Need Some Advice - Fontana, CA

I worked from month 3-8 with my daughter. I found that working full time made it hard to keep up my supply. Having the child nurse more often throughout the day is really the key to keeping up the supply. I have a son also and I only worked part time when he was breast feeding and everything was fine. More than likely your daughter will probably naturally ween herself due to the decrease in milk. She will become less and less interested. However, I am a breast feeding nut and I was able to hang in there with my daughter for about 11 months with formula as a supplement. It is truly up to you. If you are very frustrated it might be best to stop. However, if you like it for the nurture and connection that it provides and the small amount of milk she is able to get, then I say keep going! Breast feeding is the ultimate connection that no one else can have-- ever!!!
M.

Breast is always best. I went to work after 2 months so I got a really great bottle called Second Nature. I was concerned about other nipples that make babies "lazy." The nipple is the closest thing the breast I have seen and my son really had to work to get the milk out. His jaw movements mimiced the latch on when nursing. He would practically beg for the breast. As for your milk supply, I also experienced a similar problem. I increased my water supply, continued my prenatals, drank mother's milk tea, and I pumped for a shorter time but more often. Having a few pictures of my little snickerdoodle helped too.

Hi S.;

I will continue giving her your breast milk because it is healthy and important for her to consume those milk of yours. Keep giving to her until it is gone. I breasfeed my four children until 1 1/2 yrs old. I have two adults boy and girl,16 yrs old in Junior College and 14 yrs old in Freshman.
Keep pumping up and preserve your milk. Mostly of children that was breastfee, they're a good children but not perfect because there's no such thing as perfect. Good luck

A.

I'm not sure if it's too late, but I siwtched bottles when I was having some trouble. If you still want to give it a shot and keep breastfeeding try a new bottle called Breast Flow, it's the only bottle that has two nipples and works like the breast basically "they have to work for it" like they do when there breastfeeding, which leads to less nipple confusion.
It was recommended by the nurses. I myself have to supplement and now it's going just fine breastfeeding and bottle. I've also been told to use a level 1 bottle when your doing the bottle and breastfeeding since it's a slower flow. When the flow is fast they don't have to work for the milk and end up liking that better because it's easy. Good Luck!

The more you supplement the less milk you will produce because it is a supply demand system. I recommend a lactation consultant come to your home and watch your baby try to nurse. Dont give up!

Congratulations on your treasures!

Bottles are easier for baby to suck on than the breast, so she's most likely just protesting having to "work" harder. Keep trying! If she just doesn't want to nurse, keep pumping as long as you can (I know how hard that is!). It's the best thing for her.

Also, as I advised someone else here yesterday, I highly recommend calling one of the volunteer La Leche League leaders. You can call them with any breastfeeding question. They are moms who are trained and in my experience they are absolutely WONDERFUL! You can call them 24/7 with nursing issues. Look them up on the internet & find a leader in your area, then just call her and ask for advice. They might have some tips for you.

Good luck and hang in there!

My son stopped breast feeding at 6 months and I was a stay at home mom. He just preferred the bottle. He is a healthy 5 year old now. I made sure that either me or dad snuggled with him while we gave him the bottle (and held it for him) so we continued with the close bonding.

keep trying. Mothers milk is best for the baby - even if from a bottle.
To keep milk supply up
1. drink lots of water (half your weight in ounces. ie: you weigh 150-drink 75 ounces of water or equivelent juice/tea)
2. drink Mothers milk tea and/or the rest of these teas:
3. drink rasberry leaf tea
4. drink fenugreek tea
5. blessed thistle
6. fennel
7. shatavari root

S.,

As soon as I went back to work, my daughter would only take my breast at night. That was something that I was just going to have to deal with on my own. I would pump during the day and my milk supply finally ran out around month 8. I finally we could turkey with her and we formula. She made the adjustment fine. Just remember, when she turns one, you will switch to whole milk. I think that kids are stronger with change than we give them credit for. Your daughter has gotten most of the benefits from the breast milk and you should be proud of yourself for breastfeeding for 5 months. Hang in there, you are doing the right thing.

I had the exact same "problem" and it was devastating to me. It actually happened w/ both my kids...as soon as I returned to work my milk supply dropped off. I was pumping every two hours and using the hospital-grade pump but it just didn't work. Eventually I just stopped because I wasn't producing any milk at all. 5 months is good though. She's probably just fine. It's hard to be a working mom!

Since your milk is already starting to dry and your daughter wants the bottle, this sounds like a good opportunity to ween your daughter.

I'm in a similar boat, but now at 7 months, still nursing in the early morning and late evening, pumping 3/day, but weened off the afternoons and supplementing with formula. All that background was to tell you that you don't need to full out ween OR get stressed over your supply. You might consider a hybrid solution to keep yourself sane but still enjoy the benefits of nursing. When you do eventually introduce solids you may find that your supply is sufficient in combination with the solids.

As a note, I remember at 5 months my son went on a boob strike (which we got over after a week). But I think he was too easily distracted and had just discovered he could move around and wanted to be more independent and play more rather than cuddle with mom during the daytime. So you might be going through something similar that just had coincident timing with you going back to work. Recommendation is lots of skin to skin time with easy breast accessability on the off chance she gets in the mood (when you can).

Dear S.,
Even having just a little from you each day will help, I was told. I was a working/nursing mom as well and held on through 9 months. Either way, your baby will be healthy and happy, but if you can also offer just a little (even if it is just in the evenings and at night) go for it!

Good luck and enjoy. When I think back, I wish I hadn't worried as much.

-K.

i had trouble with my milk at the begininig and a nurse recomended mother's milk or something like that from Henrys. its a herbal supplement you can take to get more milk. It worked for me. also, if you have kaiser, they have a lactation place where they can help you with breastfeeding and have good advice.
good luck.

Think of yourself as a dairy cow with a regimine.I learned this many years a go. My last child I nursed and worked after he was 6 weeks old. I nursed him until he was 1 1/2 years old. What I found was that I could train my body to bring the milk in when I wanted to use it. It takes some pain and a lot of thought. I moved the milk letting around so that it came in in the morning and at night. Then in the middle of the day he was given juice and water and cereal and as I was pumping less in the day some breast milk and some formula. As you pump less, less milk will come in. When you feed the baby with breast milk, sit down, relax and put your attention on her. Talk to her, coo with her and give her that all important comfort she is looking for. I hope this helps. Breast feeding is very good for your child as long as you feed yourself very well and give yourself relaxation and love. It helps you love all those around you.

If she will only take a bottle then I would wean her. What a pain to have to take the time to pump, then put it in a bottle, and then feed your baby. An activity that should take 10-20 minutes takes at least 1/2 hour if your lucky.

I think breast milk is better, but I gave my oldest formula exclusively and she has always been fine. In fact my youngest one that I nursed for 13 months gets sick a lot easier than my oldest ever did.

A happy rested and relaxed mom is better than breastmilk in my opinion.

You could start weaning or you could pump your milk & freeze it for the sitter. Breast milk is best for babies so if you could give her that for a few more months it would be great. I pumped & froze a lot of milk & it works really well. I think I used the playtex baby nurser & they had these little bags that I would just pop in the freezer & then warm up again in some hot water. But don't beat yourself up. If your milk supply is diminishing & this becomes stressful just go with the flow (sorry!) & supplement with formula.

You can "woo" her back to the breast. Spending skin to skin time together, with your shirt off and her just in a diaper, either in bed or in a baby sling; bathing together; sleeping together and making the most of that time by having the breast available can all help. You can give her milk in a cup rather than a bottle. Also look at how much is she given at the babysitter's and does she need this much, or do they just not understand that a breastfed baby needs lots of holding and comfort (as do all babies, but breastfed ones have come to know that their needs will be met). If babysitter's not familiar with breastfed babies, she may be feeding too much. Aslo, look at how the bottle is held--horizontal is best, rather than upright, because a baby has sucking needs that won't be met if the bottle empties too fast.

I would definitely keep pumping. The milk you pump has proven to have added benefits for infants. The more you pump the more your supply will be. This may be an old wives tale but try to avoid cold drinks as this stops the supply. No wonder the doctors tell you to place cold compresses on your breasts when you want to stop the production of milk! I never had cold drinks and my supply continued far beyond. There are also teas called "Mother Milk Tea" that can help in the production. You can find these at any Whole Foods or homeopathic stores. Good luck!

You know, of course, that the breast milk is better nutritionally, but there are many good products at the market too. I think baby probably would rather get milk the same way all the time, less confusing. There is nothing wrong with bottle feeding. As long as she's not getting a lot of colds. Breast milk keeps them from getting sick.

Hey S.,
I say start supplementing with the formula and ween her slowly. It's best that she is eating than not eating at all. I know it is hard because you have built that bond with your baby. Try not to get frustrated with the situation and just let it take its course. I think weening her may be best seemingly that is what she is doing herself anyway. What does your husband think?

Hi S.,

I am a 28 year old mum of a gorgeous 2 month old boy. He was premmie so initially he didn't have his sucking reflex. I had to express whilst he was tube feeding in the special care nursery. When he did develop his sucking ability he was bottle fed during the night when I wasn't there. During the day when I was there to breast feed he seemed 'lazy' and preferred the bottle. This started to take its toll on me as I felt it was me he didn't want. My breast milk levels started to deteriorate and we had to go to formula (another mother with her child in special care also lost her milk supply so you are not alone in this matter). I feel this was partially due to stress and the concern of him not wanting to breast feed and me taking it personally. They do suggest breast feeding for many reasons however, if you are comfortable with bottle feeding your EBM...I say do it. Too many times we listen to what everyone else has to say about our children. You know your daughter so whatever works best for the two of you is what you should be doing. Coming up to 6 months, you'll be introducing more solid foods anyway and would be looking at various other methods of feeding so go with what works best for you and your family. Best of luck, ENJOY :)