Babys First Year Blog
Trying to Build a Stored Breastmilk Supply Without Losing My Mind.
I am a slave to this machine.
In twelve days, I embark on my first business trip since Arlo was born. I’ll be in Toronto for two nights – and while that is a relatively short time away, I’m already stressing BIG TIME about the prep work required to keep our breastfeeding routine running smoothly. I’ve said it many times on my personal blog, but one of my biggest regrets with my daughter’s first year is that I stopped breastfeeding when she was 4-and- a-half months old. My work travel schedule had me schlepping breastpumps and coolers all over the country and Everly decided she much preferred a bottle to nursing anymore. I hated pumping exclusively and my supply was dwindling, so I threw in the towel.
This time, I’m determined not to let that happen. I’ve decided to exclusively breastfeed Arlo until he is 6 months old. I’ll share the details behind my reasoning later — but with no formula or rice cereal as a back up, I’ve got to make sure I have loads and loads of pumped milk ready to go while I’m away.
Arlo usually gets about three 4 oz bottles of milk a day while I’m at work but I’ve never spent more than 8 hours away and since I breastfeed the rest of the time, I’ve never really had to make a rough estimate on how much I think he is drinking in a day’s time. My goal is to have 55 ounces on reserve for my two day trip. I’ve got about half of that already stored, but I’ve been pumping like a MAD WOMAN every morning and every night to make up the rest. I seriously feel like I am tied to my pump.
The most challenging part is that what I pump every day at the office goes towards feeding him during those hours I’m at work, so I have to find some time in between nursing him in the evening and first thing in the morning to build up my stash.
To make matters more difficult, I’ve really noticed a decrease in the amount of milk I’m able to express since last week. I think it is primarily stress-related (Arlo’s vision prognosis had me so worked up last week). To get my body back in order, I’m taking a breastfeeding supplement and drinking lots of water but I hope this situation resolves itself soon.
Do any of you mamas out there have tips for building a substantial extra breastmilk supply while continuing to nurse a baby? It’s seriously hard work, and I could use any tips you’ve got!
~Melissa
Breast pump in the Ladies’ Room: Is this the only option for working moms?
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23 Comments
Erin commented on Sep 14 11 at 3:11 pmI was able to build up a pretty solid freezer stash by pumping right after the first feeding of the morning every morning – when your milk supply is highest. If there is a longer sleep stretch at night, and you’re still awake, you can add in a pumping session then too. The key is to do it consistently so your body gets the message that milk is needed at that time. I was also lucky to have a bit of an oversupply, so for awhile there I consistently pumped about 5oz more than my baby was eating while at work. The morning pumping session was my biggest contributor definitely though.
Sarah commented on Sep 14 11 at 3:30 pmOkay, here’s my thoughts: If you can, pump more often at work, even if its just a little bit. My supply started dipping and so I decided I was going to pump every 2.5 hours or pretty much whenever I could. That seemed to help.
I also found the Fenugreek from GNC was great while the Fenugreek from the grocery store is yucky. Its not even as effective….so total bummer there.
Does Arlo wake up in the middle of the night? I’ve heard of people setting an alarm to wake up and pump when their babies are sleeping peacefully.
Good luck!
jess commented on Sep 14 11 at 3:31 pmi’m interested in what bf supplements you’re taking. working mama here too – and i’ve blown through my stash in the freezer so now i have no back up and just pump one day for the next but he just started solids (6mos) and i have noticed my supply has dropped off a bit. i think for number of reasons, so i’m working on more water, less stress (wahhh?), making sure my pump parts are all working (faulty valve did me in for a few days) and nursing on demand and often when i’m with him – but i’m thinking i need to step it up a notch to keep it going without having to supplement with formula. i totally feel you on trying to squeeze extra sessions, its near impossible especially with the cleaning and drying of all the parts and being ready to grab them to get out the door in the morning!
i also read your personal blog and just want to say – your piece about arlo’s latest news tugged on my heart – you’re great mama – and arlo (and everly!) are lucky kiddos fo’ sho’
Clara commented on Sep 14 11 at 3:51 pmOne idea I haven’t tried yet, but have heard of other traveling mothers doing, is to overnight FedEx what you pump the first day you’re gone, so it arrives at your home before you and you can cover the last 24 hours you’re gone this way. This means you don’t need a full stash for the entire time you’re gone set before you leave. You can ship your milk in a styrofoam container with a little dry ice and it’ll stay cold for 24 hours at least.
This might be hard from Toronto, because I don’t know how reliable overnight FexEx is internationally, and the stress of worrying about whether your milk is held at customs could certainly be a deterrent. Maybe this works better for domestic travel. By the way, I love your contributions on babble! Your posts are consistently among the best in this forum.
Emma Johnson commented on Sep 14 11 at 3:55 pmI suffer from constant low supply, so I take a Fenugreek/Marshmallow supplement, along with an Alfafa supplement and Blessed thistle. You can pick these up at any herb shop. I take 1 of each of these 4 times a day. I see a marked difference when I forget to take my pills (at least 30 minutes before you pump/feed). I also try to eat oatmeal every morning. I would recommend pumping after the 1st feeding (take a hot shower after nursing to reset your body), and then try to go to the pump every 1.5- 2 hours. Since you have to feed the babe, try the morning and night time for sure. And if you have a dependable schedule, such as Arlo eating every 3 hours, you could pump at the 1.5 hr mark each time. If the schedule is not dependable, I wouldn’t risk it. My Lactation consultant said the supplements are perfectly safe, and I’ve seen no side effects to my LO. If you ever want to increase supply, it takes 3 days of emptying the breast more often than every 2.5 hours. You can count on waking up engorged on day 4 if you pump like clockwork. –Good Luck on vamping up supply for Arlo!
Jillanne commented on Sep 14 11 at 4:09 pmI drink the mother’s milk tea and eat oatmeal! That always helped build my supply when I was pumping for my son.
Melanie commented on Sep 14 11 at 4:10 pmWhen I was pumping, I would wake up in the middle of the night to pump. It sucked waking up but I could get about 8 oz in that session. It might take a few days for your body to make extra milk during that time of day if Arlo doesn’t normally eat, but eventually it will catch up!
Sarah commented on Sep 14 11 at 5:35 pmSounds like you need to relax and think a little more positively. You use language like “I am a slave to this” (refering to your pump), Just think of it as an amazing tool that allows you to provide for the needs of your child. Read a book or watch some other form of entertainment while you pump and the time goes a lot faster. That’s what I did. I also “pumped like a mad woman” because I was scared of losing my milk supply (I worked full time) and donated breastmilk. I also would pump twice at work, nurse during my lunch break and pump in the morning and at night. Eventually it just became part of the routine, like brushing my teeth or something. Positive thinking as well as being in a positive, supportive environment could not be stressed more!
brianna commented on Sep 14 11 at 6:12 pmI also pump in the middle of the night and after the first feed of the day. After using every ounce I had in the freezer a couple weeks ago during an emergency medical situation which had me in the hospital away from baby, I’m becoming somewhat obsessed over building a substantial stash.
aly commented on Sep 14 11 at 6:34 pmI hear you on the pumping stress! I went back to work when my son was 8 weeks old…he is 8 months old now. I’ve literally had dreams at night about not pumping enough. Arlo eats a lot in eight hours…12 oz? My husband (a stay at home dad) was going through so much milk until I started putting my milk in 2 oz containers. When he started feeding our son 2 oz bottles, he used less milk. That might help you build up a little in the next 12 days. I read on Kellymom http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/index.html (great breastfeeding/pumping website if you haven’t already found it) that breastfed babies don’t need more than 2 oz at a time…we didn’t starve him, obviously, but 2 oz filled him up. Kellymom says that babies only need an oz per hour you are away, but my son usually drank 8-10 oz in 8 hours. As far as pumping goes, I take fenugreek (3 pills 3 times a day for about a week) when my supply occasionally dips. It seems to help. I’ve never had a freezer stash and everything I pump today will be consumed tomorrow, so I would be freaking out if I had to leave my kid…I feel for you!! Will your workplace let you take a few extra breaks to pump more when you’re at work?
Tara Kerns commented on Sep 14 11 at 6:41 pmThe only way I am able to express/pump and get more than 1/2 oz to 1 oz is to feed and pump at the SAME time. Use the football hold with a regular pillow by your side and feed baby on one and pump off the other. You will get more milk this way since normally one boob will ‘leak’ out the other side when feeding and the ‘let down’ is greater especially if baby is sucking really hard while feeding. It is hard to get the hang of at first, but once you get the hang of it you may be able to get more milk pumped!
Jennifer commented on Sep 14 11 at 9:09 pmI totally agree with pumping in the morning. Pump about an hour after the first morning feeding, preferably after a nice long shower. You’ll get a lot of milk and your body will very quickly learn the new pattern and start making a lot more milk at that time within a few days. That’ll make another bottle or so per day, and then you can really start building it up!
Jess commented on Sep 14 11 at 10:20 pmI just visited a lactation consultant today for the first time to discuss my lack of stash. If you have a lactation consultant available to you, go! I feel one million times better. She showed me how to message the breast tissue after a regular pumping session and I got an extra ounce. Multiple that by the three times I pump at work and it adds up fast.
You could also consider sending breastmilk overnight mail, but might not make it throw customs…
Good luck!! You can do it!
Breastfeeding Peer Councelor commented on Sep 15 11 at 3:03 amWell I haven’t read any of the responses.. But if your stressing I would recommend you stop, take a deap breath and now are you calmer.. It is very overwhelming to leave tour breastfeeding baby for any amount of time.. You say you have twelve days.. Start pumping if you haven’t baby will need you to relax and not think about leaving because stress does interested with supply.. Start pumping 30 minutes after you have nursed your baby, you could do this a couple of times a day, Don’t stress your doing great worry yes stress no.. Also, when your away you may want to pump x3 hours not to go longer than that that if you can help it..
Best of luck..
Breastfeeding Peer Councelor commented on Sep 15 11 at 3:07 amApologies on my iPhone msgng and spell ck is a pain
Meagan commented on Sep 15 11 at 7:58 amI pumped immediately after night feedings… I say pumped, past tense, because currently he’s going through a growth and takes both boobs at every feeding, but that seemed to.work really well for me normally.
Erin M commented on Sep 15 11 at 1:23 pmDo you always nurse on both sides when you feed Arlo? My baby girl usually gets enough per feeding on just one side, so I often pump the other side after she is finished eating. I also pump and hour after she has gone to bed, and I get up once in the night. Before leaving for work I nurse my baby, and then I pump within an hour, right before work (sometimes in the car) or right when I get into work. I am lucky to have a great supportive working environment. This extra squeezed in session is usually my biggest producer even though I haven’t gone long since nursing. It’s all about training your body that you need more. Nursing, pumping at work, after feedings, in the night etc is A LOT of work. I am tired, but I try to remind myself that I am doing a great thing for my babe. I have a great freezer stash, and if something were to happen to me or my ability to nurse I am so happy I have done the work, so it is there if needed. I’m sure it is so hard not to be stressed with the news you’re dealing with, but you’re doing something so great and beneficial for him. With every drop that gets pumped into that bottle, be proud of yourself for loving him so much that you’re willing to sacrifice so much for him. I can relate to having to overcome stress while trying to keep up my breastmilk. My dad just entered hospice care for brain cancer, and my milk supply dropped drastically for the first week. It can be so hard to relax, and get your head in the right place!
Amanda commented on Sep 15 11 at 11:34 pmI don’t have a lot of advice to add that wasn’t covered but I do want to mention that you can get specialty breast pump flanges called pumpin pals. The advantage here is that they are a little larger, cover more of your breast and can allow you to pump more (and possibly with greater comfort) than before. I’ve had these for a couple weeks and I would say they help me get an extra oz out of each side. Pumping isn’t easy even though it has lots of advantages (like having some “me” time if someone else can take care of your baby if awake) – I find pumping can really irritate the tissue around my nipples much worse than say breastfeeding. I think compared to some people I have a slow milk flow rate with the pump and it can take me 45min to 1hr to fully drain. This is just too long. I get better results when I pump after a feeding as the milk comes out much much easier.
ashley commented on Sep 16 11 at 12:19 amI feel ya. It’s hard. Breast feeding is such a HUGE committment. Kudos to you for dedicating yourself. My baby boy is 10 months and it’s still challenging. I’ve noticed such a drop off in my supply now that he is consuming more and more solids. I’m only getting 2oz per pump. It’s so frustrating. I sympathize with you so much. Regardless if we are doing the best for our babies, we are still slaves to the pump. It’s not having a bad attitude, it’s just the reality of a nursing mom… in my opinion. It’s very time consuming and very tedious. Like I said, it’s a HUGE committment. I have no new advice. Other’s gave good tips that I too will take. I do take fenugreek (the extract from whole foods) and I do notice a slight increase when I take it. You’ll want to eat pancakes all the time though, cuz it makes you smell like maple syrup. Anyway, I know it’s a challenge and I salute you for committing yourself to your son.
Jude Mileur commented on Sep 16 11 at 12:55 amHI! I had to bring my supply back up after two weeks of not breastfeeding. (i was officially almost dried up) and I managed to BF solely for another three months!
What I did:
Pumped after each feeding. Not to get so much to store but to signal my body I needed more. When a baby actually empties a breast (usually around growth spurts) they suck a bit further until they realize no more will come. This stimulation to an empty breast actually tells the body to make more milk.I would pump every hour in the evening. It was tedious but I didn’t have to do it long. Soon my supply caught up and at times I’d have an over supply which I’d freeze.
Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, Mother’s Milk Tea (which I drank 4-5 cups of a day) are all great, but More Milk Plus is even better. Get the liquid form as it is more bioavailable and more easily absorbed.
All the best!
Jude
Brenna commented on Sep 16 11 at 2:12 amA fun way to make that breast milk…cookies!! Here is a recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that helps increase/keep up your supply. Credit goes to http://www.food.com/recipe/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-lactation-cookies-by-noel-trujillo-192346. It honestly works. Its a large batch, makes about 4 dozen which is too much for me so I tend to divide it in half. Increase brewers yeast and oatmeal if you want it to be more affective. I haven’t looked but I’m assuming there must be some more fun recipes out there that will do the job.
* 1 cup butter
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
* 4 tablespoons water
* 2 tablespoons flax seed meal
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups oats
* 1 cup chocolate chips
* 2 -4 tablespoons brewer’s yeast
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Mix the flaxseed meal and water and let sit for 3-5 minutes.
3. Beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar well.
4. Add eggs and mix well.
5. Add flaxseed mix and vanilla, beat well.
6. Sift together flour, brewers yeast, baking soda, and salt.
7. Add dry ingredients to butter mix.
8. Stir in oats and chips.
9. Scoop onto baking sheet.
10. Bake for 12 minutes.
11. Let set for a couple minutes then remove from tray.
Hope they work for you, if not it’s still a pretty good excuse for cookies. There is also a line of tea out there called Mama Tea that you can usually find at your health food store. I have yet to use the specific one for milk production but I have used tea for several health issues and believe it works. If your lucky enough to live near a specialized herb/tea shop I strongly recommend the trip. A few months back I was having problems with seasonal allergies and since I was breastfeeding I wanted to go the ‘natural’ way. The tea helped more than anything I ever had bought over the counter. Hope something helps and your family is precious:)
alison commented on Sep 16 11 at 11:59 amTake a vacation day or two for a long weekend with your little guy. Nurse exclusively during that weekend and pump after the first morning feeding and any other if you can find the time.
I noticed in month 5 that I cannot pump out as much as I could in month 4 (while at work). This continued into month 6. So, now we only give him 6 oz bottles while he is at day care and I am at work. He used to get 7. If he wants more milk, he needs to make it from my body during the rest of his feedings. No machine could match my little guys latch.
Also, I wasnt going to do solids until 6 months, but right after he turned 5 months he pitched a fit and was swiping every food I put in my mouth or on my plate. We started cereals two weeks later…
Jess commented on Sep 16 11 at 8:40 pmI drink Mothers Milk Tea and take Milk Plus supplements to increase my milk supply for my son. I took fenugreek with my daughter but was miserable… it made me smell like maple syrup, which is a side effect. It was just too much for me. I think the tea works best.
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