I was a low supply mama last time, due to un-dx hypothyroidism, a very stressful life (me and XP split and i had to move house and deal with access arrangements and so on) and poor choices (i allowed him to have her overnight when i couldn't get much off with the pump, and took the minipill though only for a week or two). My break-up was at 2months PP, my thyroid issue began to really peak at 4months PP and i went on the minipill at nearly 6months PP - my supply began to go at 4months PP and i weaned her onto formula at 7months PP, having only had the 5am feed for several weeks - she also had breast refusal during the day from about 6months PP, which seemed to be related to my slow/non-existant let-down frustrating her, but could also have been mini-pill-related - it didn't resolve when i stopped taking it.
This time i'm in a stable place/relationship, know WAY more about what choices i can/should make and i'm properly monitored and treated for my thyroid insufficiency.
So all is good. But i decided before i had DD2 to pump and freeze (deep freeze) EBM so if i DO have to supplement at some point i can use my own milk and not have to use formula.
My supply this time is amazingly good, even by comparison with my initial supply with DD1 which was fine in the sense that she gained weight normally until 4months PP.
So onto my questions - I have been pumping once a day, at 7-8am, since DD2 was born. I'm getting so much at that one pumping (5-9oz - we had to buy a bigger bottle for the pump and some days i get 9oz because that's all the bottle holds) that i now have well over a gallon of EBM in the deep freeze. We have space for more but i'm already wondering if/when/how to stop pumping...?
I don't have over-supply problems - DD2 is always satisfied, and gaining well, but no frothy poops or struggling with let-down and no colic as far as i can tell. She's sick (posseting but a fair few ounces of milk each time) fairly often but she likes to suck to get to sleep so i often let her hang out and gorge herself! I keep looking at dummies but i don't want to introduce anything to threaten my supply until we're well-established (and DD1 found her thumb at 8weeks old anyway, and i can see DD2 trying to do so alredy too - i'm ok with her thumb-sucking, when she's able, but not sure i want to introduce a dummy before then). But i am SO full in the morning - i think my boobs figure we give triplets beakfast then feed a sigleton all day!
There's no local milk-bank and i've not found anyone who needs my EBM locally (my MW asked about for me), so ultimately i need to stop at some point. The idea of my frozen EBM supply is that i can use it to supplement IF i need to, WHILE i recover my supply (i know a lot more about that this time too!), i don't plan just to switch to it without trying very very hard to recover/keep my supply.
Sorry, this is SOOOO long and verbose!
How much is reasonable to store in the deep freeze? I have about 220oz so far. I just can't see my supply diving this time like it did last time, given how different everything is, but i don't want an insufficient buffer if it does.
Should i stop pumping after i have "enough" (however much that will be)?
How do i do that without getting mastitis? Do i pump less each day? How much less?
Or should i wait until she has a growth spurt and skip the pumping then? So rate than increasing my supply she just gets all of it? But then i'm sure she'd just throw up if i did that - who can drink 15oz in one go!?
Any other thoughts or ideas from experienced mamas?
TIA!
This time i'm in a stable place/relationship, know WAY more about what choices i can/should make and i'm properly monitored and treated for my thyroid insufficiency.
So all is good. But i decided before i had DD2 to pump and freeze (deep freeze) EBM so if i DO have to supplement at some point i can use my own milk and not have to use formula.
My supply this time is amazingly good, even by comparison with my initial supply with DD1 which was fine in the sense that she gained weight normally until 4months PP.
So onto my questions - I have been pumping once a day, at 7-8am, since DD2 was born. I'm getting so much at that one pumping (5-9oz - we had to buy a bigger bottle for the pump and some days i get 9oz because that's all the bottle holds) that i now have well over a gallon of EBM in the deep freeze. We have space for more but i'm already wondering if/when/how to stop pumping...?
I don't have over-supply problems - DD2 is always satisfied, and gaining well, but no frothy poops or struggling with let-down and no colic as far as i can tell. She's sick (posseting but a fair few ounces of milk each time) fairly often but she likes to suck to get to sleep so i often let her hang out and gorge herself! I keep looking at dummies but i don't want to introduce anything to threaten my supply until we're well-established (and DD1 found her thumb at 8weeks old anyway, and i can see DD2 trying to do so alredy too - i'm ok with her thumb-sucking, when she's able, but not sure i want to introduce a dummy before then). But i am SO full in the morning - i think my boobs figure we give triplets beakfast then feed a sigleton all day!
There's no local milk-bank and i've not found anyone who needs my EBM locally (my MW asked about for me), so ultimately i need to stop at some point. The idea of my frozen EBM supply is that i can use it to supplement IF i need to, WHILE i recover my supply (i know a lot more about that this time too!), i don't plan just to switch to it without trying very very hard to recover/keep my supply.
Sorry, this is SOOOO long and verbose!
How much is reasonable to store in the deep freeze? I have about 220oz so far. I just can't see my supply diving this time like it did last time, given how different everything is, but i don't want an insufficient buffer if it does.
Should i stop pumping after i have "enough" (however much that will be)?
How do i do that without getting mastitis? Do i pump less each day? How much less?
Or should i wait until she has a growth spurt and skip the pumping then? So rate than increasing my supply she just gets all of it? But then i'm sure she'd just throw up if i did that - who can drink 15oz in one go!?
Any other thoughts or ideas from experienced mamas?
TIA!
