[sgmom]

I AM SO SICK OF PUMPING! Here's a little background (and a little venting - sorry so long). I breastfeed first, and suppliment with formula (she drinks at MOST 8oz/day). I'm taking domperidone, but am currently trying to wean off of it (currently low dose). My supply has remained the same as when I was on the higher dose, but i've always needed help (in one form or another) to keep my supply up... and it's never been "enough".

My daughter is 7 months old tomorrow (20lbs), and isn't a very big eater during the day. She won't take more than a couple ounces from a bottle at any time during the day, and (according to my pump in style) I don't produce (nb. I can't pump) more than about 1oz/hr for the first couple hours, then less and less each hour past that.

Example: I fed her at 7pm last night, and pumped at 7am (she slept through the night), and pumped only 7oz in 12 hours. A normal amount for me to pump is about 3.5-4oz in a 5 hour period, or 2oz (or just under) every 2 hours.

I know she gets more breastfeeding than any pump will get me, but the problem is that she never really wants to breastfeed. When she feeds, she turns her head, pulls off, laughs, throws herself around to look at things, kicks her feet (playing), she just doesn't stay latched for more than 3-4 seconds at a time. It's VERY annoying, to say the least. Breastfeeding lasts minutes (at most), and she'll often refuse to take the other side. That said, she'll feed like heaven if she's hungry and half asleep.

I've tried putting a blanket over her head (which does nothing but initiate a oh so fun(!) game of peek a boo), turning the tv off, going into a different room (less distraction), but this world is just SO interesting to her that she doesn't have time to breastfeed. Why eat when more fun is to be had?

She's very healthy, and certainly not underweight, but I don't understand how this is when she barely eats. That said, my goal (such as it is) is to continue breastfeeding until she's able to eat a "meal" with me (ie. when I can make her a sandwich, give her a bowl of soup, etc).

In 2 months we're planning a trip to visit family. I know we're going to be really busy, and I'm concerned about my supply dropping completely. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Or am I just thinking too much into this?

I'm about ready to give up, but I really don't want to stop breastfeeding... Yet...

Edit: We also practice EC, so it's hard for me to find time to start a new power pump schedule to get it back up, although I have been cringing at the idea that I probably should. If someone knows of an easier way than pumping every 2 hours (I'd rather her on the breast anyway), please speak up.

 

[kalamos23]

Are you bedsharing? Riley was AWFUL at eating during the day at that age (still is) but more than makes up for it at night. I'm not sure on how to up your supply, but sleeping topless at night and letting her eat whenever (especially when your supply is highest in the wee hours of the morning) couldn't hurt and the extra nursing may stimulate your breasts to make more.

If you are already doing this, carry on - just wanted to throw it out there just in case.

 

[Megan73]

Am I reading this correctly that you breastfeed and supplement your little one with pumped milk and formula by bottle?
I would try getting rid of all artificial nipples and using a Lact-Aid or Medela SNS to do any supplementing. That will boost your supply and should make her more interested in nursing and happier at the breast.
Once you make that transition - and she's getting more at the breast - I'd consider giving up pumping. I so understand why you hate it.

I'm a low-supply mama - my nearly nine-month-old son gets 10 oz of formula (the same as since he was three months old) a day in a Lact-Aid - and finally shelving the pump three months ago didn't seem hurt my supply one bit, although I wasn't ever able to pump as much as you.
But that said - mama, you're clearly doing something right because there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 20-lb seven-month-old.
Sorry if I've missed some salient point - kinda sleep deprived...

 

[sgmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megan73 But that said - mama, you're clearly doing something right because there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 20-lb seven-month-old.

Thanks Megan. I think I needed to hear that. I tell myself all the time that she's JUST FINE, but when I read charts of how much formula she should be drinking (based on her weight), there is NO WAY she comes even close. If I had to guess, I'd say she gets 12oz of breastmilk (loosely based on what I can pump), and on the days she TAKES formula, 4-8oz of that too. Which is like half of what's recommended. And yes, I breastfeed first, usually every 2-4 hours, and offer formula ONLY when she's showing hunger signs. If I offer just because I think she might be hungry (even if she hasn't breastfed in hours), she'll refuse it.

And no, I don't think you're missing anything. I was sleep deprived when I wrote that, I think. LOL

And speaking of sleep, she pretty much sleeps through the night (8pm-7am). She'll occasionally wake for a feed, but not all the time. I quit waking to pump though. If I'd try to wake her up to feed, all she'd want to do is cuddle. haha

kalamos23: I never thought of doing that on vacation. We don't do it here (bed's too small and I move around too much), but I think I will try it when we're at my parents house. It certainly couldn't hurt.

Thanks!

PS. While I'm thinking of it, I got my period for the first time last night (probably the entire cause of this thread). Is there any relation? I read that often a period will occur when breastfeeding slows down. It's possible... I've sort of taken on a "whatever" approach and have been trying much less hard to keep it up (ie. less pumping, less watching the clock, more feeding only when she's hungry, etc). So now I'm all worried...

Is this a bad thing (getting a period, I mean)? I also still leak on and off, if that means anything...

 

[Ruthla]

She's probably getting WAY more breastmilk than you're calculating! She could easily be getting double or triple what you're otherwise able to pump out when she misses a nursing. Otherwise, how would she be thriving on 4-8oz of formula per day?

I also got my period back when DS was about 7mo. I found that my supply dropped a bit right before and during my period, but it came right back when it was over. I was always able to pump enough extra mid-cycle to compensate (I was working and pumping; we thawed more milk from the freezer when my period was due/here and refilled the freezer around ovulation.) It's likely I had similar supply shifts when I was nursing my daughters, but since I wasn't pumping, I didn't notice.

 

[Megan73]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgmom Thanks Megan. I think I needed to hear that. I tell myself all the time that she's JUST FINE, but when I read charts of how much formula she should be drinking (based on her weight), there is NO WAY she comes even close.

I agree with Ruthla - she's clearly getting more than you think. Also, those charts are for formula fed babies. According to kellymom.com, BF babies don't drink more BM as they get bigger. Here's a quote:

"In exclusively breastfed babies, milk intake increases quickly during the first few weeks of life, then stays about the same between one and six months (though it likely increases short term during growth spurts). Current breastfeeding research does not indicate that breastmilk intake changes with baby's age or weight between one and six months. After six months, breastmilk intake will continue at this same level until -- sometime after six months, depending in baby's intake from other foods -- baby's milk intake begins to decrease gradually.
The research tells us that exclusively breastfed babies take in an average of 25 oz (750 mL) per day between the ages of 1 month and 6 months. Different babies take in different amounts of milk; a typical range of milk intakes is 19-30 oz per day (570-900 mL per day)."

 

[sgmom]

Thanks. I know she's healthy (that's not the problem). I'm just afraid of my supply going down when we're on vacation (because I've worked SO hard to keep it up).

I still don't understand how she could get so much milk out (in such a short period of time) the way she breastfeeds. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I could tell you to hold on for a minute (if I was watching tv), and she'd be done by the time the commecial break is over. And most of the time is spent with me saying "Baby, stop playing! Look! Milk! Aren't you hungry? Good girl... No no, latch back on. Take it baby. Good girl. No baby... seriously. Stop letting go. Oh forget it..." etc.

Also, the times that she does take a bottle (usually right before bed, but sometimes she'll take an extra one during the day), are ALWAYS after she breastfeeds, and she'll drink (sometimes 2, but usually) 4-6 oz no problem.

It would be interesting to see how much she drinks on formula alone. haha

I think I'm just worrying for nothing. If my supply drops, it drops. I just hate the idea of working so hard just to lose it on vacation. It's going to be quite difficult to breastfeed there the same way I do here as we'll be often out and about.

There were complications during birth and it took me over a month to make milk when she was born (we did bottle and SNS, and I pumped EVERY 90 minutes), and I still couldn't keep up to her, so it didn't help that we got off to a late start. That said, I used to be able to pump WAAAYYY more than I can now.

I'm sorry to ramble on like this. *sigh* Thank you so much for both of your support.

I will try the co-sleeping and see if I can wake her for midnight feeds (assuming I wake up, that is). Hopefully that will keep things at least level!

I am bringing my pump with me though. I've heard of power pumping (pump 10 minutes, wait 10 minutes pump another 10 minutes, repeat for 1 hour, repeat daily)... If I set aside an hour or two a day to do this (maybe during her naps), does it actually work? I've only ever done the "pump every 2 hours" routine.