Seeking Moms & Feeding Experts

I had problems with my son gaining weight too and my Pediatrician suggested supplimenting my breastfeeding. What my pediatrician wanted me to do was suppliment with formula, but I took a different approach instead. I went on the Ben and Jerry's diet. I ate a small bowel of ice cream after every meal. By the end of the week, when I took my son back in to be weighed, he had gained 11 pounds. I only had to do this for two weeks to get my milk nice and rich for my son to gain weight. I also started putting 6 diapers on my changing table every morning. If my son went though them all by nighttime I knew he was getting enough of what he needed.

How do you know you are not producing enough milk? How many wet diapers/poopie diapers is he having a day? The more you nurse, the more milk you should be producing. I would not go by the recommendation of your pediatrician for breastfeeding advice, I'm sorry to say. Unfortunetly, most of the time, they are not the experts on breastfeeding. Go see a lactation consultant or call someone from La Leche League. A similar thing happened to me, but it was not about my milk producation, but more about my daughter being preemie and not latching on. Eventually, after about 2 weeks, I completely phased out any formula. I am happy and proud to still be nursing my almost 3 year old! This of course, is a personel choice, but from my experience and knowledge, breast is best! Good luck to you and hang in there.

many many moms think they don't make enough milk but the reality is that only about 5% of women can't make enough milk. So many pediatricians (mine included) tell their patients to supplement with formula in the beginning and in fact that often backfires and makes women produce less. If you are able to feed him for all but 2 feedings, you do not have a low supply. 2 feedings is nothing. Your son is probably just expressing his preference for breast milk over formula, as many breastfed babies do at this age. My son did the same. If he doesn't want to take a bottle, don't force him. Just continue breastfeeding for every feeding. Your son will be fine and in a few days, your body will start producing more milk in response to the increased breastfeeding. That is the good thing about breastfeeding- the more you do it, the more milk you make.
You can buy Mother's Milk Tea, and drink lots of water also, which should help increase your production, but honestly I don't think you have a problem as long as your son is gaining weight every month. Don't worry if he is small for his age. You should only worry if he is not gaining weight and not having enough wet diapers every day.
As for the person eating Ben & Jerry's- your milk does not get fattier if you eat fatty foods. You will just get fat. The amount of calories, vitamins and minerals in breast milk stays constant (except for the difference in foremilk (the first few minutes in a breastfeeding session the milk is more watery) and hindmilk (the thicker milk that comes after letdown).
For more advice on breastfeeding, go to the website http://www.kellymom.com

I know breast feeding can be frustrating, I quit after three weeks and wish I hadn't. What I wish I had known then is that there are a few natural herbal remedies that will boost your milk production ten fold. There's an herbal tea they make (and I have been told by other mom's) that works awesome. If formula feeding is not working, you can try boosting your own supply of milk. Otherwise, I guess you could try a different bottle nipple? Maybe something that seems closer to yours. Good luck!

You're doing a great job so far. My son had to be supplemented when he was that age and it was tough. For a while he'd refuse to nurse and would even refuse the bottle. When he did nurse or take a bottle he would spit it all back up. You didn't mention it, but is your son spitting up a lot? We figured out my son's problem was a milk allergy (lactose) and once we gave him soy formula and I cut out dairy from my diet, he was completely happy. My pediatrician told me that some babies have issues with dairy products up until they are one and that was the case with my son. Not sure if your situation is the same, but have you tried giving him a different type of formula to see if that might have something to do with it?

I also agree with the other moms, the more you nurse, the more milk you will produce. I used to pump between feedings to trick my body into thinking my son was demanding more so I'd produce more. But, if you do that and find out he's lactose intolerant, watch the amount of dairy you eat because he will refuse to nurse (but not refuse pumped milk - strange, but that was how it was for us).

My daughter is about the same age as you son, so I know you're also really tired on top of all this. Try to take care of yourself too and know this will all work out. Hope this helps.

Hey Peeusa, have you tried feenkgroot(?)( or other natural milk inhancers) to increase your milk production? Then you won't have to suppliment. You can get them at a health food store.

Let him go to the breast, this is how you will produce more milk, it is a supply-demand operation. He will get enough if you keep putting him to the breast whenever he is interested at all! Just relax, stress is like the top reason for decreased milk supply. If you are worried you are not producing enough, there are herbs out there like fenugreek and blessed thistle, the mothers milk tea, or you can even get a script from your OB for Reglan, or do some power pumping. I agree with others, sometimes the peds don't know what they are talking about when they suggest a supplement or sometimes a supplement is needed but just for a very short time, until the milk supply is in, since your baby is wanting the breast and not the bottle, I bet your supply is good now!If you have any questions about this info you can email me.

Hi,
I had just stopped breastfeeding because my daughter is 8 month old and not very interested any more, she is more interested in solid foods. But when I breastfed I did not have a lot of milk and when I called my lactation consultant at Highland Hospital (Rochester NY)
they recommended taking Fenugreek - it is a natural herb
helps to increase milk production.
You can try putting milk in the bottle and see if he starts
taking it. Try a different nipple.
Good luck!

Hi P.,
If a baby is hungry, he will eat. When he refuses the bottle, is he still fussing to eat? You produce more milk by nursing more, not less. I would sugget pumping to increase your production and putting your baby to the breast more. You might also speak with a La Leche League leader or lactation consultant.
Good luck!

P.,

Put him to the breast more often, and keep yourself hydrated, and current with all your vitamins and eat regularly. Chances are, your body will make up for the lack of formula.

Don't worry about formula going away - it's not as good as your milk.

How often are you nursing? Are you trying to cut any feedings at all to make way for your sleep?

http://breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml

most of the time when the peds recommend supplementing it is a mistake, and the baby usually ends up refusing the breast and not the bottle, simply because the bottle is less work for them. so you are lucky, go with it and just keep breastfeeding, you are doing a great thing for your baby, and he obviously knows it! just be sure he is having enough wet diapers, at least 6 per day, and keep an eye on his weight gain. you got lots of good advice here about boosting your supply, the best way to do it is to nurse more often, especially overnight, you will see an increase in a couple of days. be sure to finish the first breast first, let him get the hindmilk at the end of the feeding, that will increase his weight gain and he needs it for brain development. switch the side you start on each time. at least 15-20 min or so on the first side for now. also, drink lots of water, and no caffiene or any meds that will dehydrate you. also, eat oatmeal with maple syrup (the fake kind) it has fenugreek in it. that always gave me a noticable boost in my supply. you are doing a great job, keep it up :)

the more you nurse, the more you produce( I'm not saying go against the ped)...also if drink a beer...this sounds strange, and before anyone out there strangles me nonalcholoic beer works too...but the hops in beer helps stimulate your milk...so you can always try half a beer or a nonalcoholic one and see if that helps...as for tips for getting baby to take a bottle...you shouldn't be in the room, dady or grandma should do it for you...think of it this way...very few people would settle for an imitation if the real thing was right next to them :) there are also bottles shaped to feel(and some look) like a breast...go out and buy a couple of different bottles til you find a good fit...don't give up!!!!!Good luck!!!

P., try nursing him more often and/or pumping milk from your breasts in between feedings to store for later. the more you nurse or express milk, the more milk you will produce. mocxy

Hi P.,

In my experience, moms usually produce more milk when the breastfeed more. So, you would most likely be able to produce more if you son wants to drink more. It might take a couple of days to catch up.

My daugher had the same situation. She was bottle-fed the first two weeks, and starting the 3rd week I was able to start make enough milk. She slowly switch to mostly breasfeed for about 3 months. After I went back to work, we mixed the breasmilk and formula 50/50 during the day, and breast-fed when I am home.

I drink lots of soups to make sure I can produce enough milk. To get more breastmilk, Chinese receipes call for clear brothed fish soup(boil in high temp with ginger, scallion and with a bit salt at the end). It really works, but most non-Chinese might not like the taste. There are also other natural suppliments you can get from the store. Your pediatrician should be able to recommend some.

All through the first 8 months, my daughter was breast and bottle fed 50/50 of the time. She did get confused sometimes and did not want to drink formula at all.
Most of the time, we mix the breastmilk and formula together to feed her.

Good luck, and you will do fine.

S.