Please advise

[lm_tlsanders]

I've been back to work for 1 1/2 months now, my baby is 3 months old, and I initially had supply issues (due to my baby eating like a little piglet) but I started drinking milkmaid tea and eating all the right foods to produce more milk and things got better and I produced the amount of milk my baby needed. In the last week i've started not being able to produce what she needs to fill her and she would cry at the breast b/c she just wasn't getting anything. So, last night we started giving her a bottle of formula before bedtime and she seemed to do well, but was kind of fussy during the night (didn't wake though). First, is there anything else i can to to make more milk? (has anyone on this site used the more milk plus vitamin?) Second, is it possible for her to wean herself off the breast b/c we are using formula? and Last, what really is the best time (earliest) that she should stop breastfeeding? I would love to breastfeed her for a year, but I'm not so sure she will go for that, she is VERY independant.

Any advice and encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Jessie81]

Independence is one thing but she is not about to STARVE herself because she is independant. If you want to breastfeed for a year make the comitment. Stick to the breastmilk, nurse when you can and pump often - every two hours. I took fenugreek and blessed thistle and those increased my supply. She may have been fussy because of gas or because formula is harder to digest than breastmilk. The more you put her to breast the more you will make- try skin to skin contact too.

[shayanders]

Been there, done that! So sorry mommy. I'm a working mom too and I've been at war with my pump for 4 months (Jack is almost 7 months now). My production has always been a struggle. The pump is good (I have a Medala pump-in-style advanced), but sometimes it just doesn't cut it. By Friday I am always pumping less than on Monday. No offense to Jessie81, but sometimes the "pump-every-two-hours advice" is simply unrealistic for working moms. I'm an attorney and would kiss my job goodbye if I had to do that!!!! (of course- I'm pumping now, which is when I surf the net!!)m, :o)

There is a drug, known as Reglan, which is used to treat acid reflux, and has the side effect of producing milk. My ob nurse-prac. gave it to me without hesitation when I had problems after a business trip. The only downside is that it can make you kinda sleepy (and depressed if you have a history). I'd start it on a Saturday (assuming you work Mon-Fri) and if it knocks you out, no biggie. You take 4-5 a day, and walla- more milk. I adjusted pretty quickly to it, and it is great.

The fenugreek never did it for me (and frankly, for as much as you have to take- I was burping fenugreek all day!) We also supplement, and I don't think it's the end of the world. I'd say my little guy gets about 6 oz total of formula on any given day. But supply does beget demand, so if you can, struggle through the growth period and keep putting him to the breast. When all else fails, a little formula here and there isn't tragic. There are some here who would argue with me on that, but I've been BFing for 7 mos and it didn't ruin it for us when I started given him some formula. Sometimes, we need to find a balance that works for us...

Good luck and hope it works out!

[Mocosita]

Remember that BF is all about supply & demand, the more you bf, the more you will produce. I would suggest reading: Nursing Mother, Working Mother. It explains all the supply issues you may run into....

If you find that you are not pumping enough, I would start pumping once at night (right after your baby goes to bed) and once in the am (I would suggest right after you wake up--hopefully before the baby wakes up) I do this anytime I see my supply decrease and after a few days, it adjusts itself back to supplying enough for my baby. I would not recommend giving formula before bed, as it can be the reason why the baby is waking up gassy.

Other things that would help with supply are : fenugreek (take at least 3 600mg pills 3 times a day), oatmeal, drink plenty of water, get some rest, more milk plus-pills, and I know this is hard- but relax- stress is the worst enemy to milk supply.

If all fails, like others above, a little formula won't bee so bad. But if you do, don't do it right before going to bed as it may wake the baby with side effects. Hang in there and good luck!!!

[cbreeding]

I wasn't able to ascertain how long the fussiness at the breast was going on (in terms of days), but I know my DD hit a growth spurt right around 3 months. She would eat on me constantly, and while working I pumped less than she was eating. Luckily I have a freezer backup of milk. The growth spurt eating would last a few days until I was home with her 24 hours, and the constant eating on me would increase my supply. Also, AF decreases my supply. I generally pump extra in the week after AF because I have an oversupply from her nursing so often the week before.