Should I Stop Breastfeeding?

Congrats on going this long. I tried and never did produce anything. We bought store brand formula...called the pedi and asked if it was ok. They said yes and read the ingredients it was the exact same thing as the brand name. Some reason HEB brand seemed to bubble more. We eventually went to SAMS CLUB and bought formula and huggies diapers there because you get twice as much formula for the same price. Members mark formula. Good luck.

I had a similar situation with all three of my kids at about 4-6 months, so I breastfed as normal and the times when you are pumping I supplimented a bottle. We did that until a year and it worked out fine!

They offer free breastfeeding counseling at some hospitals, are you in East Texas? Mother Frances in Tyler's counselors are great. They can give you samples of teas and things that can help you produce more milk.

Good for you for asking advice. You are never alone in this. I breastfed my oldest daughter for a year, and I am now breastfeeding my little 7 month old. Each one was a sturggle in the beginning. Like most posts have said, right around 3 months, they usually go through a growth spurt. It seems like they eat every hour! I know it feels like they are attached to you non-stop, but believe me, it only gets easier. If your time permits (meaning, you don't have to return to work yet), just continue to feed her every hour if need be. Soon, things will adjust. I JUST went through this, and even as a mom who did it before, I had the same feeling of I'm not making enough. Things will adjust. And also, if you start getting frustrated, and just need a feeding or two off, go ahead and give a bottle of formula. Sometimes, we as moms need just a little time to ourselves to center. Good luck! If you need any other suggestions, feel free to send me a message.

Your milk probably is not drying out...your supply is definitely regulating and your daughter may be going through a growth spurt. If she is satisfied with nursing every 2-3 hours during the day, she is likely getting enough milk. It can take 3-7 days for your supply to adjust to new demands.

Pumping and manual expression are never as effective your baby nursing so please don't use these as benchmarks.

I know it is frustrating to not see a bottle get empty, but there are a couple of things you can track to ensure your baby is getting enough nourishment. Is she wetting 6-8 diapers a day? Some breastfed babies may go many days without a bowel movement (my pooped everytime she nursed during the day)--but if she is having regular bowel movements that is another good indicator. I also tracked my daughter's weight weekly--you can buy an inexpensive fish scale at the sporting goods store and use a sling or towel to weight her (over a soft surface).

Find a La Leche League group in your area. The moderators are wonderful in helping troubleshoot any potential problems.

Make sure you are drinking 8-10 glasses of water, eating enough calories (especially protein), and resting when you can. You can also take fenugreek capsules, eat oatmeal everyday, or try drinking the Mother's Milk Tea (not too bad with a little honey)--these all helped me tremendously. I exclusively breastfed for 9 months, continued to pump for a year, and kept nursing until my daughter was 18 months. Also, antihistamines and cold medications can dry up your milk.

Don't feel worried about NOT wanting to start formula...for whatever the reason. Just like any mom who chooses not to breastfeed, it is your decision. Breastfeeding can be hard work, but it is worth every minute. I don't know how I would have made it financially if we hadn't been so successful.

Good luck...and try not to stress, that isn't going to help either.

Greetings S.. My name is E., and I have just become a new member. I did breastfeed my son for the first 6-months and I did not have any problems. I never had to use a pump, because all woman do produce more than enough milk. However, there is a site I'd like for you to visit. It's www.breastfeeding.com., they have all answers to all kinds of questions. Also if you are on low-income. There is assistance for low income families. There is W.I.C./Church/Community Centers/Gov.-Assitance-foodstamps, etc. You just need to look in your area. If you need help in looking, please reply, and I shall help you. Good Luck!

Your New Friend,
MamaSource, EFSilguero.

Hi S.,

Good for you for nursing! This is very normal at this stage. YOur milk is NOT drying up, it is just regulating. At just this time, your body starts producing exactly what your baby needs when she needs it. You are no longer engorged so it feels like there is not enough. As a training lactation consultant I hear this ALL THE TIME. Every mom is absolutely certain that her milk is drying up and unfortunately many start supplementing with formula, which is a surefire way to make your body produce less milk. Please please please trust your body! Your body is biologically programmed to provide perfect nutrition to keep your baby alive. If people failed at this, humanity would hot have flourished as it has! Please do not consider supplementing with formula as the chemical combinations are absolutely not ideal for your baby. The incidence of juvenile diabetes, as well as mountain of other serious illnesses goes way up among babies who have formula.

Please seek out your local La Leche League and present this problem to your group. I promise you will hear over and over again that this is a perfectly common experience.

Good luck!

She is growing...try feeding her every two hours instead of three. This will meet her needs and also help you increase the milk flow until her next growth spurt. You are doing great, don't stress!

I had a similar situation. I was feeding my son every 3 hours regardless if he was hungry, so he wasn't eating that much at every feed because he wasn't necessarily hungry. Turns out, he is hungry about every 4 hours and not every 3. Try to pay attention to your babies hunger signs. The pump I owned was a little older and wasn't the best at expressing milk for me. Are you pumping at the highest rate you are comfortable with without irritating your nipples? I ended up renting a hospital grade pump and it made all of the difference. Good luck!

Are you taking any medications? Even some birth control pills can decrease milk production, as well as meds you think have nothing to do with breastfeeding (decongestants are a big one). Take the aforementioned advice -it's all good! - and see a LLL consultant or your OB for advice.
Your situation is very normal. Keep breastfeeding! It will work out!!

As for there not being as much milk when you express, remember your body learns how to make the exact right amount for your baby. Feed her when she is hungry and don't worry about it. Also be aware, lots of moms have a drop in milk production during their period, so if she seems to want to eat more often then, that could be why. Do go to La Leche League. It's free to go to meetings and you will meet lots of other moms with babies your daughter's age who are all committed to breastfeeding, just like you! My daughter is now 2 1/2 and her best friend is a little boy we met at our first LLL meeting. I think you'll love the friendship and support you find at a meeting.

I had my cycle the whole time I breast feed with all three of my kids. DRINK DRINK DRINK (water) Take your vitamins, massage your breast, get plenty of sleep or as much as you can, and EAT and healthy snacks in between. Sleep water and food are the most important things. Girl I was a milk machine most times and if I got a lil low I would do those three things first.

I wish you all the best
L.
www.shaklee.net/healthydesire

please don't stop breastfeeding your baby. I breastfed both of mine until they weaned themselves at 2 1/2 and 3 years of age. I was my mother's 4th baby that was breastfed, and the advice that my mother was given when I was a baby was for her to dramatically increase the amount of food that she was eating with lots of rich, nutrient dense foods and tons of water. Everytime you sit down to feed your baby, you should have a huge glass of water yourself. Eat as if you are your pregnant, as it takes more calories to feed your baby than it took when you were pregnant. Make sure that your baby is latching on correctly, relax and let your baby eat in peace and drink that water down. I would also suggest that your consult a lactation consultant or a Le Leche League in your area. They will be able to address your concerns. Is your baby growing, and gaining weight? If she is, just keep nursing her and I would stop the pumping, as the baby will stimulate your milk production better than a pump ever will.
Blessings to you and yours,
K.

KEEP IT UP!!! You are doing great things for your baby by breastfeeding. Many moms worry that we do not produce enough milk and the hard thing is that stress does not help milk production. At about 3 to 4 months your body adjust to what your baby needs for milk. So you do not have the "extra" that you use to when you go to pump. The most you will have when you pump is after the am feeding. The supplements that one lady listed below are great.

Also when your baby starts eating more she is preparing for a growth spurt and your body naturally adjust to produce more milk.

If you are really worried call your Ped. and ask to come in for a weigh in. They are usually free and they just weight and make sure she is gaining correctly.

Good luck and keep up the great work!

If you have been nursing exclusively, it is unlikely you are not making enough to satisfy her. Three months of age is typically an age that they have a growth spurt. Keep nursing; put her on the breast more often to stimulate more milk production. It will all work out within a week or two. Sometimes they do get frustrated. What might be happening is that you are trying to express milk before you "let down." If she's getting frustrated trying while waiting for your milk to let down, try pumping for a few minutes first. This sounds absolutely ridiculous but think in your head about your milk letting down and relax. If you are in the least bit stressed, you will not let down. This happened to me all of the time when I was nuring my two. It doesn't take much tension to make let down take an eternity. I would recommend contacting La Leche League. You can get free services through them. I hightly doubt your milk is drying up. Although, if you are taking allergy meds, they can effect your milk supply some. Decongestants in particular, they will dry you up fast (ex: Sudafed! ...don't take it!). If you are taking any allergy meds, drink tons of water and see if you can limit the meds. Good luck to you. You are doing the best thing for your baby and don't worry, it's unlikely you are drying up unless you are taking meds or supplementing with formula already. Keep pumping for a week to get your supply up. Maybe 20 minutes a couple of times a day (on top of nursing).

Methodist womens health care lactation center would have lots of helpful suggestions and it's free to anyone.
1-800-333-7333
Good luck.

When is her next dr. appt? They will weigh her and if her weight is doing great then I think you are ok. How much do you get when you pump? She probably needs about 4-6oz at a feeding, depending on how big she is. If you can make that when you pump then I think you are ok. But if you can only get out like 2oz, you might have to consider switching or adding formula. I don't know if the fact you got your period is a problem or not, if you have a regular obgyn maybe call them and just talk it out a little with the nurse. If not, you can call a local crisis pregnancy center and I think they can help you with answers to your question as their services are typically free. If your finances are tight, have you considered applying for WIC? I believe they provide for formula. When my little guy was transitioning off the breast to a bottle I used the parents choice formula at wal-mart and he did just great. It is much cheaper than the other brands and I couldn't see a bit of difference. Hang in there, I know nothing is more emotionally challenging than not knowing if things are going ok those first few months with your baby. Listen to your heart, you know your daughter. If she seems really hungry, just go get a can of formula to make yourself confident that she is getting all she needs and keep trying your best to make all the milk you can for her. It is going to be ok, and she will do just fine either way, and you guys will make it!!! Love and hugs to you:)

You're doing great, don't stop now! I suggest taking Fenugreek, drink water like crazy & get in touch with your local La Leche League - they can be a great help. Good luck....you can do it!
God Bless,
H. B

Absolutely not! Keep breastfeeding. It sounds like a growth spurt. My daughter is doing the same thing. For days she was totally frustrated and my breasts seemed so flat, but then I read that this was the exact time of a growth spurt. I waited it out, as frustrating as it was for everyone, and within a week, back to normal and breasts fuller. As long as she is peeing and pooping, she is getting enough. Hang in there. We just went through it and it was hard, but I can't believe the books were right about the growth spurt!

Don't stop! Try getting some herbal things like teas that will incrase your milk. Your body will adjust if you keep feeding on demand. This milk is so precious to your babies health! You can do it! :)

Could be a growth spurt. If you're taking birth control that has some type of hormone in it, that could be the culprit. I'm so sorry you feel alone. Make sure you're drinking enough water. Also if you recently started exercising, that could also be causing the change. Will pray for you... Keep us posted!

I would look for a lactation consultant. They are very helpful and huge advocates of nursing. There are several suppliments you can take to help and they would know what to take and how much. Call the hospital where you delivered and see if they have a consultant you can talk to. If not, you can look them up online. If there is a la leche group in your town, they may know someone or be able to help. I never had a lot of milk, but my daughter didn't squirm like she needed more. Is your child still gaining weight? If so, then you probably don't need to worry about anything. You can also ask the ped. if they know any consultants that could help you. I hope this helps. Know these first few months are very hard. I am sure you are doing a great job.

Yes, it is frustrating feeling alone. But don't give up! you are doing great. Remember that your supply will change as your baby grows. You will not always feel as full as you did in the first three months, but your body makes exactly whqat your baby needs. There is a lot of help out there; you can find support in many places, and get your questions answered. try kellymom.com or http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html. You can even find a phone number that you can call and talk to someone. You may feel alone but you are not. All the best to you!

Don't give up. It is hard sometimes at first but you are most likely making enough milk for her. However stress does play a factor. Try contacting the La Leche League, it is a totally free support group and they have a lot of advice and know pretty much everything there is to know about breastfeeding. It was really hard for me at first too but we finally got the hang of it and my daughter is now 9 months old and we are still breastfeeding. Good luck and don't give up. Breastfeeding is the best thing for your baby!

keep doing what you're doing! baby is older now and more aware of the world, so she is bound to be a more squirmy worm. maybe she needs to eat less frequently and keep up the pumping. are you holding her next to you throughout the day? contact helps stim production. GET TO LA LECHE! Please do not stop nursing if you want to keep breastfeeding. you can call them and someone will "talk you down", and please don't be afraid of any "overenthusiastic nursers". they will not make you feel bad - they want you to keep nursing too. i wish i'd called them w/ my first, b/c i stopped around the time you are talking about and i wish i'd gone longer.
call la leche, stay hydrated (divide your weight by 2; drink that many oz of water, then more to thirst), and love that baby! good luck

HI! I breastfed my 3 kids & have learned that during your period , yes the milk flow may not squirt out as much. Just like the rise & fall of the waters during full moon almost the same thing happens during your period with the breast milk. I know just be patient & continue working through this
the hormones does give off a little bit different taste for your baby. Keep up the good work & enjoy the time with your daughter!

Take a hot shower
Believe it or not the heat with help produce more milk....
Also, pump the milk in between feedings, it will help increase the supply as well.... And ALWAYS alternate feedings from one to the other - even if you have to switch in the middle of a feeding....

It will get better - and remember when you begin to build the supply again - you can freeze the milk for a short period of time as well... so when you are done breast feeding and are ready for bottle feedings, you can still supply the milk in a bottle....

Good luck!

I advise you not to stop breastfeeding your baby, continue to nurse as usual and also pump. Make sure to keep up a balanced well nutritious diet for yourself. I know that when I don't eat properly or skip meals my milk production becomes low and as soon as I get back on track with eating, the production increases. Good luck.

call the la leche league and the doctor...when i had stopped producing becuase of a problem the stupid pediatrician i was forced to see had caused the neonatalist my babies were seeing told me that there is a medication they could give me that would begin my production again. And they could bring me in to help me get back on track.. Unfortunately this would not have worked for my family, but it may work for you...It wouldn't hurt to ask about it...

Good Luck! ;-)

Try fenugreek and blessed thistle. It helped me. Be sure to drink lots of water too! :-)

Usually around three months old, babies tend to do this refusal thing, that's frustrating for everyone. Even that young they're trying to exert their power, and realizing they can affect their environment.

First of all, don't give up. Keep up the feeding schedule and soon, lil' one will learn it's boobies or nothing and go right back to it. It's usually a phase.

I was always worried that I wasn't making enough milk, my lactation consultant suggested taking six fenugreek pills twice a day, with maybe a dose of three in the pills around noon or a cup of mothers' milk tea. I ended up making more milk than I knew what to do with, but it totally killed my fears. The only real downside to this, is it's also an herbal appetite suppressant...and you end up smelling like maple syrup.

Another method is a warm washcloth on your breasts, as that encourages let down, which also tends to help build more milk. Do that for about 10 min, each breast and then pump...when baby isn't feeding of course.

If your concerns still trouble you, definately seek out a lactation consultant, and above all, don't give up.

Good luck!

Call a lactation consultant.I think La Leche League is free. Make sure you are drinking enough water and eating enough. Good for you wanting to give your baby the best. If you are drying up, WIC has infant programs. You can sign up for that.

Good Luck!

S.,

Congratulations on nursing! You are absolutely correct when you say that breast milk is the best thing for your baby. That's actually something that even the formula companies don't dispute!
Your milk may have actually decreased. If so, there are some things you can do. I'll get to that in a moment.
My first guess is that your milk *seems* to have decreased, but actually your body has gotten more efficient at making it for your baby. Not all women are able to let down for a pump.
Your periods can affect the taste of the milk -- but will not harm your baby at all! My babies both nursed less when I was at *that part* of my cycle. They made up for it afterward.
Age 3-4mos is when babies start getting really interested in what's going on around them. Pop on, pop off nursing is classic at this age. It is a phase and will pass. If this seems to be a contributing factor to her not getting on and staying on -- find a quiet room to nurse baby in, and get away from anything else that would likely distract baby from nursing.

Some questions I think you need to ask yourself since you're wondering about your supply:
LLL's book Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, pg 72
Is baby nursing every 2-3hrs? Putting on weight? Filling out? Active and alert? A "yes" to these questions tells you that your baby is getting enough. A quick and easy way to reassure yourself is to check diapers. If baby has 6 or more really wet diapers a day, you can be sure he is getting plenty of milk. Frequent bowel movements are also a sign that baby is getting enough to eat.

LLLi.org has some extremely helpful information on the Resources pages. Here are a couple links that I think pertain to your situation.
For increasing milk: http://llli.org/FAQ/increase.html
General Supply Issues:
http://llli.org/NB/NBmilksupplyissues.html

Lastly, I would highly recommend calling a LLL leader for a phone consult. Or better yet, go to a meeting, if you can. I've been attending for a long time now. I have no bf-ing issues anymore but it's always encouraging to be around other women who are breastfeeding. There are evening groups as well as daytime groups. If nothing else, I would call a Leader and get her input. I see you're in Hutto. I'm in South Austin. Here's a link to the Austin area groups and Leaders.
http://www.lllaustin.org/

HTH and you'll be in my thoughts. If you have any specific questions for me, please do not hesitate to ask. I love all things BF related and enjoy helping other moms overcome challenges.

K., mama to
Catherine, 5y
Samuel, 2y (still nursing)
EDD 9/09

No, don't stop. This is one of the ages that babies typically go through a growth spurt and need more milk. I know this sounds impractical, but let her nurse a lot, rest or sleep as much as you can and drink lots of liquids. Your supply will catch up to your baby's demand.

If your baby is growing, peeing and pooping enough, you are making enough. Keep breastfeeding and get help from Le Leche League or a pro-breastfeeding lactation nurse to set your mind at ease. There are many herbs and foods to both eat and avoid to help your milk production, so maybe do a google search. (the only one I can remember is a good dark beer with lots of hops is good for milk production!) :)
Even if you end up feeding baby a little formula you can continue breastfeeding, too. I had to feed some formula to my third son starting around 4 months, but also nursed him until he was almost 3!

I had similar troubles, but worked it out and was able to nurse for a year. At three months, the problem is often that your baby is going through a growing spurt, and at the same time, becoming a more efficient eater. For a short time, it may feel like you are drying up, but your milk production will almost always catch up with your baby's demand. Tips:
1. Nurse as often as possible. The more you nurse, the more milk you will make. For now, I would try to nurse every hour or two so your body will produce more.

2. Talk to a lactation consultant. I used the one at my pediatrition's office. You can also use the one at the hospital where you delivered. She can help you to determine what other steps need to be taken. If she determines that you are one of the very few omen who can't make enough milk, she can prescribe certain things to help.

3. Read up on it. When it was happeneing to me, it helped me feel better to read as much as possible.

Good luck!

Dont stop! It is highly unlikely that you are not producing enough milk....it is just balancing out according to need. It is incredibly rare that moms cant make enough milk for their baby but people give up out of fear and they loose confidence in themselves. Get to a La Leche meeting.....look them up on line. They are very helpful and FREE!!!!! You can usually call them 24 hours a day and they will call you back!

I have nursed both of mine and have never once bought formula so it can be done.

Good work and good luck.

You can check out this site: www.OIL-TESTIMONIALS.com/7532

click on Search and type: increase milk supply

you should be able to read some great testimonials of what others did to help with your same problem.

feel free to contact me if I can help you with anything.

I would encourage you to keep nursing her as often as possible. Breastmilk isn't always the quantity, as much as the quality. Are you feeling the milk "let down" when you nurse her? If so, then she's getting the richness of your milk. Since you've been nursing her for three months now, and assuming she's thriving and having good weight gain, you two must be doing something right(!). There are some breastfeeding groups out there, my kids are older and I'm out of touch with those areas, but hopefully some Moms here will have a network that can help you and encourage you. One last thing I'd like to say is that nursing your baby can be just as psychological as it is physical -- make sure your mind is on what you're doing, that you focus on how pleasing it is to her, and what an awesome experience you two are sharing. Personally I could never pump -- it was too "sterile" or non-emotional; but putting the baby on the breast just made a world of difference. It put in a better frame of mind, and the baby's suckling, cooing, smiling, all made a complete difference with my milk supply. Good luck to you and your family.

I thinks you are right on target with what you are doing. Always give her your breast, ALWAYS. There is an amaizing help group, go to http://www.llli.org/ la leche league, they have support groups with ladies that can help you with anything that has to do with breastfeeding!! In the meantime, try getting some herbs called Fenugreek, they are wonderful, first day take 2, 2nd day take 3, and 3rd take 4, and then on. Your are going to start smelling like maple syrup, then you know that is already in your system. Also, drink a lot of water, one 8onz glass every 2 hours, at least. Also, you can buy Malt, yes Malt and drink it!!
Good luck, I know it can be frustrating but you are doing the best you can!!!

Hi, call your ob and let them know the situation. There are a few medications that they can prescribe to help stimulate the milk. I had to take some and was able to get it in the generic brand. Best of luck! Don't give up, just ask your doctor for help!