Milk Production

Try burping her... maybe there is something that tastes different in her milk (ie: maybe you are eating something that causes gas or makes the milk taste different etc.), maybe the "stress" is secreting things in the milk... (try research this on the web)....I know with exercise, it produces lactic acid and what not and this changes the "taste" of the milk, thereby some babies will refuse the breast after a Mom exercises.

Try and check her mouth... if you see "white patches" this is Thrush... and it causes pain with nursing etc. Then take her to the Doctor if so... you will need to treat her and your nipples.

Just make sure she does not get dehydrated...
I would check with the Doctor.

Or perhaps is she sick or anything?

Take care and sorry to hear of your loss .. all the best,
Susan

You're doing great. Stress can sometimes reduce your milk productions, so try not to stress to much. Also try Mother's Milk tea...you can find it at Henry's market or Trader Joes...start with one cup of tea in the morning and this should help...When I was nursing I had the same problem and my lactation consultant recommended this tea and it worked great. Good Luck and God Bless!

Don't stress! In general as long as you're drinking plenty of water, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep (now that's a funny one) you should be storing plenty of milk. Your body was made to gage how much your daughter will need. If you're concerned, contact a lactation consultant. In Los Angeles, there's the Pump Station. They've amazing-www.weelicious.com

Hi M.,
Check out breastfeeding.com very helpful!!!! Call the La Leche League, they saved me:)
Best Wishes,
J.

She probably is just pulling off because she needs to be burped....not necessarily anything to do with your milk production..... don't worry almost every mom I know goes through this same concern. She might also just have a little gas, babys have a hard time doing more then one thing at a time...my three month old still pulls off and crys for a burp, fart, or just to check out the light fixtures!!
C. H

Hi M.. Congratulations on your new little girl! I think the suggestions from the previous post are good, so you should consider those. It is unusual that she would start crying, which certainly suggests discomfort or pain, like needing to burp, thrush, or being too hot/cold. If it is thrush, deal with it ASAP. I dealt with that with my second daughter, and it is NOT something to mess around with.

All that being said, so long as she has regular wet diapers and is gaining weight, she is getting enough to eat. If you have doubt that she is having enough wet diapers or if she seems to be losing weight, take her to the doctor right away. My first daughter would nurse for as long as she could, but my second daughter could get a complete feeding in about 5 minutes!

Are you pumping? If so, you can try giving her a bottle a couple/few times per day so that you can be sure she is getting some quantity of milk. However, sometimes bottles can cause more gas, so if that is what is going on, you should consider that. Mylicon drops work pretty well to help gas discomfort in little ones.

Good luck to you!!! You are doing a wonderful thing by exclusively breast-feeding, and if there is anything else I can offer you for support, let me know!

M.,
One way to know if she's getting enough is if you weigh her. They sell scales for babies, I've seen them at A Mother's Haven, in Encino. Talk to a lactation consultant, or call la Leche league. There is a tea you can drink to increase/ support milk production, by Earth Mama/ Angel Baby called Milkmaid tea. I used to nurse with more frequency and that would always increase my mild supply.
Best wishes.
C

My daughter did the same and I traced it to the milk I was drinking. I stop all dairy and she went back to feeding well. Just keep offering her the breast. So sorry about your Mom.

Don't worry about how much she's getting. If she's gaining weight and healthy. Don't worry she's getting enough. She's also getting enough because she has gotten more effecirnt at nursing. We never can tell how much they are getting when we are nursing but I asure you she is getting enough. I nursed both my children. My daughter nursed for a full year. You're doing great!

I'm going through the same thing except for my 6 week old son is not sleeping more than 3-4 hours at night. Luck you to get 6 hours!!!! I feel that in the evening he drains both breasts, but your body has a back up supply and will produce more. My son backs up and pulls away to, but seems to want more I found out that it's just air (gas) I burp him and put him back on and he's fine.

Also, drink plenty of fluids at all times, even if you're not thirsty! I found that helps in milk supply.

Hope this helps

Hi M., Sorry to hear you lost your mom, I lost mine 3 years ago so I know how you feel, and if you need somone to talk to I'm out here. Many things can caise your milk to be low, so what i would do s have formula on had, so if your baby pulls away and cries and you think she may be hungry you can try her on formula and see if she eats, it make take some coaxing sinse she has only breast fed, but then at least you would know. J. L.

HI M.,
Our son did this very thing and we found out it was GERD- or reflux. As the milk starts coming in, the stomach starts producing acids to digest it, but the esophagus doesn't properly keep the acids where they belong, and the acids "reflux" into the esophagus. If your daughter seems to be in pain, rather than frustrated, I would really look into whether this is the issue. One way to help determine this would be to nurse her as upright as possible, and see if she nurses longer. Also- holding our son upright for about 30 minutes after a feed helped. I am so sorry for your loss, and I hope that you can get enough help to find some time to grieve and think about your mom- as being a new mom yourself is all-consuming.
Blessings, S.

As babies get older they nurse faster and are more efficent. They pull just as much milk out but in a faster time frame. My nursing went from 30 minutes to 15 to now sometimes even 5 minutes. I wouldn't worry and she is probably just full and doesn't want anymore.

First off my condolences to your loss.

I'm thinking maybe she's going through a growth spurt. When she starts to fuss take her off, burp her and try the other side. Maybe try to feed her a couple minutes earlier before she's really hungry. It could be she's very hungry and can't get it fast enough. Also if you're worried about production get the Mother's Milk tea or some Fenugreek(sp?) I've heard they work wonders. Good luck.

Hi M.-
There may be nothing wrong with your production. My son was the same way and now, at 9 months and 23+ pounds, he only nurses 6-10 minutes 4-5 times per day. Babies get more efficient at nursing, as someone else mentioned. If she is sleeping 7 hrs per night, she is probably fine. If she is still hungry, she'll let you know.

Dear M.,

I haven't read the other posts, so sorry if its a duplicate. I went through the same thing with my daughter right about at the same time. My first question to you is whether she is gaining weight appropriately. If she is (mine was gaining 2 oz a day instead of the recommended 1/2oz) then you may actually want to extend feedings to 3 hours. I went to the pediatrician thinking that maybe she had reflux, colic or something else wrong with her. She would eat for 10-15 minutes, whimper, latch off cry, try to latch on, whimper, kick, get sweaty, posture, etc.

When we weighed her before and after a feeding we knew that she was getting plenty of food. In fact she had gotten more efficient at feeding and would eat 2-3oz in 10 minutes from one side. The pediatrician explained that my daughter was getting the equivalent of a thanksgiving meal at each feeding. She was bloated, gassy, cranky. She asked how I would feel if I ate a huge meal 5 times a day?

She recommended stretching out the time between feedings and it worked really well. It was harder for me than for my baby. (I felt guilty for "starving" her!LOL) Just extend the feedings each day slowly, say by 10 minutes or so till you get to 3 hours in between. As your baby grows she will become more and more efficient at feeding. Just make sure you give her a chance to finish. If she demands feeding closer together at the end of the day its okay.

Let us know how it goes!

well, i can tell you for a FACT that stress will diminish your milk supply...it happened to me with my daughter. the only advice i can give you is to TRY to keep happy, calming thoughts while you are feeding, & feed or pump AS SOON as you feel the 'let down'. stress will also become a factor when you feed (ie : "feeding hasn't been going well, i hope she gets enough this time" "am i supplying enough?", etc..) the outside stressors (loss of you mom, i'm so sorry) you cannot do anything about....but try not to let the other worries of milk supply, etc creep into your head while you are feeding, because that will ALSO cause it to drop. i know it's not the best advice & it is easier said than done, but..... good luck to you

It looks like you've got some good advice. Just a couple things I want to point out:
If she's hungry, she'll let you know. If she's sleeping 6-7 hours at night, she's not starving. (and yay for you and sleep!) You may want to see if you can pump and bottle feed her and see how much she is eating, but she's probably just fine. Also, as long as she is having healthy weight gain, she's fine. Congrats on the new baby, and I'm sorry for the loss of your mother. Hope this helps you!

It sounds like you are under a lot of stress. When my milk started to give out I ate lots of oatmeal. I got that suggestion from a few different sources and it seemed to work. It wasn't fun because I HATE oatmeal but it did work. I also had a tough time keeping milk when I went back to work so I found it helpful to pump more often than necessary even if it is for 5 minutes just to keep things moving.
My good friend lost her mom when she was 7 mo prego. I know it was very hard for her as a new mom trying to balance her grief with the joy of her baby girl.

Is she having the same amount of wet diapers? This is a true test to see if babies are getting enough hydration. Also, try letting her have a break when she cries & then give her another try after 10 minutes or so. Are you drinking enough water? Also, when she stops & cries, try to manually milk yourself to see if there is anything.

I'm sorry to hear that you just lost your mom. I lost mine last year this time, so I understand your loss & sadness.

Take care of yourself & everything will be fine!

You have lots of great advice here. Just one more thing - could be teething. (I know they say they don't start until older, but my daughter started teething at six weeks). Does she have other signs of teething such as drooling, or mouthing everything (my daughter tryied biting on her fist)?

I'm so sorry for your loss. What a challenge to have such joy and sadness. I had to write and just tell you that you're doing a great job.
Some suggestions for pulling away could be;
Mom not getting enough food! Forget the fancy teas and oatmeal, just eat every 2 hours or so!
gas-give her a burp and put her back on.
Milk coming too quickly-give her a break,adjust position maybe and latch again.
Slow let down-do a mindless activity like watch tv or read so you relax.
Still hungry-babies go through so many growth spurts, so to have such a strong schedule makes me think you have to let her suck more/more often. It will increase your milk production to prepare for growth spurts and bond. (I have never heard of a baby not wanting to just suck like some others suggested.) Weigh your baby to make sure her weight is continuously rising. I would skip the formula/supplement feedings unless ped. is worried about weight and you can't correct it by nursing. Nursing is the best for baby : )Double check your latch (Sharp has free la leche gatherings on Monday and Friday).
It may have nothing to do with feeding and she's picking up stresses and sadness that you are projecting. I would rethink working for a while.
Regardless, love her up, relax, keep trying different things and eat/drink. Congratulations on your beautiful girl.

M., I am very sorry that you are going through so much at this time. I think that this same thing happened to me and my baby at around that time in his life. he started to pull away sooner than his normal amount of time. as long as she has no fever and her ears aren't causing problems it is normal for your milk to release quicker and she can now take more in with each suck that she gets full faster than before. Your supply knows what to do. good luck with starting to work again. It is very tough. I cried the first week everyday, and still do occasionally.

Relax first of all. Make sure you are hydrating enough with lots of water. Have a soup here and there.
My daughter does the same thing. She eats a lot but deats it in small portions. You should only start to be concerned if she isn't making the recommended amount of wet diapers or if she starts to lose weight. If you feel like you need to know how much she is eating, pump your milk at least 4 times a day and feed her this in the bottle. That way you'll know how many ounces she's eating. If you're still worried, call La Leche. They are a wonderful resource and so is your pediatrician. I have a great doctor that I can call and ask questions with.

Wishing you success!

Maybe she just isn't that hungry one day to the other.
Just like us sometimes we can eat a lot and other times we might just snack or eat a little. She will not starve and will eat more when she is hungry. Also it could be various things such as something you ate isn't agreeing with her, or also your stress. If you can feel the milk or test it to confirm it is there, then you don't need to worry about lack of.

could be a decrease in milk b/c milk establishes itself the the 6th week and if you just went through all this stress that could be it..also could be that the letdown is too fast..my son ignored my left boob for awhile b/c it was the milk maker so my milk supply dropped in that boob...it was too much for him..
here is my list on how to build your milk supply...i had supply issues and i'm still bfing and my son is 2.5 .. the best thing i used was Motilium aka DOM ..i'm not sure if it's been approved in the U.S. yet. ...you take 2 a day for 2 weeks you will see an increase in about 72 hours
and by the time the 2 weeks is up you're double what you were pumping..it's actually some sort of gas med for your belly but it also makes lactating moms make more milk.

So sorry for your loss--that is a big deal, especially at this time in your life (not that it is ever a good time to lose a parent). By pulling away so soon and crying she is definitely telling you someting. I agree it could be lower supply due to stress from your emotions and likely over-work, or it could be a case of Thrush. Check out the La Leche League website on this issue too, they are full of great advice. If you DO want to increase your milk production, what worked for me is to (1) eat more healthy foods and drink more water, and (2) take Fenugreek supplement. Fenugreek gave me serious giant supply with no negative side effects, but I did read in one magazine to NOT use it. So research it for yourself if your interested. You should try to rest more too, and relax (have hubby give you foot massage or brush your hair, or go get weekly pedicures, etc.)

Is she pulling away and then arching her back? If so...it might be reflux. That was one of the major symtems with my daughter. I would see a lactation consultant. They are a huge help with BF issues. Good Luck!

I'm so sorry that you just lost your Mom. What a tough thing to go through right now.

Keep nursing as often as possible. You NEED to EAT and DRINK plenty of water!!!! Sorry for the caps! LOL! Really, though, I know it's tough but you must take care of yourself to make that yummy milk for your new baby.

She is still very young and the supply and demand is still be worked out - you aren't running out but you may not be making as much right now with the stress and all. Try, as hard as it may be to just relax while nursing her. Look in to her beautiful face and just realize that what you are doing is such a wonderful thing.

After 10-15 minutes, if she pulls away, try switching to your other side. She may just be unhappy with the flow, or it may just be time to switch sides. I know with my first, she nursed on each side for a good 30-45 minutes, with my second, he was a 10min a side nurser. I called him efficient, he got on, ate and got off! LOL! My daughter liked to hang out!

** I just read Susan's response and it reminded me of both of my kids when they were babies - often when they pulled off like you described, they needed to be burped. Sounds so simple, but until reading her response, I forgot!

Enjoy your new baby,
M.

M.,

When my son was about 10 weeks old (he is now 8 1/2 months) he started to do the same thing. He used to nurse for 15 to 20 minutes. Then at 10 weeks he started to nurse for 10 or even 5 minutes then pull away crying. He arched his back and seemed angry and in pain. I thought my milk supply was decreasing. I saw my lactation consultant and she observed me nurse him. I was so stressed because I knew I had pumped only an hour earlier and figured there was nothing left. He began screaming immediately and pulled away. She told me that he was exhibiting signs of a baby with reflux. My son never really spit up much so I think he has silent reflux.

There could be a number of things going on. I'm not saying your daughter has reflux but it might be good idea to check it out. If your daughter's weight gain is good and the pediatrician is not concerned, then I'm sure she's doing fine. My recommendation is to see a lactation consultant. My pediatrician did not diagnose the reflux. He gave my son Zantac because I asked for it. Two weeks after my son was on Zantac and I took some milk supplements, it was as if the problem never happened. If you're in the South Bay I have a great referral for you.

R.

Hi there! I'm so sorry about your loss.
At 6-7 weeks, the baby's suck gets a lot more efficient. It could very well be that she's finished a lot faster than before and gets annoyed that she's still on the breast. Is she wanting to feed approx. at the same times as before, or longer?
Good luck!
Sophie

Same situation here (32 with my first girl). Don't give up. I love breastfeeding and have the most wonderful relationship with my 7 month now because we kept at it. I too had a difficult time in the beginning almost identical to yours...the 30 minute every 2 hour rule doesn't work for everyone. My doctor called her a day snacker...she's a 5 minute on each breast...and in an hour 5 or 10 more minutes...but they forget so quickly the rejection. She may need to walk around for a few minutes and then try again. The doctor said it was fine for my girl as long as she looks healthy and gains her weight (she's in the 95 percentile now!)I found breastfeeding the most difficult the first 2 1/2 months. If she's only eating a short amount of time...feed her more frequent snacks (pump and freeze 1 to 2 ounce bottles for her if you return back to work but give her a nursing before bed and before you leave for work. She will tell you when it's enough...just learn to listen. At night stay close. When she tosses and turns after 6-7 hours of sleeping, feed her a again, and she'll fall back asleep. My schedule is like this 7pm bath time 730 nursing until sleep (around 830 after suckling stops) I transfer her when her limbs are completely limp to her crib in my room. She'll toss and turn (never cry) maybe a grunt at around 4am sometimes 5 or 6 am and I bring her back to my bed and feed her again and she sleeps again till 7. I get sleep and my down time in the eveinings and she gets sleep and a hard feeding before bed a snack and when she wakes. You'll find your routine soon (and then she'll change it up as she needs). Have fun!

hi there! i'm so sorry to hear about your mom. being a new breastfeeding mom can be SO hard, i can't imagine doing that AND losing your mom at the same time. my heart goes out to you.

around 6 weeks until about 3/4 months, my baby would fuss at the breast about every 3-4 weeks. with a "normal" feeding, she'd nurse for 10-20 minutes per side, so it was strange when she'd fuss after a few minutes. she would latch on, pull off, cry, latch back, pull off, over and over. sometimes she'd be ok for about 5 minutes if i switched sides. i'm fairly certain that it was a growth spurt each time, but when it happened i would worry: am i underproducing, overproducing, is she gassy, does she hate me???? it was super stressful, but we always got through it. just make sure she's gaining weight. i would take my baby to the Pump Station to get weighed, but you can probably go to your dr's office.

my daughter is 10 months today, 25+ lbs and has never had formula. just take it minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, day-by-day and you'll be ok. :-)

Hi M., I had low production and really had to concentrate on a few things:
1. Reduce Stress-easier said but very necessary
2. Increase fluids and eat properly
3. Try a Whole Foods store and get the Mothers Milk Supplement- it worked wonders for me.
4. Relax and love your baby.
5. Nurse often and possibly pump in between if she's going for a long time between feedings.
6. Take care of yourself, so you can be your best for her.
So sorry to hear about your loss, hang in there and be strong!

I would contact the LaLecheLeague they are a wonderful resource for just this kind of thing. They have a web site LaLecheLeague.com. I do know stress can cut your supply. Take care and God Bless.

There's a lot of stress in your life! Try to take some time to just sit with your babe and be calm, available, and let her nurse as much as she wants.
One more possibility - my son used to pull on and off when he needed to pee or poop. Try holding your daughter over the toilet (back against your chest, holding under her thighs) or over a small bowl/bucket to see if she just needs to go, and if she'll calm down enough to continue nursing.
Good luck, mama - sounds like you need a rest and your baby needs your calm presence back!

hi happily married!

you are fine. i went through the same thing. my son is now 11 months old but for the first six months of his life he had breast milk exclusively. it's the best way to go.

do you know about the 3 and 6 week spurts? at 3 and at 6 weeks old babies go through a shift where they start eating more aggressively -- they are stimulating you to make more milk because they are going through growth spurts. It happens again at 3 months and 6 months. So at 7 weeks, she has probably just come off of her six-week growth spurt, which is why she is not eating as much.

You know, that is the amazing thing about babies, they will let you know when they need something! If she is hungry, you will know it.

You're doing a great job.

On a metaphysical level, release yourself from any fears or doubts about lack, limitation or not-enough-ness. Your body is making everything she needs. She is healthy, well-fed and beautiful!

Namaste.

Breastfeeding is all about supply and demand. She is growing. Milk production needs a bit of time to adjust during the many growth spurts that babies go through. Nurse more often, and you will produce more milk. Pumping may help, but pumping is not the same as nursing. Nurse as often as possible in order to stimulate your milk production. Do not doubt your body's ability to produce enough milk. That is mistake #1 when it comes to breastfeeding. Keep on feeding your daughter and all will be well. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother.

Great job breast feeding, THE BEST thing you can ever do for your child. Your milk is made for her and adjusts to HER needs. She is 'older' now and doens't have to nurse as long. Babies get better at sucking/more efficient and don't nurse as long. Be sure to offer both breasts at each feeding and she's getting plenty. They know when they're full more than looking at the clock. Your milk changes to suit her needs and timing, it will condense... Be sure you switch which breast you offer first to make sure she's always getting the right amount of hind & fore milk. You're doing great.

REST and eat and drink ALOT, everytime you feed her feed yourself.

You sound stressed and that can affect your supply, the 'right guy' you married should allow you to take more time off teaching and focus on the most important job, being a mom. Hang in there, nap when you can. Prioratize the household jobs and your teaching, make your daughter and yourself #1.

Your body will produce enough milk. My 8 week old is often gassy (as was my older one at this stage) and will not eat as a result. I would take her off, burp her and give her Gripe Water and then feed her again. I am sure you both will do great once she gets her tummy empty of the air.

If you are going through a stressful time you may need to take a deep breath and refocus when you are with her. Babies can feel when you are stressed and sometimes don't know what to make of it. If she has not lost weight and is sleeping well it means she healthy. Make sure that you eat well so that when she does it you have enough to sustain her. I know that you are exclusivly breast feeding however; if you really feel like she is not getting enough, you can supplement her with formula using a little medicine cup. Don't use any nipples so there is no nipple confusion. Supplementing is only to easy your mind that she has had enough to eat, I wouldn't do it every feeding so she doesn't get used to the formula. Remember if she is sleeping and is not crying she feel ok. Hungry babies cry. You will do fine. Remember you and your baby are learning all this together, just take your time and relax. You know more than you realize.