supply and 'extended breastfeeding'

[mamidepdd]

Hi mama's,
I've only been nursing for 13 months and my supply is in the tank. Without full dose reglan and fennugreek, I would have no supply. Even with these interventions, my supply is slowly declining. I'm nursing 4-5 times a day and pumping when at work. I thought I was supposed to keep producing milk if my baby was nursing, but he nurses and nurses and often supply runs out before he is done. THoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?
- a very sad mama

[J.J.]

First I wanted to offer support and congratulations you've made it 13 mos through work and pumping, for the past 13 mos your LO has had all the benefits of your milk, so don't be sad.

Now onto the supply issue, how do you know he "runs out"? Breasts are never completely empty and if he's actuvely sucking he'll still be getting alittle bit. If it's because he's still hungry after a bottle while you're working can his caregiver offer him other foods? At 13mos depending on how he's doing with solids, he could be growing?

A Key to increasing supply is breast stimulation via nursing more or pumping. Stay hydrated with pleanty of water. Try eating oatmeal. Check out this link http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/ma...pply-pump.html

HTH.

[KnitLady]

Is there a chance that you might be pregnant?

[Ruthla]

If there's a problem with pumping output, you might want to give your pump a checkup- there's often a valve somewhere that needs replacing periodically.

At 13mo, if you have a limited milk supply I'd offer a wide variety of solids and water or diluted juice and nurse as much as he wanted to, and not worry too much about how much milk he's getting from you. If the milk isn't filling him up he'll eat more of other foods- I don't think you need to really worry about his nutriton as long as you're OFFERING plenty of things. It's up to him to decide what he actually wants to eat.

At this age, if you can't pump enough milk for him during the workday I wouldn't hesitate to offer whole cow or goat milk in addition to pumped milk (although I'd lean towards formula rather than whole milk if he wasn't eating many solid foods.)

[annettemarie]

Moving to BBI, since you're asking specifically about extended nursing

[Twinklefae]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

If there's a problem with pumping output, you might want to give your pump a checkup- there's often a valve somewhere that needs replacing periodically.

At 13mo, if you have a limited milk supply I'd offer a wide variety of solids and water or diluted juice and nurse as much as he wanted to, and not worry too much about how much milk he's getting from you. If the milk isn't filling him up he'll eat more of other foods- I don't think you need to really worry about his nutriton as long as you're OFFERING plenty of things. It's up to him to decide what he actually wants to eat.

At this age, if you can't pump enough milk for him during the workday I wouldn't hesitate to offer whole cow or goat milk in addition to pumped milk (although I'd lean towards formula rather than whole milk if he wasn't eating many solid foods.)

: The pumping thing is really really hard. I know I have a full supply but can't pump enough for DS during a work day. Check your pump, nurse when at home, and supplement when necessary is all you can do.

[milkybean]

I've never figured out how to tell when I'm "empty". Nowadays it sure feels like nothing is coming out, but my son is 4 and is capable of an honest answer, and he consistently says that he's getting milk!

But pumping is hard...I make plenty of milk for DS directly, but pumping was just ridiculously hard. If I went by what I pumped I would have freaked out early on, b/c I got almost nothing when pumping.