[guerrillamama]

ok, so i have always had a very abundant supply. BUT ---

about a month ago, i started a full time job. ds is in daycare 5 days a week. up until this week, everything was fine - i pumped about 9 oz at lunch and that's more or less exactly how much he would eat the next day, so everything was cool. i had a little back-up stash in the freezer and iknew it would be smart to pump up some more but didn't get around to it. dumbass.

so, now 2 problems.

1st problem is that i need to attend an all-day, way-out-of-town retreat for work on July 9. my mother will watch him that day, which will probably be at least 15 hours. i figured, ok, in the next 2 weeks i can pump twice a day (the 2nd in the late afternoon) and store up what he'll need that day. BUT ---

yesterday he ate 14 ounces.

the sitter had to use up all the freezer stash.
and i only pumped 8.
see my 2nd problem?

if today is like yesterday he won't have enough and i'll have to leave work early which is a big problem b/c i am falling further and further behind in this job every day and cannot get caught up b/c ds insists on sleeping the exact same amount of time that i do... but that's another thread...

so what can i do? both for the days ahead in the immediate future, and for July 9? he's not eating solids yet - he has shown interest, so i've been trying periodically for the last month w/ no success. would it be so awful to supplement w/ a little juice or formula just to get him thru the day?

i guess i could o.d. on fenugreek and try to get my supply in hyperdrive, but i'm scared to do that - i already leak like crazy and i can just see it happening in the middle of a pre-trial hearing or a client meeting!

really appreciate any thoughts...

ETA: ds is almost 7 mo old. and teething. and has never had anything except breastmilk. (and a few bites of sweet potato, avocado, and rice cereal, none of which made it all the way down.)

ETA: i don't know how i could fit in a 3rd pumping per day. this morning i got up at 4:30 am to try and get up before him and get a little work done - no dice. no matter how early i get up he insists on waking up w/ me (and nursing, of course).

 

[carrietorgc]

have you tried herbs yet? sounds like logistically the extra pumping is just hard for you to fit in right now.

Many many moms (me included) have found that Fenugreek is a great galactalogue (herb to increase milk). A typical dosage is 3-4 pills with meals, 3x a day. Also try mothers milk tea, at least 3 cups a day. it takes 2-3 days to see the effects of fenugreek. when I was really low from mastitis and illness I took 12 a day until I got back up there.

Good luck!

 

[carrietorgc]

whoops, just saw the fenugreek part - I would risk the leaking and od on it so you can prepare for your time away and get your stash back, and then hopefully you can ease off it and pump 2x a day.

 

[guerrillamama]

(nervous) (need a :bitefingernails: smiley)

maybe i will try herbs... is there any difference b/w the tea or straight fenugreek?

 

[manitoba_mommy]

Couple of ideas;

1; Could you pump one side while he drinks on the other side, particularly in the morning?
2: Ask the sitter to try something other then milk when he shows a sudden jump in consumption. You mentioned he was teething, could he have been sucking for the comfort? Get her to try a cold wet rag maybe?
3: Oatmeal for breakfast, nothing makes me leak more then a few days of eating oatmeal. A glass a day of rootbeer is also good for that I hear.
4: Do you have an office? If so, can you close the door, hang a do not enter on pain of being embarased sign and get in a few more pump sessions?
5: For the meeting, do you have the resources to pay for your mom, or another sitter, to get a hotel in the area with you that is close enough for you to meet up in between events?

Hope this helps. If I think of anything else I will post it.

MM

 

[kimberlylibby]

I think I'd develop a little mini-beer night session... you know, drink a beer, pump a couple times in the evening.... a couple nights of that always got my freezer stash nice and juicy.

I'm not talking a dozen beers... just one

 

[guerrillamama]

funny, i just got a craving for oatmeal in the last couple days!! hmm....

so, beer - does that really work? i thought i had read that it was just an old wive's tale? i'm definitely not averse to drinking a beer in the evening!

 

[bec]

Yes ro the beer. It's the hops that make it work (similar grain to oatmeal). I second the suggestion to pump one side while he is nursing. You could sneak in a couple more sessions this way. Of course, he's going to nurse more as a result, because he won't be getting both sides, but that will only increase your supply as well.

The difference between the straaight fenugreek and the tea is the amount of stuff. The tea has more herbs in it and they are, generally at a weaker strength.

Bec

 

[guerrillamama]

ok, i still haven't had time to pick up fenugreek. or beer. :LOL but can someone explain why my output is so all over the map?

monday i pumped 8 oz
tuesday i pumped about 11
wednesday i pumped about 13
today about 10

also, does caffeine reduce the milk supply? i really do require 3 cups to make it thru a work day...

i used to pump one side while nursing the other, but i had to stop that a couple months ago cuz he got so crazy with the grabbing and the pulling and the kicking. i DO cry over spilt milk. too bad, cuz that is definitely the most efficient way.

thanks for the info everybody!

 

[bec]

Output can vary due to a lot of reasons. My top culprits for a lower supply are:

not enough water
not enough food
AF is due within a day or so
not enough sleep the night before

I don't know about caffeine intake. I haven't noticed a big difference.

Bec