Group Discussions

Breast Feeding Mama Needs Encouragement

• 
  Help! I've been breastfeeding and pumping for 6 months and my motivation is waning. My BF/pumping schedule is as follows: 5:30 - 6:00 am: BF, change Baby 6:-6:20 am: Pump. 7:30 am: Arrive at work. 8:30: leave meeting early to pump, then pump every 2-3 hours throughout the day. 4:30-5:00 pm: BF Baby at home. 7 or 8 or 9 pm: Pump again before I go to bed. So, I've BF or pumped up to 7x a day. We're going on vacation soon and it's always a space challenge to bring the pump. Any suggestions? Any words of encouragement? My sis tells me to hang in there for another 2-3 months ...

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by KC on 24th February 2008
• 
  Girl, your devotion is inspiring! Neither of my babies nursed 7x a day by that age (unless it was a growth spurt).
  
  What is your goal? Do you want Baby to continue having your milk until a certain age?
  
  Is it really hard to fit all of the pumping into your schedule?
  
  
  
  If BFing is something you want to continue then know that you're doing a great job and you CAN do it. It takes such a strength and commitment and you've already shown you have that in you. It really is just a few more months and then these little quiet moments are over. Bitter sweet but also nice to move on.
  
  
  
  I was a little sad when it ended with number 1. With number 2, I was so ready for it to be done b/c it just wasn't working for us anymore. I was happy for us both, though, that we went as long as that. So hang in there!!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mandy Nelson - Dandysound on 24th February 2008
• 
  Breastfeeding is something I feel very strongly about. I am a medical editor and in the ten years I have been doing this, I can honestly say that about 99% of the sick babies who come to the ER for whatever reason, be it for RSV, bowel problems, fevers, etc., are formula fed. It is very, very rare that I ever see a sick baby come in who is breastfed. Now please, moms who have fed, or are feeding formula, don't come after me. I am just telling what I have seen in my experience. Our milk produces antibodies for babies to help them stay healthier. It has properties in it that just can't be duplicated by any formula. When I had my daughter 10 years ago I nursed her for only three months because it was just too much of a hassle to take pump breaks, and at the time I had one big creep of a boss who very much discouraged me going to the back room to pump. As soon as I introduced formula she was constantly sick, and had never been sick prior to this. When I had my sons I nursed them for a year and when it came time to introduce milk they didn't have the health problems my daughter did, and their doctor told me its' because of the amount of time I nursed them.
  
  
  
  I can very much relate to you with your story, and I know how time consuming this whole thing is. When I would get discouraged with the whole thing with my sons (a year is a long time!) I would just remember that I was making the healthiest choice for them and that got me through it. And honestly, knock on wood - my sons have NEVER been to a doctor, with the exception of regular check-ups. Try to hang in there, if you are able. I know you feel tethered to that darn pump, but if you can get through this, I think you'll be happy you did.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Sparkz on 24th February 2008
• 
  I agree with your sister. Another 2-3 more months and your baby will be eating much more solids and requiring less breast milk which means less pumping for you. You're almost over that big hump of exclusive breastfeeding. You're probably also feeding a growth spurt about now which makes it even harder. I'd also recommend waiting until the absolute end to drop the pre-bedtime pumping session and the early morning pumping session. Those are the ones that will help keep your milk levels up. Nothing like reduced output to put a damper on all that hard work.
  
  
  
  My daughter had latching problems so for 2 months I had a routine of trying to feed her from the breast, pumping, and then finger-feeding her what I had pumped. Every feeding. So I am familiar with your routine. It's rough. The way I got through was one day at a time. I told myself I only needed to breastfeed today and could start weaning tomorrow if I really wanted to. I can do anything for a day. Day by day we got her fed and then she started actually breastfeeding and then she passed her year mark and we were still doing it.
  
  
  
  It might help if you do what you can to make your at home pumping time your own and push the actual pumping into the background. I'm sure after 6 months you've got the hands-free pumping technique down. But just in case, be sure to look into it. There are special bras and attachments you can buy or hack to at least free up your hands to use the computer or read a magazine or something while you're sitting there. Or use your computer to grab podcasts of something you find interesting and use your pumping time to listen to them. No mp3 player required, but headphones would be good so you're not interrupted.
  
  
  
  Hang in there! You're doing great work!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jenns on 25th February 2008
• 
  You are doing a great job! I know it's really really tough to keep up with it all, but know that you are doing a real service to your little guy. It really is true that he'll be eating more soon, and nursing less. My experience has been that babyjama nurses less now (not because I'm feeding her all that much solid food, but because she wants to get down and crawl). She is almost 9 months old, and we only nurse 4-5 times during the day (but she's a night snacker, and I let her sleep in bed with us so that she can get extra calories in at night. If you are comfortable with it, you might consider letting him come in bed with you for part of the night so that he can get an extra feeding in, and then maybe you could cut out a feeding during the day....I know this doesn't work for everyone though.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by mamajama on 25th February 2008
• 
  Hey All: Thanks so much for your supportive words: I definitely felt overwhelmed earlier, and so it's nice to learn that things get easier. (This is what is ssooo nice about the website ... I can learn from other moms' experiences and perspectives!) My new mantra will be one day at a time. And, I'll refocus on the fact that this is larger than convenience to me: I'm providing nutrition to my little guy which will keep him healthy.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by KC on 25th February 2008
• 
  Hey there. Wanted to suggest you hook up with a neat lady in our network who is a lactation expert: relaxnsmile.
  
  There is no wrong way to do this. If you need to stop, you can. If you want to keep trying, great, but please don't make yourself crazy! There are lots of other things you can do to make yourself crazy, but not this. Let me know if you need ideas for the other things though. I am experienced

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by on 27th February 2008
• 
  KC, you may already have this set-up, but the hands-free pumping kit changed my life! When I was breastfeeding I was very fortunate to have an office, and when I needed to pump, I hooked myself up and used that time to check emails, make phone calls, etc. With both of my kids I had a much harder time pumping at home than I did at work, and a few weeks after starting solids, with my second child, my milk supply really started to reduce (but not his appetite, yikes!)- so I supplemented with formula. A few days of self-torture about this, admittedly, then I felt better when I wasn't as stressed and my son was just as happy and healthy as ever with breastmilk and formula mixed together. We kept that up until he was 13 months, because it was sustainable for me. I totally agree with Molly's sentiment- there are going to be endless things to make yourself crazy about as a parent, and you've already done a great job with breastfeeding!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Traci on 27th February 2008
• 
  Hi Moms
  
  
  
  I'm doing a piece on what Moms hate most about jarred baby food.
  
  
  
  Tell us what you hate most. Follow this link to post your comment:
  
  http://www.cafemom.com/group/hatejarredbabyfood
  
  
  
  Or show us what you hate most. Follow this link to upload your video of what you hate about jarred baby food to our You Tube site:
  
  
  
  http://youtube.com/group/hatejarredbabyfood

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Matilda on 21st April 2008