Poster:	guineaus
Date:	2008-10-10 10:55
Subject:	Weaning from pumping
Security:	Public

Hi all,
My 13 month old daughter has been exclusively bf from birth. I work full time and have been pumping twice a day at work since she was 3 months old. I am so tired of pumping. I plan to wean myself from the pump and am looking for advice on what others have done. I plan to start by pumping just once a day. I nurse her right before I leave in the morning and will nurse her when I get home.

Also, she drinks soy milk on occasion, I might add cows milk but I'm a little adverse to it, hormones, etc. Any advice on other types of milk to try?

Cross-posted to breastfeeding.

Poster:	itsjustababy
Date:	2008-09-04 15:05
Subject:	Dip in supply due to menstruation
Security:	Public

My period returned yesterday. ... I forgot how much I hated it!!  My son is almost 10 months old.

For those of you who've had your cycle return, how much of a dip in supply did you see?  I can tell that I'm not getting 100% of what I used to. But my pumping schedule is erratic, so it's hard for me to tell. Sometimes I can pump every 2-3 hours, sometimes in a 8 hour day I only get to pump twice.

When did your supply return to normal, if ever? Do I need to start taking Domperidone again?

Poster:	kaccii
Date:	2008-08-29 23:37
Subject:	pumping teachers: time to pump. a place to pump
Security:	Public

A teacher-friend of mine is having her baby in October and will return from maternity leave after the winter break when the baby is about 3 months. We were given our schedules. I was lucky, as I was last year, and have great times to pump. She, on the other hand, didn't get so lucky. We're on a block schedule. Every other day, she won't be able to pump until 11:30. That puts 5 hours between a before-school pumping session and the next one. What will that do to her supply? Have any of you been put in this situation before? I'd say it's out of the question to ask for a schedule change. And out of the question to have someone watch her class for 10 minutes on those days. I told her she could hand express (albeit, quickly) in the book room between classes to relieve any engorgement, but won't that have a detrimental effect on her supply?

As of right now, there are 2 (that I know of) of us teachers who are breastfeeding. After Christmas, there will be 3 who are pumping (possibly 2 more if 1 continues to breastfeed after a year and if another decides to breastfeed). I heard that one teacher has been asking administration for a place to pump. Our classrooms are used by other teachers during our planning periods, so those are out of the question. We have offices that we share with other teachers, so those aren't the greatest places (although I have 2 great office mates - one never uses the office; the other's quite comfortable with me pumping while we eat, and so am I). Any advice on how we should/can come together and bring this matter to administration? (FWIW: We're in VA)

Poster:	kaccii
Date:	2008-08-20 22:10
Subject:	returning to work
Security:	Public

I'm a teacher and returned to work today. My son is almost 9 months old. The last time he was at the sitter, he was exclusively breastfed. Now he's getting 3 meals a day and breastmilk. However, today (his first day with a new sitter - he's spent some time with her, but never a full day) he didn't want to eat or drink much at all. I sent him with 15 ounces; he returned with 10. Needless to say, that was thawed milk and he got a tasty yogurt-banana smoothie this evening.

My question is: what's your experience with "returning to normal eating habits"? Will he start drinking his milk? Or will he just get what he needs in the evenings? He's finally starting to sleep at night, so night feedings are dwindling. Is this just a separation anxiety thing? I did eat some, just not like usual. If he doesn't want milk while he's at the sitter, should I just mix it into all his food? (I make all his food.)

Thanks!

Poster:	jackiesue
Date:	2008-08-20 14:08
Subject:	long distance commuters?
Security:	Public
Mood:	curious

I'm pregnant with my second (due in December) and as of right now, it looks like we'll be moving an hour away from my current job. It just popped into my head the other day how this could affect me pumping. I'll be looking for a job closer to home once I come back from maternity leave but I expect finding said job to take at least 1-2 months, during which time I'll have to pump.

If we move, it will put me getting up at around 5 am, leaving for work between 6 and 6:30, and not getting home until 6 or 6:30 in the evening. That's basically 12 hours where I'll be away from my baby. I know my employer will have no problem with me pumping at work but I'm just really nervous about being away for that long. I'm scared that my supply will drop like it did when I pumped with my first. Has anyone here done a long distance commute and exclusively breastfed? How did it go?

Poster:	sonsah
Date:	2008-08-19 14:35
Subject:	Pumping at Work and Supply
Security:	Public

I have started work this week and I have been pumping regularly every 2-3 hours yesterday and today while here.

I get 4oz in the first pump of the day, but then only between 2-3oz after that... decreasing in amount as it gets later in the day. I am not making enough to feed the baby exclusively.

Before I went to work I would pump after feeds and only get .5 - 1 oz and the hope was when I replaced feeds with pumping I would be able to pump what she needs.

Has anyone else had experience with this and how to deal with/increase supply while pumping at work?

(I have already been taking Domperidone and More Milk Plus for supply issues before pumping.)

x-posted to breastfeeding

Poster:	introducingyael
Date:	2008-08-17 02:50
Subject:	Comfort sucker?
Security:	Public

Adelle is 3.5 weeks old, kinehura, so I'm still getting to know her.  She sleeps really solidly at night, but during the day, unless we're walking and she's in the Mei-Tai, there must be an Oobie in her mouth. At.All.Times.  I go back to work September first for about 3 hours a night.  Is she going to need a pacifier while I'm gone?  I've never used one before, so I don't know proper paci procedure. If she does need it, is it all right to just give it to her when I'm gone?  It's important to me (and my ego) that she know it's only a substitute for mommy if we use one. 

Poster:	grace_underfire
Date:	2008-08-14 18:35
Subject:
Security:	Public

I haven't seen this posted here yet, my apologies if this has been posted previously.

Medela is giving away free bottles to those in the U.S. Their bottles are BPA free and I know many of us use their excellent breast pumps.

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/medela-bpa-free

Poster:	bunkiki
Date:	2008-08-12 15:12
Subject:	indifferent baby, dwindling supply
Security:	Public

I'm starting to question if I should continue BF.

My 8 mo. old is so distracted when feeding that she hardly gets anything started before she pulls off and is done. I've been transferred to a store that has nowhere private for me to pump, and leaving the store 2-3 times a day is not an option. Even if it was there's not anywhere close by that I could pump in my car. Between not pumping and her lack of interest, I've had to rely more and more on formula. She is indifferent to the bottle in general no matter what's in it, and wants to eat a lot more solid food now.

I could raise a stink with my employers, but short of finding me a position at another store, they can't make a place for me to pump, and my transfer wouldn't come before her first birthday.

We still get one good feed in the morning before she wakes up, her doc says that that still gives her the some immunological benefits of breast feeding, though obviously using formula is not as good as keeping purely to the breast. At this point even getting that one feed in requires me to get up early and put her to the breast while she's still sleeping, so I don't really know what else to do about it.

Her pediatrician says she's healthy and gaining weight, but I feel really guilty for not making it to one year.

Poster:	shakeyrpuddin
Date:	2008-08-12 11:35
Subject:
Security:	Public

my 8 month old daughter is refusing the bottle. we had this problem
when i first went back to work, but we found that she liked the born free
trainer spout.

now, she's refusing that. we've tried the avent sippy cup, spoon feeding,
cup feeding and even straw feeding, and she's refusing all of it.

she's on solids 2x a day (around 2-4 ounces each meal. in the morning
she has 1/2 oz of beef, and 2 oz of veggies. late afternoon she has either
oatmeal with breastmilk and a fruit or sweet potato with breastmilk).
sometimes she sleeps through the night and sometimes she wakes up
only once.

she nurses a lot in the mornings, and as soon as i get home, and i nurse
her to sleep, all which she did even before solids.

is it okay that she's taking less breastmilk during the day? she used to
take around 10-15 oz. now my husband says that she takes at most 5.

is she getting enough breastmilk? if not, what should i do? lessen the
amount of solids i'm giving her? any suggestions on how to give her
breastmilk? i'm concerned because everything i'm reading says she should
be taking the same amount of breastmilk at 8 months.

x-posted to breastfeeding

Poster:	polarbee
Date:	2008-08-11 13:45
Subject:	Slump
Security:	Public
Mood:	unmotivated

I've hit a bit of a slump today. My son is almost seven months old and really started enjoying solid foods last week. He's up to 2 containers of stage 2 food right now.
Today I'm really having difficulty motivating myself to pump. *sigh*

Poster:	junes_flame
Date:	2008-08-07 12:37
Subject:	How Much Does Your Baby Eat?
Security:	Public
Mood:	curious

Hi All --

I'm sure this question has been asked before, but I can't seem to find it. My little one weighs 14 pounds and is 3 months 3 weeks old. She is on 100% breast milk and is at daycare from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. I send her with 6 bottles, each filled with 3 oz EBM, but typically she'll eat 4-5 bottles. How much do your babies eat in a full day and how much do you put in each bottle? She seems to be going through another growth spurt and I just don't want to short change her. I looked at the Kelly Mom milk calculator and there's just such a wide range. Also, I have heard from some that her intake will steadily increase till she is established with solids (a long while off yet), but from others that their intake plateaus at 2 months and doesn't increase. Some calculators seem to be indicating I should put a lot more in each bottle; however, she reverse cycles, which works for us and might mean that she will take less during the day. That said, she is over the 75th percentile in height and weight, so maybe I shouldn't worry. ;) Any ideas mamas?

Poster:	introducingyael
Date:	2008-08-05 12:55
Subject:	Going back to work
Security:	Public

I'm going back to work for about 3 hours a night 4 nights a week (and less than an hour 1 night a week) starting in a few weeks.  Adelle is 2 weeks old, kinehura.   When should I start to introduce a bottle to make sure she'll take it, but minimize the chance of nipple confusion?  I know the possibility exists that she won't need it while I'm gone, but 3 hours can be a long time, and she might.  I know that Hubby should be the one to give her the bottle because she probably won't take it from me - any other tips?
Also, I never gave Moo a bottle, he always got it straight from the tap.  I'm suddenly anxious about the idea of someone else feeding my baby.  Has anyone else dealt with this feeling?

Poster:	carizma
Date:	2008-08-01 13:47
Subject:
Security:	Public

Does anyone want a brand new hands free pumping bra from the La Leche League? It's a 40D. I paid 27.99 for it, but will sell it for 20 plus shipping. it's brand new never worn. Doesnt fit me cause i'm wider around the sides and its too tight :(

You can delete this if it's not ok to post.
x-posted

Poster:	canela
Date:	2008-07-26 11:10
Subject:	Question on Breastfeeding Friendly Bottles
Security:	Public
Mood:	confused

I didn't see a way to search tags or anything on here, so please forgive me if I've missed something. I'm currently 21w pregnant, but I plan on exclusively breastfeeding my baby. The only problem is, I'm the main bread-winner of the family, so I will have to return to work full time once my short term disability and vacation time is exhausted after the birth.

I'm trying to plan ahead, but the most daunting aspect to the idea of pumping right now is picking a bottle system to use. There are some out there that state they are breastfeeding friendly, but I simply do not know. Any suggestions? I'm trying to avoid nipple confusion, and plan on steering clear of pacifiers and the like...but my infant will have to go to daycare all too soon after birth and I'll need an alternative to the breast.

I already plan on getting one of the Medela double electric pumps with a car adapter. I work inside the office for a major trucking company, and we really don't have a room available I could use as a lactation space, so I'll probably be in the car. I also have one of those dorm sized fridges...do you think it would be needed to plug one in at my desk for storage, or will a cooler suffice? I don't really want to use the communal lunch fridge for breast milk...I work with *ALL* men, and I think that would weird them out ;o)

Thanks in advance ladies!

Poster:	pink_skullz
Date:	2008-07-22 20:08
Subject:	Avent isis IQ uno
Security:	Public

I've had my breast pump for three years now and all of a sudden the motor breaks. So I call up Avent and they say they can't replace it because the warrenty is only for a year. I'm so upset that I now have to go out and purchase a new pump. Thank god I'm not working for the next couple of weeks for vacation. I'm thinking of getting a single electric medela but I'm not sure of how much they are and if they have better warrenties.

Grr!!!

Poster:	chezalee
Date:	2008-07-19 07:56
Subject:
Security:	Public

My 6.5 month old son has been sleeping longer stretches at night - last night he slept solid from 8:30pm to 3am. (We co-sleep.) I woke up at 3am engorged and leaking all over the place. When I got up to hand express to get some relief, I think I work him up. Otherwise he very well might have kept sleeping! Now, I love the fact that he's sleeping more at night (for however long it lasts....), but I'm just worried that my supply may drop if he doesn't nurse often during the night.  I've been resistant to night weaning him because I have to pump twice a day while I'm at work, and I so far I'm able to pump fairly easily. I generally get 5+ oz. during a 15 minute pumping session.

I'm just curious what you all recommend. Should I get up in the middle of the night to pump? Just wait it out and see what happens? I do have a good freezer stash built up, but I was hoping to donate it.

x-posted to breastfeeding

Poster:	scillamarie
Date:	2008-07-14 10:53
Subject:	Information Please
Security:	Public
Mood:	confused

Hello ladies this is my first post to this group. I'm a first time mommy, my little girl is due on October 5th. I was wondering do any of you use the Limerick PJ's comfort breast pump? I can get a great deal on it through work but I'm having a hard time finding any reviews on it and I wanted to know if it's worth the savings. Also what accessories can I use with it? Do I have to buy bottles through Limerick or will any work?  Any information or reviews on the system are welcome. Thank you ladies for your help.

Poster:	carizma
Date:	2008-07-09 22:35
Subject:
Security:	Public

So, my second day back to work. It went well. My supervisor told me today I couldn't pump at my desk, and had to use the lactation room, even though I had a hooter hider on and no one could see me. Oh well, at least we have one right? They split my breaks and lunch up into three twenty min. breaks. So, i guess they works. I'll just eat through out the day and spend the rest of the time on my breaks pumping. Sometimes I have to go about 2 1/2 hrs without pumping. Is that okay? My breaks are at 10:20 12:40 and 2:55. Then I get off at 5:35. Today I just waited to get home to feed him and didn't pump. It was about a 3 hour wait. Sound okay? This weekend i'm going to get some blessed thistle on top of the fenugreek. The fenugreek seems to be helping.

Thanks for any feed back ladies!

Poster:	carizma
Date:	2008-07-02 03:35
Subject:
Security:	Public

Has anyone tried the La Leche League Hands-Free Pump Bra? I just ordered it, hoping its good! That way when I go back to work, I can pump at my desk, with a nursing bib so no one will be able to tell.

Thanks!