Pumping more frequently = less milk?

[canoemom]

WWYD?

I returned to work two weeks ago. My son finally figured out how to take a bottle and now he's consuming 14-15 oz of BM while I'm at work. (He leaves the house at 7am and returns at 4:30pm). I nurse him right before departure and immediately upon arrival in the afternoon.

Problem - I am only able to pump 10-11 oz each day while at work. I've added some pumping on the weekend and before work.

Last week, I pumped at work every 2.5 hours for 20 minutes (3 total sessions) --- yielding 11.5 oz each day.

With hopes of increasing the output - I added a pumping in the a.m. before the babe wakes up and switched to pumping every 2 hours at work for 20 minutes (4 total sessions). Now - I'm only yielding 10 oz from the pumping at work (with an additional session added). Is this because I'm now pumping and nursing in the morning? Should I continue in hopes that my body sends a message to Make.More.Milk? Or should I return to the thrice daily sessions?

I'm starting to panic and I know that that's counterproductive. If I can't keep up, I'm afraid we'll burn through my meager freezer stash and have to supplement with formula.

Any BTDT advice? Thanks!

[kdtmom2be]

I would say keep at it. Also, I pump WHILE I nurse when I can, that yields a whole lot more milk than any other time (though I'm at 1.5oz per side if I'm lucky these days, I can recall have SO much milk with DD that I could pump 6-7 oz a side). I pump while I drive so that my mind is not on the pumping (probably not the BEST practice when it comes to driving but I'll admit it here...) Pumping while I am paying attention to it, even in the slightest and I only get 0.5-1.0 ounces. So I would say that your decrease in production is due to you stressing about it. Close your eyes and think about your beautiful babe. Smile. Take a deep breath and let that milk flow!

[tonimk19]

Stress can be a factor too. Drink lots of water and eat oatmeal. There are other supplements you can use for increasing milk production too at kellymom.com if you need.

[bender]

It seems like he's taking in a lot of milk while you are gone. Usually, they take in 1-1.5oz per hour of separation. Going with the high end, he'd be taking in 13.5 max. Can you give your day care person smaller bottles? Or encourage other ways of comforting the baby? Kellymom also has an article on how to bottle feed so it's more like breastfeeding (which slows down the eating rate).

[Morgana]

My DD chugged milk during the first weeks that I was back to work. The change turned her world upside down and my husband (who took care of her while I was at work) hadn't yet figured out how to read her signals and just fed her anytime she got the least bit upset.

Have you tried "power pumping"? Pump for 5 mins (or until your milk stops) and then take off your pump completely. If you're using a hands free bra then take the bra off too. You want to completely stop stimulating your nipples. Sit for two minutes and then pump again for 5 mins. Everything off for 2 minutes and then pump again for 5 mins. You won't get much milk during the last two pump sessions but that's not the goal. This start and stop is a way to manipulate the hormones involved in milk production. It may take a few days to really kick in. Don't worry if you can't do it every pumping session but do it whenever you can.

Also, are you doing compressions while pumping? My output doubles when I do. I know quite a few women who didn't and never got enough milk for their babies and ended up going to formula. I know I'd be one of them without doing compressions.

Also, spend as much time as you can skin to skin with your baby. This helps stimulate milk production. Skin to skin means naked momma and naked baby (diaper is okay).

And milk supply drops a lot for some women the week before or the week of their period. My pumping output was cut in half during my first few periods but now I don't notice much of a difference.

And yep, and stressing out about it will only make it worse.

[lmbjer]

I've nothing additional to add. I just wanted to send a I know how frustrating and stressful this is. I had the same problem with both of my babies.