Output tanking- advice!

[happyin14]

Hey all! I have been active on the bf board but think this might be better answered here.

LO is 3.5 months and things had been going great. But suddenly, my supply is tanking. I know it's because I haven't been as consistent as I should with pumping so I am working on that. Also, stress. And fenugreek and tea are being added. But a couple of questions:

-I have started power pumping at night. I had been pumping around 11 anyway and now do the power hour from 10-11. After two nights of that, my morning pump seems to have gone down. Is that related? Am I just moving my milk to the evening? Or more bad luck?

-How many days should I do the hour? Or do it until things improve?

- I am having trouble pumping 3 times during work. My goal had been 9:30/12:30/3:30. But with the weather, my commute has been crazy. And the back to work craziness is making it hard to not have meetings. If I pump at 10 and 2 and then feed LO at 6, is there a way to make that work and increase supply? Or is that just going to continue to hurt me?

Thanks in advance!!

[Widget123]

I assume you have another morning feed in between 10-11pm and 9:30am? Really if you want to increase your supply/stash you want to try to take more in the early AM when prolactin levels are at their highest. When I EP'd I did 4:00am (home), 7:00am (first at work, before anyone could bother me with anything), 10:00am (sometimes pushed to closer to 11 due to meetings), and 2:00pm (sometimes pushed closer to 3 due to meetings), then 8:00 or 9:00pm (home). 4am was always the most, 7am was second, and then 8/9pm was third (probably because it had been 6 hours since the prior pump at that point). With your schedule, you should try to fit another pump in the morning before you leave for work. If you feed your LO one side, you could still pump the other side.

Also don't forget to eat decent sized meals and drink water. Eating and drinking will significantly affect your supply. Other than that, it is just about being as consistent as you possibly can and letting your body adjust to your schedule.

[happyin14]

Thanks! And yes, I pump at 7 when LO wakes. Usually feed one side and pump the other. Used to get 4 oz and today I only got 1... (It had been steadily decreasing). So also pretty sure LO should be taking that other side in the morning too...

Maybe a 4 am wake and pump is needed...

[auburn]

I am a member of a local FB page and someone mentioned that she uses Freemies to pump in the car on the way to work. I don't have them but the women on that board seem to love them. If you are struggling to add in another session, that might be an option. I think Amazon sells them.

[birch113]

Feb 18, 2015 13:51:38 GMT -5 auburn said:

I am a member of a local FB page and someone mentioned that she uses Freemies to pump in the car on the way to work. I don't have them but the women on that board seem to love them. If you are struggling to add in another session, that might be an option. I think Amazon sells them.

Just be careful if you decide to try Freemies. I bought them and did not have nearly as good output as with normal flanges. I was so disappointed.

[auburn]

Feb 19, 2015 17:06:27 GMT -5 birch113 said:

Feb 18, 2015 13:51:38 GMT -5 auburn said:

I am a member of a local FB page and someone mentioned that she uses Freemies to pump in the car on the way to work. I don't have them but the women on that board seem to love them. If you are struggling to add in another session, that might be an option. I think Amazon sells them.

Just be careful if you decide to try Freemies. I bought them and did not have nearly as good output as with normal flanges. I was so disappointed.

They seem to bee too good to be true but they rave about them. I'd like to try them but the $70 price tag slows me down.

[mesmrewe]

Consider when's the last time you replaced your membranes on the pump if you're using a Medela - each pump brand has a part like this that needs to be replaced frequently. Sometimes it's not you and just a pump maintenance issue... Keep up the pumping and adjust as needed to get the maximum amount out.