Is My Baby Getting Enough to Eat?

I think it's pretty common to have less milk in the evenings, whether you pump or not--that's just the low time of day. I know that when I pumped, the best time of day was either morning or noon time, but evenings were always the worst.

Have you talked to someone at La Leche League? You can find a leader through their website. You can also call the Elizabeth Blackwell Center's breastfeeding hotline, and someone there can call you back with help.

Good luck!
A. Z

Hi I hope I'm not repeating other's advice! I went back to work and had the same trouble. I was following her normal eating schedule but seemed like I wasn't getting enough. I do know that on my 'home' days she would eat a lot more so I assumed that what I was pumping was not enough or she was growing.

I took Fenugreek for a while - not sure about how you feel but it gave me the extra ounce or two more. Eventually at about 6 months she got so curious about dinner food when we were home we would let her eat that in addition to milk.

I still pump at night (she's 11 months old) because she takes more from a bottle and gets it faster and my husband likes to feed her a lot (smile). I just add it to whatever i pumped the next day. on the weekends she eats a ton from me and table food too.

Sometimes I think they do this when we go back to work cuz they miss mommy. Even if Noelle is full from table food, she'll still want to nurse after.

At 3 months old, I was still pumping i think 3 times at work. If you can get away to pump that many times, it's much better for your mental health to pump a bit extra than to feel like you aren't getting enough :0

I also have a really great pump. If I had my choice even thought it's bulky I would probably find a used hospital grade Medela pump - I had a great let down with that one. I still do really well with the Medela Pump in Style though.

Hope this was at least helpful to hear from another mom who pumps!

I would just remind you to trust your instincts. However, don't forget, your baby is the most efficent at getting milk, so don't trust what you pump, second, there is a growth spurt around 3 months AND you have 2 jobs now and you are bound to be stressed and tired, both things will decrese your milk supply. Try to keep healthy expectations and don't get down on yourself if you have to suppliment with formula.

Lastly, if you can, pump every few hours, drink plently of water, TRY to get enough sleep and if you want, try the herbal suppliments. Fenugreek and blessed thistle are the ones I tried.

Krista, Hi. It's hard to say what's going on. Stress and pumping (instead of nursing) can decrease milk supply. Oatmeal is awesome for milk supply. Make sure you are getting enough to eat and drink and not to much sage. I know that sounds crazy but too much sage or oregano decreases milk supply. Your baby could be going through a growth spurt. They go through those around 3 months. My advice is to nurse as much as possible when you're home. That will increase your supply. If these tips don't work, see a Lactation Consultant. J. (Mom of 3) Breastfeeding peer counselor for 3 years

one of the best ways to know if he is getting enough is if he conitues to gain weight and put out the same amount of wet diapers that he was doing before. i know when i pumped i never pulled quite as much as a did when my daughter was nursing. the older the baby gts the milk also changes to his needs. I would also watch his behavior if he is fussy he nmight not be getting enough but weighing before and after a feed are the best way to see what he is getting. hope it helps and good luck..

First of all, your baby will be getting more nursing directly from you than the pump can. So, what you are pumping is not an accurate estimation of what he is getting when he nurses. You will also continue to make milk, and can have more than one let down while he is nursing. Your breasts do not ever completely "empty" but the intial milk in the milk ducts is drained so you feel less full.

My suggestion for getting more milk to leave for him is to pump and nurse at the same time. You will get a better let down if he is nursing. You also might want to try doing it when you are most full, like in the morning before you leave. You might not be nursing enough and your milk supply is dropping. Some pumps are not strong enough to keep up your supply if you are pumping more than nursing. To increase your supply, you really want to nurse more often whenever you can. Your body will respond by "supply and demand" by making more milk.

When my supply dropped a lactation consultant told me to pump every three hours during the day(I am at home w/ her so that means after every feeding and once after she's in bed), take 2 tablets of fenugreek three times a day, and to make sure I get enough calories (I am thin) drink ensure two times a day.

Count the wet diapers - are there at least six in a day? If so, baby is doing fine. They also tend to hit a growth spurt around 3 months, then again at six months. These growth spurts cause more frequent nursing. If you are still worried, go to www.kellymom.com this is a really helpful site. Also www.breastfeeding.com is another helpful site.

All the previous responses to your question are accurate, atleast from my experience and the advice I've previously received, so keep it in mind!

Also, you will pump out 1-2 ounces less than you actually produce, but it's the stimulation thats important for your breasts when you pump, more than the actual amount that you get out because remember you're using a man made machine that won't do as good of a job as nursing; don't get me wrong pumping is a great thing!

When you're at work, try to fit in another pumping session; that too will help keep your supply up and going. Again, don't worry about how much you get out but try to pump for around 20 min.

And yes, pump/nurse more often if he seems hungry. Try not to feel tied to your nursing schedule. He's probably going through a growth spurt.

Good luck to you and remember, this too shall pass!

He's probally just having a growth spurt, i wouldn't worry about it to much. a lot of women can't produce much when they pump but baby still thrives, jsut continue to nurse on demand when you are home and as long as the little one isn't losing weight he's getting plenty.

As long as your baby is urinating it's normal amount and is growing I would not worry. Your milk supply is less because you are pumping. Pumping doesn't have the same let down experience that you have when you are actually nursing your child. If you put a picture in your pump case and try to think of your daughter when you pump it may help. Also when I went back to work part time, I received a pump from WIC. They recommended taking a supplement called FENUGREEK that you can get at your local GNC or other health food stores. They also offer it in tea bags too. It will help sustain and/or increase your milk supply since you are not getting the same let down experience since you are pumping. Your milk supply will deplete some since you are pumping. Sometimes it still is enough for them depending on how much your supply was before. I found with my first daughter that my supply decreased dramatically and I did not know of the effects of pumping and eventually I had to switch to formula. With my second daughter, I took the Fenugreek and had the picture and it seemed to help. Just try to nurse your child as often as possible when you are home. Good luck. You could also look online or in the phone book for a Lactation consultant and get their advice.
Good luck and Congrats on breastfeeding. It's an amazing thing and one of the best things you can do for your child!
God bless!!

Your son may be going through a growth spurt. If so, he will nurse more often for a few weeks and then things will settle down. As long as you are drinking enough liquids, your body will respond to the increased nursing and produce more milk at a time. If, however, you continue to get less milk when you pump, make yourself drink extra water (I was advised to drink a gallon of water in one day). You probably don't need to drink that much, but you may be drinking too much caffinated liquids (caffiene is a diuretic and will prmote dehydration). Make sure your liquids are decaffinated and that you are getting plenty of water also.

If you continue to have problems, contact a local chapter of the La Leche League. They can help!

C. P.

How long is your work day? Pumping only two times a day may not be enough for your baby's needs. If you want to build up your milk supply, pump more frequently at work...try every 2-3 hours...that is three to four times in a 8 hour work day. Remember your milk supply is supply and demand. The more frequently your little one nurses, the more mild you will make. Be sure to drink plenty of water and juice during the day(hydration is key to keeping a healthy milk supply), and eat a healthy diet. It is recommended to add 500 calories to your diet when you are breastfeeding. If pumping more frequently when you are not around your little one doesn't work, try taking over the counter medications that will increase your milk supply...ask your local pharmacist for any suggestions (fenugreek). If this does not work, contact a lactation consultant near you...she may have more suggestions. She may suggest a prescription medication like reglan (side effects = depression) or domperidone. Never give up...

Hi Krista,
Is your baby in a growth spurt right now? He may need extra feedings during these spurts. My oldest was growing so fast that they had me start him on rice cereal at 2 1/2 months. He had been exclusively nursed until then, and it is very unusual for that to be recommended, but it did help. You could also try adding a scoop of formula to the pumped bottles when you feed him those. That would give him extra calories while still getting the breastmilk. I had to do that with my youngest pretty much from 2 weeks of age due to his heart defect which caused him to burn calories faster.
Talk to your pediatrician about these options and see if they would approve of one. They both worked well for my boys.
(My daugther was so easy with all this stuff!)
Hope all goes well!

Hi Krista.
I breastfed until I had to go back to work as well and pumped 2 times a day too. First of all your baby is getting a little older so requiring a little more milk. Second thing you may want to pump a little more. My daughter's pedi had me pumping like every 2 hours when she got to be about 3 months just to get a good supply in for her because I was going back to work. Then during the day at work when I would pump, I would get more milk for her during those sessions. I pumped at night when she slept too just to help keep my milk up for her.

Eventually, I did have to supplement with formula because of the work thing and she got older and just needed more milk than I could supply. I was able to breastfeed her, while having a job until she was a year old though and that's pretty good for a working Mom.

Thank the lord about 9 months after I weened here, I was able to quit working and now can stay home with her. I know that for all of us that just isn't practical, so having been on both sids of the track I respect the heck out of ALL Moms. Enjoy your new baby and go with your gut or talk to your pedi, but I would also reccommend a little more pumping.

God Bless

I had the exact same problem when my son was about that age. I know that it sounds a bit dumb but try eating oatmeal once or twice a day. I almost doubled by milk supply in 24 hours. I had very heard of it but it did work. I hope that it all goes well.

Just make sure that your baby is having at least six wet diapers a day. My pediatricain told me that your milk supply is at its lowest in the evening. All the other advice that was given is good. Most importantly drink lots of fluid (water is best), nurse often and get lots of rest.

your baby might not be getting enough. try to pump every three hours and try pumping 5 extra minutes per side after everfeeding to stimulate your body to produce more and the more you allow your baby to nurse the more your boby will produce. Don't give up your doing a great thing!

Mom of 3: 6 1/2 girl and 2 boys 4 1/2 and turning one in 9 days- all exclusively breastfed for first year

I've nursed two kids of my own (my son nursed till 2.5yr and my daughter is still nursing strong at 15mo), so we've been there! Most likely, this is a normal 3mo growth spurt that all babies go through. When going through a growth spurt, babies need more milk. But the great news is that your son's extra nursing more does NOT mean that he's not getting enough milk! Your body will prduce as much milk as your baby needs. And your body knows how much milk he needs by gauging how much milk he takes out of the breast by nursing (or pumping). So your son's extra nursing acutally serves to produce more milk, not indicate that he's not getting enough milk. When he nursed more for a few days, your body knows that it needs to make more milk. After a few days, the extra milk production catches up with your son's need and it will all balance out. Most likely the fact that you're getting less when you pump at night is just because your son has been nursing more and your body hasn't quiet caught up yet. Babies go through growth spurts, causing days of adding nursing, throughout their first year. But your body will do a great job of keeping up with him if you let your son signal your body by letting him nurse as much as he wants so that your body knows to make more milk!

In responce to those who said to start cereal, please weigh that advice carefully! The American Academy of Pediactricsand the World Health Organization BOTH say that babies should have ONLY breastmilk for the first 6mo. Exclusivly! That means no solids, even cereal! These people are obviously dealing with outdated info back from the days when they started solids at 2mo. Now doctors realize that this is very dangerous because feeding solids to a baby who has an immature immune system (under 6mo) causes an increased risk of allergies, intestinal and digestive problems, constipation, etc. Please read the most up-to-date info and keep breastfeeding exclusively! Thinking that increased nursing means to start solids rather than being a natural signal to your body to rebalance the amount of milk it produces is a bad misinterpretation of this sign. These people obviously don't understand how nursing works pysiologically. It is by far best for your son and will keep him healthiest!!

As for the woman who said that she fed her daughter 2% cows milk, cow's milk is for baby cows and is NOT safe for baby people! Breastmilk (or formula) is the only appropriate thing for baby people!

Honestly, my son did this at about the same age - It's probably just a growth spurt. They start acting starved for a few days - up to about 10 days - and they nurse more often so you don't have as much left to pump. Your body will start to produce more as he demands more; just keep up your fluids and keep up eating well. Being back to work has a tendancy to make us neglect ourselves or do more caffine just to keep up.

PS - my son is now 13 and taller than I am - so nursing gave him a great start- keep up the good work !

V.

It is very common to have a growth spurt at 3 months where they will nurse much more often... it is to get your supply up to meet their new needs. It is also common to have a dip when you return to work... stress, less frequent nursing, all add up to it. ALso, the seperation can cause them to nurse more when they are with you. My son became a cluster feeder at night when I returned to work... I think he wanted the extra time with mommy. Rest assured that if you are feeding on demand and your baby seems content, he if fine. Keep pumping... you may need to pump 3 times a day at work while he is still so young. I exclusively breastfeed my son and pumped at work until he was 14 months. It is sooo worth it.

If you continue to allow your baby to nurse as often as he needs to, and pump during work, your baby will get what he needs. I commend you for your commitment to giving your baby the very best nutrition and care he can have! Nothing beats breastfeeding. My three children all went through phases where they nursed like crazy for a little while, then settled back into a more laid-back pattern. Keep up the great work and remember to drink plenty of water now that your body is being called on to make more milk.

I understand your worry. My son is a week away from being 8 months old and I have been exclusively breastfeeding since he was born. The lady that ran the breastfeeding support group I went to would always say that the pump is never as good as your baby. She said that after you go back to work, make sure you breastfeed exclusively when you are at home (instead of giving a bottle of expressed milk). I have been working full time since my son was about 2 months old. When I noticed a drop in my milk production I got some advice from a fellow mom that worked - have a beer (non-alcoholic or with alcohol). I asked my peditrician and she said this was true and wouldn't hurt the baby. She recommended having one right after a feeding or after the baby went to sleep so the alcohol would be out of your system for the next feeding. When I had one beer, I did so after I put him to bed and it does work. The breastfeeding support group I went to mentioned fenugreek (sp?) that you can get from a natural foods store. There is also a mothers milk tea that people have found success with, but you do have to drink a lot of it.
Your baby may be nursing more to increase your milk production - if I remember correctly, my son went thru a growth spurt around 3 months and would wear me out nursing so much. A way to tell if your baby is getting enough to eat is to make sure your baby is having enough wet diapers - I'm going blank on that amount right now, but you can look it up online on the La Leche League webpage. They also have good tips on the website.
Good luck and I hope this helps.

He probably nurses more frequently for 2 reasons. 1) You are gone during the day so he's making up for lost time when you are home. It's more about connecting than eating. 2) I believe there is a growth spurt around 3 months so he's tanking up!
As long as he's gaining weight and having frequent wet and poopy diapers, he's fine:) Keep in mind that pumps don't work as well as babies. If you are worried, try oatmeal, hops (beer), and fenugreek capsules (get them at Wild Oats or a vitamin store).

yes, it is time to start cereal - we always started with rice - you try one new thing at a time and usually for about 4 days to see if there is any reaction... then go through all the cereals - then add fruit in a similar fashion --- still feeding the cereal but with fruit on the side... then add vegetables (when we did this - we used cereal and fruit for breakfast and bedtime and used cereal with the new veggies at lunch plus the fruit) it works well and your child learns to eat all fruits, veggies and cereals - then come the meats! expect a weird face with those - I think all three of our children weren't crazy about meats the first couple trys.

he may not like cereal the first few times - be ready with a rag or something if he spits it at you LOL fun fun fun!

Brings back great memories to me :)

I nursed exclusively, too - didn't work though - but after feeding our children the cereal (and fruit, veggies, meats) I would nurse after! You could have a small bottle of water nearby incase he needs a quick sip before you clean his messy little face up before you nurse.

So he is nursing more often and you have less to pump in the evening? It sounds like he is eating more than he was. If he comes off seeming satisfied, he is eating enough. Growth spurts happen. He will likely nurse more often for a few days here and there. Your body and his will work the way they need to. Relax and trust in that.

You should try cereal.

I can't say whether or not he is getting enough to eat, but my youngest son (who is now 8) seemed to want to nurse all the time. He was being nursed exclusively as well. My mother in law suggested I try 2% milk. I tried it and never had another problem with feeding. I stopped nursing though (I went back to work full time when he was 6 weeks old) I don't know if you want to stop or not.

It's fairly normal for the milk supply to go down when switching from baby suckling to pumping. You can try taking a piece of baby's clothing to smell, a picture of baby, doing longer pumping sessions when at work, adding a pumping session after baby is finished suckling. Drink a gallon more water a day. Try taking an herbals to brink in the milk. I used Mother's Milk Tea and Fenugreek herbal capsules found at the Health Food Shoppe on Anthony, Fort Wayne, IN.

If baby still is not getting enough milk, I would try supplementing with formula and/or formula with a tsp of cereal dissolved in it.

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Check out your breastfeeding books and/or websites about "mature milk." If I remember correctly (I have a 7 month old who is exclusively breastfed as well), mature milk ususally comes in at 12 weeks and pumping "seems" to slow down a bit. It did for me. I imagine you baby is still getting enough milk. You can always talk with your pediatrician and have your son's weight checked for reassurance that he is growing.

When I went back to work my supply started decreasing. My lactation consultant told me this was normal, and to start taking Fenugreek (I believe it was 3 pills 3 times per day, but you would want to check that out). It was wonderful! My supply increased and I was back to pumping what I had been during maternity leave.

I actually had this happen to me and it turns out he was going through a growth spurt. If you notice your supply to keep going down then I recommend a lactation consultant. But if need be, you can give some formula along w/ breastmilk. lots of luck to you!!!

Hi Krista, he's eating more due to the fact that soon you can start giving him cereal (baby), and a little bit of mashed bananas. Apple juice. Its not that he's starving, its the fact that his body is growing and he wants more. My youngest daughter was just like that. Talk to your pediatrician and see when would be good for you to start him on cereals. Good luck!

Your baby is most likely just having a growth spurt. My baby ate every three hours until 4pm then wanted to eat every 2 hours until he was about 5 months old! As far as getting less milk in the evening when you pump...no worries there..that is how our bodies work....if you want to get the most milk when you pump - pump in the mornings. As long as you are pumping when he is not nursing your body will contine to make what he needs. Also..if you feel your supply is very low and he is not getting enough ( not enough wet diapers -arching back during feedings) you can try fenugreek i think thats how you spell it. It is all natural and you can get it at GNC. A friend of mine took it and it worked great for her...the only set back is it makes you smell like maple syrup..but anything for our babies right?!