Breastfeeding Resources

Lately this blog seems to have turned into Kris’s Supply Problems Central. Truly that’s all I think about with breastfeeding and working. I can understand how the strain of this would cause people to stop breastfeeding in really reasonable steps. First you supplement with formula, then you’re less diligent about pumping regularly at work, then you stop pumping at work. This is no fun.

"Don't you people realize I have a child to take care of??"

--My colleague Chris, describing how your view of the work world and overall life priorities changes after having a baby.

"I just wish that HUMAN milk, mother's milk, was not designated "breast milk," as if other organs lactated."

--tohosa, in a comment to the article Breasts at Work on Salon, an interview with MilkMemos authors Cate Colburn-Smith and Andrea Serrette.

Last week continued to be a struggle with milk supply. Aaron was eating more fresh milk than I provided, and then he ate the last of the frozen milk I had brought to the child care providers. I opened the freezer to replace her supply, and…nothing. Whoa! I completely lost track of what was in the freezer, and now there was nothing.

Today, out of necessity and not adventurousness, I pumped while driving. I was running late, and it was either this or skip, a bad idea given recent supply worries. And the result: it was great!

Any time I can find a way to pack something productive into pumping time it makes me happy. Here’s what I did:

Last week, my pumping production was down by about 3 ounces a day (one feeding’s worth). On three of four days, whoever was caring for Aaron had to use frozen milk to supplement the fresh supply I brought. That was quite worrisome. Four to six weeks ago, I was pumping enough extra to freeze some at the end of the week.

Day two Aaron ate a regular amount, so I guess it was just one of those days. We had his four-month dr.'s visit today, and he continues to make fast gains in weight and height--on weight he was in the 3rd percentile day 7, 15th at month 2, and 20th today. Yeah breastfeeding!

Of course, I couldn't have a completely good day: I pumped less than usual. Sigh.

Aaron ate 30% more than usual yesterday, which is about 30% more than I pump during the day. Rev up the worry machine.... Is he having a growth spurt? Or are his needs somehow outpacing my supply? And in last place...maybe it's just one of those days.

Back to my mantra, the thing I'm trying to learn over and over again since becoming a mother. One day is not a trend. Don't freak out. One day is not a trend. One day is not a trend.

As I’ve settled into work more over the past few weeks, the biggest mental impediments to pumping three times a day are not wanting to stop working and being tired. To try to counteract both, I’ve tried to make it a time to look forward to and streamlined the process.

So, you’re getting ready to go back to work. You’ve arranged child care. You’ve become familiar with the breast pump. But if you’re like me, you waited til the last week to think about clothes, keeping your fingers crossed that you’d have lost enough weight to get into at least a few pieces of work clothing. Alas.