Expert: ruth kraft - 10/29/2009

Question
Hi, I am currently a working mother who is pumping and nursing almost exclusively. My son is 4 months old and is now starting some baby food, but aside from that I pump or nurse. Because I feel like I have problems keeping enough supply I have not stopped feeding him (or pumping) as much as I did prior to him starting solids (for instance if he would rather eat solids I pump for that feeding). My problem is I feel like I am not making enough and now my supply is decreasing. I have always been able to pump no more than 4-5 oz per pumping session, and I pump every 3-4 hours(and though people say the pump doesn't get as much as baby I feel this is not true in my case since I use a Medela Pump in Style). During work I used to be able to pump 12 oz in a 9 hour period; within the first few weeks of going back to work that dwindled down to 10 oz, and now I only make 8-9 oz. I have been using Fenugreek, but it doesn't seem to be helping. What am I doing wrong? What can I do to change this? Should I just be thankful I was able to go 4 months with this one (my milk supply was completely gone with my daughter by the time she was 2 months old) and start supplementing? I had to see a lactation consultant during the first few weeks of life due to feeding issues, but my son has had no feeding issues for quite some time now and latches on just fine.

Answer
Hello :) take deep breaths :) All I am about to say is good and you will find relief... I think :)

You sound like a very normal mother. It sounds as though you are actually right on. Most women have the abundance of milk at first as the breasts have to adjust over time. then after a couple months, it seems like the milk just dwindles. Breasts become more deflated like and women worry. However, its normal. breasts just do that. And although you have the pump in style, it still is a reality that the baby can easily get more milk from you than the pump can. The baby has many more moving mouth parts that can easily milk you better than the pump. So, You can try to also take mothers milk tea, and see if that helps increase it more. However, what I would suggest is, Pump whatever your going to pump out. feed that to the baby, suppliment only with the solids as you have been doing ( not because I think the baby needs it but  you already started, so you might as well continue as the baby will expect it ) but absolutly no formula. feed what you express, in a bottle ( or the caregiver can ) and then, whatever the baby doesnt get during the day, your son will get at night when you see him. Nurse when you get home, maybe add in a nursing, or nurse on demand. He will make up for it then. Your doing a fine job. If you want to feel a little better, pump once before you go to work in the am, this is when milk is most plentiful. you can pump and nurse. Just wait about 30 min inbetween if possible.  after a few days , youll get extra milk in that pumping session you didnt have before :)

I hope that helped. :)