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Roxanne
Q:
I am
having a hard time building up a milk supply to feed my little boy while
I'm away at work. I try to eat well and drink lots of fluids, but I just
don't seem to get the milk supply that I would like. My sitter has to give
him formula and with the combo he is having lots of problems with
constipation. Any ideas?
Rosana
A:
Dear Rosana:
You did not leave a valid email address for us, so I hope that, somehow,
somewhere, you get this information. That said, thanks so much for
writing, and here's my best shot at answering you:
You don't mention the age of your baby or the hours you work, and both
those things are kinda important. Your best bet for a complete answer is
to go to your closest La Leche League meeting or call a local leader so
that she can give you answers more suited to your exact situation. You can
also get lots of great tips about nursing and working from the books The
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and So That's What They're For. Basically,
breastmilk is a supply and demand product...the more your breasts are
stimulated, the more milk your body will make in order to meet that
demand. Conversely, the less your breasts are stimulated (by baby and/or a
pump), the less your body will produce. Pumping is also a specific skill,
and is not necessarily a true reflection of how much milk you'd make when
nursing him.
When you say you don't have as much milk as you would like, does that mean
that you want to make more than he needs while you're away, or just
enough? It's great to have some stored in the freezer, but if you can keep
up on a daily basis, that would be great. It sounds like your baby is
getting a lot of formula, especially since it's enough to constipate him.
Here's a prescription for general working/pumping success:
- Pump
first thing in the morning, when your breasts are fullest and supply is
highest. While baby nurses on one side, you can pump (the Avent Isis is
the most silent, most efficient one-handed pump for this job) and get
even a couple ounces for later.
- Store
your milk in two or three ounce bags, since any uneaten milk needs to be
tossed after a feeding. Better to have to break out two bags in a
nursing session than to dump two ounces of liquid gold.
- Get
your sitter on your side. Maybe formula is easier and more familiar to
her, in which case she could be subtly sabotaging your nursing efforts
by saying things like, "he's always hungry! I have to feed him soo
much!" If baby is over six months old, remind her that he can have water
or a piece of fruit sometimes.
- Before
you leave the house, or the sitters' house, nurse again (a great reason
to dress for nursing when you're at work).
While at work, break to pump every three hours or so. Even 5 minutes on
each side, even if you don't MAKE any milk, will be incredibly helpful
towards building your supply. Again, the Avent Isis is quiet and quick.
And don't worry about the time you're taking. Your smoking co-workers
spend more than ten minutes to break for a cigarette more than twice a
day.
Before you leave work, call the sitter and tell her that you're coming,
and NOT to give baby a bottle before you get there! If your commute is
only minutes, call half an hour or so before leaving. And if you're that
close, use your lunch break to go home and nurse.
Nurse baby the minute you reunite, sitting in the car if you need to.
Reconnect and let him have this time to gulp down buckets of milk (if
he's
hungry) or just soothe himself.
- At
home and on weekends, nurse on cue and keep pumping on the opposite side
in the morning. And cut down on outside commitments: work and baby are
ENOUGH (Would that I could take my own advice.)
He
also may be constipated from bananas (a binding food) or cereal or other
stuff. And lots of fluids aren't going to relax a tense, stressed-out mama
(unless those fluids have been fermented, but that's another story and no,
I am not condoning alcohol use by nursing moms!)
Rosana, I feel your pain. Combining work and breastfeeding can seem
insurmountably difficult at times, but it's even more important since
you're away a lot. I am in the same situation, but Lila won't take a
bottle, so I schlep back home every couple of hours. But back to you --
read those books and check out a meeting, and bravo for trying to keep all
those balls in the air. It ain't easy.
Regards,
Roxanne
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