Working Mom and Pumping Only 3 Oz/session for Breastfed 8 Mo Baby...

Hi M....you can make it! :-) if you can,I would suggest taking 1/2 a day or a day to nurse her to increase your supply...keep nursing baby Rina and she'll keep getting milk, it's really the best way to increase supply. I also tried the fenugreek capsules, hard to tell if that increases it or it's just psychosomatic,haha. When i first brought home my babies there was a period of a few days when i knew they weren't getting enough but i just kept nursing like crazy to get on their rhythmn, after so much pumping,especially with Analiah. You've made it farther than most already..you'll make it!
C.

Our situations are very similar. I have a 7 1/2 month old and also pump out about 4-5 oz while at work, though she eats about 6 oz. and takes solids 2-3x a day. I have tried more milk plus, but it caused my baby to be very gassy and fussy. Now I'm using Lactate support from my accupuncturist. I'm not really making more milk, but at least maintaining my supply. I too am trying to make it to the one year mark! Sounds like you're doing everything right. You may just need to put her to breast more often, or pump after a feed to try to increase your supply. good luck!

K.

Try fenugreek capsules from henry's, or any health food store - 2 lactation consultants told me that. also when my milk supply dwindled the lactation consultant told me to pump 10 minutes past when no more milk came so my body would think we needed more, it took about 2 days for it to work. also, they say a baby gets about an ounce more per breast than what we can get using a pump.

also, hate to say this..but you may want to add another pumping session at work to try and stimulate the supply. good luck!

Its very normal to pump less than a baby actually takes from the breast and so its very normal to see less from pumping (and to worry about supply). Its also very normal for the levels pumped to dwindle over time. However, a few bits of advice, since breastfeeding is supply and demand based, try doing 3 pumping sessions in your workday instead of 2. (I was advised to pump 3 times a day, if working an 8 hour day, even at the point where I was pumping enough for my daughter in 2 sessions.) Also, even with the pumping session before you go to bed, do be aware that the lack of night nursing will also diminish your supply (less overall nursing time).

Also, stress can lessen supply. And watching while your pumping can do that too (as you panic about it not being what you think it should, it slows down more...) All this said, o know that even if you are making less, and your baby is nursing less, as long as you continue to nurse, even if its only 1 or 2 times a day, you'll still make her milk. The good stuff in mothers milk just becomes more concentrated as they take less.

Make sure you are also getting enough protein in your diet. Nursing moms are supposed to get 65 grams of protein a day to make good milk.

Fenugreek (which is in mothers milk tea) can help your supply, but doesn't work for everyone. You can get it in tablet form at health food stores (henry's etc). It'll make your sweat smell like maple syrup. But at least you won't have to drink tons of the tea.

FYI - my daughter is now 2.5 and still nursing. I'm allowing her to self wean. As my own pumped supply diminished, I eventually stopped pumping and supplemented her "away from me" milk with soy (my choice instead of cow milk), but she continued nursing strong. She's gradually dropped to only nursing at bed time and 1st thing in the morning (bonding with mommy time) or if she feels lousy. All of this to say try not to stress about it too much and know that even if you're pumping less, she's still getting milk from you and still getting all of the wonderful nutrients and immunities from you. You can make the year!

I know for many women, they produce lower amounts of breastmilk when pumping. That was true for me. I could only pump out about 3/4 of each breast at a time. But if I put my DD to breast she would empty each side in about 10 minutes (for each side).

The More Milk Plus helped me in the beginning to get my milk flowing. Then at around 3 months I used it to keep my milk coming. Let me tell you, it worked...and fast! I could see noticeable results within a day or two.

Unfortunately my milk completely dried up by 6 months. So it could be that your milk is starting to dry up. I know several Moms whose milk dried up between 6 and 8 months.

But try the More Milk Plus. It is a tincture set in a small amount of alcohol so be sure to put it in juice like apple or grape. I was told not to put tinctures into orange juice...I guess for some reason the acid in orange juice can change the make up of the tincture. You can get it at Henry's Market place for a decent price (I think it was like $13 for a large bottle). I would just get the smallest bottle first to see if it works for you. Plus if it is going to work for you, you will only need a little bit of it as you will only be taking 1-2 full dropper fulls a day. YOu can also get it at Whole Foods, Sprouts, or amazon.

Good Luck!