So, right now I'm (almost) ep right now, we supplemented with formula for a few days til my milk came in yesterday. I might call an lc next week and see if we can get nursing back up and running. I pumped yesterday all day and got about 2oz on each side every time, til my my last pump at about 11 when I got 2 from the left and 1.5 from the right. Since then, it's been slowly decreasing with every pump. I tried to do it every 2 hours today and only got an oz from each side on the second pump. He's starting to want more and what I'm pumping isn't satisfying him long anymore. Any ideas of what I can do to increase my supply? I'm gonna go walk the dogs g so I might not respond right away.
Post by MixedBerryJam on Feb 13, 2016 19:33:42 GMT -5
Do you have a hospital-grade pump? You can rent them (ins might cover it) from larger pharmacies/medical supply places. That made a huge difference over the Medela I had purchased. Also, fenugreek capsules.
NOTE: That baby is 19 now, so things may have changed ...
Your milk just came in yesterday which means your baby is tiny and has little need. 2-3oz at most, every 2-3 hours.
Honestly, when he is awake, he should just be parked on the boob. Your supply will get better the more often he eats at the breast. If he isn't doing great with transfer, always put him on the boob and bottle feed AFTER the attempt at the boob.
You should def see a LC to help with the latch! It made a huge difference for me.
Pumping 2oz per side each time is great and amazing this early. You don't need to worry about that!
Do you have a hospital-grade pump? You can rent them (ins might cover it) from larger pharmacies/medical supply places. That made a huge difference over the Medela I had purchased. Also, fenugreek capsules.
NOTE: That baby is 19 now, so things may have changed ...
I'm guessing no because I feel like that's something I would know... This is a free pump from my insurance. I will look into it! And I will google fenugreek. Thanks!
Are you staying hydrated and eating enough calories?
Honestly, yesterday I definitely slacked on the water because it really hurts to pee because of my stitches since I tore both ways. So dumb, I know. I've been trying really hard to drink more today, so hopefully that will help. The most concerning thing is that it gets less and less every time I pump... I thought it was supposed to be the other way around!
Your milk just came in yesterday which means your baby is tiny and has little need. 2-3oz at most, every 2-3 hours.
Honestly, when he is awake, he should just be parked on the boob. Your supply will get better the more often he eats at the breast. If he isn't doing great with transfer, always put him on the boob and bottle feed AFTER the attempt at the boob.
You should def see a LC to help with the latch! It made a huge difference for me.
Pumping 2oz per side each time is great and amazing this early. You don't need to worry about that!
Maybe you can give me some advice about this part, too. Part of the reason I stopped nursing is because when I put him to my boob, he can't latch right away and gets so so pissed, even if I try before he's at the crying/hungry stage, nothing gets him there quite like popping a boob in his mouth. He goes from zero to red and screaming in .5 and won't latch to anything at all. We had a few good feeds in the hospital and then one really good one at home and after that he was like 'lolno I don't think so ma'. I'm sure an lc can give advice, but I feel horrible that I can't even get him to try.
You are doing great for this early on! Their stomach is the size of a cherry right now, so you are good with an oz or two. If you are stressing about supply, make sure you are getting enough water, eating enough calories and adding fenugreek and blessed thistle supplements. Fenugreek helps with letdown so you get more, but blessed thistle will actually help increase your milk volume. If you aren't worried about creating new breast tissue you can do goats rue- but if you are already large chested, stay away. It creates more milk by creating more tissue (increase in size).
Your milk just came in yesterday which means your baby is tiny and has little need. 2-3oz at most, every 2-3 hours.
Honestly, when he is awake, he should just be parked on the boob. Your supply will get better the more often he eats at the breast. If he isn't doing great with transfer, always put him on the boob and bottle feed AFTER the attempt at the boob.
You should def see a LC to help with the latch! It made a huge difference for me.
Pumping 2oz per side each time is great and amazing this early. You don't need to worry about that!
This too.
And you're doing great!
Thanks for this. I promised myself I wouldn't beat myself up or torture myself over bf but that lasted about 10 seconds after he was born. Haha.
You are doing great for this early on! Their stomach is the size of a cherry right now, so you are good with an oz or two. If you are stressing about supply, make sure you are getting enough water, eating enough calories and adding fenugreek and blessed thistle supplements. Fenugreek helps with letdown so you get more, but blessed thistle will actually help increase your milk volume. If you aren't worried about creating new breast tissue you can do goats rue- but if you are already large chested, stay away. It creates more milk by creating more tissue (increase in size).
My boobs were huge before so thanks for the heads up. More boob is not something I need in my life. Ha. When I send mh for these things tomorrow,(lol) should he be looking for pills? Teas? Where do I even go to find them? Lol, sorry for all the questions. I'm more clueless about the having and feeding of children than I thought i was
If you're having supply issues, here are some suggestions: Lots of fenugreek. It didn't help for me, but it's been known to help others. Oatmeal, dark beer, lactation cookies. My doctor prescribed Reglan for me, and it started to help, but it gave me horrible side effects, so I had to go off it. Some people have managed to get prescriptions for domperidone. Power pumping can also help.
Keep in mind, how much you pump doesn't always reflect how much baby is getting. A weighed feed will show just how much he's able to get.
If it's latch issues, a LC is the best bet. You said he gets frustrated. Do you think it's because of slower letdown or because he struggles to get on? I agree that if possible, let him start trying to latch before he starts showing signs of hunger. Right now is the best excuse for sitting around your house topless, just holding the baby. \
You are doing great for this early on! Their stomach is the size of a cherry right now, so you are good with an oz or two. If you are stressing about supply, make sure you are getting enough water, eating enough calories and adding fenugreek and blessed thistle supplements. Fenugreek helps with letdown so you get more, but blessed thistle will actually help increase your milk volume. If you aren't worried about creating new breast tissue you can do goats rue- but if you are already large chested, stay away. It creates more milk by creating more tissue (increase in size).
My boobs were huge before so thanks for the heads up. More boob is not something I need in my life. Ha. When I send mh for these things tomorrow,(lol) should he be looking for pills? Teas? Where do I even go to find them? Lol, sorry for all the questions. I'm more clueless about the having and feeding of children than I thought i was
Mother's milk tea can be found at a grocery store, although it kind of tastes nasty. Fenugreek is in capsule form, and you should be taking boatloads. kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/herbs/fenugreek/ this is a good resource. You can get it at GNC or other supplement stores.
Fenugreek can be found at any health food store (sprouts, etc) and prob at most drugstores (cvs, Walgreens). Blessed thistle will be at health food stores.
Post by penguinsidecar on Feb 13, 2016 20:42:58 GMT -5
Please forgive a lurker jumping in - but I've been through A Lot of nursing issues and strongly recommend the following:
- make latching your #1 priority - if you need to get into an LC to get that down - prioritize that over everything - don't wait or your baby may develop nipple confusion
- If you're okay with EP - just keep pumping - but frankly I'm amazed at the stamina of EP'ers - because when I've done it - it has been SO HARD - when actually nursing (once you get the hang of it) Is so easy, and lovely
- babies remove milk much more efficiently than a pump - and removing milk is the most important thing to keeping and building supply - get that baby on your boob!
You're doing great! It's hard at the beginni g - but good for you and baby!
I don't think you need supplements yet. Just drink lots and lots of water. Skin to skin to help get hormones in overdrive and try nursing-you can then offer a ready made bottle of needed. Your supply will drop as the day progresses, it sounds like you have made plenty for him today so far!
Have you tried finger feeding?? My friend had good success with her baby. There are also tubes you can place by the nip so when he latches he gets immediate milk, which may then help him latch long enough to get your milk moving too!
EP is hard, I did it for a year with my insurance Pump in Style. I just want you to know if this is how he eats, it's not the end of the world. But I really hope you can get him latching again!
If you're having supply issues, here are some suggestions: Lots of fenugreek. It didn't help for me, but it's been known to help others. Oatmeal, dark beer, lactation cookies. My doctor prescribed Reglan for me, and it started to help, but it gave me horrible side effects, so I had to go off it. Some people have managed to get prescriptions for domperidone. Power pumping can also help.
Keep in mind, how much you pump doesn't always reflect how much baby is getting. A weighed feed will show just how much he's able to get.
If it's latch issues, a LC is the best bet. You said he gets frustrated. Do you think it's because of slower letdown or because he struggles to get on? I agree that if possible, let him start trying to latch before he starts showing signs of hunger. Right now is the best excuse for sitting around your house topless, just holding the baby. \
You're doing a great job!
I'm not sure because once my boob hits his mouth, he starts screaming and never closes his mouth to try to latch til I put a bottle in it. I've tried pulling the bottle out and sticking my boob in there and he still flipped out. I'll try laying on the bed and I forgot lactation cookies were a thing, thank you for that reminder! I do need to eat and drink more. I will absolutely call an lc next week. They can come out to your house, right? In true crazy first time mom form, I'm trying to limit the amount of time he's outside at all because our air quality is really bad here. Because, you know, walking from the car to a building may choke my child. Haha.
Post by Mrs. ChanandlerBong on Feb 13, 2016 20:49:08 GMT -5
If he's getting frustrated because the milk doesn't start right away, try putting a few drops of formula or pumped milk n your nipples just before trying to latch. My son needed "incentive" to latch and that did the trick.
You're doing great! Really. Nothing is quite like having the baby feed. Is babe having pee and poo dipes? If yes, I'd say only nurse.
He is, but on the lighter side, and they were very light in the hospital when I was exclusively breast feeding (I mean we were only there 2 days so it's hard to gauge but the pedi seemed mildly concerned about his diaper output and weight loss. He's gained some since we left because of the formula supplementing though)
If he's getting frustrated because the milk doesn't start right away, try putting a few drops of formula or pumped milk n your nipples just before trying to latch. My son needed "incentive" to latch and that did the trick.
when I was in the hospital, I would hand express a few drops and that worked most of the time, sometimes it just helped him smear milk all over his face. Haha. I wasn't able to hand express colostrum when we were home for some reason, but I will try to start that back up now that I have milk.
Maybe you can give me some advice about this part, too. Part of the reason I stopped nursing is because when I put him to my boob, he can't latch right away and gets so so pissed, even if I try before he's at the crying/hungry stage, nothing gets him there quite like popping a boob in his mouth. He goes from zero to red and screaming in .5 and won't latch to anything at all. We had a few good feeds in the hospital and then one really good one at home and after that he was like 'lolno I don't think so ma'. I'm sure an lc can give advice, but I feel horrible that I can't even get him to try.
It's hard! The best thing is to get him to try BEFORE he gets hungry. Don't wait too long because he will get hungry and frustrated.
So, do you wake them up to eat? He can be hard to wake up so I had stopped but maybe I'll try it right now since he is due to eat soon-ish. And I have a couple back ups I case he loses his mind when I wake him up. Ha. It seems like when I just shove my boob into his mouth he just screams around it.
Be aware the fenugreek can cause gas, at least it did for D. It was not a good option for us, so just be in the look out for that.
I always had good luck with a stout, preferably Guinness.
Us too. I was sure DD1 had colic. She would scream for hours for weeks until i put her on formula for 2 days. Bam. New baby. It did help my supply but really upset dd1. I would ask the LC about a supplemental nursing system is an option. It provides milk instantly when baby tries to breastfeed and may reduce his frustration if he isn't getting it fast enough. It is sort of a pain, but so is pimping and could be a bridge to breastfeeding.
That said, DD1 never was able to breastfeed because she did the same screaming thing. I also have flat nipples and she was not about to wait for me to get a shield situated. I pumped and supplemented with preemie formula for 9months before going to formula only.