My body is giving up

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

I've been pumping for ds since his premature birth over 2 years ago. I had a WONDERFUL supply for quite awhile, but now am doing well if i can get 4 oz a day from my sessions. tried all the normal galactogogues (oatmeal and fenugreek, water etc). I wanted to get him through cold and flu season before stopping pumping, but at this low production, my body is doing it for me :( i used to get out more milk in the first couple of mionutes of pumping each session than i do total ina  day now, and i pump for approximately 3 hrs a day now.

guess i am not really looking for advice since i pretty much know it, but maybe someone to commiserate with?

[Thing1Thing2]

This is probably a silly question, but have you tried putting him on the breast at least once a day? Pumping alone can cause milk production to slow down, but wayyyy before 2 years. I think it was more like 5 weeks.

[tincia]

Have u tried dom?

[Megan73]

Originally Posted by tincia 

Have u tried dom?

That would by my suggestion, too.

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

bonnie, he's never latched- he was in nicu for awhile after he was born. i'm a former bf counselor (plus nursed my older kids til they weaned themselves including 11 months of tandem nursing) and tried every trick i could think of, awake asleep, moving, in the bath, pumping first for flow etc..... at 5 weeks i was making over 150oz a day. donated to a couple of babies/mamas locally and still had 2 deep freezers full of milk (mine and my mil), plus a few dozen bags in my mom's deep freezer.

no i haven't tried dom. we honestly don't have the money for it, and i don't actually know anyone in canada etc who could get it for me cheaply and send it to me. this time last year i was getting over 90 oz a day still. *just* with pumping and an occasional cup of mm tea or some oatmeal every couple of days.

my oldest child was born in dec 99, and i've been pregnant, nursing or both since his pregnancy. if i could maintain the 4 oz a day without having to pump for 3+ hrs a day it would be fine, since i know even 4 oz has antibodies etc. i even thought about seeing if i could use an oxytocin nasal spray to help letdown milk faster so i could decrease pumping time. but i don't know where i could get it if it is even still used in that way ( i remember a long time ago reading something about it in the bfab after #1).

i am taking fenugreek again but it just isn't working like it used to for me.

[Thing1Thing2]

So sorry :(

I know how devestating it is, since I had to put my refluxy 6 week on formula after trying everything.

Hugs

[KateDavies45]

I don't really have any advice, but I wanted to say that I think it's amazing that you kept up pumping as long as you did. My DD was in NICU for 2 1/2 wks and I was pumping for over two and a half months so before she got the hang on BF and that seemed like FOREVER.  I can't even imagine what it would be like to EP for over a year. It may not be when you planned on weaning but I still think you did an awesome job!

[kstone9107]

have you tried putting him to breast with a nipple shield?  may get him to latch by giving him a nipple similar to the bottle, and may help stimulate you better than a pump.  just a thought.  whatever happens, be proud at what you've given him already.  :)

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

ty ladies.

kstone. no i haven't tried with a nipple shield in a few months. he doesn't really do much with them. even though he no longer screams every time the breast is pulled out, and has used them as pillows numerous times, i have gotten him to lick milk off the nipple a few times when just finished pumping or hand expressing, but not regularly.