So where did all my milk go? Aka, is it even worth it?

[dknees]

I am exclusively pumping for my twins (17.5 mo) and have been right from the start. Long story as to why, but part of it has to do with my dd having medical issues including a serious heart defect, and not being able to nurse.

I decided last summer that I would continue to pump at least through this winter to help get them through the tough cold/flu season. My supply was pretty good for their first year, I only had to supplement very little with formula. I used to be able to pump at least 10oz every 4 hours. once they turned one, I started pumping every 6 hours (since they were eating solids and because frankly I would have quit nursing altogether if I had to continue to pump all. the. time.)

So....my supply had dwindled over time, and we were steadily at about 6-7 oz every 6 hours, which wasn't great, but I felt it was okay. Now this past week, my supply is only 3 oz or so every 6 hours. Um, what happened? I am still eating and drinking the same, my habits haven't changed. I am now actually trying to drink water like a fiend, but it's not working. I've tried all the other tricks, I had to constantly battle supply issues with my ds1, so I know what works for me. Nothing is working. I am now back to pumping every 4 hours whenever possible. The twins are both sick. They were SO healthy last winter, and have been sick a lot this year. THankfully it hasn't been anything major, just colds/sniffles that lasted a day or two. Until now. My ds2 has been coughing and congested for over a week. My dd has had a fever for the past 3 days (took her to the dr who said it was viral as far as he can tell).

Honestly, is it even worth it to continue pumping? I work FT, mostly out of the home. A lot of my job involves field work, which means me pumping in my car in -10 weather right now. I am so sick of dragging the stupid pump with me everywhere I go. I am sick of getting up at least once during the night to pump (as I just did). Especially to get out of my nice warm bed to pump and only get 3oz?

any ideas? Could this be temporary?

[~bookcase~]

OGirlieMama long term pumped so she's prob got better suggestions, but in your case I would maybe try domperidone if you can get hold of it?? but you've done a mega job so far...only you can weigh everything up. It might be due to stress that it's down, but from the sounds of it you are BUSY!!!!

I've started to take a fish oil supplement again and coconut milk smoothies just to increase my fatty intake. Just because.

I don't know if you do traditional diet type thing or not, but lots of garlic soups (with or without chicken depending on what you eat) and broths will boost them and you through the season. Do you use homeopathy? Belladonna is usually very helpful for fevers. You can find other ways to support you all alongside/ instead of b'milk depending on what happens and how you proceed.

You are a mega MOM whatever.
You know it

[DeerMother]

A little different over here, but I think about 18 months was the last time I pumped. They were nursing 2x a day (obviously I had no idea how much they were getting) but if I tried to pump so I could take a night out or whatever I would get less than an ounce. I know how frustrating it is to pump and get nothing! (much less pump in a freezing car)

Hope your dc feel better!

[MamaChicken]

Okay, so have you started you periods again? My supply always dipped with my cycle.

[Intertwined]

I just think it's normal for supply to start to dip once they're past 18 months. Mine for sure has. Only you can decide if it's worth it to continue nursing at this point. The only thing I can think of is to increase how many times per day you're pumping to bring the supply back up and it doesn't really sound like that's something you want to do.

Major props for exclusively pumping for a year and a half!

[dknees]

Originally Posted by MamaChicken

Okay, so have you started you periods again? My supply always dipped with my cycle.

oh, yeah, i've been back with those for about 9 months. the one and only time in my life i've ever been regular is when i'm nursing.

it's just so frustrating to get so little, when it;s such a pita. do they even get any benefit from such a small amount?

[Intertwined]

Breast milk is ALWAYS beneficial

[kjoy2]

First of all, you have done an amazing thing pumping for 17.5 months!
You really do need to give yourself credit.

From what I can tell, it's a rough winter for everyone - babies (both breastfed and not), kids, adults, etc. Everyone seems to be getting sick more frequently this winter than last.

Only YOU know when it's the right time to stop pumping. If you are ready to be finished with it, respect your needs, and go forward congratulating yourself on a job well done (Seriously, most singleton mamas don't nurse more than a year in this country! You EBFed 2 babes for a long time!). If you aren't ready to be done yet, then do what you can to make it work for you. For instance, there's no way I'd be waking up to pump with toddlers. Sleep is so important for mamas. Maybe you could pump in the AM and PM at home and just go with that until you are ready to stop.

And FWIW, my girls weaned at 17.5 months, and we were all totally ready. I was feeling guilt b/c I was comparing myself to other MoMs who nursed twins for longer than me, until I stopped that abusive attitude and focused on how our situation worked well for all of us and how I did a great job!

[GandEmama]

I don't have any advice for you, but I just had to write in and say how impressed I am that you have pumped for this long and what an encouragement your story is to me. Due to nursing problems and five months of trying everything in the world to get them to nurse and actually remove milk (and a host of other problems including eating aversion), it looks like I am going the direction of only pumping.

I am in awe you have done it so long. Your amazing! Thanks for the encouragement! I hope you find the answers you need.

[lexbeach]

I've read that just 4 ounces of breastmilk a day can make a huge difference in a child's immune health and development. So, if your question is simply is it worth it due to the effects the milk would have, I would say Yes, definitely.

Only you know if it's worth it to you to continue to pump. Of course, there is always a middle-ground option (i.e. deciding to pump only half as often), though your supply would likely dip further.

Lex

[venustx]

My triplets were born the same day as your twins.

I had severe supply issues from the very beginning so I know my feelings are biased by that. For the last 2 months I pumped, I almost never got more than a half ounce per session so 3 ounces sounds like heaven to me! I was only getting about 3 ounces total per day. I feel that even the little breastmilk they were getting at that point was beneficial and I refuse to believe anyone who says otherwise.

If you're getting about 18 a day, that's at least one full bottle per baby. I don't know how much your babies are eating, but mine are taking about 16-18 ounces of formula per day and I would be thrilled if half of that were breastmilk. I think any breastmilk is better than none and I personally would keep it up for now, as there is a big chance it could be temporary and it's cold/flu season. However, I also know how much our lives improved when I made the hard decision to stop pumping. I was severely depressed and tying my worth as a mother to the ability to provide breastmilk for my babies. Only you know what is right for you and your family. I know how hard exclusively pumping is and you have done a great job!

[dknees]

Originally Posted by kjoy2

First of all, you have done an amazing thing pumping for 17.5 months!
You really do need to give yourself credit.

From what I can tell, it's a rough winter for everyone - babies (both breastfed and not), kids, adults, etc. Everyone seems to be getting sick more frequently this winter than last.

Only YOU know when it's the right time to stop pumping. If you are ready to be finished with it, respect your needs, and go forward congratulating yourself on a job well done (Seriously, most singleton mamas don't nurse more than a year in this country! You EBFed 2 babes for a long time!). If you aren't ready to be done yet, then do what you can to make it work for you. For instance, there's no way I'd be waking up to pump with toddlers. Sleep is so important for mamas. Maybe you could pump in the AM and PM at home and just go with that until you are ready to stop.

And FWIW, my girls weaned at 17.5 months, and we were all totally ready. I was feeling guilt b/c I was comparing myself to other MoMs who nursed twins for longer than me, until I stopped that abusive attitude and focused on how our situation worked well for all of us and how I did a great job!

Thanks for this. When the twins turned one, my plan was to pump once at night, then again in the morning and be done. No lugging that stupid pump everywhere I go (my co-workers call me the "bag lady" cause I always have like 10 bags with me) no worrying about if I have a towel to cover myself for pumping in the car, no worrying about ice packs or making sure I have the ability to clean my hands if I'm out doing field work (I work with dangerous materials a lot of the time), all that kind of stuff. But, once I started going 6 hours between pumping sessions, and "allowing" myself one 8 hour block, my supply went WAY down, and I knew that pumping just twice a day would never give me the milk supply I wanted. So pumping 4 times a day was working well for about 5 months. Now I'm back to pumping every 4 hours just to make sure I have SOMETHING for them.

Originally Posted by GandEmama

I don't have any advice for you, but I just had to write in and say how impressed I am that you have pumped for this long and what an encouragement your story is to me. Due to nursing problems and five months of trying everything in the world to get them to nurse and actually remove milk (and a host of other problems including eating aversion), it looks like I am going the direction of only pumping.

I am in awe you have done it so long. Your amazing! Thanks for the encouragement! I hope you find the answers you need.

Thanks

Originally Posted by venustx

My triplets were born the same day as your twins.

I had severe supply issues from the very beginning so I know my feelings are biased by that. For the last 2 months I pumped, I almost never got more than a half ounce per session so 3 ounces sounds like heaven to me! I was only getting about 3 ounces total per day. I feel that even the little breastmilk they were getting at that point was beneficial and I refuse to believe anyone who says otherwise.

If you're getting about 18 a day, that's at least one full bottle per baby. I don't know how much your babies are eating, but mine are taking about 16-18 ounces of formula per day and I would be thrilled if half of that were breastmilk. I think any breastmilk is better than none and I personally would keep it up for now, as there is a big chance it could be temporary and it's cold/flu season. However, I also know how much our lives improved when I made the hard decision to stop pumping. I was severely depressed and tying my worth as a mother to the ability to provide breastmilk for my babies. Only you know what is right for you and your family. I know how hard exclusively pumping is and you have done a great job!

Wow, I cannot imagine trying to pump for 3 kids, and then having to feed and take care of them, too.

So...thank you all for your help. I am back to pumping every 4 hours, though that's not going to last forever, as once I'm back doing field work I won't be able to take breaks that often. I guess I'll just keep going as best I can until I feel the cold/flu season is done, or until I've really just had enough. My dd is no longer sick - yay! Turns out, she had roseola. My ds2, otoh, has a ROTTEN cold, stuffy, yucky, phlegmy, icky. He's been sick for over a week, poor little guy