Daycare Pushing For More Bottles / Low Pumping Production

[CraftyMom]

I agree with sending smaller portioned bottles if they require sending pre-filled bottles. Otherwise see if they will let you send a jug like nannyde does. This way they only use what they need. (hopefully)

[skybluepink02]

I agree with the smaller portioned bottles. It sounds like they might be encouraging comfort feeding, and he probably doesn't actually need that much.

Now, for the pumping... I can give my experiences. I exclusively pumped for 18 months for my twins, because they never got the hang of latching after an extended NICU stay. I would say ABSOLUTELY use the hospital grade pump. It's simply light years better than the at home models. I got a full 3 oz more per pump via the hospital pump, and it helped to increase my supply because it emptied me out better.

Also, after you pump, take a minute and massage your breast tissue. It's called breast compression and it helps you get the last bits out.After compression, pump a bit more until nothing comes out. Here's a link that describes it. http://www.lowmilksupply.org/compression.shtml

Make sure that, if you want to increase your supply, that you are dry pumping for a bit after you have gotten all your milk out. The body senses the stimulation and reads the dry-pumping as needing more milk. It's what tells your body to make more milk. If you simply stop pumping when you have no more milk, your body assumes that you have as much as you need. It's the additional pumping after you are dry that signals the need for more production.

[cheerfuldom]

Great advice so far.

My guess is that they are dumping the extra milk that baby is not eating

AND/OR

comforting with a bottle which means your child is likely crying a good part of the day and that is why they are trying to comfort.

Either way, you need details before making this decision. Are you getting good feedback about how feedings are going? How is your child's moods during the day? If you are co-sleeping and on demand feeding at home, most babies will have a rough transition into care and cry a lot.

[daycarediva]

There are so many factors that could be at play here to NEED an additional bottle at daycare. I would ask that they give 4oz instead of 6 at a time, possibly lower the nipple to a slower flow so baby has to work harder.

How is baby doing at daycare? Sleeping ok? Crying?

As pp said it could be a comfort thing.

Bottles also go faster than BFing. Does/will baby take a paci for more ****ing and some paci/snuggles for comfort instead of a bottle?

Could baby be going through a growth spurt?

As far as supply, rent a hospital grade pump, add in another pumping session, or increase the times on your current pumping (dry pump). There are also herbal remedies proven to increase

[NightOwl]

How's it going DL?

[mamamanda]

When I was nursing I could always pump more at night time than during the day. I'm thinking maybe b/c I was more relaxed? Not sure, but I could pump same amount in 10 min that I would get after 30 min of daytime pumping. I know you are already tired with the night time nursing but you might try to pump for 10 min once or twice during the night & see if that makes a difference. I agree with the others who said to offer 3 oz bottles & then add more if needed if baby is still hungry. I've heard great things about the fenugreek. A friend swears
by it! Something to keep in mind is that ebf babies who are new to daycare will typically have a harder time adjusting. Not only are they experiencing a new environment, but breastfeeding is such a special bonding time with mommy that they miss that as well. Nursing isn't just about food for the baby. The day care provider will have to be very patient & understand that crying doesn't necessarily mean hungry. I applaud you for your commitment to your baby. A lot of moms give up breastfeeding when they go back to work. Its wonderful that you are so determined to make it work! Can you try holding a special blanket between you & baby when you nurse in the morning & then send that to daycare each day. It would have your scent on it & they could put it next to baby when they get fussy. That sometimes helps baby feel comforted when missing you. Best of luck!!!

[Unregistered]

A lot of people don't understand that the amount (ounces) of breastmilk does not always increase as a baby gets older. Mostly it is the composition of the breastmilk that changes and increases in nutrients per ounce instead of increasing the amount in ounces.

breastfed babies are used to a lot more one on one time and will have a harder time if that need can't be met.

and just my opinion - I know you said that you don't care about the daycare's schedule etc. but if you must use daycare it is way easier on your child to adhere to the daycare's schedule because they cannot always accommodate each parents wishes. And it isn't because they simply don't want to.

[itlw8]

but just because it does not always increase some people forget that for some it does. my bf babies were very happy eating every 3 to 4 hours normally 3.5 hours and when I pumped and gave a bottle drained a 6 ounce bottle one took a paci and one did not.... no they were not tiny both around 8 lbs and 21 to 22 inches at birth

When I was a baby mothers used to weigh the baby before nursing and then again afterwards so they could tell how much the baby ate. So fretting about infants and their intake is nothing new. Just in the 50's few mothers pumped and too may listened to Dr Spock and believed you should only feed them every 4 hours on schedule..

The important thing to remember is every child is different

[bananas]

I am a former exclusive pumper - I pumped every 3 hours (8x per day) around the clock for a year to keep my supply up. I was producing 50 to 60 ounces per day and was able to donate over 7,000 ounces by the time I stopped. I took fenugreek (3 pills 4x per day), blessed thistle (can't remember the exact dosage...2 pills 3x per day maybe?) and when I felt like spending the extra money I'd take Mother's Milk capsules on top of that. I had a hands-free pumping bra which helped make pumping less stressful and YES - you need a hospital grade double electric pump!

My daughter would gladly chug a 8 ounce bottle of breast milk in once sitting...she had no "off" button...except when she'd spit it all up 5 minutes later :-/ Bottle-fed babies have a more difficult time telling when they've had enough versus feeding at the breast. I'd stick to 3-4 ounce bottles every 3-4 hours and she'd spit up much less and she stuck to the exact same growth curve all the way through - she was obviously gaining weight perfectly with me monitoring how much she was intaking. I'd give her an extra 1-2 ounce bottle in between feeds if I felt she was honestly hungry. I think sometimes providers are quick to think that if a baby fusses it must mean they need a bottle :-/

A baby that age should be getting around 25 ounces per day - http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/

[Play Care]

There are so many factors that could be at play here to NEED an additional bottle at daycare. I would ask that they give 4oz instead of 6 at a time, possibly lower the nipple to a slower flow so baby has to work harder.

How is baby doing at daycare? Sleeping ok? Crying?

As pp said it could be a comfort thing.

Bottles also go faster than BFing. Does/will baby take a paci for more ****ing and some paci/snuggles for comfort instead of a bottle?

Could baby be going through a growth spurt?

As far as supply, rent a hospital grade pump, add in another pumping session, or increase the times on your current pumping (dry pump). There are also herbal remedies proven to increase

I also want to speak to the common misconception that dc providers are somehow misinterpreting babies signals and over feeding them. My two breast fed babies would start SCREAMING about and hour and a half or so after their last feed. Not fussing, or whimpering, SCREAMING. Holding them close, taking walks, pacifiers, heck - swings, bouncer seats, etc were all used to try to comfort and soothe. Meanwhile the other kids kind of hung out while I tried to stretch out babies feeding. They wanted mom and her boob, period. Sorry, but they did.

One of the reasons I *despise* our ridiculous leave policy in the US is because I believe infants under a year belong HOME with mom being nursed on demand.
It is almost impossible to replicate that nursing relationship in a day care setting.

I like nannyde's "jug o milk" and I may just do that in the future to reduce waste. But if baby is SCREAMING and a small bottle is the only thing that makes them content, I'm going to feed the baby.

[Indianadaycare]

A pop top one. I prefer those for easy pour. I just return whatever is left but our system is good enough that most days we are on the money of what the mom pumps during the day is the exact amt needed for next day.

That sounds wonderful! I think I'll suggest this to bf moms during interviewing. Thanks!

[TwinKristi]

I also want to speak to the common misconception that dc providers are somehow misinterpreting babies signals and over feeding them. My two breast fed babies would start SCREAMING about and hour and a half or so after their last feed. Not fussing, or whimpering, SCREAMING. Holding them close, taking walks, pacifiers, heck - swings, bouncer seats, etc were all used to try to comfort and soothe. Meanwhile the other kids kind of hung out while I tried to stretch out babies feeding. They wanted mom and her boob, period. Sorry, but they did.

One of the reasons I *despise* our ridiculous leave policy in the US is because I believe infants under a year belong HOME with mom being nursed on demand.
It is almost impossible to replicate that nursing relationship in a day care setting.

I like nannyde's "jug o milk" and I may just do that in the future to reduce waste. But if baby is SCREAMING and a small bottle is the only thing that makes them content, I'm going to feed the baby.

Emphasis on SMALL bottle. I 100% agree and this can easily be solved with your method of a small bottle. 2-3oz even as a topper in between feeds is totally normal for young infants. They nurse for comfort not just feeding but get a small amount of milk as well. Their tummy gets full and they get the comfort they need. But giving three 6oz bottles doesn't accomplish that. Perhaps baby may only need three 4oz bottles and two 2 oz bottles in between. Sure that's more feeds but it's more like nursing and may help mom not feel unable to nurse. Also, I would try to have a hungry baby at pickup time so she can nurse as soon as she's home instead of a full baby and full mama also cutting out one feeding. It's not easy, that is for sure. But breastfeeding moms and babies need a little more work than a formula fed baby.

[Play Care]

Emphasis on SMALL bottle. I 100% agree and this can easily be solved with your method of a small bottle .It's not easy, that is for sure. But breastfeeding moms and babies need a little more work than a formula fed baby.

I agree, but the work should not be all on the dc providers. Mom has to problem solve too. Maybe it means more bottles with less in them or a smaller nipple, etc. I've heard the "day care providers need to learn how to soothe a baby without feeding them!" line one too many times to be comfortable. It smacks of the "we pay THEM, so they work for US!" mentality that I find offensive.

After my last two breast fed babies I swore off infant care. I DO think breast fed babies are a lot more work - and often the finger pointing that goes with it (you're feeding too much! You're wasting "liquid gold!" You have to find other ways to comfort baby! He takes a bottle for everyone else! etc etc etc) just adds to an already stressful situation.

FWIW, I think breast feeding is WONDERFUL and should be encouraged. I do think there are real benefits to it - I did it for my kids.