Happy Nursing & Pumping

Preface: What worked and works for my body may not work for all. The below are strictly suggestions and recommendations. Before taking any supplement, consult your doctor and your child's pediatrician. I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.

I have seen so many posts on each of the breastfeeding and mommy groups that I follow, about "how to boost my supply" or to increase lactation during a pumping session.

Building a backup supply for when you plan to return to work or school is definitely a stressful topic- especially when your baby is so new, so little and needs you!

Nevertheless, I reiterate my response each and every time in hopes that it will be helpful to someone out there. 

I was incredibly fortunate to spend the first seven full months at home with my little LAMM. This was due to being laid off from my job, not because I am wealthy & could afford to stay home.

I pumped however often I needed to. LAMM  has been very consistent with her nursing since her birth. Initially we were nursing once every three hours and unless we were "growth spurting" and clustering feeding, this was always her schedule. Once she would sleep through the night, I would wake and pump to keep my milk from leaking all over whatever milk-stained tank top I had elected to wear for bed.

We gradually began to stretch our feeding times to 3 or 3.5 to sometimes 4 hours apart. 

Regardless of knowing that my supply was fine and my little was gaining weight as she should have been (she had all of the cinnamon rolls to prove it), I wanted to MAKE SURE I would maintain and be able to provide her with the liquid gold she would need when it came time for daycare.

Some of the foods/ supplements and other recipes that have helped me grow and maintain a healthy, need based, supply include:

- Hummus and carrots
- Strawberries, banana and Spinach (blended to a smoothie or on their own)
-Eggless Lactation cookies (Recipe to follow)
-No-Bake Lactation Bites (Recipe to follow)
-Oatmeal pies (on-the-go and NOT a first choice)
-Oatmeal breakfast bars and 
-Nature's Valley Granola Cups with almond butter (because YUM!)
-Almond Milk

* Fenugreek ( 2 tablets, 3x a day)
*Brewers yeast (3-4 tbsp in lact.cookies or 1 tbsp in oatmeal)
*Flaxseed
*Mother's Milk Teas

I will also admit that I tried the blue-gatorade, the 'Pink-Drink' lactation fads and neither made a substantial difference for me. I think hydration is really the key, so I will continue to drink my 120+oz of water per day.

I do my best to stay away from parsley, chocolate and other caffeinated products and also foods that tend to be gassy.

Another, non-food suggestion, is to massage your breasts while pumping. Do not stop pumping if there is still milk flowing or you will inadvertently be signaling your body to slow it's production. Pump after a nursing session for five or so minutes to stimulate and watch video's of your little peanut.. Every little smile will help!

We are approaching 13 months of breastfeeding and I have the mentality that we will continue over the next five months or if LAMM self-weans herself somewhere along this line.
If you are encountering criticisms, or "mommy-shaming", please jump over to my blog about this topic and know you are not alone. Stay strong in your breast feeding journey and know that it is just that--- your journey. Not theirs.

At 12.5 months post partum, I am still able to pump an adequate supply to meet Layla's needs while she is at daycare (two pumps over 8.5 hours, puping 6-8oz total).  With the approval of her pediatrician, we have gradually begun to introduce her to almond milk, while the majority of her nutrition comes from breast milk and the foods that she eats. 
We nurse a.m and p.m and she takes one 6-8 oz bottle of BM + one 2-4oz bottle of BM and Almond Milk (original/unsweetened organic) combined. All in all she receives anywhere between 7 & 9 oz of BM while at daycare.

If your little refuses a bottle come time for daycare/family-care, HANG IN THERE. Know that you CANNOT force a bottle. Your baby will retro-feed (basically be glued to your breast the moment you're together until bedtime) when he or she is with you again. They will make up for it. Continue to practice bottle feeding (not-mommy if possible), while at home and also have your child's care-taker continue to offer your BM with ONE brand of bottle.  If you notice a drop in your baby's weight as a result of this refusal- contact your pediatrician!

We went with Dr.Browns ventilated bottles and after two months of NOT taking more than 1 to 2 oz of BM (first four weeks she refused it almost entirely), LAMM happily takes her 6-8 oz without an issue. 
She still prefers the 'booba'- and shows this by grabbing at the neck of my shirts every afternoon.... butttttttttt- that's a different blog post...


Happy Nursing & Pumping mamas!