I had the same issues you're experiencing. I had a LC come to my house when my DD was about 4 weeks old, and it helped, but she was about 5 weeks before she really got the hang of latching properly. I supplemented a little during that time, and she's fine now, so I don't think I was starving her. I ended up never really being able to pump. I pumped and pumped and pumped, tried all the tricks to up my production, and just could never get much out. My pedi was the one to finally tell me me that even the hospital grade pumps don't work so hot for everyone. My nipples are weird and the suction from the pump was a lot different from the baby's suction. She was definitely getting enough at the breast. I ended up having to supplement with formula during the day when I went back to work, and just breast fed at night and in the mornings.
How long are you pumping for? I would pump for 30 to 45 minutes when I could (maybe threes times a day). I would letdown more than once. Also I tried oatmeal and the tea and didn't notice much of an output change. Dark beer really helped though.
Every three hours for 15 minutes, per lactation consultants' (yes, plural) advice.
Try for longer periods. At this point I wouldn't be worried about an oversupply. Also, google power pumping one of my many lactation consultants recommended it to me. I don't remember specifics though. I believe it is 10 minutes pumping, 20 minutes off for an hour or two.
I'm sorry My body did not produce enough milk, pumping or regular BF. I kept at it for 3 weeks but my baby was losing so much weight and I was starting to get so stressed out. My lactation consultant even told me to stop. lol I would get about a half of an ounce per pumping session, if that.
I say you do whatever you need to do, BF or formula. Either way your kid will be fine To me, I wanted to enjoy my baby, not be stressed and angry every time I had to feed him.
Thanks. I think you may be the first one in this thread who actually had a similar situation.
I've been formula-feeding already because there's no way that she could survive on my meager boob droplets.
I only got 1-2oz per pump and it just wasn't enough to keep up.I did everything I could to increase my supply - it was a no go. I went to formula and it totally relieved my anxiety and stress. I felt like a different person.
Its really stressful when you aren't making enough. Do whatever you need to do.
I would have thrown a damn party if I got 2oz TOTAL. I had to supplement with both of my kids despite doing every possible thing I could to try to bring my production up. Lactation Consultants, herbs, lactation cookies (which are delish, but made me gain weight like whoa), gross tea, pretty much everything but prescription meds. We made it to 6 months with about 50/50 ratio of pumping/BF (combined) and formula.
Here are some things that helped me: 1. Occasionally, I could get way more from the cheap Medela hand pump than my regular Freestyle pump. 2. I pumped more milk every single time I covered the horns/bottles with a blanket so I couldn't see what was coming out. Stressing about how much I was getting was keeping me from letting down well enough. 3. Lactate Support herbs were the best over-the-counter thing for me. They have a slightly different name now, I think. Lactation Support, maybe?
I cannot second number two enough. I am down to pumping once or twice a day for about 4 oz. The other night I played the sims while I pumped and paid no attention to what was coming out and bam 6 oz.
Also, my best pump of the day early on was right when my husband got home from work. I would hand him the baby, sit in my room all alone in peace and quiet, and watch a whole episode of parenthood all by myself. I think the lack of stress helped so much.
I would have thrown a damn party if I got 2oz TOTAL. I had to supplement with both of my kids despite doing every possible thing I could to try to bring my production up. Lactation Consultants, herbs, lactation cookies (which are delish, but made me gain weight like whoa), gross tea, pretty much everything but prescription meds. We made it to 6 months with about 50/50 ratio of pumping/BF (combined) and formula.
Here are some things that helped me: 1. Occasionally, I could get way more from the cheap Medela hand pump than my regular Freestyle pump. 2. I pumped more milk every single time I covered the horns/bottles with a blanket so I couldn't see what was coming out. Stressing about how much I was getting was keeping me from letting down well enough. 3. Lactate Support herbs were the best over-the-counter thing for me. They have a slightly different name now, I think. Lactation Support, maybe?
Thanks.
All that stuff...man. It just seems like too much for so little.
I get, like, half an ounce TOTAL from both boobs per session.
I can relate. DS was born at 36 weeks and spent a week in the NICU. (I also had gestational diabetes.) I pumped for about 3 weeks and was getting just a few drops every session. It was maddening. I don't regret going the formula route.
I agree that longer pumping sessions may help, and also not staring at the bottles while you are pumping. I always produced more when I wasn't aware how much/little I pumped.
Eventually I pumped every 6 hours which was better for me- more psychologically satisfying- because I would have more in reserve. So I'd pump for the same 20 minutes but get 4 oz combined instead of 1.5 every 3 hours.
I had problems when Sofia was little. Everything was fine at first, then it all went downhill around the three month mark. I would pump maybe .5-1 oz total. It was so frustrating. I struggled on like that and supplemented with formula for another three months until I said fuck it. It sucked, but in the end the stress just wasn't worth it for me. When I completely switched to formula, both baby and I were a lot happier.
For the first three weeks I would sometimes pump like 1oz from each. It was frustrating but it was also after feedings. My milk took a solid week to come in. We supplemented from the beginning once we saw they had latch issues.
Water, nursing before giving bottles, and pumping right after nursing for a few feedings a day helped me. By the time I went back to work at 9wks I was able to give them 90% bm.
pumping sucks. i'm so sorry you're having a tough time. the average mom with a perfectly good and established supply usually only gets one ounce combined (not per boob). also, if you are pumping exclusively and not nursing in between, i don't think pumping every three hours is going to remove enough milk to build up or maintain your supply. are you doing any supplements like fenugreek? if you are interested, there are prescriptions you can get to boost your supply, like reglan.
has misotiny been checked out for tongue/lip tie and all that?
i know i'm probably not the person you wanted to hear from since i'm usually in straight-up cheerleader mode, but i had lots of problems. that's how i wound up in a la leche league meeting in the first place. lots of people do combo feeding instead of bailing on the whole thing if it's not really working entirely on its own. have you talked to anybody your latch issues? i can send you the link to find a LLL meeting near you if you're interested.
Honestly, I don't know if I can handle La Leche.
I'm angry just reading about people with four ounces in here.
I had the same issues you're experiencing. I had a LC come to my house when my DD was about 4 weeks old, and it helped, but she was about 5 weeks before she really got the hang of latching properly. I supplemented a little during that time, and she's fine now, so I don't think I was starving her. I ended up never really being able to pump. I pumped and pumped and pumped, tried all the tricks to up my production, and just could never get much out. My pedi was the one to finally tell me me that even the hospital grade pumps don't work so hot for everyone. My nipples are weird and the suction from the pump was a lot different from the baby's suction. She was definitely getting enough at the breast. I ended up having to supplement with formula during the day when I went back to work, and just breast fed at night and in the mornings.
Post by twodogsandababy on Feb 10, 2014 17:54:19 GMT -5
I never got more than a half ounce combined, even pumping every 4 hours. After a week the ped made me supplement with formula because DS was born low birth weight and was losing too much. At two weeks I went to all formula because I didn't feel supported by the LC's I saw. About a week after I stopped nursing/pumping I finally had enough to leak for a few days. I wish I had tried it again but we had already gotten into a happy routine so I didn't.
Oohh yeah I'd pump for a while. I didn't entirely listen b/c the lc's goal was to keep supplementing and I wanted to EBF if possible. I didn't follow their timing rules either and instead pumped after nursing. I found timed pumping didn't help me as much. Then I'd pump until no more flow and if I had time, until a second let down feeling even if nothing came.
I'm sorry My body did not produce enough milk, pumping or regular BF. I kept at it for 3 weeks but my baby was losing so much weight and I was starting to get so stressed out. My lactation consultant even told me to stop. lol I would get about a half of an ounce per pumping session, if that.
I say you do whatever you need to do, BF or formula. Either way your kid will be fine To me, I wanted to enjoy my baby, not be stressed and angry every time I had to feed him.
Thanks. I think you may be the first one in this thread who actually had a similar situation.
I've been formula-feeding already because there's no way that she could survive on my meager boob droplets.
Oh yeah, I was supplementing with formula from almost the beginning. Honestly, I wish I would have stopped sooner and just enjoyed my baby. I know that's not the popular opinion but you have to do what you need to do. Good luck!
I have no kids, but the only reason I am in this thread is because my friend had a baby recently and had a very, very difficult time breastfeeding. She went to three different lactation consultants and nothing was helping. She finally found an Occupational Therapist who specializes in breastfeeding and she said it made a world of difference. She highly, highly recommends anyone who is having trouble feeding to at least meet with one to see if it helps. So I just wanted to throw that out there.
Post by vanillacourage on Feb 10, 2014 17:56:36 GMT -5
Sadly, I think you need to pump more often, and for longer. You want to mimic the cluster feeding she'd be doing at the breast. You know how you hear about new BFers being stuck on the couch nursing for hours on end? That's nature's way of getting the mom's supply up and established. Pumping for 15 min every 3 hours just isn't going to get you there.
Good luck! I BF'd both kids for a month or so then switched to formula with no regrets.
I get, like, half an ounce TOTAL from both boobs per session.
I can relate. DS was born at 36 weeks and spent a week in the NICU. (I also had gestational diabetes.) I pumped for about 3 weeks and was getting just a few drops every session. It was maddening. I don't regret going the formula route.
Yes, very similar situation here. 37 weeks. Over three days in NICU while I was strapped to IVs myself for 2.5 days.
I was on the pump every 2-3 hrs for 20-30 minutes. I would be drinking a huge glass of water just waiting for it to end. I would get about 2oz total. Pumping is a full time job between the pumping the cleaning the bagging the obsessing
I can't see a ticker but she isn't a month old yet right?
It seemed hopeless to me for a while. The shield saved us, as did the breastflow bottles. They helped the boys latch. Then by 6/7 weeks it was better and we were in a groove just in time for me to be a slave to the pump at work.
Post by Stingyshark on Feb 10, 2014 17:57:56 GMT -5
I have two pumps, both are medela but one is hospital grade, the other is not. I pump several ounces more with the hospital grade pump, it just has a better suction, I guess. I also put olive oil (this was the LC recommendation) inside the flange when I pump.. It makes it more comfortable and helps the pump draw in more breast. (this is per the LC i've met with a few times) Also, do you massage your breasts while pumping? Seems silly, but it has helped me. newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html (NSFW)
You can rent hospital grade pumps; it might help increase your supply.
I'm really sorry you're having a rough time; BF is a million times more difficult than I could have ever imagined. We have had a rough time with BF as well.
Thanks. I think you may be the first one in this thread who actually had a similar situation.
I've been formula-feeding already because there's no way that she could survive on my meager boob droplets.
Oh yeah, I was supplementing with formula from almost the beginning. Honestly, I wish I would have stopped sooner and just enjoyed my baby. I know that's not the popular opinion but you have to do what you need to do. Good luck!
It's not a popular opinion because people who don't have issues don't get it.
I only ever got a couple ounces at a time from the pump (DS got even less per feed based on weighed feedings). I tried everything to make breastfeeding work (DS was treated for tongue tie, herbs, lactation consultants, every different pumping/positioning/breast mutilating technique) and really regret it now. I was so stressed out and depressed and feeling like my body was failing me and my baby. Everyone (friends & family) just kept telling me to stick with it which made me feel even worse. I really wish I had gone to all formula sooner. We started supplementing at 2 weeks but I kept BFing as much as possible until 5.5 months.
I used the hospital grade pump for the first month, every 3 hours (but overnight did not pump, my lactation consultant said that was okay) and the most I got in a DAY was 1 oz. Typically I got 10ml per pump session, total, from both boobs. Now I did pump right after I breastfed her, but when I did weighed feedings to see how much milk she was getting directly from me, the most she ever got was 2/3rds of an ounce. So incredibly frustrating. I quit pumping at a month (when she reached her due date) because I was miserable and the pain didn't seem worth the "reward" when she was still getting 90% formula each day. Once I stopped pumping I kept breastfeeding her and supplementing until she rejected the boob at 3 months old and switched entirely to formula.
we're here to support you with whatever you decide to do, I know how frustrating and disappointing it can be.
Post by hopecounts on Feb 10, 2014 18:02:34 GMT -5
I had supply problems. I would highly recommend renting a hospital grade pump. You have a preemie, a less then ideal delivery, and were separated during key post delivery nursing time all of which can lead to supply problems. A hospital grade pump will do a much better job of increasing supply, Also get a nursing system so she can stimulate the boobs while getting BM/formula. Lactation cookies are amazing (yummy and really work) Dark beer can help as well. Also power pumping (10-15 minutes on 5-10 off for an hour a day) can help. And if possible pump or nurse more than every 3 hours during the day, that's pretty infrequent if you want to up supply, every 2 would be better. Of course this is if you want to continue, if you don't that's is just fine. misogyny will be happy and healthy on formula.