Need some motivation

[HungryCaterpillar]

I've been back to work for 2.5 weeks now and I'm pumping during the day to keep my DD (3.5 months old) on BM at daycare. I'm having a hard time keeping up with what she is eating! It's really tough for me to pump 3x during the day; 2x/day is enough on Mondays but it drops quickly as the week goes on. And every minute I spend pumping is a minute I have to stay later at the end of the day, a minute less I get to spend with my baby at night.

I'm really tempted to buy some formula so that daycare can top off her bottles with a few ounces a day if she wants more than I have pumped. It would take some stress off of me, and she'd still be mostly breastfed.

Talk me out of it! There has to be some reason why a little bit of formula is not a good idea. I already know that we'd have some trial & error w/formula since my DD has Milk Protein Intolerance, but I'm guessing soy will be fine because I had the same problem as my DD as a baby and did fine on soy.

[kismetbaby]

Just wanted to say--You can do it mama! Keep up the pumping!

Since you are looking to be talked out of it. . .BM is obviously the best thing and the longer you can keep her on BM only the better. Especially with some milk intolerances n the family! Lots of babies that are sensitive to milk are also sensitive to soy. Wouldn't it be horrible to find that out after you'd let your supply drop? And since she is at daycare its even more important for her to be getting all the immunities from your BM.

I feel you with the trade-off of pumping time=staying later. That sucks. Is there any way you can get work done while pumping? They make some bras that make pumping hands free. . . .you could take a laptop with you while you pump or your lunch. Is it your employers or schedule or is it the amount of work you have to get done? Seems there must be a way to get 2-3 pumpings a day. People normally take that many smoke/coffee breaks a day anyway. Can you take some work home with you?

Is there any way for you to build a bigger stash of BM? Your body will work with you on this. . .if you can't pump as much during the day, could you add a pumping at night or late evening and early morning to compensate?

Hope that helps. . .call your local LLL for support!

Obviously you have to make a choice about what works the best and some babies do perfectly fine with formula and giving her mostly BM is better than no BM.

[kriket]

You can do it! I know it really really sucks, but I have to pump the other side while I nurse when I am at home to get enough for the next day. When I was working FT I pumped 3x at work and got about 4 or 5 oz, then had to pump 2-3x more to get the 8 that I left for the next day.
Oh, and I pump on the weekends to try and put a bag into the freezer.

[1stBabyAt39]

I returned to work when DD was 2.5 months old now. I pump 3x a day at work and once in the morning before I leave the house. 4 bottles worked for a few months, but now that she's gotten bigger & is eating solids, I can't keep up with her! So she still gets the 4 bottles of milk, plus baby cereal or pureed fruit, and occasionally a bottle of formula if she needs it.

I don't think there's anything wrong with supplementing with formula. After all, millions of babies survive on formula alone. Just take comfort in knowing you are providing your baby with such excellent food. Keep on pumping, you can do it!

[PatioGardener]

Keep pumping, Mama! There's a reason that exclusive breastfeeding is recommended until 6 months. You can do it!

[PatioGardener]

How are things going? Do you have the weekend off?

[mambera]

Since you're looking to be talked out of it, here's an article that makes the case for maintaining the 'virgin gut':

http://www.breastfeed.com/articles/i...rgin-gut-3451/

Would it help to think of this as having an end in sight? Once the baby's gut closes, formula is no worse than any other solid/non-BM food you might offer.

The gut closes between 4 and 6 months. You are almost all the way to four months, can you hang on another two weeks? Maybe by pumping once a day in the mornings or adding some sessions in on the weekends to make up a few ounces?

Btw adding formula to the milk bottles isn't a great idea because it shortens the shelf life - you can't reuse partially drunk formula but BM is OK to put back in the fridge and use later. Better to have the baby finish the EBM and then have a few oz of formula separately if she is still hungry.

[Hannah'sMommy]

You can do it! I agree with the others, could you add a pumping in the morning before you leave work when your supply is a little higher? I used to do that to build a stash for the freezer and until I found out how much our DD really needs during the day. I know it's not fun to get up earlier, but I always thought it was worth it for her to get BM!

Also, I know that some women may pump more every other weekend (after each feeding, or at least a few during the day) to help boost their supply for the week. Kind of gives their supply a boost.

For work, I use a hands free pump so I can work at the same time, but I know there are ways you can rig your current pump with hairties so you can go hands free without the big investment. Try this: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/h...e-pumping.html

The other question I have is how much is your DD drinking during the day? Is it possible that her daycare provider is feeding her too much? I know that some people may give the baby a bottle whenever they fuss thinking they are hungry when they really are tired or need something else (I have a drop in provider that does this, luckily she's not my full time person).

[claddaghmom]

Don't do it! It sounds easy but you're forgetting your child (I mean, her reaction; I'm sure you care about her a lot).

As far as I have heard/seen, breastfed babies are disgusted by formula. Mix some into your precious milk and she might refuse the whole thing...wasting your milk. You also have to figure out what her body can tolerate...you'd have to experiment with different brands and types...different measurements...go through diarrhea, constipation, rashes, colic, throw up etc.

Also, Soy formula is not cool. I understand if babies need to take it to survive but it has lots of disadvantages and is implicated in hormonal imbalances and other chemical problems.

Same goes with organic formulas...not really organic and not really worth the higher price.

[sahmmie]

Yeah, I agree. If there's any way you can avoid formula you'd be better off. Formulas are tough on babies' tummies. Many babies have sensitivities to cow's milk and to soy, as well as to the huge amount of corn used in these formulas.

Have you tried pumping in the wee hours of the morning? Supply is usually at it's highest at that time. I used to get up a 4am and pump and there'd still be plenty of milk for my babies at 6 am. Also try pumping for 2-5 minutes after the flow stops. You will often tap into a reserve of milk that you wouldn't have otherwise, and in turn your body will start producing more milk because tapping into that reserve tells your body that the baby is not getting enough.

[HungryCaterpillar]

Thanks everyone! By the weekend my supply had really tanked (I only got to pump once on Friday!) So I spent the whole weekend with her attached to my boobs, nursing as much as possible. I didn't pump because I decided nursing was a better way to get my milk going again. So I'm short two bottles for today, so that'll be two gone from my dwindling freezer stash. I'll try to pump three times today; I'm already off to a bad start since I had to get my car worked on this morning and I'll be late to work, but I'll make sure it happens.

Pumping in the morning would be tough, I get up at 6 and leave within a half hour. BUT I can pump as soon as I get to work at 7, something i knew I needed to do but had gotten lazy about.

Adding a pumping session at night would be tough too, I barely have enough time to do what I need to do (washing bottles, laundry, making dinner, take a shower) with the nursing she is doing now. She doesn't sttn or even close - we both are in bed at 8:30 and she nurses off and on all night.

Working while I pump is difficult since I pump away from my desk (cubicle!) it takes several minutes for my computer to shut down and reboot, but maybe I can do that. I could do that once a day at lunchtime and pump for 30 mi utes or more, that might work. Maybe my supply would adjust and give me good output during that time, and I could do two other shorter sessions during the day.

I do think daycare is overfeeding her a bit but unless my pediatrician says something about her weight gain I don't want to make an issue of it. Nora won't take a pacifier and can get mighty fussy when she doesn't get what she wants.

Thanks for the tips everone; I have my motivation renewed and I'll update with how the week goes!