My wife and I just had our first child in November 2006. She's now 15 weeks old and my wife has gone back to work for the last three weeks. While she was on leave, she was able to breast feed each day, and pump when able to start building up a supply in our freezer for when we started daycare.
Because of the nature of my wife's job, she can only pump at lunch time and is therefore only making about 9 ounces during the day at best. When she comes home, she breastfeeds as needed, but when she tries to pump between feedings she's only able to get about 1 ounce. We're afraid her supply is drying up, and as long as she can only pump once per day at work I'm afraid there's no way to correct it.
Is there any method to re-energizing the breast-milk supply? Or are we just going to have to give in and use formula?
2007-02-22 02:39:54 · 17 answers · asked by Luc 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Good for your wife for continuing to breastfeed :)
One thing that worked woners for me was to pump on the opposite side as my baby was feeding on. So if he was nursing on the left side, I would hold him in the football hold and then pump on the right side while he fed. That was the only way I could ever get any milk pumping.
She can drink mothers milk tea which is a special blend of herbs ideal for lactation. Or she can just take fenugreek. There are perscription drugs available from the doctor but I've never used them before (I believe one is called dopermine?). Oatmeal also increases milk supply. Lots and lots of water!
Wanted to add. Just read the response ahead of me. She does NOT need to go to formula. Please don't give up!
If she can't nurse during the day or pump then she can just make up for it when she gets home from work. Offer the breast as often as possible so baby gets more milk in the evening.
Co-sleeping would be idea for night time since baby has full time access to the breast.
PLEASE don't give up, you guys are off to a good start and it would be a real bummer to give in.
****EDITED TO ADD Someone below mentions Sage. Do NOT use sage. Sage is a weaning technique. When I weaned my toddler I drank sage tea to dry up the milk. Sage does NOT increase milk supply.
2007-02-22 02:45:12 · answer #1 · answered by Angela G 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
No, you will not have to resort to formula. Your baby deserves the best nutrition, even if it means working for it.
First of all, the best way to increase supply is to nurse often. When she gets home in the evening, have her cluster feed the baby until she goes to bed. Have her sit on the couch with a Boppy, make her comfortable, and let her just sit there and nurse. Kick up her feet and watch TV. You will have to make supper and bring her anything if she needs it. It will probably take about 3 days to see an increase in supply. Also, do not try to night wean the baby. A womans milk making hormones are the highest between 12-6am, so it is extremely helpful to nurse at this time.
Bringing the baby into bed can be extremely helpful. Co-sleeping is safe if you practice it correctly. Make sure there are no pillows or blankets near the baby, and use a side rail or push the bed up against the wall so she doesn't roll out. This way, your wife can latch the baby on, and then go back to sleep while the baby nurses.
Also, go to GNC (or other healthfood store) and get some Fenugreek. Have her take 3 tabs 3-4 times a day. And drink lots of water too. And no dieting either. She should be taking in an extra 500 calories a day while nursing (that's more than she needed while she was pregnant)
If she wants to do extra pumping, have her do it AFTER the baby nurses. This way the baby can get the milk first. She should pump even if there isn't any milk coming out, because it still stimulates her nipples to make milk.
Make sure you have a GOOD QUALITY pump. Get a Medela Pump In Style, or rent a hospital grade pump from the hospital.
Also, what she is pumping is not how much she is making. Even the best pump doesn't work as well as a baby's mouth for getting milk out.
And most of all, she needs YOUR support. My husbands support is the sole reason I am still successfully breastfeeding today. If he would have mentioned giving formula even once, I probably would have and would have failed. But he kept encouraging me and didn't let me give up, and waited on me hand and foot while I nursed my baby to get my supply up. I now know much more about breastfeeding then I did then, and your wife will learn too.
A La Leche League group would be extremely helpful to her I think. Go to www.lalecheleague.org to find your local LLL group.
2007-02-22 11:24:09 · answer #2 · answered by EMT_and_Mom_to1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do not listen to anyone that says you should switch to formula. Breastmilk is the best for your baby. Her supply is diminishing because she is not pumping enough during the day. If she would pump more during the day, she would start producing more again. There are other remedies that are supposed to help, but if she's only pumping once during the day, it's still not going to help enough. The stimulation from the baby suckling or the pump is what helps produce more milk. See if she can talk to her boss. They should be understanding about these things. I mean even a 15 minute break in the morning and in the afternoon would give her some time to pump and would help with her supply. They should also provide a private room where she can pump. If there are other breast feeding mothers in the building, they could all talk to the boss together. They may get better results that way.
2007-02-22 11:05:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
She's not drying up, she's just making what is being taken. There's no reason why she couldn't continue to breastfeed when she's home, that's what her body is expecting her to do at this point. perhaps your supply wasn't quite enough. When your wife is home on the weekends etc, she needs to first breastfeed often to bring up the milk demands. Once this happens, she can pump out the extra and begin storing again. I would also look into her ability to pump more at work. Even if she were to use the time as a quick "bathroom" break......10 minutes of pumping every couple of hours will help build a more hearty supply.
2007-02-22 10:55:38 · answer #4 · answered by Gr8fulmom 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
breast milk is supply and demand
If she can only pump once at work.. she will make that much.... after a week of doing that her body is trained..
But if she feeds at home- then she will make enough for baby at home... it really issupply and demand
if she keeps eating regularly and eats healthy she will keep her supply...
When I went back to school I tried pumping but eventually went to bottles (formula) while away and breast milk when I was home.... this was fine unless my hours changed or something then there was the leaking factor- which I hope ur wife doesnt have to go through at work..
You might see if at all possible she could ask to have small breaks maybe three instead of just one lunch ( they do this for smokers-15 min breaks instead of a big lunch hour) where she could pump... but my pediatriction told me that it was ok to use formula in addition to breast milk
The baby is old enough to not get hooked on a nipple and since u are already using a bottle that isnt even the issue...
Good luck and remember yes breast is best but in todays society we have to have two income homes and so mom isnt always able.. . but when available for her to choose the breast is awesome~!!!!
2007-02-22 10:49:12 · answer #5 · answered by Christal 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with some of the other mothers, she is not drying up, but producing less due to pumping less. I also agree with the mother who mentioned if your wife can split her lunch break. OR maybe she can talk to her boss or manager if she can take a few extra minutes to pump more. As the more she pumps the more she will produce. Hopefully she has a boss who is understanding. Good luck, but don't give in. Breast milk is the best for your daughter, even the smaller amount that she gets.
2007-02-22 11:37:29 · answer #6 · answered by HAH 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she's determined than she can do it! Just keep pumping as much as possible when she can't feed and she should be fine. The breasts are great at adapting they sometimes just need some time to adjust! Therefore I don't think that they are drying up. Has she tried to pump in the morning as well before work?
Stay encouraged, rest when she can and drink lots of fluids and eat as well as possible. This should help as well. Just remember, she's now 15weeks and you should be able to introduce rice cereal to her diet soon enough. This should help too.
Best of luck!
2007-02-22 11:14:16 · answer #7 · answered by Allie D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She needs to pump more often at work. Breastfeeding women have rights and her job needs to give her at least 15 minutes in the am and pm to pump. She needs to demand it! Breastfeeding is a supply and demand and if she isn't pumping, it will begin to dry up. You guys may need to start supplementing while your child is at daycare with formula or mixing the breastmilk with formula. Some people frown at this but it works.
2007-02-22 11:29:37 · answer #8 · answered by Jamie S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DO not give up find a really good lactation consultant or a local Leah Leche League to get help and support from. Sage and chocolate are both good at increasing milk supply. Also when she comes home from work pump for a few minutes before she feeds the baby then nurse and this will que her body to produce more milk. Can she try pumping before she goes to work and before she get in the car to drive home and remember it take a minum of 3 days to make a change in your supply.
If she is not still on prenatal vitamins get back on them to keep mom up and make sure she is staying well hydrated. Lokk for Nursing mother's tea's in health food stores. Good Luck.
2007-02-22 10:49:38 · answer #9 · answered by Ann D 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Never give in! Anything is good. Drinking water is a refuel as eating healthy is too. At night when the baby is asleep have mommy take a warm bath and try pumping there.
2007-02-22 10:46:58 · answer #10 · answered by Spring loaded horsie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋