Need Help with Breastfeeding

Pump! Pump! Pump! This is the only way to increase milk supply. I had the same problem and everyone told me to quit. The pump did wonders to my milk supply.

You should be getting 4-8 ounces at a time by now, so you should access medical support. There are breastfeeding doctors who can assess and prescribe medication if necessary. In the mean time, drink a guinness and lots of water.

I can give you a few things that have helped me. I am a mother of two children. My youngest is 8 months old and I am presently breatfeeding him full time and working full time as a teacher.

Here is what I have done to help keep my milk production going good. I drink a lot of water every day. Just plain water. I stay away from drinks, like soda that contain a lot of sodium that takes fluids away from my milk production. I also either feed my son or pump out at about the same times every day. If I changed the time then the next time I would not have as much milk for my son. Keeping a schedule really helped. I also take prenatal vitamins that my doctor said would help keep me healthy and my milk rich.

I hope this helps.

Hi D.! Hang in there! Only 2 % of women truly have issues where they are unable to breastfeed fully. Many times its a simple problem with a simple soluction, the problem is diagnosing it! First, get rid of the formula. ANYTIME the baby is hungry, crabby, crying, nurse, nurse, nurse. If you are able, spend 2 days in bed with him topless and keep him skin to skin. This will help your supply better than any herbs will, believe it or not. Don't give him a pacifier either (dont know if you are or not) let him use you for his sucking needs. And dont let the pump make you feel like you dont have enough. A handheld pump can only empty the breast by 10% and the double electric, top of the line pumps are only 50-60% effective at emptying the breasts. Some woemn just dont respond well to a pump, so a pump is never a good indicator of how much you are making. The best thing to do is weigh your baby before a feed, then nurse him, then re-weigh him. Then you know exactly how much he's getting and many Mom's realize then that they really dont have a supply problem, they just feared they did. Its hard to trust ourselves, especially because we cant meausre, but the best way to measure is by weight and how many poo and pee diapers we get in a 24 hour period. If all of that is normal and up to par, then he's probably not crying because he's hungry...it may be something else. But try the first few things I told you...see how that works for you and if you need any other help, please message me. Don't give up or let anyone make you feel like you "just didnt cut it, it happens to a lot of women, its normal etc..." Its unlikely you are in the 2% that wont make enough. Trust yourself and your body...you can do it!
~Tara Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Buffalo NY

You definitely need to keep your fluid intake at a very high level....guzzle lots of water, you will see an increase in your milk probably within 24 hrs. I had a very difficult time keeping my milk supply sufficient with my 2nd child due to my lack of fluids (was busy running around after my 1st child and would "forget" to drink) But, after I got it figured out I was able to breastfeed for 13 months. You can also contact the Lactation Consultant up at Newton Memorial Hospital in the Maternity Dept. she is very good. Your body works on supply and demand....try not to pump so close to your feeding time so you can have enough for the baby and then pump right after to completely empty yourself...it will tell your body it needs to make more. Good Luck and stick with it...it's tough, but you can do it! :)

Hi D.. The key to making enough milk when breastfeeding, is drinking enough. Your body will produce enough milk to suffice your son if you have enough liquid in your body to make it. Your body is truely an amazing thing. The only question I ask, is if you are on any types of medication (ie. birthcontrol) that can produce hormones that will make this less effective? Drink tons and tons of water - like more than you think is normal, and you will make more. I know this doesn't work for all, and I commend you on your efforts to continue breastfeeding in such a stressful situation. I wish you the best of luck!

I just want to say keep breastfeeding and don't get hung up on the fact that you are supplementing with formula. Any milk he gets from you is nourishing him. I have breastfed both my boys and remember those growth spurts well. Some days/nights I felt like he was attached to me for hours and I always wondered if he finally stopped out of exhaustion or fulfillment. My lactation consultant suggested that I pump after each feeding since the supply is based upon supply and demand. Which is why after some growth spurts I ended up with mastitis since they were not draining me at each feeding. I have also drank mother's milk tea and felt that did help me. I do not know of any other remedies other than to keep nursing, pump after nursing sessions if possible and definitely relax when nursing and imagine your milk filling him up. I know it sounds crazy but if you are beginning to feel anxious and stressed about not having enough milk you may not be letting down for the milk to flow. Drink water and stay hydrated. Good luck:)

I had a very similar problem when my daughter was that age. The lactation consultant that I worked with suggested pumping whenever possible (even if it's not for the full 10 minutes) to help increase supply. She also suggested giving a small amount (maybe start with 1 to 2 oz) of formula or pumped milk before a feeding, then after a few days of that decrease the amount you bottle feed by a half an ounce, then wait a few days and decrease it again, until you're not giving any bottles. Your body will learn to produce more milk that way and your little one won't be hungry! I also read that oatmeal can help increase your supply...

When my little one was a few weeks old she was barely gaining any weight- I worked with a lactation consultant and she's a little giant now! Good luck- it gets SO much easier!

Everything that you is great so I hope you will keep it up. I don't know if you are doing this already or not or how you feel about it but you might want to try co-sleeping with your baby. Nursing more frequently at night could boost your supply.

I hope you have contacted a lactation consultant too just in case it is a latch problem that is causing your baby not to nurse efficiently. Do you hand express while your baby is nursing? That might help as well.

What kind of breat pump do you use? I tried many of the hand held ones and I could only pump 1 oz if that, so I got really frustrated. My midwife told me to get a medela Pump in style breast pump. It worked wonders for me and it only took about 5-10 minutes to pump 8oz or more. It is electric or you can use batteries if you are traveling. They are kind of pricey but worth every penny. I think I paid $275 for mine on ebay. Don't buy a used one make sure it is new if you go on ebay to buy it. Good luck.

Drink tons of water. Also, some people don't agree with this one, but it works...sip on a beer throughout the day (I don't mean multiple beers, I am talking 1 beer over 6 hours or so). It worked for me, I don't know if it is the hops in the beer, but it works!

You are doing all the right things. Keep pumping and don't give up. You need to realize that your body is not going to pump 8 oz at a time yet because a baby would not drink that much yet. I think you should call a lactation consultant too. If you live anywhere near Stratford, CT there is a fabulous doctor named Christina Smilie who runs a practice called Breastfeeding resources. She's a pediatrician as well so your insure will most likely cover it. Good luck and hang in there. It's hard work. Susan

I supplemented after awhile ... at least you are still breastfeeding...

I had some serious issues with milk coming in late, being on multiple antibiotics, etc. I took fenugreek capsules which helped a lot, amazing results after a few days of consistent use. The herbs are not just a quick fix--they are something you need to do on an ongoing basis so they build up to work. If you use them now and again, they really won't do much for you. Make sure you are drinking LOTS of water and getting plenty of good whole foods and protein, too

Regarding pumping, the problem may be the pump and not you. I tried several hospital grade electric pumps and was never able to express milk like I could with an Avent hand pump.

Don't give up! It is the best gift you can give your son.

I wish you all the best luck in the world, but please do not beat yourself up about this. I am a mother of a beautiful, HEALTHY 19 month old girl who received only my colestrum. I tried for TWELVE weeks with every contraption, diet, and even some medications to get my body to produce milk. The whole time I felt awful b/c there are so many women out there ready to judge you when you can not breastfeed. I never produced more than 2-3 ounces in a 24 hour period. After doing extensive research on my own and with my OB/GYN, it is a problem that does occur in women. There can be a variety of reasons or no reason at all.

You may not want to hear this, but you may be drying up by NO FAULT of your own. I definately recommend to keep trying b/c as a research scientist I do understand the benefits of any breast milk, but DO NOT FEEL BAD about having to supplement with formula. There are so many out there that I am positive you can find one you feel comfortable with- I do recommend going with an organic brand if you can afford it and boil some fennel seeds in the water used for mixing it.

p.s. you may want to ask some other women in your family if they had any problems b/c a genetic link can be seen in many cases...and they may not want to admit it right off the bat

I hope this finds you in good spirits
T.

nurse him first.15 minutes on each side. then supplement him with a ottle if necessary. This way your body will start to produce more milk and he will need less and less of the bottle.It may seem like he isnt getting any but if you have a good latch and keep him suckling for the 15 minuted per side(mine used to fall asleep before he was done then want to eat again sooner) so I had to sometimes undress him a little so he wasnt quite so soothed and warm)) Make sure you are drinking lots of water also. It will help you both feel better and you need rehydration when you are nursing. I used to tryto have a bottle each time i fed mine. Good luck , keep up the good work, you are doing a great job! I have 3 kids one was swithced over to formual at 2 months the others I carried on for 6 months+, but you cannot tell when they walk down the street who wa s breast fed and who was bottle fed so dont stress. Relax and enjoy him. As long as you care for and feed him he will be fine, and you cant go wrong there!

Hi! I had a similar problem with my second son who was 10lbs when he was born, never lost any weight and just fed like a monster!! I had to go back to a pretty stressful job after 3 months which also did not help my milk production... ACUPUNCTURE! I had amazing results with acupuncture to increase my milk production... so try it! Also, dont beat yourself up about a bit of formula here and there, we cant all be superwomen! I nursed my first child until 20 months no problem, he was exclusively breast fed until 1 years old, when I had my second son it was completely different, I just didnt have the same amount of milk, so you do what you can to improve the situation! Good luck! S.

Hi,
Maybe you've already heard this, but you should contact La Leche League International. It is staffed by knowledgable volunteers who can give you advice. Check online! Good luck. My first child (now 31) used to nurse all day; my mother-in-law said she was hungry, till the four-week checkup showed that she had gained almost 3 pounds! Is the baby gaining nicely? He may just want to nurse for the comfort of it.

I had a similar problem with my FIRST, I just never had enough milk so i did what your doing, because i didn;t want my baby to suffer,

With my second I could feed until he was 6months old,
and then with my 3rd again NOT enough milk.

Your doing the right thing, just make sure to nurse him BEFORE feeding the formula, because that will stimulate the milk to produce, NOTHING else works except eating at every meal time and drinking plenty of water and milk,

Breast size has nothing to do with it,

M

You truly need help from a La Leche League Leader or a Lactation Consultant. Please don't give up and be patient. I have been a leader and a specialist in breastfeeding/childbirth for 13 years and I can tell you that if you don't get help soon, you will give up. Someone needs to see you and spend some time with you to ask a lot of questions.

Hang in there

Mother of 7** 16 months to (almost) 20 years old.

How many wet diapers are you getting from him per day? This is the only way you know how much milk you are producing. He can't void it unless he's taken it in, right? Let the diapers tell you how much milk you are producing.
If the number of wet diapers has not dropped much, I would not worry too much about your supply. Sometimes babies have periods of fussiness.
He may just be teething, and nursing is more about comfort than hunger. If this is the case, why not give him water or a pacifier? It'll give you a break and comfort his little gums without filling him up with calories he could be getting from you.
On the other hand, if you are getting only a couple of wet diapers per day, by all means supplement.
Talk to your doctor or your local La Leche League. Just the phone call will make you feel so much better.

Watch out for the herbal supplements- your body can become dependent. I highly recommend eating a healthy high fat diet, whole milk yogurt, avocados, olive oil, coconut, walnuts, etc. You may want to try some flaxseed oil, too (I mix it into yogurt smoothies, it has no taste). These are foods that will really help your body produce rich hind milk. Be sure that you're getting a good latch and that you're leaving him on for a good 8-10 minutes per side. Don't use the amount you can pump as an indicator of how much milk you have...I never had success pumping, but had great breastfeeding success with all my kids. Supplementing with formula is sabotaging your efforts, so you might want to reconsider. Blessings!

Hi D.,

My heart goes out to you! You are doing a wonderful job and that's really important to keep in mind.

There's a product by Motherlove called More Milk Plus. You can find it on line or at Realbirth on 22nd St. in Manhattan(I don't know where you are located). Fenugreek, which I have an still use (when needed) has proven helpful to me.

Check with your pediatrician--if your son is gaining weight appropriately, than no worries. You are right to feed him when he's hungry--even if it's formula. He's getting breast milk and YOU chould feel good about that!

If you can get in touch with a lactation consultant, that my help. If you delivered your son at a hospital, call that facility; they have them on staff and can probably hook you up.

Hang in there--your son is lucky for your efforts!

A.

breastfeeding is so hard... your body should be able to make enough milk... you can't go by pumping to tell how much you are making as the pump is not as efficient as the breast. i agree with the other poster.. feed on demand... is he gaining weight? Are you eating and drinking enough? sometimes if you drink more water, more milk will be produced.. also eat enough good fat... avacados, olive oil etc... he may not be getting the fatty part of your milk and not feel as full..
good luck-J.

Have you contacted a lactation consultant yet? That should be the first thing that you do if you haven't done so. Call your hospital for a name. Your hospital may also have a breast feeding support group. I know Long Island Jewish has one. Is the baby latching properly? Most of your areola needs to be in his mouth for the milk to be released properly. He shouldn't just latch onto your nipple. Have you tried massaging your breast while he is nursing to see if more milk lets down? Also trie warm compresses before you nurse to see if that helps. Drink PLENTY of water also. I drink at least 4 bottles of water a day plus juice and rice milk (Alergy to dairy) My little guy is 13 months and still nursing. I'm sorry you are having so many problems. But don't give up before you consult a specialist. Good Luck!!!

You have to pump if you want to get your milk production up. I fed my daughter every 3 hours and pumped in between then (at an hour and a half). I did this for a week to get my milk up. After that I would produce about 6-8 ounces per 3 hour feeding. You have to keep up with either nursing or pumping on a somewhat regular schedule otherwise your body doesn't think it needs to produce as much and it will slow down your milk production. There are no magic herbal pills or home remedies, you just have to commit to doing it.

i know its difficult to breastfed but for now you ca ngive hime formula advance iron then keep drinking lots of water, milk and soups to produce milk. other than that, if it frustrating, it is okay to give formula advance iron... there is no harm in that instead of not giving him enough. what is your pediatrician telling you? maybe, you should follow with what he or she is saying

What works for me is pumping one breast while feeding my son on the other, I get twice the amount of milk then when I pump after he feeds. It takes some practice to get used to but after a couple of times it gets a lot easier. Best of Luck to you!

please see a lactaction consultant and go to La Leche Meetings or check out their website.

I know how you feel about the growth spurt, my 4 mo old every now and then wants to nurse every hour! It's a pain but it's helping the body produce more milk...keep switching breasts, that's what I did...

Maybe the lac consultant can offer more ideas...don't give up! Giving formula will not stimulate your breasts enough and your milk supply will go down...so keep nursing...

I would keep pumping. I know there's very little right now, but that will change. Your body has to get used to the pump. I went from pumping next to nothing to pumping a bottle and a half.

One way to get more milk is to nurse and pump at the same time. I did this by putting the boppy on around my side with the baby in sort of a football hold position. (Be sure that there is something on the other side of the baby like the arm rest of the chair, so that he doesn't roll over and off the boppy. Then I would pump on the other side. Your body is used to the baby already, so it will let down more milk and eventually will respond to the pump alone.

Good luck!!!!
K.

Hi D.,

How is you diet? Are you eating regularly? Is it mainly whole foods versus processed? Do you drink anything with caffeine in it? How much water do you drink? Do you get plenty of sleep?
Have you been taking it easy since the birth? Any stress? Do you exercise too much? There are so many things that can influence your milk supply. Are you supported to breastfeed by your family and friends?

C.

hi D.;; first thing to do is go on the web and find your local chapter of La Leche Leagut Intl; they are really the best and foremost source for this help and they are there for you 24 hours, no kidding; find the chapter in your area and loook for the phone numbers for your local leaders, you can call them right away.

for yourself the first thing to look at is your latch; in other words, how the baby's mouth is hooking onto your nipple; the suction and postion has to be right; you probably have PLENTY of milk, it's almost NEVER the case tht the mother isn't making enough; the problem may be that the baby is not nursing adequately, in other words he may be working too hard becuase his mouth isn't attached right. and if he's not latched right, he's constantly catching up, and hungry all the time.

if your nipples are sore and red or chaffed or anything like that, this is a sure sign that the latch is not right. LLL will help you with this in person but here's a quickie how-to;

when you are putting him onto your breast, what you want to do is make sure that he is at a right angle to your breast first, in other words laying sideways across you; then, take your breast in your hand, cup it with your thumb on top and your fingers under it for support, squeeze it gently to firm it up in a cone shape (not hard, just a little bit), and use this hold to put the nipple on his nose; then, drag the nipple down from the tip of his nose, pulling his lower lip down and opening his mouth VERY VERY WIDE.

now, still holding the breast firmly, point the nipple upward toward the back of his mouth, and push the breast in, filling the mouth with as much of the aureola (dark part all around the nipple) as possible.

i promise you this will feel wierd at first but it is the right way; it is kind of an exaggeration of a series of movements that will guarantee that your nipple is going far enough back into his mouth that he is sucking with the stronger muscles of his jaw, and not just dragging on you with his tounge; also, having the breast farther back into the mouth will ensure that the nipple won't get damaged, or more damaged.

i would also strongly urge you to see a lactation consultant; look on the web for an IBCLC; International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. this is because many people who call themselves LCs are not liscenced and are self taught and although they mean well, they are not always effective. your La Leche League group can also direct you to someone.

another thing to consider, and this is a good reason to see an experienced, liscenced LC, is the possibility that the baby may have toung tie; this means that the stringy muscle under the toung is too wide from the front of the mouth toward the back, and may be keeping the baby's tounge from working adequately; its often hereditary; i had it and my son had it and he lost almost a pound in his first 3 days of life; my LC saw it right away and we had the muscle clipped, which can and should be done WITHOUT anesthesia by a variety of practitioners, and i put him back on the breast literally 30 seconds later, and he was nursing like a champ and made up all his weight by the end of the week. and never had another nursing problem again. so ask around at LLL about this as well.

good luck to you!
j

Hi D., There is a drug called Domperidone, a side effect of which is lactation, that moms I've met have taken with great success. I don't know where you're located but this woman Lorna is supposed to be an excellent lactation consultant and comes to your home. http://www.lactationservices.com/ Please contact her even if she's out of your area; I'm sure she can give you some great tips. My four-month-old just had her first cold and her pediatrician said, "thank God she's a breastfed baby, this virus is much worse in my patients on formula -- I've already hospitalized two babies with it..." The commitment to breastfeeding is so worth it, for both mom and baby. GOOD LUCK!

Hi D.,

While not all agree, any way you nourish your baby, be it breast milk or formula, will ultimately be good for him. I am a 40 year old mom of two, 9 and 4. I had issues with each with nursing. I did what I could and got them as much breast milk as possible and also supplemented. They are excedingly healthy kids now.

I learned after stressing over the nursing with my first baby, that the stress doesn't help the situation either. Know that you are a good mom regardless of how you feed the baby. Enjoy your time with him. They grow up so fast!!

Hi D.,
My son pulled the same thing on me. I ended up sitting down and nursing him pretty much non-stop for almost 2 days. This significantly increased my milk supply. After that he always had to eat often every 2-3 hours vs. 3-4 but worth it. And of course every so often I'd have to do it again- but often times it was just a day. I'm sure you've heard it's a supply and demand scenerio, that's why formula can really undermine the whole process. If he's crying like he's still hungry after nursing and you wait even 1/2 an hour there will be some more milk.
I nursed both my babies for their first year of life and I'm glad I stuck it out. You will be too!!!

Hi D.,
I am sure you will get plenty of advice on this one. The questions I would ask you are: Are you getting plenty of rest, or as much rest as a new mother can? Are you eating and drinking enough? When your breastfeeding are you comfortable and relaxed? These things may seem little, but they have a HUGE impact on your milk supply- I can not stress that enough. If at all possible, see if you can get some help from a friend to watch your little one while you catch up on some extra sleep- seriously, the laundry and cleaning can wait, you probably need more rest.
Good luck
N.

Hello!
Like other suggested, my question is how are you doing with eating and drinking water? If you're not eating right and staying hydrated, your body is going to struggle to make enough milk. If you have trouble getting to sit and eat meals, snack on high quality foods during the day- meaning good proteins, like beans, or meat if you eat meat- fish, whole grains- brown rice, quinoa, barley, and lots of fruits and veggies. I know it's hard to get the time to prepare and eat good foods but you really need to work it in so you can take care of your body and your baby!

Hi There. Way to go for trying to stick with it. If you can increase your pumping it may help. It is not about how long you pump for it has more to do with the frequency. Also make sure you are drinking enough water and not caffine. I know what you are going through. My son is 10 months and is still breastfeed. When he was 6-8 weeks I felt like all I did was sit on the couch with no shirt and fed him all day. I now know he was tongue tied which made it hard for him to stay on for long periods of time. Keep with it and you'll be fine.

D.,

Don't give up. You are doing great trying to find what works for your baby and you. Congrats by the way!

I want to refer you to a friend of mine. Her name is Kay and she owns a child safety site called My Precious Kid. You can email her at ____@____.com wonderful woman knows so much about breastfeeding that she was able to build her milk supply so that she could nurse her baby that she adopted!! She would be happy to answer your questions.

I wish you the best.

L.

http://APerfectMoment.MyArbonne.com

Everyone's breastfeeding experience is different and I found Breastfeeding Resources (Dr. Smiley and Dr. Griffin) to be soooo helpful when I was nursing my daughter. (I nursed her for 17 months after a very rough 4 month start...). Best of luck!
Their # is ###-###-#### - this is their specialty!!

Hi D.,

Congratulations on your new baby boy and your commitment to breastfeeding your baby!

Despite what you may hear, most women can produce enough milk to satisfy their baby without needing formula. We were made to be able to do this, it's how our bodies were designed. Formula is still a relatively new item. Your milk won't simply "dry up" if you are breastfeeding exclusively as another poster suggested.

If you want to produce more milk for your son, he needs to go to the breast more, not less. He should be nursing at least 8 times during the day (and at this age, even up to 12 times) - nursing this often doesn't mean that he's not getting enough to eat but that he's eating normally for a very young breastfed baby. If you fill him up with formula, your breasts won't get the message to produce more milk.

If you're really committed to exclusive breastfeeding, give yourself the week where basically all you do is nurse and pump. If you're not going to work during the day and don't have other kids at home, you can try to make nursing and pumping your job for the week, to help build your supply. Also, it may help to increase your water intake (keep bottles of water at the chair you usually sit in to feed your baby, have at least 8 oz per hour), cut out any caffeine, alcohol or antihistimines, be sure you're getting plenty of protein - I attributed my awesome supply to the daily pb&j sandwich.

Most importantly, remember that every bit of your milk that your son gets is a benefit to him!

Good luck

The most wonderful help you can find for any nursing issues is thru La Leche Leage International www.llli.org. There are local groups almost everywhere and the leaders are incredibly helpful and supportive. They will have amazing advice for you as to how to have a successful breastfeeding relationship for you and your son.
Breast of luck!
A. (Mom of 3 boys)

When i had this problem everyone told me the best way to produce more milk is to breastfeed more, or to pump immediately after a breastfeeding session. You may not have milk but if you son is still willing to suck.....let him. This will send a message to your body that your son wants more milk than you have, and your body will begin to produce more. Growth spurts are always tough for this but it should work itself out if that is all it is. I also found out when this was happening with my daughter that she didn't have a good latch or suck which was not stimulating my milk supply. If you haven't had his latch checked, you may want to. I had to supplement with formula (somewhere between 1 and 4 ounces per day) just for 2 weeks. In the meantime, i let my daughter nurse whenever she wanted and pumped after as many feeding as i could.
Good luck. I know it's hard, but it sounds like you're doing a great job.

Keep at it!!
I had a similar problem in the first 6 weeks. My son didn't gain any real weight until he was almost a month old. By the time he went through his 6 week growth spurt, i let him feed as long and as often as he wanted (usually 2 1/2 hours between feedings in the morning and an hour to 1 1/2 hours in the evening). Sometimes he would nurse for 30-40 minutes total (15-20 minutes on each boob) and sometimes longer!
After we got through that patch, I stopped supplementing and he gained weight super fast.
My advice, if he is gaining weight normally from exclusive breastfeeding, you are probably making enough milk. If you start supplementing him now, your supply won't grow with his need which is growing fast now. I would only supplement if your doctor tells you he needs to gain more weight.
Congratulations on your new bundle!! so exciting!

C. (mom to Johnny, 6 months)

Hello D.,

As much as you'd like to continue breastfeeding your child, there are many women like yourself who has the same problem. They don't produce enough milk to satisfy their young.
It's perfectly normal and at times there's not much you can do or take to have your body reproduce the amount needed.
I know so many women who went through the same thing and they had to rely on formula milk in order to satisfy their young.
Try talking to your doctor and see what he/she says, however, I know many women daily who go through the same issue.
I wish you luck and hope you can achieve what you want.

Barbara

You may want to start using a pacifier. It may be that your son is not necessarily hungry, it is just that he wants to suck on something. I understand that infants have a strong urge to suck. If he spits it out, then try to feed him. Also, just drinking LOTS of plain ole water will help with your supply. He will still go through growth spurts so do what you can but the pacifier helped me a lot. OH Also! Try to get a pacifier that is large and somewhat resembles your nipple so he doesn't get improper latch techniques. Hope this helps!

I have a friend who had this problem as well. She went to her doctor and he prescribed some medication that assists with milk production which did help her a bit. It took a while to really work but she kept at it and had some success. I know how stressful this all is but it is worth a try to discuss this with your OB or Midwife. Good Luck!

Hi, I had a similar problem with my daughter (#2)which was a surprise bc I had a huge supply with my son (#1). I also drink tea throughout the day and take FG which are very important, rest is also important and your mindset too. When I nursed I would in a sense, "talk to my body" like, here comes the milk, I have so much milk, I am making so much...etc. It's a positive loop that works against the anxiety and fear. Also, I found it crucial to get my daughter on my breast well before she showed signs of being uncomfortable from hunger. I got into the habit of offering her the breast on very regular intervals (say every 2hrs.) and religiously as soon as she woke. This was important bc then she wasn't annoyed by how long she had to suck before the milk came. This was the key to my milk production. She needed to be on the breast and sucking for what seemed like an eternity before my letdown would happen. If I waited too long to bring her to the breast then she'd get frustrated and cry (and then we know how hard that is!). I also pumped but stopped this because I wanted her to be on me activating my production as often as possible. I too supplemented w/formula before I figured all of this out and since I did, I haven't needed to give her any formula. I know this advice probably sounds basic but I hope it helps. Also, go to www.kellymom.com

I'm not sure if someone posted this already. But I had the same problem with my son. After every feeding I pumped for 20 minutes. Even if I was completely dried up and nothing was coming out. The pumping stimulated my breast to make more milk and in a couple days I was producing more milk. It is A LOT of work to do this and you pretty mush have to dedicate your whole day to doing this but your body will get the message and will start to produce more milk. I had the medela electric pump. Best investment I ever made. Breast fed my son until he was 9 months old.

Hope this helps.

Jen

HI D.,

I am the mother of four. MY 7 month old is still nursing. Someitmes when nursing they do not get enough milk but sometimes they do not get enough of the hind milk which is high in protien and keeps them full longer. Try pumping only for a few day and giving your baby the milk you pump right after. try pumping every three hours, you should get about an ounce an hour, so in three hours you may get 3-4 ounces. Drink plenty of water and fuilds and make sure you are eating at least 2500 calories a day. Do you have a good electric double pump? These make a huge difference. keep taking the feenugreek 3 caps 3 times a day.

good luck,

Debbie

When my son would have his growth spurts, I had the same experience. He basically would nurse all day for one or three days. I would get nervous that he wasn't getting enough food but it would always pass. As long as your baby is having at least 6 wet diapers a day he's getting enough food. By nursing constantly during these spurts, it gets your milk up. It sucks and you feel like a prisoner during those few days but it always gets better. Also there's no problem giving him formula but if you don't pump when you give him the formula your milk supply will go down. He won't demand more from you and your body won't think it needs to make more. In the end try your best and remember that most of our mom's gave us formula and we're all fine!

Are you drinking enough water? I notice that if I don't drink around 8 glasses a day then my milk supply decreases. If you aren't drinking that much water then try that and try nursing him everytime and see if that helps. it should only take a day or two for your supply to increase. I hope this helps...try to hang in there.

Drink more water. Keeping yourself hydrated allows your body to produce more milk. You should be drinking a liter of water a day.

You really should contact Le Leche Leauge and/or go to their metings. They are wonderful! You should be drinking a lot of water - a lot more than normal, limiting caffine and relaxing - I know that much. I nursed both of my children but had trouble with the latch-on of the first child - my fault with the positioning but they have tons of books and guides to help as consultants who will be able to even meet privately with you. They are in the phone book in the white pages and the hospitals and mid-wives also have their numbers. He could be needingin to nurse more frequently...I NEVER EVER put them on a time schedule while trying to establish my milk the first few months. Every couple of hours is normal for some babies. After four months, I had to go back to work and by then, I had plenty of pumped milk too. If the baby doesn't eat every two hours, still try to pump that often...but seek help from the pros!!! You will be so happy you did!

D.,
I'm so sorry you are going through this! I know breastfeeding can be a difficult thing at times. My first and most important advice: if you haven't already, get a lactation consultant to come over and work on the problem with you.
You are right, supplementing with formula will definitely add to a milk shortage problem. The more you supplement, the less your baby nurses, the less you are stimulated to make milk. At the very least, make sure you pump each time you supplement. Don't worry that you can't get more than a 1/4-1 oz. each time, depending on what kind of pump you use. This isn't an unusual amount. It is also not unusual for a baby at this age to nurse practically 24/7. Lots and lots of little meals.
Try to relax, drink lots of fluid, and let your little guy nurse as long and as frequently as he wants. It is a very unusual condition for a woman to not produce enough milk. Unless your baby is losing weight (use a scale, not a guess) or dehydrated, he is very likely getting enough milk.
I hope you get the professional help you need to make it through this! It does get easier with time. It may be difficult, but you can do it!
~S.

I'm no expert. I would def. talk to a lactation consultant from la leche league or from your local hospital. I would increase your iron increase. My mom said Guinness has a alot of iron and in Ireland they drink a pint a day. I know this is a little unorthodox, so you could try iron tablets or eating more meat. Also, you could try giving him just a little cereal in with his milk in the morning (like a tablespoon or less). Try not to give him formula because your milk supply will lessen, just feed him when he is hungry and your body will kick in and produce more. He will not die if he isn't stuffed full of food, but if he at least has the boob to suck on, he will be comforted. That's my advice, take it or leave it, but I hope I helped. Good luck. I love to hear from young moms!! YOU GO GIRL!!!

Hi D. - I am a mother of 2 boys and breastfed my first son until he was one. My other is now 4 months and still breastfeeding. This may sound so simple but are you drinking enough water? You really have to drink tons of water to produce extra breast milk. I think breast milk is over 80% water. I had the same problem and when I started drinking a lot of water, I noticed my supply building up again (which is what my Dr. told me would happen). I returned to work when my son was 6 months and had to supplement with formula b/c my body couldn't make enough to keep up with him. If you have to supplement, it's not a bad thing. Your baby has to be full - bottom line. Give him as much as you can produce, drink lots of water, breastfeed as opposed to pump as much as possible - - in addition, malt is supposed to be very helpful. I bought the malt ovaltine and I put it in cold milk. Good Luck!

You have to drink lots of water and eat lots of protein. Also formula feeding is not a bad thing. Lots of formula babies grow to be very healthy. I pumped for 4 months, because my son would not latch, or I didn't know how to get him to do it. So when I switched at 4 months to formula, I felt a lot of guilt. I look back now, and I see a different picture. Stressing over breastfeeding is not so healthy, and is possibily one of the causes of your issue. Just remember, it is OK to supplement, or even switch and you should not feel guilt for it.

Hi! I had a similar problem with my son when he was breastfeeding. I tried the 5 min on each breast, and alternate , as much as he needed for a day or two.

And also, just feed from one breast per hour. So if he's still hungry within the same hour, feed from the same breast.

I remember having to supplement in the evenings, because after trying all day, I just needed a break. I know some common advise it to make sure you are drinking enough water, and getting enough calories to be able to make the milk.

I remember the feelings when I was trying to figure out if I should stick with breastfeeding. It's difficult, and you have to take care of yourself mentally and physically. I ended up going back to work, but didn't want to pump b/c at lunch I could go visit my son at his daycare. I nursed him in the evenings/middle of the night, and that ended in a few weeks because he needed more than what he was nursing.

Hang in there!

Feed him as often as he wants and your supply should build up. Babies who are 6 weeks old are still nursing on demand. My 9 1/1 month old still nurses when she wants. Your supply should build up if you drink plenty of water and are staying calm. Try not to stress. As long as he is pooping, peeing, and gaining weight there really is no need to supplement.

Hi D.,
Boy that first growth spurt is a tough one. I feel for you. Hang in there, though. It will be over soon. A new spurt will start every few weeks, but you will know what to expect. Breastfeeding has so many advantages for your son, and I applaud your dedication to it! Here's my advice: During growth spurts, eat and drink well, and get more rest, especially before you expect to feed. These will all help your supply. Drink one large glass of milk or water for every feeding. Stop taking the herbal supplements--they can actually backfire by making your body dependent on them instead of on your natural hormones. Don't supplement with formula--your baby may start to prefer it because it is immediate gratification for him, whereas, he has to work a little harder on the breast and wait for the hind milk (the fattier content which comes at the end). Which reminds me, try to keep the baby on each breast just a little longer so you are sure he is getting the hind milk. (It should be 8 minutes, or more, especially on the first side). This will help him feel more satisfied. Feed on demand. The more stimulation your breasts get, the more they will produce. Make sure your baby has a good latch. Sometimes a poor latch does not give the breasts the stimulation they need to get the supply going. You might stop pumping, temporarily, to allow that little bit extra for the baby. Either that, or pump 15 minutes after the first feeding in the morning. You should have the highest production then. Stay calm, even though your baby may be screaming from hunger and frustration. Your emotions can hinder the let down--you have to stay relaxed. Get support--La Leche League has all kinds of good advice. Also, you can probably call the lactation specialist at the hospital where you delivered. I think some will even come to your house and may even be covered by your insurance. Above all, don't give up! Persistence is the name of the game, especially in the beginning.

Hi,
you're right - your body produces milk according to demand. If you supplement, your body doesn't get the stimulus to make more milk. Sometimes it is helpful to have a lactation consultant take a look- maybe your baby is not sucking right. Sometimes babies are full and they just use your breast for comfort- which may seem like they are hungry all the time. If your baby is putting on weight, then he is getting enough. Maybe you could try pumping on top of nursing him, not instead. To keep your milk supply steady, drink lots of fluids (water is best) and eat right.
I saw many other mothers asking about breastfeeding on this website - try searching for those questions.
And don't give up. Breastfeeding is so good for your child.

Hey D.,
1st of all- don't feel bad- sometimes it is just not possible to give enough-I had the same thing with my son at 5 weeks so I would nurse him and then give him 2-4 oz after- that way got some of both at every feeding. I would say to just keep pumping, fenugreek tablets, and I also heard oatmeal, and rasberries. I continued to breastfeed my son, even though I wasn't making enough- until he was 11 1/2 months and then he weaned himself. Good luck! M.

Hi D.,

First congrats on your little one. Please find a lactation consultant. They will be able to assess your situation and give you advice. A few things for thought...

Breastfeeding is physically harder for the baby to do. Not impossible but there is "work" involved in comparison to a bottle. By giving the bottle you may be reinforcing that he if he gives up on the breast he doesn't have to work so hard and will get a bottle to satisfy him.

I know this will sound strange when you are thinking that you are not producing enough but you may actually be possibly going into oversupply. By that I mean there are two types of milk that we produce fore milk (watery, not too filling) and hind milk (creamy, satisfying). Sometimes that gets out of balance. If you have too much foremilk the baby will not feel satisfied and will probably be gassy. They also may have greenish BMs. When the babies are gassy and they have stomach pain they don't know the difference between the gas pain and hunger pain and may try to nurse which just further exaggerates the problem. A LC will be able to assess you. There are some fairly easy techniques to get everything better regulated if you are in a oversupply situation.

You can also try to pump one breast while nursing with the other at the same time. Sometimes the baby nursing can help you get the let down that the pump is not as good at getting on its own.

I know everyone else has given the basics: rest, stay as stress free as possible, stay hydrated and eat well. Take care of yourself! Good Luck.

I breastfeed two boys. my first boy nursed every hour on the hour. when he was in a growth spurt every 1/2 hour. i also think they just like the comfort. so they might not be so hungry they just like to nurse. you produce enough for him. just sit back and nurse all day long. i know it's hard but just enjoy. nursing babies use you as a pacifier. but i think it's ok. i have a 2 and 4 year old so i never get to sit. love every minute

water water water...hydrate yourself. keep a bottle or glass of water at every table or with you and constantly drink from them.

always sipping

I had the same issue too. I had a 9 pounder and she grew just as quickly out as in. i drank water ate whole foods until I was satisfied and the milk came.

Good luck.

Still sipping water constantly,
P.

hi D.,
I'm a mom of 3 under the age of 4 (each of which i've breastfead 10 months +). I'd suggest to relax, and try to nurse him as much as possible. Please don't stress out if you feel you have to give him a bottle once in a while. I really think that is ok!
However, if you want to try to boost your milk supply, always give a good try at breastfeeding before you give the bottle. i've just found the more you nurse the more milk you make. And keep yourself hydrated - just water works great!

hi
i would reccomend looking up the la leche league in your area. i couldn't afford a lactation consultant, but a member came by to visit with me and watch me latch- stuff like that- when i was having some trouble at first. amybe someone will have good suggetions, and maybe you can go to a meeting if you wish! good luck!!

You're doing the very best thing you can do for your son. Don't give up! I had a really hard time producing "enough" milk for my baby, who is now 10 months old and nursing really well. I think babies really do nurse CONSTANTLY during those early growth spurts - it's not abnormal. I boosted my milk production by taking Domperidone, a drug you have to order from overseas. Two great websites to help you are www.kellymom.com and www.drjacknewman.com.

And be good to yourself - you're working very hard!

Hi D.,

I breastfed all three of my children and the first one was quite frustrating too. Unless you have problems with your milk ducts, you should not be having problems. You may not be eating adequately, or drinking enough to fully hydrate your body. To produce milk, it has to pull from energy sources in the form of food/liquid. Try not to get stressed either, that does not help. If you are not eating or drinking, your body will not produce enough milk. The body is amazing so that it adjusts and produces milk to match the growing and changing needs of your baby. Try drinking lots of water/juice and eating regularly, healthy snacks ofcourse. That should help. I would love to know if it does.

Good luck because I know this can be worrisome.

Well i heard drink gatorade at a meeting but you should make enough milk my son eats all the time too. i feed him on demand. I dont know what else to tell you then good luck and hope things get better for you i have nursed all my other kids and it worked out i always thought i didnt have enough milk but lets just say this my 3 month old right now weighs 16 lbs so he is good.

Hi D.,

I had the same issue as you with not having enough milk for my twin sons who are now almost a year old. I wish I had specific advice for you, but it seems like you've already tried most of the things I would have suggested. However, I want to encourage you not to give up! Please consider contacting your local La Leche League leader. Their national site is http://www.llli.org. From there I'm sure you can find your local chapter. They're a non-profit group that is so very knowledgeable and will help you free of charge. I'm still nursing and love it! I had a much easier time once the boys started on solid food at around 6-months because I found that the solids replaced the formula I had been supplementing with. So no more bottles for us! Again, don't give up! Help is out there! B.

I am a 34 year old mom and I had the same problem. It was bad because my older In-Laws who have already had kids were like this shouldn't be happening (It made me feel like it was me). However, I finally began to produce the extra milk. The home remedies did nothing for me (Fennel, etc.) I just drank more water than I knew what to do with. I was in the bathroom alot but it did seem to work. I did finally begin to produce more milk and ween him off the extra formula that I had to give him in the afternoon. My son is now 16 months old. At one year, I stopped feeding him breastmilk but I do feel that the suffering for the first few months was worth it to give him breastmilk over formula. He is extremely healthy. Although if you have to stop, don't let people give you a hard time. I was formula fed as a child and I am just fine. Good luck. Drink Lots.

i have a 4 week old and need to supplement with formula due to being able to produce enough milk - i recently started to visit lactation consultant - put on Mothers Milk which has helped but the best has be hand expressing after pumping then waiting five minutes and pumping some more has increased my volume - it is slowly working - i have doouble my production in two weeks.

Yes, breastfeeding is the best, but sometimes you haveto suppplement especially if you are not producing enough milk. I have been taking Fenugreek capsules and I have noticed that it works IF I get the sleep I should be getting. Getting the sleep, taking Fenugreek, do NOT stress out (which can affect your milk supply) and make sure you are adding extra 300-500 calories to what you normally eat. The baby will take the fat out of you and if he's anything like my boys, he may need to eat cereal. My oldest ate cereal at 3mos, my second one ate about 4 mos., and my last one I have now is almost 5mos and has been eating cereal since he was about 3 1/2 mos and sometimes with formula. If you can pump great, just make sure you don't pump too much because it will definitely decrease your milk supply. Also, if you're not getting enough, that is fine too. I had difficulty pumping milk out and in fact, gave me problems more than what it was worth. I had blocked milk duct and frustration not getting enough milk out. Not knowing about Fenugreek when I nursed my second son, I would nurse him asusual and then gave him formula afterwards and he drank it down, not throwing up as a result to show he overate which showed me I wasn't producing milk for him as time went on. Have your husband watch the baby and feed him formula if that is time you can rest and go and sleep. Keep yourself rested, stressfree, keep taking Fenugreek and remember, if you take Fenugree tea, it's not as potent as the capsules. Don't give up too easily. Try these things and ask your OB Dr and see what they suggested if none of these help and again, there are foods that would help produce milk: Garlic, not the powder kind. The actual bulb and put it in your foods whatever you like to eat, peanuts or peanut butter. This allergy thing, I am not sure about it because I have an allergy to some nuts and I was not breastfed and I breastfed my boys and they don't have an allergy to it either. Again, I eat the natural peanut butter, not that other garbage. Talk with your husband about all this and try sleeping more and if none of what I said works, then give him formula, you gave him breastmilk for couple of months and it's better than not giving him any of it. Let us know how it went. I'll pray for you by the way that God will give you and your husband wisdom. Okay?

Hi D.,

Don't give up! There could be many reasons your sweet boy is crying, it may not be your production levels at all. I suggest you give your body a chance, and let it respond to his needs- that's what we're made to do :) Feed him as often as you can and your body will respond by producing as much milk as he needs. I'd suggest stopping formula and pumping which could both slow down your production. You also may want to ask a lactation consultant or breast feeding support group for help making sure he has a good latch and/or trying different positions.

My oldest daughter fed every 60-90 minutes for months when she was an infant. I also struggled thinking it was "my fault" she was crying and what I perceived as "hungry", but I stuck with it. As a result she got fat and happy (and is now, at age 4, thin, active and happy) and I relaxed and enjoyed the remarkable time we had together.

Good luck~ YOU CAN DO IT!

Hey! This may not be the advice you're looking for, but my suggestion is to stop worrying about not producing enough milk. Just supplement with formula--it's perfectly ok to do so. I nursed my first two kids for 9-10 months each, and I waited too late to introduce a bottle, and I had to nurse until they could drink milk from a cup. With my third child, I started a bottle immediately, and switched back and forth between nursing and using bottles. He was just as happy and healthy a baby as were his sisters who only nursed. It's more important for your child that you are happy and relaxed. Don't stress about nursing--do it as much as you can, and supplement when necessary. Spend your time enjoying your son instead of worrying about your milk production!
Good luck!

how frustrating for you! Don't give up. Have you tried calling La Leche? They seem to be a really excellent resource. Also- try taking some time to yourself- to relax. I've also heard (I know this sounds REALLY weird) that having a Guiness in the afternoon can help some women. Good luck. Don't lose heart. And remember - whatever ends up happening- that you are a great mom. Breastfeeding is not the ONLY way you show that every day. If your son ends up needing a little formula to get through this spurt, he'll be great.

First of all-- stay calm--
Make sure is actually eating when he is latched on-- some babies just suckle-- and aren't actually drinking/eating--

Contact your hospitals lactation department and use them--

FYI- I have nursed 3 girls all greater than 14 mos-- and they are all 95 percentile and larger-- I have medelas best pump-- and could never pump much of anything-- but, make sure your cone-- is big enough-- get the lactation consultants opinion on that--

Don't give up-- breast is best-- you will get through this.

my experience was that my production increased when i drank lots of water and ate well (relaxing was impt too for me, and the toughest part) and kept him on the breast a lot. the water part was key though, i didn't produce when i was dehydrated and i would forget to drink enough.l