Need Advice About Milk Supply and Pumping at Work

WELL I NURSED MY KIDS FOR AWILE AND I HAD TO WORK RIGHT AFTER I HAS HER SO WHAT I DID MY PROFESSION WAS A HAIR STYLIST SO I REALLY DIDNT HAVE ANYTIME BUT I TOLD A LUNCH BREAK AND THEN PUMPED WHILE I ATE AND WITH YOUR CASE ACT LIKE YOU R BREASTFEEDIN HER WHERE EVER U R AND TAKE A BLANKET AND PUT IT OVER WITH AN ELECTRIC PUMP FOR ABOUT 15 MIN EACH OR TAKE A BATHROOM BREAK THEN DO IT THEN BUT IF U DON'T PUMP AND FEED HER U WILL NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH MILK FOR HER U MIGHT HAVE TO GIVE HER FORMULA UNTIL U CAN BUILD ENOUGH MILK

Hello D.,
I totally understand about not being to adequatly pump at work. I had the same problem with mine when I returned back to work. Either it was too busy to sneak away or I have no place to pump. I finally gave up pumping and just continued to breast feed when I was at home. My body took a week or so to adjust to the change but it worked out okay. The only thing I can say is to take advantage of the chance to pump at work and if it's not possible every night then just do it when it's possible. I know warm conprasses can increase the milk supply so try get one a tucking it in your shirt at work. I know it's awkward but it's a try. I know that people have tried some type of herbal treatment with sucess but I was very picky about taking meds when I was breast feeding. Good luck and I hope all works out for you.

Yes, it's possible, though not easy. If you CAN pump, do. Don't worry about pumping for 20 to 30 minutes. Pump for 5 minutes if you've got 5 minutes. Anything to stimulate the breasts will help. And be sure to nurse nurse nurse when you are with the baby at home.
Chances are it isn't that she's not getting enough milk. she just isn't getting it soon enough. She's used to that bottle where there's no work at getting the milk to come. Your breasts require a little more work for her! Try to hand express or even pump for a minute or two to get a let-down, so that when she gets on the breast, she doesn't have to work so hard to get the milk, it's already there.
Eventually your body will learn when to make milk, and when not to. I've seen it done plenty! I'm a breastfeeding counselor, and I have moms who have to work hours at a time, then have two days in a row off, and their bodies have adjusted to making milk the two days they are home, and not making much on the days she works. It's amazing how your body works! We can easily make breastfeeding so much more complicated than it is. You will notice soon that you aren't making very much milk while you're working, but when you are home, you may notice an overabundance (though if you aren't noticeing more than you need, it doesn't mean you are making what you need!)
So many times moms actually make more than they need, instead of not enough like most believe. You're most likely fine. Keep at it, try not to give in and give the bottle. Just try dripping breastmilk into her mouth, then putting her on the breast when the milk is flowing.
Please feel free to contact me personally if you have any more questions
PS. Contrary to what some moms/doctors may tell you the amount of liquids you drink, does not affect how much milk you make! You can drink three gallons of water and it will just make you have to pee three gallons of water! The reason you need to keep hydrated isn't for your supply, it's for you! Drink to thirst, eat to hunger, but don't believe that you will not be able to make milk if you don't drink milk/water/juice! The cows milk you drink does not make human milk, so drinking milk will NOT help you make milk! Has nothing to do with it. It's for your benefit, keeps you healthy.

There are herbs that you can take to help increase your milk supply and I would definitely consult with a herbologist to make sure that you take the proper amount and the right combination. As to pumping at work, it can be difficult especially it sounds like in your situation, I don't think you can just choose to go 8-9 hours without pumping and then have your milk ready when you are home, you will either leak terribly at work, or your supply will dwindle down a bit. Even if you could take just 10 minutes at work at pump each side for 5 minutes, every couple hours that will help keep your supply more available. You daughter may also prefer the formula to breast milk and if that is that case she is going to stop taking breast milk all together. Keep trying for may a week or two more, and if she is unresponsive don't waste your time, not all children will breastfeed like we want them to , and most important is just that she is happy and healthy and you are not stressed trying to keep her that way. Good luck.

Try switching the nipple of the bottle to a slow flow. Use one that's as close to the breast as possible (like Avent). The refusal of breast sounds more like a developing nipple preference than a lack of supply.

Try eating lots of oatmeal, taking fenugreek, Mother's Milk tea, and as a last resort Domperidone or Reglan. Pump from one side as you nurse from the other. On your days off, nurse as much as possible. If you can, take a nursing holiday where you spend all day in bed nursing baby with as much skin to skin contact.

The quickest way to lose your milk supply completely is to give a bottle when the breast is available. If the baby is fussing, it's more likely out of nipple preference than it is out of not having milk.

Contact the local chapter of La Leche League. They can be a wonderful source of support and information.

D.

I don't know what kind of field of work you're in BUT I know that by law you are or should be allowed to go and pump. I returned to work soon after giving birth and I would go pump ever 2 hrs.

In ref. to the baby not wanting the breast it could be that she's already getting use to the bottle. Not necessarilly that she doesn't want your breast milk but the bottle.

I did both for my little one until he was 8 months old. I would give hime my breast at night and in the morning. Then I'll alternate breast milk and formula the rest of the day. So when I was ready to stop giving him the breast milk it was very easy to wean him off.

In order to have sufficient milk you must drink lots of liquids( water, milk and natural juices)
Pump more frequently
Take hot showers and let the warm-hot water fall on your breasts.

All of this worked for me.
I hope I've been able to help.

Ok, I went through the same thing. I was assistant manager of a male based company and had to work like 60-70 hours a week. I let him have formula during the day and nurse all night and on days off. At first I thought I was going to lose my milk, but since I didn't have time to pump, I just excused myself to the bathroom every 2-3 hours and manually expressed for like 5 minutes everytime. Also if you eat Oatmeal for breakfast and as a snack maybe, it helps increase your milk. Also I bought these Gerber pads for my bra you can freeze or microwave them. During the day I would wear them cold, because that reduces swelling and suppresses milk flow, then as soon as I got home I would microwave them for 15 seconds and they allow the milk to flow more freely, but don't do it immediately before feeding as you can make the milk to hot for the baby. Also do not give formula when you are home if you can help it, I know its trying but most of the problem is that she is getting formula so easily out of the bottle that she doesn't want to try to get it out of the breast, she is being lazy, lol. Try starting to hand express to start with then allowing her to latch on then at least she won't have to get the flow started. I hope I was able to help you in anyway, just remember, it can be done!!

I had lots of problems in the beginning then about a month ago I bought the Medela pump in style advance its the best pump ever. I only pump for 10 to 15 minutes tops.My Lactaction consult told me you have to pump at least 6 times a day to keep up with your milk supply. She also recommended an herbal supplement called More Milk Plus which worked for me. Its better than fenugreek cause you only have to take MMP 4 times a day depending on body weight and fenugreek you have to take at least 16 capsules a day.

hope this helps

I would ask you a question...what kind of pump do you have? I also pump at work for my 9 week old little girl, and I do it on my breaks at 10, 12 and 3...I have been using a manual and it is all I can do to get 4 ounces at each sitting and most of the time I don't get that because of the time crunch! I was with my sister who also has a 9 week old yesterday and she just bought the Medela Pump in Style advanced...and after watching her pump for 5 minutes and she had 5 oz of milk I was really impressed. I am going to buy one of the pumps because while I know it is expensive I know it will help me breast feed her longer. It comes with a battery pack so if you don't have an outlet you can still use it. I would also try to pump after I fed her at home...that will help increase your supply because you are demanding it. It's all about supply and demand, if you demand more your body will supply! Also, how much water are you drinking? That is one big thing that helps your milk supply, and make sure you are getting enough calories. Early on I wasn't hungry and as a result it seemed like she was eating all the time because the milk wasn't of good quality and it wasn't filling her. I started eating more and we haven't had a problem since. I hope this helps!! And good luck with breast feeding I know it can be hard trying to keep up the supply.