per hour of time away. that was always my rule of thumb--i read about it on kellymom, and it always worked for us. by that standard, you would NEARLY be pumping enough, and could most certainly get there with a good double electric pump!

and even if you have to supplement, it's not the end of the world, and you can keep nursing.

[Latte Mama]

I agree with the PP that said 20 oz is great! My pumping supply dwindled at about 7-8 months also. My DS only got 1-2 bottles while I was working and for a while we did have to supplement. I stopped pumping at a year but continued to BF. he gets cows milk now when I'm working.

Make sure your nanny is not giving the baby a bottle too close to the time you're coming home so she's really ready for a good nursing. Other than that, nanny should watch how much she's giving. I think you're doing fine and nurse lots and lots in those 3 1/2 hours when you're home together!

[Megan73]

Yup - I'd get a double electric pump (I like my Medela PIS, too) and read this: www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

[aran]

I noticed a few PPs recommended the PIS. I wanted to note that my lactation consultant discouraged me from using my PIS to increase milk supply... evidently it isn't strong enough to increase supply for most people. Instead, you could rent a hospital grade pump, like the Lactina or Symphony from a lactation consultant. I did that, and eventually just bought one on EBay and left it locked up at work so I didn't need to lug it back and forth... it was a godsend!

I second lots of other suggestions too... especially, ask nanny not to give your dd a bottle within 2 or 2.5 hours of your arrival home - if dd is truly hungry during that time, have the nanny give her whatever veggies/fruits she is starting to eat (assuming she is) so that she still wants to suckle when you arrive.

[MeepyCat]

Originally Posted by aran

I noticed a few PPs recommended the PIS. I wanted to note that my lactation consultant discouraged me from using my PIS to increase milk supply... evidently it isn't strong enough to increase supply for most people. Instead, you could rent a hospital grade pump, like the Lactina or Symphony from a lactation consultant. I did that, and eventually just bought one on EBay and left it locked up at work so I didn't need to lug it back and forth... it was a godsend!

I hear this about the PIS, but I woner if it's really the OP's supply that's a problem. She could well be seeing lower output than she'd like because she's running short on time, or because her hands are getting tired. If that's the case, a PIS would do fine.

[aran]

Originally Posted by MeepyCat

I hear this about the PIS, but I woner if it's really the OP's supply that's a problem. She could well be seeing lower output than she'd like because she's running short on time, or because her hands are getting tired. If that's the case, a PIS would do fine.

That's true, since she's using hand pumps now! Any decent electric pump she can get might be an improvement! (My perspective is also colored by the fact that *I* think the PIS feels kinda pinchy and doesn't elicit as many letdowns as the better pumps *for me* so I tend to prefer and recommend the more expensive pumps)

[gkb2215]

I went through something similar, and I understand how it can feel like a loss and make you sad.

I went back to work full-time when my daughter was 6-months-old, and I typically pumped 2 or 3 times a day. Around 12 months she stopped taking a bottle during the day, and I was also finding that my supply was dwindling. Thus, I would come home with fairly empty breasts to a very hungry kid (to this day she acts like solid food is a conspiracy). So I stopped pumping. This really worked for us, because I would be engorged when I got home and she could nurse to heart's content.

My daughter is also the easily-distracted, acrobatic, on-again-off-again type of nurser. I find that it helps--when I get home from work--to take her into the quiet bedroom, curl up on the bed together, and sing to her while she nurses. This is the most de-stressing, relaxing, and happy part of my day, and I think it it does more good for both of us than just about anything else. Don't know if it would work for you and your child, but maybe it's worth a try.