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Post by clementine on Dec 3, 2018 20:14:34 GMT -6
L hasn’t been nursing as much as usual the past couple weeks and I feel like my supply is dropping. It’s making me really sad to think about not nursing him anymore. I was really hoping to make it a whole year. Here is what I know:
I pumped the least amount I ever have today at work.
At just over 9 months old, we are sort of in that window of decreasing milk in favor of solids.
He hasn’t nursed MOTN for about 3 weeks now. When we first started sleep training, he was definitely nursing longer and taking more by bottle to make up for MOTN nursing but that only lasted about a week. Now he’s nursing less than ever. Like 5 min max, when a couple weeks ago it was 8-12 min usually. Sometimes it feels like he’s emptied the boob and sometimes he definitely hasn’t.
He has been sick the past week and still has an ear infection. He’s on antibiotics and I think they are upsetting his stomach a bit.
I can’t figure out if it’s a normal decrease due to increase in solids intake, because of his recent illness/ear infections, teething, or any other number of reasons it could possibly be. I’m sure not nursing through the night anymore is definitely a factor. But is he not nursing as long because there’s less milk? Or is there less milk because he’s not nursing as long? I did try giving him a bottle after he nursed for only 3 min before bed. He took 1 oz then refused the rest. Should I always offer a bottle after he nursed to see if he’s still hungry?
I couldn’t decide if I should pump more to maintain my supply or not, because if it is just a natural weaning in favor of solids I didn’t want to create an oversupply. But I also don’t want to have to stop nursing if it’s just a temporary phase or something.
I don’t know why L can’t just clearly explain his thoughts so I know how to proceed?! If you have thoughts or suggestions, please halllppp.
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Post by nevertoomanyshoes on Dec 4, 2018 2:50:39 GMT -6
At around 8-9 months your boobs stop “pre-making” milk and they make it on demand so to speak so that might be a factor in why you’re not getting as much when you pump?
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Post by nevertoomanyshoes on Dec 4, 2018 4:23:52 GMT -6
With DS1 and pumping at about 10 months I think, I found that pumping multiple times at work like at the times I would have fed him wasn’t producing enough and I was hardly getting any in the afternoon (was pumping at 8, 11 and 2). Changed to 8 and 1 and found output was heaps better. Occasionally, I needed to pump a few times at home to get extra milk for daycare.
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Leaf 🌱
Sapphire
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Post by Leaf 🌱 on Dec 4, 2018 9:25:12 GMT -6
I would not make any decisions while he is sick. Sucking hurts if their ears are congested or infected so that may be part of it.
Have you gotten your period yet? My supply always dropped a bit right before my period with DD1.
+1 to pumping twice during the work day. You can also do a power pump in the late evenings, especially if he’s asleep for the night.
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cornpop
Amethyst
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Post by cornpop on Dec 4, 2018 9:53:30 GMT -6
I don't BF so I can't speak to that, but when N was sick her eating was cut WAY back. She's just now getting more back to normal a week and a half later. I would try not to rush to any decisions while he's sick.
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Post by clementine on Dec 4, 2018 10:57:32 GMT -6
Thanks for the suggestions! Leaf 🌱 I haven’t gotten my period yet. There were a couple times I was cramping and thought maybe it was coming, but nothing yet. cornpop You are probably right about him being sick. I just feel like he’s never been a big eater and then when he’s sick, which has been often lately, it seems like he’s hardly eating anything at all. It’s like we’ll have a good couple of days with eating, then there’s always something (sick, ear infection, teething, etc). nevertoomanyshoes I’ve been pumping 3 times at work, plus nursing him around lunch. I always get most in the morning and just a few oz in the afternoon. I probably just need to wait and see how this all plays out. Like basically everything so far since he’s been born, I’m sure it will all work out if I just give it some time. |
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Post by stardust84 on Dec 4, 2018 11:48:49 GMT -6
L only nurses for a few minutes each side right now and will refuse to latch back on because he is satisfied (I guess). He ways burses way longer at night so I think a lot of that is for comfort. He seems to have enough wet diapers. Especially if he is sick I wouldn't worry too much. L is sick right now and has significantkly decreased what he eats (including no solids).
I can't really give advice on pumping because I don't think I would ever be able to pump enough to make up a whole day. I plan on supplementing with formula until Feb and then start weaning o to milk at 11 months.
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Post by sweetc129 on Dec 4, 2018 19:55:43 GMT -6
Is your period coming back or due? There is often a supply dip when you get your period.
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Post by clementine on Dec 5, 2018 7:32:35 GMT -6
Is your period coming back or due? There is often a supply dip when you get your period. I haven’t gotten it back yet, but I’m wondering if it will be soon now that he’s not nursing through the night. |
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yianna
Gold
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Post by yianna on Dec 5, 2018 8:45:21 GMT -6
Dips at 6 months and 9 months are super common.
Personally... cut back on solids a tiny bit - just give him less at those meal times. Always offer to nurse before solids AND after right now.
At 9 months kids are so distracted that they may nurse for a few minutes and pop off looking at the wind (aka nothing) and want to be done. I insist three times before setting her down (at 8 months).
If you can - pump after those feeds at home once or twice a day - you don’t have to do this because it’s a normal decrease in supply. It just makes pumping while at work less stressful if you have some extra milk.
Watch his pee diapers and make sure he’s still wetting!
Question: how many bottles and how many ounces in each bottle while at daycare?
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Post by clementine on Dec 5, 2018 11:03:51 GMT -6
Dips at 6 months and 9 months are super common. Personally... cut back on solids a tiny bit - just give him less at those meal times. Always offer to nurse before solids AND after right now. At 9 months kids are so distracted that they may nurse for a few minutes and pop off looking at the wind (aka nothing) and want to be done. I insist three times before setting her down (at 8 months). If you can - pump after those feeds at home once or twice a day - you don’t have to do this because it’s a normal decrease in supply. It just makes pumping while at work less stressful if you have some extra milk. Watch his pee diapers and make sure he’s still wetting! Question: how many bottles and how many ounces in each bottle while at daycare? I nurse at 6:15, then he has a bottle at 8:30, I nurse at 11:30, then bottles at 1 and 4 and I nurse before bed around 6:30. I always send 5 oz bottles, but he rarely takes all 5 oz. mostly it’s around 3. He has solids around 7, 12, and 5. I suggested to his pedi that maybe we cut back on solids, but she did not agree. Although she also recommended solids before nursing starting at 9 months, but I’ve mostly heard nurse before solids until closer to a year. I have a ton of milk frozen so I’m not super worried about not having enough to send to daycare. I was just worried that if I was pumping less, would there be enough for him when he nurses? ETA: I know babies are more efficient than pumping, but at some point supply has to drop. It definitely has recently, but I don’t know if it’s dropped enough to where there’s not enough for him when he nurses. He does seem content after he nurses, but he also seems content after he takes 1 oz from the bottle, but then will end up taking another few oz if you try again in a couple min so 🤷🏼♀️ |
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yianna
Gold
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Post by yianna on Dec 5, 2018 16:43:29 GMT -6
Promise you - he’s getting enough when he nurses. And he may be snacking more and wanting more frequent feeds when you’re together and that’s normal and okay too!
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Leaf 🌱
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Post by Leaf 🌱 on Dec 5, 2018 18:59:46 GMT -6
He’s also getting close to the “nursing for fun” stage. He’ll won’t actually *need* to nurse soon (assuming he’s getting enough dairy/fat/etc) and will be doing it more for comfort, entertainment, and to supplement his solid intake. After a year, I only nursed DD morning, night, and after her nap - and her annthere to calm down after taking a fall or something.
Kelly mom says that an average 7mos breastfed baby will drink up to 30oz but only 19oz at 11mos. Some babies just aren’t extended nursers too. I think babies with more access to bottles and solids (and delending on personality) may find them less “work” than nursing.
TLDR: I feel like this is all normal and I wouldn’t stress. You’ve got this. Watch diapers and weight. (His, not yours 😉)
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Post by clementine on Dec 5, 2018 20:08:40 GMT -6
Thanks for talking me down and easing my stress! I am a worrier and I tend to overthink things. I definitely prefer to know exactly what’s going on and have a black and white plan for what’s next, but babies be babying and I just have to try to go with the flow a little more.
I stopped weighing myself months ago because the number just wasn’t budging. But I do weigh L often. He’s a little guy and has been in the 10th percentile since he was 4 months. He’s staying on that curve, so gaining, but slowly.
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