Month 6 – low supply and supplementing
Wow, 6 months have flown by. Breastfeeding for 6 months was my initial goal with both babies (I made it 12 months with my first).
As my baby started eating solids it also took some pressure off knowing he was getting sustenance from other sources. But breastmilk would still be his main source of nourishment.
We struggle with him being distracted, which is made worse due to my slow flow/let down and having a toddler running around when we’re at home.
I try to tell myself that my supply is keeping up and will be enough, but it is so hard not to let self doubt creep in. The last thing I want is for my baby to be hungry!
Also this month my supply took a nose dive. I started pumping about 1/4 less than (sometimes 1/2!) what I was before. I tried not to let is stress me out, because I knew stress on top of that would only make it worse. I am pumping every night before bed to get enough and/or using milk from the freezer or formula.
We started using some formula for supplementing, which I definitely feel better about now that he’s 6 months, and was much easier on myself than I was with my first baby. However, formula is a slippery slope, and I am trying to pump 3 times at work and once at night before bed to help keep my supply up. (at 20 minutes each that’s an hour and 20 minutes of my day pumping – plus clean up time).
I try to remind myself not to give up on the worst day – like when I only pump 2 ounces in 20 minutes.
I finally feel comfortable nursing in public in most situations. Especially if I have my 2 shirt method (wear nursing tank to pull down and a shirt on top to pull up). The top shirt covers most of my boob.
My baby takes 3 bottles at daycare – still 4.5 ounces each. I never pump that much except on a rare occasion in the morning. He nurses in the morning, at night, and on weekends. We’re pretty much on the same schedule.
I still freeze my milk from Friday to add to the freezer stash, and then thaw the oldest milk for Monday’s bottles. This still seems to be working pretty well, although I am taking more out than I am putting in.
Because he gets distracted so easily, it’s easier to nurse when he’s tired or we’re in a dark quiet room.
This month my baby started moving his hands around a lot while he’s nursing. He grabs my face or shirt, but sometimes pinches my skin on my chest – and that hurts! I’ve startled him a few times when I say “ouch!” It might be time to get one of my nursing necklaces out – they are made of fabric covered wooden beads.
Pumping at my offsite meeting went well. I was able to use their conference room. Since I had my Spectra there was no stress about needing to find somewhere with outlets. I pumped on the way there since it was over an hour away. However I forgot to get myself all set up before I left and was kind of adjusting as was driving down the interstate in traffic. Then when I got there I poured the milk into a single bottle and put it in my cooler bag.
I kept everything (pump, attachments, cooler bag) in my book bag – I’m sure the other people there were wondering what I was carrying around in a full backpack. The spectra is more bulky than the Medela Pump in Style, but oh well. I just relied on my ice pack to keep everything cold. It probably didn’t get that cold, but I was comfortable that it at least didn’t get hot. I did have a hard time finding a good time to slip out of the meeting and ended up pumping at lunch and then during an afternoon break. Luckily since I have a low supply I was in no fear of leaking or getting full.
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