should i be worried???

[jralex]

ok.. so this past weekend i worked like i have for the past couple of weekends...i'm not pumping enough milk for baby to only have breast milk while i'm at work... so DH has been giving him formula when no more BM is available...but i've been noticing that when i come home after work and for the first few days after the weekend the baby is "angry" at the boobies... to the point where he would rather cry than to eat... even though he's hungry... he's had a bottle since he was 4 weeks old so i dont think it's nipple confusion...but it's starting to worry me... also i work 12 hour days when i work on the weekend and my goal when i get there is to pump 4 times in that shift, but lately i've been luck if i get 2 sessions in... is this going to hurt my already not so good supply???
i am taking fenugreek and just started blessed thistle...
i'm really determined to make it to at least the 1 year mark...
but when he gets "angry" i get frustrated and flustered and feel like i'm hurting him more than helping him with breastfeeding...

ALSO..baby's poop is green in color and only twice a week..he's 2 months almost 3...

GRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jmom1010]

What size nipple are you using for your bottles? The milk is much easier to get at in a bottle than at the breast. I'd recommend changing to the slowest flowing nipple you can get. The "anger" could be just frustration over the milk not instantly flowing. You can try to massage your breasts a little before you try to latch or apply some heat, that sometimes can help.

And yes only pumping twice when you normally pump 4 times will hurt your supply. Nursing is supply and demand and when the nipples don't get stimulated as often as they were the message is sent to slow down milk production.

The herbals will help but I was told for them to work I had to increase demand either with the pump or by nursing. I recommend nursing as much as possible when you are with your baby.

I feel for you, I struggled through the first year as a working mom trying to nurse, but the second year when I gave up pumping was much nicer for us. I made it almost to 21 months :)

I wish you best of luck.

[jralex]

thanks... we use the playtex bottles and all nipples say slow on them... so i'm hoping they are the slowest they have to offer... when i'm with him he nurses first before any bottles are ever offered... we've had to supplement since 4 weeks because of my low supply..

[Jmom1010]

I forgot to mention if you don't already do this, nursing in a warm tub helps too.

[Mamacita]

I also had trouble getting in enough pumping sessions. I learned to pump in the car on the way to and from work.

It makes for a great story if you ever get pulled over! Seriously my shirt kept everything covered up.

[dodoe80]

I also had trouble getting in enough pumping sessions. I learned to pump in the car on the way to and from work.

It makes for a great story if you ever get pulled over! Seriously my shirt kept everything covered up.


I do this too. I get in 2 more pumping sessions this way. I have a 30 minute commute one way, so I have lots of time to pump. Also, I feel for you. I wouldn't normally have a supply problem if I could just nurse and not have to worry about pumping but I have to pump at least 5 times a day in order to get enough breastmilk for 3 bottels. This means that I have to pump at least once after I get home, usually an hour after putting baby to bed. Hang in there.

[nugent]

just wanted to say i know EXACTLY how you feel!

my dd is 3 months today and has started getting "angry" at the boobs too.. i have been using the SNS with formula (due to low supply and slow weight gain in the first 6 weeks) and she gets a bottle every now and then (couldn't stop grandmom from feeding her once the doc told us we had to supplement).

I am sure it is an issue of her wanting that faster flow 'cause she is not content until she gets the supplement. Thing is, she doesn't have this problem when I nurse her in the bed. Granted, I have more milk for the 4am feeding, but I am gonna try to switch up my nursing station. I have a feeling their is some "expectation" on her part because we feed so frequently in the same place..

Maybe the bath thing will help! Definitely sounds relaxing...

[jralex]

[QUOTE=nugent;572937]

I am sure it is an issue of her wanting that faster flow 'cause she is not content until she gets the supplement. Thing is, she doesn't have this problem when I nurse her in the bed. Granted, I have more milk for the 4am feeding, but I am gonna try to switch up my nursing station. I have a feeling their is some "expectation" on her part because we feed so frequently in the same place..
QUOTE]


yeah he doesn't complain either when we nurse in bed...actually i'm starting to think it's his favorite place... i've also found that he's been eating more whether BM or formula when i'm at work.. for daddy.. or if i just go out.. my husband always tries the suckie thing just in case it's just that he wants to suck... but it always seems like he's feeding him shortly there after... i'm really scared that because he's not getting 100% BM that he's REALLY not finding me satisfying...

[Stephanie]

First, try not to feel guilty or upset. Your baby is still getting all the benefits from breastmilk and you are doing what you can to keep your baby nursing.

I have to be very committed to pumping. I am not the best pumper, and in order to keep my supply up, I can't mess around with skipping sessions. I also suggest using car time for pumping. It is a great use of time. I would suggest squeezing in extra sessions, even if it is just for a few minutes.

Try nursing him in bed, if that is where he is happy nursing.