Me and my pump. Frenemies for the next none months. I am adamant about Sullivan not going to back to any formula, (he had to have his breast milk fortified when we first got home and I was not happy about that.)
Sully has stopped latching and breast feeding at all so I am pumping 10 times a day, and still dealing with a low supply. There are some times were I pump a full bottle's worth, about 4oz, and other times, I only get a half ounce out of each breast. Now with Sully in daycare, I need to send 20 oz worth, and I am so worried that I am not going to have enough. I have blown through my freezer stockpile and I now only have what I am pumping every day. I really don't want him to drink formula and he doesn't care for it any way, so I have started looking at other ways to build up my supply. Pumping more than the ten times a day I am already doing is just not an option.
I called the lactation consultant at Children's yesterday, and she suggested I start taking a Fenugreek supplement. It is an herb that helps build up milk supply in lactating women. I have to take three of these giant horse pills three times a day. They make me super gassy. I know it is probably a TMI, but I have had to leave my office and retreat to the bathroom to, ahem, relieve myself. So far, I have pumped three times since coming to work and I have about 6 oz pumped. I was hoping I would see more, but I have only been taking the Fenugreek for 12 hours and they said it would take 24-72 to see results. Has anyone else tried this stuff? I may try an get a manual pump to try too because I heard they stimulate a little better than the electric ones.
Everyone keeps telling me and I am doing such a good job, and that keeping up a supply with just a pump is hard and doing it this long is awesome, but I am not willing to give it up yet. Breast milk is so much better for babies, especially Sully when he needs to heal from surgery. I am hoping this all works so I can up my supply! Keep your fingers crossed!
Courtney
I tried fenugreek and it didnt do much but i STUNK like maple syrup ughh. i have also tried blessed thistle and "lactation cookies". the manuel pump did a lot better than the electric but it took 2x as long.
ReplyDeletewhen u have to pump away from sully put a blanket over ur shoulder so u can smell him and keep a video of him making noises on ur phone so that u can see and hear him. it helps.
good luck!