"Breastfeeding Advice"

Hi,

I have a similar issue working part-time, but my daughter missed/misses 3 feedings a day. I would agree with the person who suggested contacting La Leche League. I did...you can put in a request online and they will get back to you. Somebody gave me a lot of advice, suggestions, and support.

My daughter started a sippy cup at 4-months... She would NEVER take the bottle - no matter how long she was without food. She just held out.

Good luck!
Amy

Are you pumping at work too? I would definitely do that. If you aren't already, I would DEFINITELY get a hospital-grade pump, like a medela pump-in-style. I would not use a hand pump.

At 5 months, it is possible that your son will also reverse-cycle which means that while you're gone, he will not eat and just make up for it when you come home. It is totally possible and okay for that as well. During the time you're gone, if he keeps refusing the bottle, I would try a sippy cup with a soft straw that pops up. For some reason a lot of breastfed babies do well on these when they won't take a bottle (mine didn't take a bottle after 8 weeks and we started the straw sippy around 4 or 5 months when I was out of the house some days)

As far as supply goes, I would recommend eating lots of oatmeal and taking herbs that will help with milk production.

Keep us updated. If you are looking for more information, www.kellymom.com has great breastfeeding information.
Jen D.

I'm in the same boat as you. I've got a six month old, and I work 2 mornings a week during which time my daughter misses one, maybe two feedings. She's an exclusively breastfed baby.

Here's what I would suggest that you do:
1) Don't worry about your baby starving. He won't in the relatively short time your gone. He may just decide to wait to eat until you get home. So be it. Your baby IS going to be okay.

2) Plan to pump at the same time every day, so that your body gets used to it. If your son has a longer stretch of sleep at night, plan to pump somewhere in that time frame. For example, my baby pretty reliably sleeps from 7:30 to midnight, so I try to pump around 10:00/10:30 right before I go to bed. However, I've also heard of women who pump right after the baby's first feeding of the day when their milk supply is at a peak. It doesn't really matter too much when, just pick a time that you can be consistent at, and try to do it every day. This will help you build up a supply of milk, so that you're not in the position of frantically trying to pump the night before you go in to work.

3) When you come home from work, you're probably pretty full of milk, even after you nurse the baby. That's another good time to pump. I usually end up pumping at that time as well, as I've got more milk than my daughter is able to drink.

4) (I'm not sure if this exactly appiles to you, but...) I am told that my daughter is not particularly amused to be drinking her milk from a bottle, but with a little patience on the part of the person feeding her, she will usually take it. However, she won't drink from a bottle if she knows I'm around. So, encourage the person trying to feed her to just be patient, perhaps squeezing the bottle's nipple to get a little milk out to tease your son with.

5) One more thing. Do the best you can to relax while pumping, as it will help your milk to let down and flow better. Put something funny on the TV, and watch it while you pump. Massage your breast a bit before pumping. Take a deep breath. Do whatever you need to so that you can be as relaxed as possible. Remember that everything is going to be okay.

Good luck! This too will work out.

~ E.

Hi C.,
This sounds familiar, it was such a topic of stress for me when I was working part time with my first baby. What my husband and I figured out was that when they are hungry enough they will take the bottle, this may take a few times to get used to then piece of cake.
Also...breastmilk is good in the fridge I think up to 7 days and in the freezer up to two months if I remember right. So what I would do is pump the other breast whenever baby would stop after nursing on one side and whenever I had "a little extra" after a feeding, and of'course whatever much you are pumping at work. This way you build up a supply in the fridge. Also, if you're not opposed to it you could slip in a little formula with the breastmilk in the bottle to fill him up. Good luck and good for you for keeping it up!

Pumping first thing in the a.m. - maybe right after your baby's feeding - is when you have the biggest milk supply. Eventually your supply will increase and you can probably pump a 2nd or 3rd time later in the day. Also the weekend is a good time to try to get in extra feedings by pumping. You may only get a couple of ounces, but that is the start of your body learning what it needs to produce. If you try to do it towards the end of the day your supply is naturally down, and you will probably get frustrated and stressed about it. Be patient...its supply and demand. Also be sure that you are drinking enough water and eating right too - something that as mom's we forget about taking ourselves. I have 4 children of my own ages 4.5, 3, 3, and 19 mos. I breastfed them all, and pumped with the last 3. Hang in there and know that you are doing the best you can. Your baby loves you no matter what...its unconditional!

congrats on your baby!! and it sounds like you're on the right track. i had to go back to work when my daughter was 9 weeks old (3 days a week). i pumped every 2 hours while at work to keep my supply up and nursed her when i was at home with her. i pumped after she went to bed (and befoe i passed out) and froze the milk that i could. i drank the mother's milk and thought it helped. good luck, pump when you can at night, it is hard when you are so tired.

Hi C.!

Are you pumping while at work? If not, do! You don't want to end up with a clogged duct because the milk is 'trapped' in you all day.... Ask your boss if there is a private place you can use during your breaks so that you can pump. Think about smokers - they take a break almost every hour to go have a cigarette, all you are asking for is 10-15 minutes once every two - three hours. Legally, you are suppose to get these breaks anyway!

Your son hates the bottle because he's use to you, but he will learn to adapt - if he's hungry, he'll eat. I only work for 4-5 hours, and the first few times, my daughter refused to eat the whole time, but eventually she took to the bottle, but has no problem nursing from me when I get home! :-)

Yes, I am right there with you. My daughter would just get so upset if anyone tried to give her a bottle, she would turn her head away and wail. So at 5 months, at the suggestion of my doctor we started her on solids. I have been working 1 day a week since Jan.. She would go to my mother inlaws and cry, cry, cry. It would break my heart. We had to use a dropper to get some milk in her, she then became less fussy. Then when we started her on rice cereal with breast milk or formula, she was our happy go lucky little girl at Nana's. When she sees me when I get home she starts to cry with excitement because she knows it's time to nurse. It's been great, we've gotten used to the routine and so have my breasts. I work 7-6pm and I don't have time to pump. I think my breasts have just gotten used to it. We have played with the sippy cup and she likes to chew on it but thats about it. I'm going to try the straw. I will be starting work nest week for a total of 3 days, so it may get more interesting. But solids have really helped us out, she loves to eat from a spoon and it doesn't remind her of the breasts like the bottle does. She gets excited in anticipation of having her favorite sweet potatoes and cereal. I then nurse her as much as I can the rest of the week along with 2 meals, lunch and dinner just to keep up my supply and bond. Good Luck.

Hi C.,

I suggest that you contact your local La Leche League. They are truly-- the best on breastfeeding advice. Or you can contact your local hospital and talk to a lactation specialist. Good luck to you!

Molly

When my baby turned 7 months old, I wnet back to wrk 2 1/2 days a week(missing 1 feed on the half day and 2 feeds on the full days- pumping...). My supply was not enough to fufill my absence, so we supplemented with goat's milk. My son took it with no problem and it is the closest thing to mother's milk. It is very different than cow's milk, which has difficult to digest proteins and is not recommended for kids till thier at least 12 months...

I had the same problem when I was using a pump too. What I found that really helped me is to drink alot of water during the day when I would have to pump milk to store. I noticed when I didn't drink enough water that I wouldn't pump very much milk. I hope that helps.

A couple of things to try. Pumping on other days is still a good idea. make sure you are pumping at wotk for at least each of the missed feedings. Some moms in my group swear by a big glass of water just before pumping. I haven't experienced this myself as a SAHM but these are suggestions from other moms I know. You might try offering a bottle at other times also...maybe at least once of the weekend from your husband. Remember during the day your kiddo may eat less. It is hard to tell when we nurse but our production is high in the morning and lowest in the evening. This probably matches their appetite. maybe add an extra pump just before you leave in the morning even if you have just nursed. Just some ideas, hope some help.

I will second the more milk plus capsules. They worked great for me. The best thing you can do it just drink a ton of water. More liquid in = more liquid out. Pump as often as you can, and try putting it in a bottle and giving it to him yourself so he gets used to the idea. You can also try the adiri nurser bottle. It looks and feels like a breast, so maybe he would take that. Good luck!

C.:

In addition to all the other great advice. What worked for me to increase supply is to pump every day in the morning (after the first feed) at the same time regardless of if it is a workday. The first few times you do it, pump on the other breast at the SAME time your child is eating. This may require another set of hands or coordination, but really works well as your baby is stimulating let down, etc.

After two simultaneous feed/pump sessions and a week of morning pump sessions, I started producing an extra 4 to 5 oz of milk every morning. It basically tricked my body into an extra feeding. I only feed my daughter on one side in the morning and then pump out the other when she is done. This has helped me build a good freezer stash ... and great backup in case I cannot pump twice at work for whatever reason one day.

I also have asked my nanny to only give the baby 2 oz or less of milk if she is hungry after 3:30 (I get home around 5:30). That way the first thing I do when I get home is to feed her again (on the recommendations of many websites/networks). That helps my milk supply by giving my more real stimulation from my baby, while also keeping the amount I need to pump each day 2 oz less than if she had a full 3:3o feeding.

Also check out workandpump.com for more great suggestions and advice. Good luck!

Try More Milk Plus capsules, which worked really well for me: http://www.motherlove.com/product_more_milk_plus_veg.php It also took our little boy a while to get used to a bottle. Try different nipples, and try different positions. Perhaps have him facing away and giving him a bottle from behind. I read that for someone, they put their baby in a bouncy seat and gave the bottle from behind.

My son didn't drink as much from the bottle and nursed a lot with me at night and evenings, the morning. It all worked out. If you don't have a problem with nursing him at night, that might help maintain your supply too. Good luck!!