Middle of the night pumping pals

[kajastarlight]

TinyLynn, it could be coincidence that starting solids came at the same time as a sleep regression. Or maybe he isn't quite ready and they are upsetting his digestion a little.

 

[lenorajoy]

Lanorajoy - great job on the extra oz!! I find the therapearls helpful for everyday pumping. Especially when I am at work because the office I pump in is frequently cold. My pumped milk is more fatty when I use them too. I hope it is helping me drain more completely so my body will kick up production a bit more!
They do make teas without fenugreek if you want to give those a try. (I have seen them in Amazon) When I was nursing DS3 I had a crazy low supply. Always had to supplement. In the 10 hours I was away at work (including travel) I was lucky to pump 8oz and literally nothing worked to boost my supply. When he was 6 months old he started biting really bad and between the fight to maintain even a meagre supply, the fact I am in chronic pain and really missed my pain meds, and then the biting I threw in the towel and switched him to all formula. It was the best thing for me at the time. One month later I found out that the reason for my low supply was hypothyroidism! I was so sad knowing if I had found that out earlier I could have had a better supply without the fight. Now, two years later, with DR I have my thyroid levels in check and things are much better! I still have pcos to combat in the supply department but now, thanks to the pearls and suppliments, I can usually get out 12 oz at work and 2 durring my night pump to stash away.

My pumping output has been exactly the same as yours was! I don't think I have any thyroid issues, but I suppose I should look into the symptoms. I am overweight, and I know for some (probably a small percentage) that can be an issue because having that extra weight affects your hormones. And hormones control everything! Last Friday was the first time I got more than 8 oz. I really hope things are finally going to pick up in the output department. I have one of the therapearls with me, so I'm going to try that when I pump next!

 

[lenorajoy]

I can tell you indigestion will really keep them from sleeping! At least that's been the case for DD. And kaja could be right, it could just be timing of sleep regression.

If only there were some test we could dip in their pee to give us answers.

 

[TinyLynne]

He eats each time now. At first it was just upsetting his stomach, I think we are past that now, he eats full bottles/feeds each time he gets up now, so he is hungry! He isn't eating as much during the day as he was.

 

[lenorajoy]

He did just turn 6 months, it could be growth spurt-related. That often changes their eating/sleeping patterns.

 

[lenorajoy]

So I tried the therapearls during my last pumping session. I'm not sure that they did anything for me other than annoy the crap out of me because they wouldn't stay put against my boob! I had to keep one finger on the thing to keep it in place while trying to do compressions. The last time I bought bras during pregnancy they were G cups I'm pretty sure, so I have a lot of surface area to cover and just didn't have enough hands! I ended up taking it off, but the warmth did feel nice. I need suspenders!

 

[kajastarlight]

I didn't know I had thyroid issues either. I am also quite overweight, that is actually a symptom but obviously can be many many other things. The reason my doctor tested me was because I was crazy thirsty all the time. When I was bf I thought that was why, but when I stopped and it didn't go away I told my Dr. He thought it was probably type 2 diabetes and did a test for that and thyroid just in case. My levels were so low it was like my thyroid almost doesn't work at all. It's worth a check!
My therapearl packs have a cover with a snap so that helps keep them in the flanges.

 

[kajastarlight]

Omg... Note to self. When hearing up therapearls remember what feels warm to your hands is much warmer on your boobs! Ouch! I heated them up at work today and stuck them in my bra with the plan of working 5-10 more min before pumping, got back to my desk and had to run to a side office to take them back out! Eeep!

 

[TinyLynne]

Yup! And they don't always heat up evenly either!

 

[kajastarlight]

Ug, I skipped my night pump two nights in a row and I am worried I am gonna mess up all my progress! *sigh* Oh well, I am getting back on track now so hopefully I won't notice a big drop. I think I will try power pumping durring my night session a few nights.

 

[kajastarlight]

My pump makes me hungry. "Bacon, bacon, bacon..." Lol that is what it sounds like it is " saying" to me. Lol hmmmm bacon

 

[TinyLynne]

Hahaha!!! I always though mine was saying "Let go! Let go! Let go!"

 

[kajastarlight]

Lol at least your pump gives you productive messages. Let go of that milk! My two year old said my pump was evil the other day lol. His favorite show is Phinneas and Ferb, that cartoon has an Evil Scientist who makes "evil" inventions. (Eveil is used loosely here, it is a kid's show after all lol) it reminded me of when he was a baby I read a blog of a lady who's pump said "kill Ted" now HER pump was evil! But before I read that I thought I was the only one who heard her pump "say stuff."

 

[TinyLynne]

Oh the Doofenshmirz (sp?) pump! Probably not a very popular choice! Lol

 

[lenorajoy]

DD was clingy and fussy this weekend due to get her shots at the doctor's office Friday, so I didn't get it as much pumping as I would have liked to. But she didn't even once need a bottle the whole weekend!! Even if it ends up being short-lived and she starts eating more again, I'm happy to have had two full days of no supplementing and almost no spitting up! She did spit up a few times yesterday, but she had one bottle of formula at church yesterday morning because I was busy with music from 9-11. I was also able to pump over 3 oz during the first pumping session this morning, though, so maybe I'll finally get a good supply going after all!

 

[TinyLynne]

Great job Lenora!!! It's so awesome that she didn't need any supplementing! The shots were rough for us too for a few days. I think this might be the start of things turning around for you!!

 

[lenorajoy]

I certainly hope so!! It would be about time, too! I'm starting to get excited that this trend may continue because I have just shy of 6 oz after my second pumping session! I've never felt so proud of my boobs!

 

[kajastarlight]

Oh the Doofenshmirz (sp?) pump! Probably not a very popular choice! Lol

Hahaha yep

 

[TinyLynne]

Pressed snooze so many times that I could be sleeping again.... when will I learn?

 

[lenorajoy]

I was so tired last night I couldn't stay awake to pump. I ended up sleeping most of the night sitting up in the glider, and I didn't even wake up unless DD stirred or my alarm went off. I kept turning on the tv with the intention of turning something on that may help me stay awake, but kept falling asleep before it was ready to open any streaming apps! Then it would turn off automatically and I'd start over the next time I woke up.

I was so tired yesterday that I had trouble staying awake on the drive to pick up DD from the sitter's... it was a bit scary, but I just couldn't keep my eyes open. I nearly pulled over, but finally I called DH to talk to him on the phone for the last part of the trip to the sitter's house. Poor DH always has to do the driving on long road trips (like when we go up to Michigan) unless I'm not even remotely tired because it doesn't matter where I am or what I'm doing I will find it difficult to stay awake. It's not worth the risk.