the Peanutter express

Hello ladies and internet ether

Ok, so I work full time, and exclusively breastfeed.

There have been a few hurdles with my milk supply (bad cold/infection/virus-y thing, and later surgery, both of which have nuked my milk supply somewhat) and have gone from being a jersey cow who could express almost 400ml without breaking a sweat, to pumping around 140-180 in a sitting.

As my little man averages 200-250ml a feed, this is a bit of a problem!

When I was in cow-mode, I froze up a fair bit of breastmilk, and I still pump after my first morning and last evening feed, to try to make up the difference - and I've been able to keep my little man on breastmilk exclusively.

I'm guessing however that the next time my little man has a growth spurt (which we're expecting any day now) the last of my frozen stocks will be guzzled, and because I express during the day (and I'm positive that I pump a lot less than he drinks straight from the breast) I might not be able to keep up with him.

I know that formula or a bit of solids to make up the difference won't kill him, and I am fortunate to have been able to keep him exclusively breast fed for so long...

But are there other options?

I breastfeed at home as much as possible, weekends, etc, I drink plenty of water, etc.

I would prefer not to go onto motilium or fenugreek because I've heard some pretty bad stories about them ...

How do you other working girls (or others with expressing experience and/or stories) get your supply up?

Would love to be able to stay the distance to at least 6 months

:leap:

Could you try accupuncture? It worked wonders boosting my supply, far moreso than fenugreek or motilium did.

really? how long did you need to keep the acupuncture up for (ie: was it once or twice and that's it, or did you keep on needing regular appointments?)

do you remember how much it costs?

It had an immediate effect on me but after about 3 sessions it was consistantly good. I think it depends on the individual and circumstance how quickly it works.

I think I paid $85 but got all but $15 back through my health insurance.

I'm on my phone so can't see where you are, but if you're in Sydney I can give you details of my accupuncturist; she is excellent, very knowledgable in Eastern medicine in general.

thanks!

I'm in melbourne. might have to look into it ... there's a few around!

:)

I took blessed thistle and Alfalfa tablets, this helped with my supply.

Do you look at a pic of her while expressing?? Have you tryed warm compress on breast just before expressing?

Good luck

It's very boring, but if you can squeeze in another express, even a partial one then you will make up that supply gap.
Also - check the seals on the pump too!
good luck.

Hey Peanutter - I can totally empathise with you, I was freaking out about supply just yesterday! When mine drops, I find that a heatpack on my boob before expressing works a treat. It stimulates immediate letdown and when I feel like I have expressed everything I have, I do a bit of a massage and then put the heat back on. Sometimes I will get a full second let down and sometimes I won't but either way, I get more milk. Also, more regular small expressing sessions tend to mean more milk for me. I am still steralising though so DH and I get sick of washing the pump and putting it in the steraliser - LOL.

Good luck, let us know how you go.

Hey Peanutter - I can totally empathise with you, I was freaking out about supply just yesterday! When mine drops, I find that a heatpack on my boob before expressing works a treat. It stimulates immediate letdown and when I feel like I have expressed everything I have, I do a bit of a massage and then put the heat back on. Sometimes I will get a full second let down and sometimes I won't but either way, I get more milk. Also, more regular small expressing sessions tend to mean more milk for me. I am still steralising though so DH and I get sick of washing the pump and putting it in the steraliser - LOL.

Good luck, let us know how you go.

I've tried visualisation, and imagining his voice/cry and looking at pictures of him, but that doesn't seem to make much of a difference ...

I will have to try the heat pack - I'd only heard of using them for blocked ducts.

And I try to get in as many pumps as possible, but am already doing 1 after morning feed, 2 during work day, and one after his night feed (not after the 7pm feed, but closer to 10pm, to get as much milk as possible before I go to bed).

I don't think I could get another feed in! Unless I woke up overnight to do it...

Thanks ladies!! Will let you know if I get some success :)

And I try to get in as many pumps as possible, but am already doing 1 after morning feed, 2 during work day, and one after his night feed (not after the 7pm feed, but closer to 10pm, to get as much milk as possible before I go to bed).

I think there may be a solution here - pump after the 7 pm feed (say half an hour after) and around 10 if you can.