any working bfing moms?

Melanie2003

the amount i am pumping every day is decreasing, and i've added in an extra pumping at night before i go to sleep. for a bf momma, i freaking pump 5x a day during the week and 2x a day on weekends. I am barely keeping up and the freezer supply is almost gone - maybe 20 oz.

even if i use all the sample formula we got for her cereal, that would account for a whopping 1-2oz a day only, so it doesn't save me much.

i am drinking a ton of water (i feel like i pee all day long!), i have oatmeal 4-5x a week (except for this passover week) and would have it every day except some mornings are too crazy and i don't have time when i'm trying to get us all out on time, i am definietly consuming enough calories because i am not losing any weight.

i am anti-fenugreek and all those herbal teas and whatnot for lots of reasons.

is this pumping decrease happening to anyone else? is there a way to up it again, or is this just the path we're on?

i am not anti-formula - I ep'd for 6 mos for Ava and then loved every minute of RTF formula for the next 6 months - i hate pumping! but it's been nice not worrying about formula, not making bottles on the weekends, etc.

Augustbride

Could you not be eating enough? I had lots of issues with my supply and pumping with DS. I had to supplement. However if things are getting crazy maybe your not eating enough to keep up. I never did anything to try to help it.  Could something be happening with your pump? Is it possible you lost some strength to the motor? Maybe rent one from the hospital for a day (weekend since they are fairly big I think) and see if it makes a difference?

mag1carpetr1de

I would make sure you are consuming the 600 extra calories a day for a few days, see if that makes a difference..

nicinnewyork

when i went back to work i pumped 5x a day at first.  even with this i quickly started getting less.  after about a month of pumping, the level stayed the same and i was even able to cut back to 3x a day with no change.  i just think it takes you body some time to get used to the pump (which is much less efficient) versus the baby.  so i did what you suggested, i started putting formula in the cereal. and using the BM for drinking only.  i also think maybe stress could be a factor?  it's hard to "relax" like they say you should when you know you have 20 minutes to pump and hustle to a meeting.  i used to snack during pumping time, i guess im just a fat girl, but it helps you relax.  good luck! 

Jen&Louie

I'm sorry  

The same thing happened to me although I was eating and drinking enough, nursing and pumping like crazy, eating oatmeal and taking brewer's yeast.  I attributed my issue to my variable work schedule but, in any case, I had to start supplementing with formula when G was 9 months and felt horrible.  I still nursed him all day long the days I was home but, he had to have formula the hours I was working as my body basically stopped responding to the pump. Eventually, I calmed myself down and just reminded my crazy head that the important thing was that he was being nourished and that I was continuing to nurse him as much as my body would allow. We ended up going until 13 months (when my supply cut off completely during/after my preg loss).

I don't have any answers but, have you thought about contacting a lactation consultant for advice?