Nursing - Crestwood,KY

You have some great advice here, I just wanted to add that no matter what I did, it took 3-4 days for my milk supply to catch up with the demand. So...definitley try this stuff, but also remember, there's always SOMETHING there, even when you feel "empty".

Just a word to the wise... if you supplement, your body will never make enough.

An extremely SMALL percentage of women (who haven't had breast surgery, augmentation, reduction, partial mastectomy, etc.) don't ever produce enough milk... even though many who have had those surgeries do.

The way your body works is on demand. When the baby keeps nursing after you're empty... your body starts to produce more. When their nursing slows down (or if you start supplementing) your body produces less.

Many women have actually added a whole other mouth/stomach (aka started nursing someone else's child), and their body after a few days to a week steps up to compensate.

4 other things to note:

1) Hind milk doesn't feel the same as when they "relieve the pressure"... it feels like they're getting nada... but low and behold, they're swallowing. Hind milk is also where the vast majority of nutrients are.

2) The single biggest cause of low milk supply is plain and simple dehydration. If you aren't drinking at least 2-4 liters (1-2 gallons of water) up it. Essentially, live with a giant waterbottle in your hand. The 2nd cause is stress.

3) Cluster feeding. It's annoying. It's exhausting. It's otherwise known as nursing up to 3 times an hour. Nearly all babies do it at different stages in their development. Nursing is HARD work. So is growing. So sometimes babies will cluster feed because they're too tired to do otherwise... sometimes they do it because they're burning through calories. It's also an extremely natural way of bumping up production... so when they're switching from a period of not eating a ton, to eating double or triple what they were... cluster feeding is often found in the transition. (You'll know this is the case, when your nursing times start getting reeeeeeaally long after a day or two of cluster feeding.) Also.. many babies have TEENSY tummies... and are only able to eat an ounce or two at a time. They're still HUNGRY, but their stomachs are full... so they have to wait 15-30 minutes.

4) All of this is very natural, even though it takes about 24 hours, and adding formula kind of gums up the process (making it take longer for your body to start producing more... because every time you supplement your body starts making LESS rather than holding steady) but in rare cases... the body just doesn't make enough. How to know if yours ISN'T? Dry diapers is the first sign. BF babies might not poop for a week, but they're usually wet throughout the day. Signs to follow are lethargy (awake but ragdoll limp... go to the doctor immediately), & failure to thrive.

For any and ALL questions, do feel free to contact your hospital's Lactation Consultant at any time. La Leche League is also great... but they're so gung ho they can be a little scary sometimes... but their website and their members have TONS of info, and it's all scientifically backed. You lactation consultant also has all that info at her disposal. So either choice (or both!) is a good one.

best,
R

The amount of breastmilk you make is based on "supply and demand." If you supplement with formula, you'll make less milk because your baby will be suckling less. If you don't think you're currently making enough milk, then you need to let him continue nursing as long as he wants, and you will build up enough supply to meet his needs. You can get a breast pump to help increase your supply, because the increased stimulation from the pump will trigger your body to make more.

Another thing that will help you make more milk is to have plenty of skin-to-skin contact with your baby. If you can, take a day and basically just lie in bed with both of you mostly unclothed and touching; or get a sling or wrap type carrier, and hold him on your chest with both of you not wearing a shirt (you can leave your shirt open, and put a blanket over his back so you both don't get cold), and keep him close to you.

Look at your son after he eats. My son would get the "drunk" or content baby look. As long as your son has that kind of look on his face after he nurses you are fine. That look is what manage to keep the stress of "is he getting enough" down to a minimum. As far as the rest don't do something that makes you uncomfortable or pressured into a choice that does not work for your family.

Stop supplementing with formula. If you don't, your milk supply will drop because he's not sucking as much.
If you are worried your supply is going down for some reason it's probably because of your diet and water intake. Are you eating enough and drinking enough? Breastmilk has a lot of water in it, and you need to be drinking enough for you (8-12 glasses) and for your little one (5 or 6 extra glasses).
Good luck, and chug that water! :)

Just keep feeding him! I'm now on month 6 of exclusively breast feeding twins. Drink lots of water - at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water., i.e. if you weigh 150 lbs. you need to drink at least 75 ounces of water per day. Eat protein and lots of it - nuts and pumkin seeds are great sources and easy snacking! Take Brewers Yeast nutritional supplement to keep supply up - tastes bad but works.

Ditch the formula! Right now he is trying to regulate your supply so that you will be making exactly the amount he needs. If you add formula to the mix you are making the job tougher on him and you. Babies will eat about the same amount from the 6 week mark till around the 6 month mark and then he'll start nursing like crazy again to up the production. He is also right at that 6 week growth spurt. He will go thru times where he nurses like crazy for a week or two then it will slow back down to normal. Very, very normal and all part of breastfeeding. Very few women are unable to produce enough milk. And what you pump is absolutely no reflection of the amount of milk you produce! Baby is far more efficient at getting milk than a pump will ever be. Also, it is perfectly normal for him to nurse every 1 1/2 hour-3 hours. And that is timing from the beginning of the nursing session so if you have one that likes to nurse every 1 1/2 hours you will certainly feel like he is eating all the time! Perfectly normal though!

The best advice I can give you is to be confident in your ability to feed baby. Follow his cues and feed on demand and it will all work out. Kellymom.com has great info and resources as well! Congrats on the new bebe!

Breast feeding is supply and demand, the more demand the baby makes the more supply your body will make. Make sure that you are drinking enough water, juice, healthy fluids. If you are drinking a lot of caffeine drinks, soda, tea or coffee then cut back. Caffeine is a natural diuretic and can dehydrate you while you are breast feeding. Make sure you are trying to keep your stress level low. There is a group called La Leche League, it is an International breast feeding support group. You can find a local group in your area along with leaders names, numbers that you can talk to. My advice would be to drink plenty of liquids, everytime your baby nurses drink a glass of water, let the baby nurse as often as they will and find a support group. The local hospital may have lactation consultants that they work with. They are good but a support group is made up of mothers that are breastfeeding and have children of all different ages. God Bless and keep on smiling! :)

Stop giving formula. You are working against yourself. Your body is supply and demand so by giving formula you are telling your body to make less milk not more. At that age it is totally normal for them to be nursing all the time. When my son was 6 weeks old I was spending almost 6 hours a day nursing. My friend had a baby 4 months ago and she dealt with the same thing. As ling as your baby is pooping and peeing you don't need to worry about supply. Also know that babies really love to nurse for comfort so even if your son is not really hungry he may just want to suck and that is okay. Another tip is to make sure that he is getting the hindmilk. Your body makes two kinds of milk. The first stuff that comes out is like skim milk and as he nurses it turns more into cream. That cream at the end is what makes him feel full so making sure that he fully empties each breast is really important. There are very few women who are truly unable to breastfeed so don't question your supply as much and just let your body do what it isw supposed to. Also when your son goes through a growth spurt it will feel like he is eating more this is normal and if you let him nurse as much a s he wants to in 24-48 hours your body will produce more. I hope this helps. Once again stop the formula especially if it is upsetting his stomach.

Don't supplement. Nature takes care of this 'supply meeting demand' thing. He's probably having a growth spurt, and the more he nurses, the more milk you'll make (after a couple days of him nursing more than usual, you'll be 'bursting at the seams', so-to-speak! LOL)

Just a few breastfeeding rules from someone who nursed 4 babies at least 1 yr each:
Relax. Sit or lie w/your baby to feed him. Stroke baby's cheek, speak softly, cuddle and love him.
Drink A LOT! Lots of healthy drinks: juices, milk, water. You really do need to ingest/consume enough for yourself AND baby.
Get enough rest and calories. You can't produce what you don't have, and mothering (and nursing) take a lot from and/or out of you in the way of energy, calories, fluid, emotion, and time)!

Stress (worry, tenseness, strained relationships, etc.), tiredness, inadequate nutrition, inadequate fluid intake can all limit your 'supply'. Get enough and you can give enough!

And just some common sense rules of babies: If they're jolly and alert, eating, peeing, pooping, resting, and growing, they're doing WELL!

You'll do fine! Persevere!

Your body makes milk according to how much the child nurses.. if you supplement formula he won't nurse as much because you won't make as much milk. Hope that makes sense. If your goal is to reduce how much you nurse then supplementing is how to do that.

I am a nursing mom of a 12 week old girl, so I am in the trenches with you right now! I also nursed my son for 14 months while I worked. Trust me when I say you are at the most frustrating and stressful time for breatfeeding, so it will get better! Congrats to you for doing this!!

Here are a couple of tips that may help

*Stop the formula. There is NO SHAME in using formula (no one asks Kindergarteners if they were breast or bottlefed), but milk production is supply and demand and you are essentially telling your body your baby doesn't need as much as he does.
*Drink lots of water.
*Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable when you nurse.
* Nurse anytime your son wants. Some kids are just cluster-feeders (especially at that age). This means they eat a little more frequently. when is tummy's more mature, he will eat more less often.
*If you don't have a pump get one and pump in between feedings. You can freeze this for later or nights out. This will trick your body into thinking your baby is eating more, so it will make more.
*When you pump, you really need to relax and think of your baby. This sounds funny, but I pump at work and literally talk to pictures of my kids that scroll by on a digital picture frame. On days when I don't, I make ALOT less milk.

PS- Oatmeal naturally helps you make more milk, so enjoy a bowl every day.

I had some similar problems when I nursed my son and I was ready to pull my hair out! It seems to be a common problem. I would not be concerned that you do not have enough milk. Although I was always worried about that the first 6 months of my son's life I eventually realized I always had enough! A lot of it I finally realized was that he just enjoyed nursing. Even if he wasn't hungry, he loved to nurse. Your milk supply depends on his demand. You will provide enough for him! You do what you feel is right because a mother's instinct is ALWAYS right, but I do feel formula can really be h*** o* a baby's body. The more you supplement with formula the less you will produce due to the supply/demand. Is he crying during a feeding and seems to not be satisfied? If so try a pacifier, but it probably is a comfort thing more than a hunger. I didn't always " fill up" or feel full but there seemed to be enough to feed him. I hope this helps and send me a message if you need more help!!

I agree...stop the formula. You're at a beginning phase where he's nursing a lot because his stomach is small and he's establishing your supply. Rather than feed formula, nurse him on demand. To know what he's getting, count his wet and messy diapers. That will tell you more than anything. If you pump later, remember that pumping output varies and you can pump nothing at all but feed your baby just fine. Pumps are not as efficient as babies. If you are concerned, talk to your local la leache league leader or lactation consultant. kellymom.com is also a great resource for those 2AM questions. You CAN keep up. It's very normal to feel like all you do is nurse, but that's what newborns do...eat, poop, and sleep. You can learn to nurse in a sling so that you can get around the house if you feel trapped on the couch. Hang in there. OH, and I could pump and still nurse my baby. You will have enough. It's supply and demand (another reason not to use formula if you don't need to - you want him to demand so your body will supply). And babies also do something called comfort nursing. Momma was the original pacifier, so some of the time he may not be feeding, but it's still important to him to have you.

Do not give your baby formula without first consulting a lactation consultant and your baby's pediatrician. I know it seems like all the kid does is nurse, but that's all babies do at 6 weeks! It's easy for us as women to fear that our bodies aren't "enough" to nourish our children, but they are! Breastmilk has 100% of the vitamins and nutrients babies need, whereas formula does not. In fact, formula can disrupt digestion and might cause long term health problems. If you have to use formula because of insufficient milk, there are some formulas out there that are better than others, depending on your baby's needs. Medical professionals can help you choose one that works for your family, if it is necessary to use formula.

I would recommend a consultation with a lactation consultant before you give your kid any more formula. In Louisville, we have a great business called Babyology next to Norton Suburban Hospital that has a staff of trained and certified lactation consultants who can help you. Also, the federal program WIC has lactation consultants. Contact the Health Board for more info, and look up Babyology online and call them. Good luck!

I must share that your body will supply enough, it is a 'supply and demand' type of thing with your breast milk. He is eating as he is growing and digesting your milk faster as it is easier to digest than 'formula' you must feel like the 'Dairy Queen that is is open 24/7 ' but stick it out is is so worth it. It appears that he is always hungry and always eating because he is... but that is a GOOD thing... he is only a newborn... by 6 months which is honestly right around the corner although you can't quite see it yet but trust me it is. You will be amazed not only at how much he has grown but also YOU helped him grow.. plus he will be then possibly starting solids and such so he won't nurse as often... I nursed my first child for 14 months, he was a perfect nurser, latched on and ate, I also worked split shifts 5 days a week, 14 years later... our long awaited blessing came and I nursed her till she was almost 2 years old..I worked very little and she had a latching issue but it took me almost 15 weeks to get it worked out. That doesn't make me a better mother than you, as you have to do what is best for your family. If I may suggest that you find a Le Leche League group near you. You can find it here: http://www.llli.org/resources.html You have to chose your country, then your state and then your city etc... then you will find one NEAR you. You take your baby and you nurse if need be, it is all like minded women. :) They are the greatest and encouraged me the 2nd time when I ran into those latching issues... plus it gives you friends/associates that are dealing with some things that you are or they already have and have something they can share to help you along. I would seriously consider getting rid of the formula if you want to nurse exclusively as it is an easy fall back... you can stick it out when you don't have anything else to offer... (Just an idea)

Remember to make the best decision for your family even if that differs from what someone else does. :)

I had a problem with supply all thru nursing, my doc told me to eat lots of oatmeal, it did the trick within 24 hrs. Oatmeal cookies work well too!

You really need to pump in between feedings. That way you have some bottles for back up rather than having to use formula and you know exactly how much he is getting. Plus if you are feeding and pumping you will make more milk supply. Also, make sure you are letting him feed on both breasts.

I think a lot of moms go through what you are. They worry that they're not making enough, when in fact, baby is supposed to nurse a lot in the early days. Nursing is supply and demand. So, the more you nurse, the more milk you make. The more formula you feed, the less breastmilk you will make. Your body was designed to be able to supply the perfect amount of milk for your baby. If he's eating a lot, he's supposed to. Just enjoy these days, as they will pass quickly. Feed your baby when he wants to eat, and rest when he rests. Try not to supplement if you want to continue breastfeeding. Drink lots of fluids. Stick with it, and all will be fine! When my babies were that age, they did the same thing. That's what they are suppposed to do! Good luck, and try not to worry, Mama!
C.

The more your son nurses, the more milk your body will produce. If you supplement with formula, your body doesn't realize that he's eating during that time and won't think it needs to make as much. It might take a couple of days to start producing more, but just nurse him as often as you can, and he'll be fine. Drink a ton of water, eat lots of healthy foods. I think protein is supposed to be really useful for nursing too. Some of the time he's nursing, I'll bet it's for comfort and not necessarily because he's hungry!

The more your son nurses, the more milk you will produce. But be sure to drink plenty of water and eat well, lots of protein and calcium. You can also try taking Fenugreek supplements and drinking Mother's Milk brand herbal tea. Also get as much rest as you can. The more you nurse, drink water, eat and rest, the more milk you will produce. Good for you for nursing. Stick with it and it will get easier. Good luck.

PS You can also get a breast pump and pump some milk and bottle feed him. That way you will know exactly how much milk he's getting. That can also help stimulate your milk production and you can put some pumped milk in the fridge to "top him off" with instead of using formula.

Hi ParkersMommy,

Congratulations on the birth of your son. It's normal to feel like you can't keep up with his nursing but you can. As many have mentioned, breastfeeding is supply and demand. Which simply means that your body will produce what your baby needs. The more he nurses/suckles your body will produce. If you're supplementing with formula, your body will make less.

My first recommendation for you would be to consult your local La Leche League leader http://www.llli.org/ to inquire about their meetings. Having local support and friends irl is helpful when you are feeling unsure. I would look first to LLL or a lactation consultant before consulting with the pediatrician. In my experience(I have 4 children, all breastfed), the peds are normally not educated nearly enough to provide breastfeeding support or advice and they are quick to dismiss moms concerns and push formula.

If you're not comfortable giving formula, express some of your breastmilk between feedings. You'll have a supply of milk in the event you need to be away for a short time and you'll know you're giving your son the optimum food.

http://www.kellymom.com/ is an excellent site for breastfeeding information. It's possible your little one is going through a growth spurt at this time. Have faith in your body, stay hydrated, rest when he does and let him suckle/nurse on demand. One thing I found helpful was to let my baby drain my breast at each feeding. This insures that your baby is getting the calorie rich hindmilk.

As mentioned, fenugreek and mother's milk tea are helpful to keep your supply up. Eating oatmeal is another way to produce more milk. Remember, breastmilk is easily digestible so breastfed babies nurse more than formula fed babies. I will tell you that my son(my firstborn) was an every 2 hour nurser and I doubted that I could keep up with his demand. The LLL support gave me the faith I needed to know my body could meet his demand(and it did!). My girls (I have 3 now) were every 3-4 hour nursers. In those early days/weeks, I had to wake them to encourage them to nurse. My youngest is 6 month and nursing exclusively....weighs 20+lbs and is a chunky monkey all because of breastmilk. Have faith!

Feel free to email me if you would like some book recommendations.

Best of luck,
J.

My feoncea Breast feeds aswell she was always ingorged he nurses a lot because he hit a growth spurt don't give on on Brest feeding it is the golden key your body knows when he is hungry how much to make and when be wants or needs it I know it's wired because I'm a male but it is perfectly normal to think it is to much it is overwhellming I know he is new and always wants to eat you will always have enough milk as long as you do not pump you should be good to go I hope this helps god luck by the way congradulations on your new baby they are a gift from god

nursing is good...don't give formula!! you're supplementing and in return causing your supply to go down. Call/contact your local LLL league ladies (La Leche League) and they will help you in getting you off to good start. Your little guy is just hungry and loves you...believe me they are getting all they need from you. As long as he is not fussy and having wet diapers he's getting enough. I promise you that! Your body will be able to continue producing if you continue to let him nurse. By supplementing he may not like the taste b/c it's not you, it tastes funny, it's coming from a bottle and it doesn't smell like you. ENJOY your nursing time and don't supplement unless you absolutely have to. Call your pediatrician and schedule an appointment with their staff to go over breast feeding questions or even call the hospital and sometimes they offer free help with the nurses and staff who are trained in that area. I could go on and on about how breast milk is better and formula is not quite the same, but you have to be strong and hold true to what you want for you and your baby. Don't go back and forth with you and formula, especially this young. Good luck.

A. B

Good for you for nursing your son! You obviously know it is the best! I agree with the other 2 posters. Ditch the formula, it is a growth spurt and formula will LOWER your supply, so eventually you really won't have enough and will have to give more and more formula until well, you aren't nursing anymore. And it is also very common for us mom's to feel inadequit at times, not just at feeding times. Feed him as often as he wants. Your supply will match his demand, just when he has a growth spurt it takes a while to catch up if you will, but it'll happen. Enjoy this time with your son!

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