Breast Feeding and Pumping

Hi S.! I just want to give you some encouragement to keep trying! My breastfed (BF) daughter (now 7) and my BF son (7 months) both ate every 1.5 to 2 hours! Really, it seems best to just let them eat all they want/need when they want it! It took a few weeks for my daughter to really get the hang of it though and my milk did seem to not be full, but once she REALLY got it the milk came pouring in! Just offer her "the boob" everytime she's fussing. Hopefully she will figure it out! If she is still needing a bottle make sure you have a REALLY good pump. It is AMAZING the difference a quality pump will make. With my first, I had to go back to work at 3 months so I had to pump... we bought a really nice one. With my son, I have the little hand pump that the hospital gave me... it takes 3X's as long and really just doesn't compare. (I was engorged) Also, with the pumping, it helped me to be able to look at the baby - it helps the milk let down!

Good Luck and keep trying! Your doing the right thing for you and your precious baby!

Hi S.,

Not sure how many responses you've gotten so far, but I hope to encourage you.

I nursed my son for 14 months (he is now almost 4 years old). I went back to work when he was 3 months old, so I started pumping regularly then. I was neurotic about it to the point that my husband paged me every time he gave the baby a bottle so I could time up my pumping with his feeds.

I never, ever got as much pumping as he would need. However, as long as I was with him and nursing, I never needed to supplement. In other words, pumping, for me, was not as efficient as nursing. Even with the best, hospital grade pump, I couldn't match what he could do on his own.

Nurse every three hours early on, rent a hospital-grade pump, and drink more water than you ever think you could. The other thing I would do is watch something on tv or listen to music that makes you think of your darling girl.

Good luck!

Oatmeal and water worked wonders for me. Seriously as crazy as it sounds there is something in oatmeal that made me produce like crazy. And, it can be anything with oatmeal. I liked oatmeal cookies with frosting on them. And drink lots of water. Also, when the baby is nursing on one side, pump on the other side. Don't stress out, that affects your supply too. Have a nurse-in. Lay around with your breasts exposed and let the baby nurse on demand, when ever she wants. This will also help. I have been through this and it can be stressful, but don't give up....You can do it!!!!

Hey S., I didn't read any of the other responses because I just wanted to tell you about my experience. You really need a good pump!!! I got lucky and had a hospital grade pump. Neither one of my kids could latch on no matter who was torturing my boob into the babies mouth, LOL! You really get tired getting up every three hours for pumping and I was getting up in between to feed the little one sometimes. Make sure you drink plenty throughout the day!!!!! Make sure you're sitting somewhere you are comfortable and not made to feel like you need to hurry. My husband put the sign milk factory on our bathroom door because that's where I would go. I had a little table set up there so that I could be alone and not wake others up during the night. I had pictures of the little ones there to look at and I also did the massaging downward of the boob. The shower always seemed to get me going for some reason, lol! It's hard at the beginning but if you really keep up with doing it every three hours, your milk will increase. Congratulations and Good Luck!!

To increase your milk supply, pump longer and more often and drink more fluids.

Somehow the body can tell the difference between the baby and the pump and some people think they produce less milk in response to pumping vs the actual baby. If you need to increase your milk production, put your baby to breast as often as possible and your body will repond. It's designed to produce what your baby needs. I'm mother of a 7 mo old baby girl who is strictly fed breast milk and this philosophy hasn't failed me yet. Good luck!

Pumping never increased my milk supply *unless* I was doing it with breastfeeding. 2 weeks really isn't enough time to get the breastfeeding down pat for some babies. Hang in there until at least 6 weeks. She'll learn, just keep trying.

To increase your milk supply though, you can go to a local health food store (I don't know where you are exactly) or you can order online....either Blessed Thistle (this will increase your richness and milk supply) or Fenugreek. I used Fenugreek only because it was cheaper.

You need to get in touch with a lactation consultant to get her back on the breast. The baby is the most effective pump and she will be able to get more form the breast than you could pump anyway. When she thinks she needs more than what you can pump, the issue is most likely that she is comforted by sucking, and with a bottle, she can empty it faster than she would get the same amount of milk at the breast -in a little longer time and get more suckling to satisfy her natural reflex. Call Doctors hospital lactation consultant or go to Nursing mom;s support group- meets at the One Baby Place classroom on Veterans pkwy (near Country's/Lowes) today from 11-1 drop in to see a LC that can help!

My baby eat every 2 hours (30-45min each) until 4 months old. I would cut down on the time inbetween and keep offering her the breast. She is learning too so it may take a little longer. Try not to get upset, I know its easier said than done. It will benefit you both in the long run. Keep up the good work and congrats on your new baby:)

First let me say, I b'fed 3 children for a year and currently have an almost 6 month old that is exclusively b'feeding still. Just so you know I'm speaking for experience here! :)

May I ask when she was "frustrated" at the breast? You're still very early into it, so you have time to turn this around and get her back to the breast. If it was in those first few days before your milk came in then that is really common. You have very little milk during that time and many babies start to get frustrated near the end of that time.

Personally I would want to get away from pumping if at al possible. It is frustrating and not as effective as the baby is at getting the milk out. If she was frustrated at the beginning she may be fine now, though need a week or so to adjust. It may ne a tough week, but she will get it and it would make things LOADS easier on you! Just like my baby won't take a bottle, but I know he would get it if he had to after a few frustrating days!

One thing you can do to help getting back to breastfeeding is use a supplemental nursing system. If you think she is getting frustrated by not getting it quickly enough or something. To do this you use a tiny catheter and a syringe. You fill the syringe with expressed milk, attach to the catheter and then tape the catheter so that the tip comes to near the end of the nipple. Then when the baby is latched on you give her extra milk through there. Mamas with not enough milk do this to add to the baby's diet without using a bottle so that they will still get the needed stimulation to make their bodies make more milk.

If you are in a larger area, look for a la leche legue near you, they can have some great advice. Also there's a herbal suplement that works very well to increase milk supply, called More Milk. I think it's made by Motherlove herbals. Do a search online, you'll find it. Everyone I know who has used it has said that it is very effective.

If you have any questions for me you can e-mail me privately at ____@____.com

I wouldn't wait 3 hours. My new son would sometimes nurse only an hour after he just finished! I know it seems crazy but just feed her as often as you can. Your supply will increase. Also try eating some oatmeal, that seemed to help me. Don't forget to drink your water too.
I would also keep breastfeeding her instead the bottle. It takes awhile for them to get used to it. You are both learning how this works. It also takes them a lot longer when they are first born. I would nurse for 45 mins in the begining. I know you feel like that is all you are doing but that is all you are doing. If you can make it 6 weeks then you can do it. Good Luck!

Feeling your pain! After about 3 days of breastfeeding my daughter, I exclusively pumped for about 10 months because of latching problems. It's not ideal but it gets the job done. :)

At first I pumped every 2-3 hours and let myself have a longer break at night (5 hours maybe?). I was lucky and didn't have many supply issues, but I've heard that fenugreek (an herb of some kind?) can help. I found lots of helpful info on Kellymom.com.

I would suggest continuing to pump for a minute or two AFTER your milk flow stops. This should hopefully indicate a "demand" for your body to make more milk. Yes, babies are definitely more efficient than pumps, but a good pump will do the job. I had an Ameda Purely Yours and I've also heard great things about the Medela. I actually rigged my pump and used the Medela tubing and "parts" because I found the softer plastic to be more comfortable than the ones that came with my Ameda. You can also try massaging first or using a warm gel pack. Hope that helps.

I've breastfed all 3 of my girls, and they ALL had trouble in the beginning!! Please consider seeing a lactation consultant or your local La Leche League leader! She may be having trouble nursing because she's not latching correctly, which is very easily fixed!! Or, she may be tongue-tied (a tight frenulum--the little cord under your tongue) which could be making it hard to latch and get milk, which is also easily fixed. Pumping is just not the same as breastfeeding and it is very difficult to remove as much milk from the breast by pumping, and to keep up your supply when exclusively pumping. It's also a lot more time consuming to pump than it is to latch her on and let her do it ;) If you're determined not to supplement, please seek some help!

Keep trying the breast eventually she will take it and then you are sure she is getting all that she needs.

It is much easier for your baby to get milk from a bottle than it is from your breast. So I can see why she would prefer the easy way out. : -). However, nursing does help to strenghten her jaws and neck muscles.. If you put her on your breast most of the day, it will build your milk supply, because she is more effienct at emptying your breast than a pump. She is still young and trainable. Talk to your lacation specialist about the best approach to getting her back on the breast.

hi S., i have a 7 week old little boy who had been frustrated at the breast in the hospital... our lactation consultant gave us a contact nipple shield and he took to it immediately! i only had to use it for like 2 weeks and slowly he moved straight to my nipple. he has been eating like crazy ever since! i tried pumping and that sucks. i would definitely trt the contact nipple shield and spend more quality time with baby vs the pump. baby will get more and be happier with mommy, too. you can get them at babies r us. good luck and enjoy!!! J. and henry

Hi, congrats!!
Im not sure where you live but I live in Savannah and there is a great Dr. here. Dr. Ramos. He is more on the natural side and he knows of many herbs that can help bring your milk in better. I do not know them. Try calling a natural foods store and ask them what herbs would help your milk.
Also, you may just not be able to supply enough and be okay with what your body puts out. Supplementing is not the end of the world but I know how you feel. It is such an emotional time after having a baby and you want to get it all right but at the same time you have to give her what she needs.
Try looking up the herb thing. I know there are some because he told me he could bring my milk back after stopping breastfeeding for months (due to health issues) so I know it can happen.
Goodluck and enjoy your miracle!!

The baby will be able to get more milk than the pump. It is supply and demand so feed her a little more often for about 20 min. on each side.
Keep a quite environment -- no TV, just maybe some soft music in the background if you like.
Relax, drink a lot of water -- at least 8 glasses a day -- coke and tea don't count. I can't stress Relax enough. Tell yourself that your milk is "liquid gold" , your milk is perfect for your baby and she is getting enough.
Babies will grow very fast and it takes your body about 48 hours to 'catch-up' to the babies new demand for more milk--supply and demand. If you supplement during those times your body won't know to produce more thus leading to 'not enough milk syndrome'. So don't give in to the urge to supplement. Also I'd put the pump away and put the baby to breast more often. Relax and be happy -- ever heard that a contented cow makes more milk --- so do contented moms. You are going to do great and your baby is going to be so much more healthy because of your choice to breast feed. Way to go!!

Hi S.! My daughter is 27 months now and she was breastfed until she was about 14 months old. However, it took so long to be discharged from the hospital after she was born that my breasts were engorged when we got home. She refused the breast for just over 2 weeks...made me crazy and I felt just awful! I pumped in the mean time and supplemented with formula, but I kept trying and working with her. She eventually latched back on and never looked back. I was overjoyed!
My advice...first, drink lots and lots of fluids. Second, keep trying often to get her back on the breast. Third, rent a good breast pump at the hospital (Medela $75/month) and use it every 2 hours. After I went back to work, I used this pump with great success. When she was your daughters age, I also pumped after she fed so that I could get every drop of milk. Fourth, don't beat yourself up if she does not go back to the breast...Good luck! D. H.

S.,
I was blessed to have a very large supply of milk, but what i did was nurse and then pump. I fed my son on one breast and then pumped the other sometimes, and at other times i would feed him on both breasts and then pump what ever was left. The more you can increase the demand, the more your breasts are supposed to increase the out put. Have you considered trying her on the breast again now that your milk is more substantial?

Hope it helps,
A.

I always understood that a baby can get more out than a pump can. I'm not going to tell you whether to pump or b-feed (although i think pumping is a lot of work!!), but Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle herbs worked for me. I think I had a problem similar to yours. My daughter could never get quite full enough breastfeeding, but it was really close. The problem went away within a few days after taking the herbs and i never had to supplement with formula. By the way, my OB was the one who recommended the herbs. FYI: they make your urine smell like maple syrup:) Either way, if you end up having to suppliment with formula, don't stress about it--people get way too crazy about that--it is not the devil's food! Good luck!

I had a really hard time breastfeeding, so I pumped with my little girl. I used a hospital grade pump for the first 2 months. The more you pump the more milk you will produce, so keep it up! I have also heard about using fenugreek (an herb) to help w/ milk production.

Find a La Leche League group, they have excellent lactation consultants. Kelly mom website also has good info. My first (also a girl) is now 12 months old and is still nursing. The first six weeks were the hardest, but after that it worked like clockwork and we never looked back. Yes it will be uncomfortable for you, but it does get better. (I loved Lansinoh's lanolin cream worked great on my nipples) As others have said, she will be able to draw more out than a pump. And since your body generates milk based on demand it's important to get her back on the boob. You may have to work through some nipple confusion on her part since you started with the bottle so early, but she'll adjust. She will fuss, but keep offering the breast to her ON DEMAND, ie - every. single. time. she fusses for feeding. Also, your breast milk is formulated specifically for your babies needs, it's better for her than any formula you could buy.

Don't know if anyone has given you this advice yet...I didn't read all of them...but this is what helped me. Go to your local natural therapies store and get Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle. I took three capsules of each, three times a day. Then get some plain, old fashioned (not the quick or microwavable kind) oatmeal. Eat it everyday! I had problems with supply and started by just taking the herbs. That helped some, but when I started eating the oatmeal too, that seemed to help the most. Good for you trying to keep up your supply, but there's nothing wrong with supplementing either. You could get a supplemental nursing system and that way she'd still be at your breast stimulating it to make more milk. I tried that for a while too. My supply did eventually just dry up on it's own...I was feeding and pumping every 2 hours, but my body just stops making milk when my babies turn 4 months old...it happened with both of my boys, no matter what I tried to do. Just know that any breast milk your baby girl gets is better than nothing at all. I know it's something I've had to come to terms with. Both of the boys did end up on formula completely, and I could not ask for healthier or happier babies. I know I tried my best and that's all I could do. Good luck!

Hi! Congrats on your new baby (girls are so much fun!)I know the early nursing/pumping is hard,but trust me your body will adjust as her needs change. I thought I would nurse for 12mo. and Zoe did so well she nursed intermitently till she turned 3yr.(this last March) Medela makes the best hospital-grade pumps and many styles. Also I had a good result w/ Brewer's yeast, you just want a tablespoon x 8 oz of OJ or other juice because it can make you flatulent, and tastes awful but will almost instantly increase milk production. There are teas "mama's milk"(Traditional Medicanals) and supplements like "lactate support" from Gaia herbs that are safe and useful but more money. You can find all of these at Earth Fare, Whole Foods or other health food co-op. Hope this helps it does get easier. Good luck

S.

I have twins and I pumped what seems like forever...but almost for 6mths. I was supplementing from day one. They were premature and the formula ensured they received the amount of nutrients they needed. I have to say, knock on wood, my kids have never had anything other than a cold and are very healthy. I honestly recomend mixing if you have to. I know it goes against what you want, but it will help your stress of not having enough milk. Stress and not pumping as often were the two biggest reasons I lost a lot of my supply. Toward the end, I seemed to not have time for it. Good luck!!

S.-
I would simply go back to trying to breastfeed if you can- every 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours. When I was breastfeeding early on, I remember feeling like that was all I would do, because he had a very hard time learning to latch and he would feed for like, 45 minutes each feeding. Anyway, I would do the same thing that you are doing, and he would guzzle a bottle down AFTER breastfeeding- so I thought he wasn't getting enough. I read somewhere that if little babies are given a bottle, they will guzzle it until it is gone, just because they can't stop the milk flow and have no choice. They are not necessarily hungry. So I stopped pumping and bottle feeding and just concentrated on breastfeeding every 2 hours or so. Mine was frustrated too, but I think it was because he was still learning how to nurse. Plus, pumping is a pain! The more often you breastfeed (or pump), the more milk you will have. Also make sure you are eating healthy and drinking plenty of water. Good luck!

I just wasnt' successful breastfeeding my first... had la leche league consultants come out... the whole bit. Just didn't work and it made me crazy. Give it your best shot, but don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work. I invested in a hospital-grade pump (medela, I think) and pumped after each time she bottle fed. I never really had a problem keeping up with her need. Maybe it's your pump?

I could not get much at all when pumping, but both of my girls never really took bottles. She's still so young, so be patient with her as she learns to nurse. She'll prefer the bottle b/c she doesn't have to work as hard to get the milk from a bottle, so I'd stay away from bottles for the time being as much as possilbe. Just latch her on as often as possible before she gets extremely hungry and fussy, which will make her efforts extra frustrating to her. You could also start with a pump to get your milk to start flowing and then latch her on so she gets milk right away and feels like her efforts are worth while right away. As she gets better at this you'll be very glad you encouraged nursing instead of pumping; it's a whole lot less messy and time consuming! Good luck, and congratulations on your new baby!

Was your baby full term? Remember your baby is learning just like you are so it will take some time for her to learn how to latch and be an efficient eater. Breastfeeding is supply and demand, you produce more milk when you have completely emptied your breast. So the more you feed/pump will tell your body that your baby needs more milk. Most BF babies eat 8-12 times a day so you need to pump 8-12 times a day when you are establishing your supply, which you should be doing at 2 weeks. My baby does not do as well as my pump unfortunately. She was just evaluated and has a weak suck, she fatigues after only 5 minutes on the breast, her lower lip quivers. We start OT/PT next Monday to help strengthen her suck to make her more efficient at the breast. I am in the process of trying to increase my supply. I went to a Lactation Consultation at Northside Hospital and I was told to pump every 2 hours and to offer her the breast 2-4 times a day plus pump. I was offering it to her everytime and I was nursing/supplimenting/pumping all day long nonstop. Eventually we did have to suppliment because she wasn't gaining any weight, even after 3 weeks we had not returned or gotten even close to her birth weight. I too didn't want to suppliment with my first (she had the same problems as my second) and I completely beat myself up and stressed about it. I was determined not to let that happen this time around. After 3 weeks I broke down and started supplimenting. SHe finally gained back her birth weight and she does seem a bit stronger, hopefully we will be back to nursing more very soon.If she is till having difficulties latching I would recommend a LC with either LLL or another Lactation Consultant. I can't say enough wonderful things about the LC at Northside. They also have a free Mom and Me support groiup that meets in ALpharetta on Fridays at 10:30-12:30. It is open to all moms, not just those that delivered at Northside and they are a wonderful resource. They also have an e-mail list serve that you can post and get some great info. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/northside_moms/?yguid=21053...
It is also free and open to anyone you just have to request to join. If you have any questions about the Mom and Me meetings in Alpharetta feel free to contact me ____@____.com and I can get you details/directions. Good luck! It will get better!
A.

Hey!

I had a bad pumping experience first time around and a great one the second time. I think the second time was better because I rented a pump (I own a Medela, but the rented pump was just better, more efficient, and I did not get mastitis (which put me in the hospital the first time around)). The second time I also pumped every 4 hours for a full 20 minutes, day or night, for the first few weeks and made sure I drank lots of fluids (particularly yogurt shakes helped me, for some reason). The length of time is important. The first time I was told to do it for 15 minutes and used the Medela pump and I didn't get half as much milk. I am not a big person, but I was creating enough milk for a small army. I froze a lot of it and did manage to provide nonformula feedings until my second one was almost four months old.

On another matter, you seem okay with not breast feeding, but in case you are not, I just want to let you know that it is okay. I had a lot of personal agony with this one and it just didn't work for us despite lactation consultants, guilt, pressure, stress, etc. In fact, with my first, the whole difficulty breastfeeding makes me look back on those early mom weeks as an incredibly emotional brutal experience. The reality was, it was just not biologically in the cards for us. Both of my kids are extremely healthy, happy, and smart. We used the Good Start DHA / ARA formula, which is easy on tummies and actually easier on the wallet than other formulas.

HTH!
D.

Hi S., Congratulations on your new baby girl! I recommend you keep breastfeeding her. The pump does not have the same effect on the body as breastfeeding does, so you won't produce as much milk, and it will eventually dry out. I had to start pumping with my first son when he was 2 months old, and by the time he was 4 months old I didn't have any more milk. With my second son, I breastfed exclusively. It worked out great. So great, I breastfed him until he was 2 years old. So my recommendation to you is to have patience and keep putting your baby on your breast as much as you can. She will eventually learn and get used to it.

Increase your intake of liquid - water preferred. You could try pumping ever 2 hours for a few days and see if this will help increase your production along with the increased water intake. V.

I wish I could help, but what I have to say probably will not be encouraging for you. I too had issue actually breastfeeding my daughter and started to pump to feed her, but I never could get enough so from very early on I had to supplement with formula. And unfortunately it was not to much longer that I could no longer pump. I think the actual act of breastfeeding encourages milk production, and pumping does not simulate the act the same way, so you will never get as much milk as you would with breast feeding.
I am not trying to discourage you, just to let you know you are not alone. My daughter is 3 now, and so very healthy and there were no affects whatsoever of having to supplement early one and actually be completly on formula by 6 weeks.

You are going to think I am crazy.....but my Dr. told me to drink a beer or 2. The yeast in the beer doubles your milk supply. You have to pump and dump the first batch, but it works like a charm. I had several people tell me that before I tried it. THere is no harm to the baby....pump and dump and then the next batch is fine!!
Drink a beer!

C. R

Hi...I can relate. I had the same problem when my daughter was 6 weeks old. I pumped for 4 months until she was 6 months old. I too, had times where my milk flow was slow. I tried pumping every two hrs (per my lactation nurse) and that seemed to help a bit, though it wasn't too fun pumping so often and at 3am, after feeding the baby to sit and have to pump really stunk! haha! But it did give me a leg up on what I needed, so I pumped and froze any little bit that I could get.

I did have no choice but supplement with formula. For instance when she was eating 4 ounces, I'd do a 1/2 and 1/2 with the formula and breast milk. My dr said it would be fine. You may also want to try fenugreek, it's a natural supplement to stimulate milk production.

Don't feel bad, you have to do what's best for your baby, and if it means you may have to supplement in order for her to get the amount of milk she needs, then that's what you have to do. Good luck!!!

Hi S...

Congrats on your new little one!
After trying to bf my daughter for a month with poor weight gain and several trips to the doc for weigh-ins (along with an abdominal ultrasound and bloodwork to rule out a medical cause) I too am exclusively pumping. I never had a supply issue (I was always engorged and leaking b/c she just wouldn't eat) but I was afraid I would lose my milk b/c many say the pump is not as effective at "demanding" as a baby sucking. For the first two months my goal was every two to two and a half hours (but not from 10p-5a)for 15-20 minutes, even if I stopped getting milk after 5 or 10 minutes. Now that she is 12 wks and my milk is well established I am down to 5 times a day averaging a total of 30 oz. It has been challenging at times, especially with a three yr old but it is worth it. My son nursed on the breast for 13 months w/o any problems so this has been a very different experience. Exclusively pumping (EPing) doesn't always get a lot of support in the BF community but there are a few good websites out there is you google it. Best wishes to you and your little girl. I hope you find the solution that works best for you both!
Also, I do still put her on the breast a couple of times a day and she is getting better, so there is hope.

You will get less pumping than the baby will by breastfeeding. Just trust your body, it will make enough for your baby. A bottle is less work for a baby so she will naturally become frustrated at the breast if she is used to the ease of a bottle. If you want to continue breastfeeding, I would nurse her on demand and stop giving her a bottle for now. After a couple months, it will be easier to continue breastfeeding her and giving her a bottle occassionally. You have everything your baby needs! Try to relax and enjoy these sweet days that go by so quickly. Good luck!

Hi S.:
I breast fed both of my children. First for 9 months and second for 18 months. With the first child my pediatrician told me to drink a about 6 ounces of beer every now and then. He said the yeast in the beer helps milk production. I only did this for a couple of weeks as before I new it I had enough milk to feed the neighborhood. Can't say for sure if it was the beer but it would be worth a try.
P.S. I was a non-drinker then and did not enjoy the taste of beer.
R.

4oz is more than enough since she is 2 weeks old.Try pumping every 4 hrs and see what happens also maybe you arent eating enough

Hi S.!
I brestfed 4 sons. It really is easier to produce milk to your child's schedule when they actually suck, but to answer your question, you will produce more milk if you pump/feed more often. Your breast will produce what your child needed last time he/she fed, so if she drank 4 oz. last feeding, you will produce 4 oz next time to meet that demand. I hated pumping, but since you had problems with her actually sucking, try pumping the same amount of time every two hours. This should increase your supply so that you will have the amount needed to fill her.
Good luck!

Awe, Congratulations on your sweet baby girl. I would keep offering breast feeding first everytime that you try to feed her. My daughter was 3 lbs 3 oz when she was born and had to learn to work hard for her food but it only helped her to grow strong and soon, breastfeeding was all she did. The reason they will put up a fuss is because breastfeeding is harder work until they get used to it. And just like all of us we would like the easier way best, but just be patient and she will learn...I had to give her about 5 min. of trying...and yes, a good bit of crying too because she was hungry but she learned quickly that way and did wonderful afterwards. It might be hard to see her struggle to learn, but it is fine...I am sure you both will be enjoying that special bond of breastfeeding very soon. Best wishes!

Hi
I nursed both my children for nine months and the way that I got more milk was to pump a few minutes longer each time I sat to pump and I took the suppliment fenugreek and ofcourse drank lots of water which is not hard when your nursing you just normally seem to be thirsty all the time.My older son had a hard time getting started on the breast just keep trying ofcourse it is easier and faster for the baby to get milk from the bottle than from the breast which is why I think he had a hard time. My daughter never cared either way to her food was food and the way she got it never mattered.

First of all, congratulations on your new daughter and breastfeeding her. It's the best start you can give her in life. I would suggest that you contact a lactation consultant. You may have a free phone consultation at Northside Hospital. What I did when I had issues though, was to go to my OB/GYN practice and have an appointment with their lactation specialist. She was hands-on like the nurses in the hospital were and very helpful in getting him to latch on correctly (and NO, babies do not know how to do that instinctively). When you're breastfeeding, you don't know how much they're getting, but if they're satisfied, you'll know it. I have absolutely no idea how much my boys took in, but they had lots of wet diapers and appropriate poops. Pumping is only going to do so much, and if the baby's not the one directing the demand, your supply will dry up quickly. Good luck!

At this age it is so important to nurse at the breast. Contact your local LLL or call the hospital LC and meet with someone who can help you with the latch. Pumps are not all alike, unless you have a ameda or Medela pump then you will not be pumping to your full potential. Also it may take your body some time to get used to pumping, up to two weeks. You will never pump out what your baby is taking out. Our babies are much better at getting the milk out then a breast pump.
Everytime you sit down to nurse your baby try and catch her about 15 min. before she is going to be really hungary then you can have some time to have skin on skin contact and get her used to the breast while she will be a little more patient. Babies do get frustrated at the breast if they are already getting a few bottles. They have to work at the breast and not with the bottle. So sit down everytime and attempt to nurse at the breast, when she gets too frustrated then go ahead and offer the bottle. But if you can stick it out and just relax and keep trying at the breast, they eventually give up and start nursing at the breast. Good luck!

Maybe you should feed her at the breast until she gets frustrated, then give her what you have pumped. You guys are still getting to know one another, so personally I would just nurse her from the breast. It may be her exposure to the bottle that is making her frustrated with the breast.