Runnning Out of Breastmilk!

I was just at the doctor today and he said not to start children on cow's milk until after a year. I personally would recommend formula. I breastfed and had no problems switching to it after I ran into the same problem as you.

I've been breastfeeding and supplementing with formula for six months. It does get harder to produce with each passing month. I did just try a 1 week prescription of Reglan. That was somewhat helpful. I've also had some success with the herbal supplement FENUGREEK.

Good luck

It's never a good idea to give a babby under twelve months of age cows milk so don't do that, but formula would be a wise choice. They make just about everything with lipids now, which are fatty acids found in breast milk. Also though, If you decide to continue to try and pump your milk, try warm compresses before expressing, bring a heating pad to work and let it rest on your breast for about five-ten minutes and then pump that particular breast. Then, do the same with the other breast. Don't warm them both at the same time unless you have a double cupped breast pump because your breast should be warm when you pump, this will help the let down process. Hope I helped!

That is so great that you have been able to make it for 10 months! That is really something to be proud of!!

While I am sure that your child will be "fine" if you switch to formula, if you want to continue breastfeeding that I believe that you can do it! Even if you do end up having to supplement, whatever you are able to produce is definitely better than nothing. Try doing the 10-10-10 pumping method. (10 min pumping, rest 10, 10 min pumping again) Also, try taking Fenugreek, I take 3 capsules 3 times a day. I have heard of people taking as many as 8 in the beginning to try to jump start their body though. Also, try getting the Mother's Milk tea. If you are still finding that you are not able to pump enough for your baby to take daily, I would suggest looking into supplementing with Goat's milk rather than cow's. I have heard that goat milk is the closest thing to human milk. Babies often prefer it over cow's milk, and it has much more nutritional value than cow'w milk does.

While my daughter is only 3 months old (I also work full-time and pump, it is hard work, but so worth it!!), I plan on not introducing cow's milk for a very, very long time. When I am ready to introduce milk, we will go with the goat's.

Even if you do end up having to have your baby take formula during the day, I would still try to breastfeed at night if you are up for it.

Best of luck! I am sure your baby has really benefitted from having a mom that is trying to provide the very best for him!!

Are you certain he is getting a proper amount of milk while he is nursing. When i was pumping and breastfeeding when I was getting little pumping my milk was down very low and my son wasn't getting much while breastfeeding either. Happened to me at about 10 months as well. So the doc said put my son on Vitamin D milk and discontinue the nursing. He was eating solids well and drank milk. He did wonderful. Now he is a monster of a child!! LOL!!

Somethings that you might want to try to help you get more when you pump at work . . .
picture holding him . . . actually hold a rolled up blanket to your breast as you pump--like you're nursing him. If you can, record the sound of him nursing and playing to listen to while you pump--hearing the sounds associated with nursing should help.
Also, while you are nursing him at home, pump one breast while he nurses the other.
If you still can't get your stores built up . . . try to give him half formula half breast milk. If he's like my kids, he'll refuse to drink even that, but keeping it as close to the "real thing" as possible is probably your best bet. None of my kids would take formula or cows milk . . . they just waited for mommy to get home.
Hope this helps! Good luck,
L.

I had the exact same problem! I just started my son on Cow's milk- he was already almost 25 pounds. I also allowed him to have 4 or 6 ounces of juice- but never full strength- in at least equal water or more water....Don't worry about continuing hte pumping-- your body is saying he wouldn't be nursing as much during the day now anyway-he's headed towards weaning, and just keep up with nursing when you are together! That's my 2 cents!

I would say since he is 10 months old you could go to whole milk since your breast milk is running out. I started my daughter on whole milk when she was 10 months old. I don't see any need for you to start formula and then in a month or so switch to whole milk. The whole milk is what he will need next anyway.

I know that the herbal supplement "Fenugreek" has already been suggested to you but recent research from the University of Iowa suggests adding an herb called "Blessed Thistle" as well. I have 5 month old twins and when I started to run low on my milk supply I took three of each of the above herbs three times a day and it gave my milk the boost it needed. It took a few days to work. Also, I drink TONS of water and the combination of the herbs and water have enabled me to continue nursing my twins. Good Luck, so nice to see moms who are dedicated to nursing their babies.

It may be time to introduce a milk-based formula. Don't beat yourself up about not being able to keep up - it's hard when you're working! I think doctors want you to wait until 1 year or so before giving whole cow's milk.

Good luck!

Congrats I also am a working mom that breast feeds. If you really want to keep him on breast milk there are a few trick you can use to up the supply. I would feed my son on one side and at the same time pump. When I am nursing I find I really get more milk in the pump. The other thing is that after several months of use even an awsome pump can wear out. try contacting the manufacturers and getting the plastic parts replaced. You don't need to replace the whole pump. You can also water down milk that you do get so he can have enough. Good luck and congratulations so far.

CONGRATS to you on breastfeeding this long!!! That is a huge milestone! I worked and pumped until my daughter was 9 months and always struggled with supply issues. The thing I found that worked the best was to RELAX and drink the Mother's Milk Tea. The Fenugreek never worked for me. Also, oatmeal in the morning helped some too. Keep hydrated is key! Try and catch up your supply on the weekends by pumping the one side while he eats on the other. I'm now a SAHM but am still happily nursing my 19 month old!

Hi A.! First of all, congratulations on exclusively breastfeeding for so long! GREAT JOB MOMMY! I too had trouble around then pumping. Some things for you to try to increase your supply (if you wish) could be to try fenugreek for a couple of weeks, take a pic of your son with you while you pump, RELAX while your pumping (which may be as simple as just telling yourself it's OK if you only get one or two ounces or whatever it is that you're getting). If the thought of giving your son formula feels like it lifts a big weight off your shoulders, than do it. It's not going to hurt him one bit and it will help you to relax. He's getting enough milk from you when you nurse. Just try to hold of giving him whole milk until he's at least 12 months old. The protiens in cows milk are too difficult to digest at his age and can cause allergic type reactions or tummy upset. Good luck!!!

ps. personally, I'd stay away from juice. A. too much sugar, can cause diarrhea. B. they don't need it - juice doesn't contain the nutrients that your baby needs right now. You'd be much better off supplementing your childs dietary solids with formula. If you want to give him something to "drink" have your daycare give him SMALL amounts of water AFTER eating.

pss. So long as your nursing, you're not running out of breastmilk :)

CONGRATULATIONS on breastfeeding your son for ten months while working outside of the home! It is so nice to hear stories like that. I hope you realize what an achievement this was! I went through the same thing with our first son, and I only worked 15-20 hours outside of our home. Unfortunately, from my experience, at this point, there probably isn't much you can do to to increase your milk supply. If you are extremely passionate about it, you can try pumping more often during the day, even when you're home, but since your son has already benefited from 10 months of breastmilk, you may want to just relax and try to come to terms with it nearing the end. My first son just stopped nursing at 11 months because I had dried up. He wasn't at all interested because there was nothing there. At the time, I thought you could never give a baby under 12-months cow's milk, so I didn't even call my pediatrician and just went to formula for the last month. Our pediatrician had our second son go on to cow's milk at 11 months because he had been refusing baby food and needed additional nutriants. I was still able to continue nursing him before bed until he was 14 months (at which point I was pregnant again, and we decided together to stop).

Since your son is approaching that one-year milestone, my advice is to call your pediatrician and mix whatever breastmilk you get with formula or cow's milk, based on your doctor's recommendation. And keep nursing at night or whenever you're home.

You've done an amazing job to be able to nurse as long as you have. I don't hear many stories like yours. So congratulations, again, and good luck. Most importantly, try not to be disappointed, because you've done great!

I think that if you give formula during the day it will be ok and then just keep nursing at night and quit when you choose not when people feel you should quit, if you have or want to quit then do so do not feel guilty about quitting you gave him the best for 10 months and way to go.

Hi A.! Have you tried any of the products to help increase you milk? There is a tea that you can drink. Also, anything with malt in it will help up your supply. When I was pumping, I would have a few glasses of Ovaltine every day (this will also up your supply). I know this works.

Beer will also up your supply, if you're a beer drinker. My LC told me that I could have one beer a day to help up my supply. I'm not a beer drinker so I don't know if that works or not LOL

Also, there is a supplement (a pill) that you can take that will also up your milk. I can't remember the name of it right off hand but if you call a healthfood store or any LC they should be able to help you out.

As for cow's milk, you're not supposed to start that until they are year old. I don't think their tummies can digest it just yet.

My little girl just turned 16 months old and I'm still nursing at naptime and bedtime. Good luck!

A.,

Maybe you can try giving him juice for those two bottles. Talk to your doctor and see if there are any herbal supplements you can take to increase your milk. I know you can take fenugreek which increases your milk. Eating oatmeal works too. Keep pumping and nurse him alot when you are home with him, and even on weekends, nurse him often to keep your milk supply. I have a 10 month old too, she is breastfed as well, I'm a stay at home mommy.

Not sure what to say about running out of breastmilk to be honest but on the formula / cows milk question. A child under the age of 1 should never get cows milk. There is NOT enough vitamins and everything for them and harder to digest. My advice would be if you are going to have to supplement with a formula , I would try one of those transitional ones from breast to cows milk (its only a couple of months) like the good start one. But make sure to talk to your babys doctor first for his/her advice on which one.

I don't have much experience with running out of break milk..but i only BF till my two were 6 weeks.
I would talk to your pediatrician what he/she recommends you start your child on. But my guess would be formula. but what formula.. every ped. has their own favorites. usually dr's say to start cows milk at 1 year. not sure if 2 months will make that much difference but ya just never know.
that is so awesome that you have BF for this long!! Punping is so different than the actual BF. with my second i pumped exclusivly for 6 weeks. she was in the nicu and was taking food thru her feeding tube in her nose. pumping doesn't create the same supply as BF. in my opinion and from others i've talked to.
i wonder if there is something you can take or do to improve your milk supply? how much longer were you planning on BF?
maybe if it's just for the next two months, if there is something you yourself can take or what ever, it won't be for very long atleast.
Hope you know how awesome it is that you BF for 10 months and if you do have to change to formula or what ever because of not getting enough from your body, i really hope you don't feel guilty about that. i felt guilty for stopping with both just at 6 weeks. but i also knew that they both did get the most important part of the breast milk, the beginning.
and if you do stop, have you thought about how that will impact you? when i stopped, and others i've talked to about this, it's hard, in the sense, you the mom have always been the one 'giving' the child what he needs in form of nurishment. and the connection that goes along with that.
the word others have used is bitter sweet.
Good luck. i really hope things turn out for the best for you and your son..
T.

A.,
I also have an almost 10-month old (and a 2.5 year old) and I've been breastfeeding my baby exclusively too. You said your son is getting enough breastmilk from you when you're home, so while he's at daycare you should probably give him formula since we're not supposed to give them cow's milk until 12 months (it has too much salt for human babies' digestive systems). You could probably start giving him cow's milk at 11.5 months, mixing it gradually with breastmilk or formula. He's pretty close to that point so he's only going to be on formula for 1-2 months. You've already given him a great start by breastfeeding so long. Good luck!

Try pumping more often at work maybe that will up your supply of milk so you don't have to resort to the other methods good luck

Great job on getting to 10 months! That's when my supply dipped dramatically, too. My lactation consultant recommended 4 fenugreek capsules 4 times a day. If that doesn't work, add blessed thistle in the same dosage. Fenugreek will make you smell a bit like maple syrup.

You probably already know this, but drink plenty of water and eat plenty of protein. Oatmeal is said to help supply as well.

I did all these and still had trouble pumping enough after about 10 months, so my OB prescribed me Reglan. I took 4 10mg pills a day until I was done nursing. I also added a pump before going to bed. The Reglan significantly increased my supply, so much that I pumped more than my daughter needed at daycare and was able to give her breastmilk a full month after weaning.

Good luck, and great job!

Hmmm that's a hard one for me to answer because i never got to breastfeed my daughter. My milk dryed up after day 5.

I would call your doctor and see what she/he says to do.