***Ask an Expert is a blog feature hosted by a team of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). Once a month each IBCLC randomly chooses a question from The Badass Breastfeeder Facebook wall and provides their response on the blog.
By Anne Smith, IBCLC
Fan Question:
“I am currently trying to relactate. I work full time Monday thru Friday from 8-5, and my job doesn’t allow me much time to pump. I hand express whenever I can, and then I try to latch her on as soon as I get home. The problem is that she gets really mad when not much milk comes out and she keeps pulling off the breast. I’m getting very discouraged. What else can I do?”
Anne has been helping moms reach their breastfeeding goals for over 35 years, as a La Leche League and an IBCLC in private practice since 1990. Breastfeeding six children gives her a unique combination of first hand experience as well as professional expertise. In 1999, she started her website,www.breastfeedingbasics.com, with lots of information on breastfeeding and parenting, and a wonderful group of bloggers, including Abby from The Badass Breastfeeder, Rachelle from Unlatched, and Marie from Anarchy in the Sandbox.
Join the more than six millions of moms who come to Breastfeeding Basics each year for information and support, and visit Anne on Facebook.
I don’t feel like this was advice at all. “Here are all the reasons this is going to be very difficult for you!” :(. I’m not an IBCLC by any means, but milk production can vary enough that she may be able to get her body to produce much more in the evening/night and not so much while she is at work, like women who night wean but still produce milk during the day. If she is back to work, baby is at least 6 weeks old.
Has she tried power pumping in the evenings? 10 minutes on the pump, 10 off, 10 on, for an hour.
Get a pumping bra to allow you to pump on the commute to and from work (if you travel by private vehicle).
Even 5 minutes on the pump is better than nothing. Can you break up your lunch time to give yourself 5 minutes to pump several times a shift?
Make sure you are using the correct kind of pump, that your accessories and sizes are all correct so that you are getting as much out of each pumping session as possible.
Motherlove more milk plus worked better for me than fenugreek. It’s worth a shot. Also, rub fennel essential oil on your breasts twice a day.
Whatever your water intake is, double it. Triple it if you can.
Cosleeping with your baby, and allowing the baby full access to the breast throughout the night will help your milk come in. If your baby is sleeping through the night, add in a couple dream feedings. Often babies will just suckle at the breast for comfort so perhaps she won’t be upset by the lack of milk if she is asleep. The stimulation will still help to increase your supply.
Keep trying. Keep going!
I am 1 month away from adoption. I breast feed my children and began fenugreek and constant pumping but still nothing. I drink a lot of water but still nothing. Any ideas? I really need help now!