Pumping output and stress

[MsSassyBaskets]

I need a little handholding. I think I pretty much already know the answers to this, I'm just stressing. My pumping output every day is BARELY what DD eats the next day at daycare. I'm sending her with 3 4-oz bottles. I was sending 4 3-oz bottles but they never seemed to get to the fourth bottle, and she's finishing the 4-oz ones pretty easily so it seems to be working fine. And I'll say up front, I'm not concerned about her weight gain or the amount she's eating. She's right around 50th percentile and is happy and healthy. But she seems to consume more at daycare than she typically would when nursing, OR I'm not able to pump the amount that she would typically consume when nursing. Maybe a combo but definitely the first one. On Mondays after a weekend of exclusively breastfeeding, my supply is completely shot. I can already tell I'm going to have trouble making enough today, and I'll spend the whole week building my supply back up and then if I don't pump on the weekends in addition to nursing, my pumping output will drop again on Monday.

I'm eating oats for the first time in 6 years (I had a bad reaction to even gluten free oats after being diagnosed with celiac, so I stopped eating them. I've cautiously tried them again and all seems well). I was drinking Mothers Milk tea, like 4+ cups a day, but am taking a break because I think it can lose its effect if you get too used to it? I'm going to add in pumping sessions after A goes to bed, and also on weekend mornings after breastfeeding. I made some super yummy "lactation cookies". I replaced my pump membranes and got the right size flanges.

Is there anything else I can do? I know I need to relax and stop stressing about it, because that's only making it worse, but I'm feeling awful. I have to travel away from DD for 1-2 days in May and 3-4 days in August, and I need to build more of a freezer stash. I'm terrified that the August trip is going to end breastfeeding if I don't find ways to pump multiple times per day even while attending elaborate wedding weekend festivities.

I would never judge another woman in my situation for using formula, but I'm going to feel like a complete failure if I have to do it. Gotta love a double standard, huh.

[scrub-jay]

((Hugs)) It sounds like you are doing all the right things. I had good luck increasing my liquid intake and consuming fattening cookies (didn't have to be oatmeal, could be chocolate chip even). Maybe yummy cookies decreased my stress... Who knows? Huge hugs though, supply worries are stressful.

[alotofyarn]

Increased water and calorie intake helped me, or just gatorade. But I was kind of a crazy person and pumped several times at work, plus before work and after E went to bed, and on the weekends. In retrospect, I should have chilled out and let the child have some formula, but we survived it. I didn't want to "fail" either, I think because for once I wanted my body just to do what it was supposed to do after struggling to get and stay pregnant. If you haven't tried power pumping, that helped increase my supply - pump for 20 minutes, stop for 10, pump for 10 minutes, stop for 10, pump for 10 more. I simulates cluster feeding and can boost your supply over time.

[OrionGrad]

Hugs! My only thought is that maybe you can pump before DD wakes on the weekend, rather than after. I'm neurotic about my freezer stash, so I usually wake up at 6 on weekends and pump before DS wakes at 7. I don't worry about him getting enough when he's nursing an hour later because I know he's so much more efficient/effective than a pump.
There was also a time with DS1 that I would wake in the middle of the night to pump, but I only did that for a few weeks while I got my supply back on track. I wouldn't recommend that unless you're really in dire straights.
No matter what, you're doing great!!

[MsSassyBaskets]

Hugs! My only thought is that maybe you can pump before DD wakes on the weekend, rather than after. I'm neurotic about my freezer stash, so I usually wake up at 6 on weekends and pump before DS wakes at 7. I don't worry about him getting enough when he's nursing an hour later because I know he's so much more efficient/effective than a pump.
There was also a time with DS1 that I would wake in the middle of the night to pump, but I only did that for a few weeks while I got my supply back on track. I wouldn't recommend that unless you're really in dire straights.
No matter what, you're doing great!!

DD is still waking at night, around 2 and 4:30, and then wakes up around 6:45 or 7, so I don't have much of a chance to pump until she's at daycare. Her only long sleep stretch is before 2 am. When I try to just soothe her back down instead of feeding she just wakes again 30-60 minutes later, so it's definitely a hunger thing and not just a habit. Side note, I'm completely fucking exhausted and that is not helping matters.

I drink about a gallon of water a day, probably more when you count tea (non-caff) too. I have not tried power pumping yet, but I could probably manage that at my lunch time pumping sessions this week.

[OrionGrad]

Do you notice any difference in output when you look at photos of your DD while you pump? I notice a small difference, but every extra bit counts.

[SoonerTexan]

Is she making up for what she isn't getting during the day at night. If she is gaining fine, she might be okay, though it's more stress on you.
Sadly caloric intake was a big one for me in the first few months. Dieting wasn't really an option. Also your supply is kind of evening out at this point, so you really might not have as much as before and it might be okay.

I did have some success with Fenugreek. You could try that. In general I was never one that could build a stash, I always had just enough.

Hugs. It's hard


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[scarlett09]

Do you notice any difference in output when you look at photos of your DD while you pump? I notice a small difference, but every extra bit counts.

Yes this. Plus videos. Even videos of her crying. I think they help me, but it could be the cookies too, who knows? 🍪

Oh and I stop doing all the work things while pumping. I look at pics/videos, surf the internets, have a snack, etc. Is that a possibility for you?

I pumped in my car this weekend during a work event, and I will have to do the same thing for two more work events over the next week. It's not ideal but better for me to complete remove myself from work crazies and relax while I pump.

I'm right there with you. Hugs. 😔




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[MsSassyBaskets]

I don't think pictures/videos really help me, I dunno. DD can get one letdown after another when she's nursing, but I really struggle to get even a second one when pumping. I guess it's hard to fool myself. I try to stop working when I pump, but it feels like I'm pumping for hours a day so I still answer emails and look at my work computer. Right now DD is getting enough during the day but it takes me like 5 pumping sessions to get it. If I come up short I send her with 3.5 oz bottles instead of 4 and she's totally fine.

On top of everything, my pump started making a knocking noise. The universe is conspiring against me. I'm going to have another cookie...

[MrsC]

No advice, just hugs. Don't beat yourself up, you're doing your best!

[MsSassyBaskets]

Between 3 regular daytime sessions, one power pump, and one late night session, I managed to make enough to send to daycare today. Only to have DD refuse to eat this morning (she has a cold and is congested) so I had to take her to daycare hungry and without an extra bottle to give her. I told them to just thaw from the freezer stash if they needed it, since I had not had time to prep another bottle. Pumping today is a little better but it's like 2 steps forward, one step back. Hoping that the increased pumping will show in increased supply in a couple days...

I'm starting to resign myself to using formula when I have to travel because I'm not sure how to best pump and travel and bring back what I pump, and if I don't bring it back I would completely use up my freezer stash. [MENTION=1315]TulipsAndSunscreen[/MENTION] can you advise on that? How do you pump on the go and fly with it? For next month if I was actually getting the house at closing I would just toss it in the freezer there for later, but the sellers are occupying for an additional 4 days after closing so I can't do that... And how do you introduce formula for a limited time like that? Argh, this is so freaking stressful.

[MsSassyBaskets]

It's going a little better now. By adding in a daytime power pump and one bedtime pumping session I've increased my output enough to add to the stash this week, and DD doesn't seem to fight with my boobs as much to get a letdown in the evenings. I just need to keep it up on the weekends instead of getting lazy.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I'm starting to resign myself to using formula when I have to travel because I'm not sure how to best pump and travel and bring back what I pump, and if I don't bring it back I would completely use up my freezer stash. @TulipsAndSunscreen can you advise on that? How do you pump on the go and fly with it? For next month if I was actually getting the house at closing I would just toss it in the freezer there for later, but the sellers are occupying for an additional 4 days after closing so I can't do that... And how do you introduce formula for a limited time like that? Argh, this is so freaking stressful.

I pump on the go and bring it back. I travel with a soft sided cooler and request refrigerators be placed in every hotel room. I've pumped on planes, in airports, and in towncars. I just bring it and go. For me, it was my way of controlling the situation I hated - I do NOT like traveling so I was going to pump when I wanted to do it DAMNIT!

Let me know on specific questions.