Is Baby Getting Enough Milk?

This site gives really good information about increasing milk supply.

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/bf/galact.asp

Also, the product that worked best for me with sore/bleeding nipples was Motherlove nipple cream. That stuff is magic!

http://www.motherlove.com/product_nipple_cream.php

Best of luck!

That's wonderful that he latched on! Now he will not only receive the important nutrients from your breast milk, but you will both experience the amazing bonding from the nursing. That's most likely why he wants to nurse all the time now!

Push through the pain. I had the same problem with my 3 month old baby for the first couple of weeks. I was even bleeding. I got Lansinoh lanolin. It comes in a purple tube, and you can find it at Target, babies r Us etc... It helps a lot! Soon, the pain was completely gone.

Your body knows how much milk to produce. As long as he's growing, you most likely fine. If you're worried, make an appointment with the lactation consultants at the hospital where you delivered. I went to a class where they weighed the baby before I nursed, and then afterward. They were able to see exactly how much milk my baby was receiving. VERY helpful!!

Good luck!

If you want to continue to breastfeed he needs to be at the breast as much as possible. Your breasts work on supply and demand. The more he nurses, the more milk you will make. Pumping is not a good indicator of how much milk he is getting. Babies are more efficient at getting milk then the pump. I am no lacatation expert, but I would stop giving formula for a while. It took us a good two-three months before my LO would go two or three hours between eating.
Breastfeeding shouldn't be painful. Have you tried Lanolin for your nipples? It will help soothe them. Also, I LOVED Soothie brand nipple pads. They are a gel like pad, (and I tried other brands too... but the Soothies were the BEST). They will also help. Do you have any whiteness on your nipples or in baby's mouth? This could indicate thrush, and might need to be treated other ways.
Good luck! And congrats on the new baby boy! =)

I'm not sure how close to Santa Monica, CA or Hollywood, CA you are, but I would recommend visiting the Pump Station. They will help you get it straightened out.

first of all, Congradulations! My daughter ate for 30 min every hour. I had to mess with her feet and bother her to keep her awake, but then I would have 1/2 an hour of free time as she slept. I used nipple butter and I would rinse my nipples, but not wash them and never use soap. I would guess one would have to be more worried about germs with pumping, but I was told that breast milk was naturally resistant to bacteria, so I didn't worry about it. My daughter was never sick, and is still a very healthy little girl.
good luck
R.

You should drink Healthy nursing tea to increase your breast milk production.

When he is on the breast, is he actually swallowing? If you can't tell, a lactation consultant or someone who knows something about breastfeeding will be able to help you. My son had issues getting milk out, and I actually stopped breastfeeding because of the pain, and the fact that he was eating around every hour, for at least 30 minutes each time. I regretted it so much that I relactated a month later, it took a month to get back my full supply, but I have now been 100% breastfeeding for 2 months. It does hurt some people more than others. My son had a proper latch and it hurt me for several weeks, so excruciating I was scared to put him on the breast. I think some of us just have more sensitive nipples, it does go away though. Other than my son's new teeth, I haven't had any pain since those first few weeks. You can definitely produce milk, you just have to nurse (make sure he actually is swallowing), and your supply will get better. I sometimes massage my breast while he's feeding, or you can do breast compressions, all will help the milk come out better. Also, if the pain is so bad you want to stop, let yourself have a feeding off and give him formula. If I had done that the first time, I bet I wouldn't have stopped breastfeeding. You can also try a supplemental nursing system (like the Lactaid or Medela SNS), that way he is stimulating your breast while feeding, and getting formula or pumped milk at the same time, and your supply will get better, the Medela SNS is what got me relactating again.

Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy! All the advise you have received seems on target. Just wanted to tell you to HANG IN THERE! I would cry through the feedings many times because it didn't seem possible that my little boy would need to eat so often, but he did! My nipples would hurt really bad and I would go to the nipple shield when I needed a break (it hurt slightly less). And one day, it happened...the pain was gone! You are probably feeling pain due to the rawness of so much feedings, but trust me, if you just bear with it a little more, your "One day" will come. My goal was to nurse my son until he was 6 months and I didn't think I was going to make it during the first few weeks. But I am glad I did and now I think we can go a full year...unless he starts biting! Best wishes!!!!

It hurts- it will get better. You must keep nursing. Babies want to suck- so you want to get him to get a full feeding and then be done (may not happen immediately but do your best!) He should go 2-3 hours between feedings. I have always fed at 7am-10am-1pm-4pm-7pm-10pm and then whenever they wake up during the night. This has worked amazingly and I think added to good sleepers (need to sleep after being awake 1-2 hours).

So, babies want to suck and some babies want to suck more than others- it doesn't mean we are to nurse all day- give him a paci.

I have a sleep blog you may want to check out www.lullabyluna.com.

Good luck! And congratulations on the nursing. It will get easier, and you will be glad you stuck with it!

The best way to increase your milk supply is to breastfeed. WHen i went back to work i had to pump and my breasts don't respond well to a pump... so my milk supply would go down and on the days I was off work I would have my daughter on my breast as much as she wanted and it does help to increase supply!!! Also he could be going through a growth spurt as all babies do and the first few are the hardest. When growth spurts happen babies suck and suck all of the time to increase milk. so he may be needing to up your milk supply for that as well.
Also there are some things you can do to increase your milk... you can try fenugreek or mother's milk supplements. they are herbal and help increase milk production. Also after he feeds you can pump 10 minutes later to increase milk supply- this works when you know you need to up your milk but the baby doesn't want to be on the breast. but the best way is to have him on your breast. He knows what he needs to do to get his milk so for now let him lead the way... if his sucking doesn't seem to be enough try the herbals I mentioned, or start them now to help your supply.
Also Most peoples nipples hurt really bad through the first few weeks of nursing. Mine were bloody and yucky... I had to get nipple shields. they are something babies can suck through but allow your nipples to heal at the same time. BUT they do bring down your milk supply some so wait until he seems happy with your supply and then use them every other time you nurse. Like 1 time with sheilds one time without, this way it won't affect your supply as much but you will get some healing time in.
I didn't think i could make it very long nursing and i made it 14 months! After a month it gets sooooooo much easier!

Oh good luck, PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN! It is so worth having your child breastfeed. He will slowly start eating more at a time and longer in between feedings. I would only suppliment formula if after 20 minutes on, he is still hungry. You will definatley produce more milk now. Good luck and Congrats on the latch! I love being a breastfeeding mom and I have always supplemented small amounts of formula, which is very nice if you want to go somewhere and you haven't pumped, you could always give formula.

Giving your baby formula will play tricks on your body... telling your body that you don't need to make as much milk. So now that he is latching correctly, try to get away from the formula.

Pumping and nursing is the only way to increase supply... you could also try an herbal supplement called "Fenugreek" (GNC carries it).

It shouldn't hurt so he may not be getting on all the way - you could try a nipple shield. And maybe that is why he wants to nurse so often?

I had A LOT of trouble at first with nursing but I persevered and my daughter nursed for 29 months.

I recommend calling your hospital's lactation group or asking your pediatrician for a referral. They can help you get the right size nipple shield and help you make sure he is latching correctly, plus give you other pointers.

I remember laying my daughter down for tummy time whenever she fell asleep nursing. She would wake up very quickly (because she didn't like it!) and we'd finish our feeding.

It is tough but it gets easier!!

After going through some similar stuff - my advice is, don't let your nipples "rest" - you have to keep the milk supply up. It's a supply and demand thing.
I used these adhesive gel nipple pad things to wear between feedings - you can get them at Target - they are GREAT! It helped a lot. Also, check the size of your breast shields - originally mine were too small, and that was making my nipples really sore.
Hang in there!! :)

Hello A.,

Congrats! Oh yes, we've all been there (I myself have done it twice, currently with #2 who's 3 months old).

Establishing proper breastfeeding takes time but it is worth it. My suggestion is pretty much similar with everyone: get lots of rest whenever possible, use lanolin to help with the sore nipples, and get a lactation consultant. The LC will help you train your baby to feed correctly and also guide you on how to increase your milk supply. Once the breastfeeding is well established you'll have a better idea whether or not you still need to supplement with formula. I nurse my son every 2 hrs for his first 6 wks, then move him to every 3 hrs. The routine works for both of us and he has yet to complain :).

Good luck!

Go see a lactation specialist.. they can help so much. Great job on keeping up the hard work.. It is tough in the beginning, especially the 1st month. My now 14 month old is still nursing (once a day only) but in the beginning it was alot of work. Let the baby nurse at long as he wants, they typically go thru growth spurts at 3 weeks. Don't give formula, your body will produce more as he nurses more frequently. Rememebr 100 yrs ago there was no formula & babies thrived on what their mommy's could provide for them. It's only a short time that they're so "needy" and before you know it he'll be running around.. Enjoy this special time! Good luck.. S.

I had the same thoughts with my daughter. While she latched almost immediately she wasn't doing it correctly. I had bruises etc...so I would recommend a nipple shield until he gets the hang of latching on properly. It will save your breasts/nipples. I think I used it for about 2 weeks then was able to nurse her just normally. As for falling asleep, our lactation consultant in the hospital told me to strip her down to a diaper, tickle her feet, rotate her arm to try and keep her awake while feeding. Most of them work, but sometimes they are just tired and will doze off no matter what.
Hope it all works out. Breastfeeding is not as easy as it looks in the beginning....a rather steep learning curve for both of you.

I would contact your local "LaLeche" league. They are wonderful warm moms who have tons of lactation experience - sort of a "mamasource" for nursing. Also, they can advise you on latching problems, milk production - even donated milk itself if it is needed!

Have you tried a nipple shield for the pain? I did not have a lot of pain, but my friends who did had great success with a shield.
As far as length of nursing...I would recommend REALLY working to keep him awake while he is feeding so that he gets a complete full feeding. We had trouble with my daughter staying awake at first - we would take off her socks, tickle her feet, change a diaper in the middle, anything to keep that girl awake. The more nutrient rich milk comes later in the feed, so you want to keep him eating.

Keep it up! Good for you for working so hard at nursing and for going to others for encouragement!

Inside of three weeks is really critical to establishing your milk supply so avoid supplimenting if you can. Pumping is not really the best way to boost your breastmilk supply, its the baby sucking that does it. I struggled with some of your same issues and in the end had to go to formula. I often look back at what I could have done differently to succesfully breast feed. As painful as it is on both you and baby try not to suppliment -just keep feeding that baby on demand so he can stimulate your milk production. Pumping has its place but I learned it not really an effective way to establish milk supplly unless your baby simply doesn't latch. Nurses encourage supplimenting but many of them aren't concerning themsleves with establishing your milk supply, they just want that baby fed to they don't cry. Three weeks is where I threw in the towel to supplimenting and once I did that my milk supply went down hill and I couldn't get it back (in part because I was to exhausted to try anymore). You are at a critical time. Struggle through one more week trying your best not to suppliment. It often takes 4 weeks to get breast feeding down. My pediatrition had me do quantitative feedings (everything measured to nothing from the breast) at three weeks to make sure my baby was able to gain weight and this is also I feel what sabotaged my efforts to breast feed. So if your baby is not gaining his birth weight and your peditatrition wants to do a quantitative feeding really express your concerns that it will hinder your ability to breastfeed. I know how exhausted you are and you may even be coming to the end of your rope. You're still a good mommy if you need to switch to formula. FYI, all those studies touting breast milk as the miricle elixer are just us likely ( really more likely ) to me linked to moms who stay home with their babies. So don't be horrified if you cannot breastfeed.

If your nipples are sore, it may be that he isn't getting a good latch - a problem nearly all of us have at first, I think! If your nipple looks flattened or deformed when he lets go, that's the problem. If so, talk to a lactation consultant or maybe do a little web research. Lansolin (purified lanolin) is a good idea regardless.

Congratulations on your wonderful new baby. You should be so proud of yourself for not giving up on the breastfeeeding!

J L pretty much nailed it, I just wanted to throw in my two cents as well if you don't mind. It is all about supply and demand so I wouldn't supplement with formula. This way your supply will match his needs. Continue to feed on demand. It's exhasting at first; but he'll eventually learn to take what he needs and go for longer periods in between (though if he's like my son, the longest period was roughly two hours until he was four months or so). If he falls asleep on one side, next time he wakes to eat try putting him back on that side first so he's sure to get the hind milk before moving onto the other side. As for soreness, this will get better with time. I ended up with actual blisters on my nipples at one point, but did my best to grin and bear it. My son's latch was usually pretty good, but sometimes in the beginning, I was so thrilled he actually had hold, I'd let him alone even if it wasn't a good latch. Big mistake. My doctor ended up prescribing a cream, but it had to be washed off before I could nurse and after a few days became more of a hassle than it was worth. Hang it there; it will be like second nature to both of you before long. Great job!

Your milk is supply & demand. The more you supplement, the less you'll produce. Nurse as often as possible, follow by pumping, even if nothing comes out, it will stimulate your body to produce more. Also, be sure to eat and drink alot of HEALTHY food.

A.,

Nursing is the best way to build and maintain your supply. Do realize that when your baby is latching on to your nipple, they really should be latching on BEHIND your nipple. The more of your "boob" that goes into the baby's mouth the more comfortable it will be. If you rub your nipple across your baby's mouth starting at his nose and ending at his chin, he will likely open up wide and then you squeeze your boob down as small as possible and stuff it in (my boobs are pretty big when I'm nursing so I'd sandwich them down with my fingers to help get as much as possible into my baby's tiny mouth). Once you get the hang of it, it will get more comfortable to nurse and your nipples will heal. In my opinion, if you've got him nursing, keep nursing him even if it is endless. The more he nurses and practices the better your supply will be. And at 3ish weeks old, it is kind of "make it or break it" if he doesn't start latching and nursing now, he may never. Some folks pull it off later but the older the baby, the harder it is. Exclusively pumping long term is very hard and takes a lot of time and effort. And many women have a heck of a time maintaining their milk supply with a pump. Nursing is way easier than pumping once you get the hang of it. :-)

One thing that helped me tremendously with my first child was to get on babycenter.com and find a video on "how to latch" and I sat there and watched it over and over again while trying to latch my baby. At some point it clicked and worked (took about an hour of watching it over and over and crying) and nursing got way more comfortable. Once I got that down, I quit using bottles entirely until my son was nursing well and consistently. Then I reintroduced the bottles about a week before I had to go back to work.

If your baby is wanting to nurse every half hour, he is likely not getting enough milk - which makes it just that much more important to keep nursing him as much as he wants. Correcting his latch and getting him nursing effectively is critical. You may want to find out if you have a La Leche League member who can come and help you. It is typically free (which is a heck of a lot cheaper than a lactation consultant!)Otherwise, I'd highly recommend seeing a lactation consultant. It may seem expensive but compared to paying for formula, it is very cost effective to really try to make nursing work.

You may also want to check out www.kellymom.com It is a great breastfeeding resource with info on everything I've ever wanted to know about pumping and nursing.

Nursing my be natural but it isn't necessarily easy or effortless. Get help if you need it. It is worth the effort. Don't feel bad if it isn't coming easy - almost every new mom who breastfeeds goes through what you are going through. I didn't know anyone who had breastfed and I didn't have any support. It really isn't uncommon. But you can do this!

Good luck to you,

T.

Congratulations on your new baby. I'm glad that you are choosing to breastfeed. Yes, it really does HURT for the first couple of weeks, but trust me, it gets better (or the nerve endings just die, I'm not sure ! :->) Anyway, you REALLY need to do everything in your power to keep the boy awake when he eats. Take his clothes off, tickle his feet, put a wet washcloth on him, etc. Your milk comes out at first very watery, then as he sucks, it gets more fat in it, which is really what your baby needs. You should strive for 20-25 minutes on each side. I used to do a diaper change between breasts to wake up my kids. After a full meal, my kids were satisfied for at least 2 1/2 - 3 hours. I fed mine on a strict 3 hour schedule. Sounds kind of militant, I know, but it really helped me to gain control of my life and I could actually plan times to go grocery shopping, doctors appointments, etc while knowing that I would not have to whip out the boob and stop what I was doing for 45 minutes! Your child will adjust to the schedule and after about a month of planned feedings he will be hungry every 3 hours instead of every half hour. At night, just let the boy sleep as long as he wants to, but during the day, feed every 3 hours (you may need to wake him up or hold him off to attain this) I read the book Babywise and it helped me understand the whole process. Good luck!!

Find a local Le leche league or some kind of breast feeding group. I had low milk supply and I went 2-3 times a week at first to make sure my preemie was getting enough to eat and how much supplemental formula he needed. They weigh the baby before and after you breastfeed so you know exactly how much he ate. They also had an NICU nurse there to answer questions and make sure the baby was latching on correctly. It was also a great way to get out of the house and talk with other mommies of newborns going through the same things.

A., your son is still very new at the breast and so are you. it usually takes 4-6 weeks for you to get okay with it. i would say do not give anymore formula because the breast will only provide what your child needs. remember that it is supply and demand. i thought i wasnt giving my child enough too becase she was nursing every 2 hours at 4 months. you will begin to establish a good supply by the end of the 6 weeks. i think your body was thrown off by the pumping. dont do it until those six weeks pass. you can find great info on kellymoms.com. also, mothers milk tea and fenugreek is good to up your supply. good luck.

If it hurts when he latches on, he probably needs help in doing it properly. See a lactation specialist as soon as possible. My son was the same, and I was so excited when he'd finally latch on that I'd let him do it any way he wanted, in spite of the pain. I lived off of Ibuprofen for the 1st several weeks and frequently cried from the pain until I finally went back to meet with the lactation consultant. After numerous infections and blisters, the pain got worse before it got better, but we finally got him to latch on correctly and after a few more weeks I was pain free. Hang in there and good luck.

i had a child like that - breastfeeding for 20 min, then nap for 20 min, then again breast and again nap. go along with it. he needs it. Do seek counsel on correct positioning of the baby in LL League – it’s free. Keep nipples clean and DRY. Expose nipple to the air to promote healing. Don’t use nonhomeopathic creams. Rescue Remedy is ok if that’s all you can get. Take homeopathic remedy Phytolacca 6C or 12C, or 30C. Buy bulk herb Calendula, make calendula tea and use it to wash nipples after you’ve managed to get them all to yourself : )And most of all don’t give up!

Your son is helping you produce enough milk for him. As long as he's peeing and pooping, he should be getting enough. As for your sore nipples, make sure he is latched properly (shove him on if you have to; there is a pocket of air for him so he won't smother). Talk to a lactation consultant at the hospital if the pain continues. Good luck! You can do it!

I see that several people have already suggested it but the best thing you can do is see a lactation consultant. This is probably a service they offer wherever you delivered. You should call and ask.
A lactation consultant can make sure your baby is latching correctly, which could ease the pain. She will also be able to weigh your baby before and after feeding to see how much milk he is getting. She will be able to advise you an which direction to take if it is a latch issue, or a milk supply issue.
It will put you at ease.

In the mean time, stick with it. I believe that successful breastfeeding is 90% determination.

L.

The more you nurse the more you'll produce. You've gotten some great advice. if the latch is not right it can cause pain. I'd check with The Pump Station or a lactationist. Breastmilk beats formula any day of the week. I personally did not use formula ever! If baby is gaining weight you are producing enough milk. remember it digests more quickly than formula, which has lots of artificial additives and he will need to nurse more often. You will NEVER regret nursing! Hooray for you and your lucky baby!! Best, H.

See a lactation specialist if you can. Usually if it hurts, then something isn't right. At the beginning there are some aches and pains but they go away. I've nursed two kids, my second didn't get the latch down until about 12 weeks or so, lots of taking him off and putting him back on. Also, breastfed babies do nurse often. You may feel like you aren't making enough milk when you just may be. Both of mine were on the boob a lot. During this early time your milk supply is getting built up by how often you feed. Supply and demand. I found with both of my kids, everything fell in to place around 9 weeks or so. With both though, that was nursing exclusively on demand.

Congrats on your new baby boy, hang in there, sounds like you are doing a great job Momma!
M.

Hi A.,

Hang in there. There is a lot of help out there. My girlfriend was having the same problem. I picked her up the next day, and took her to Healthy beginnings in Upland. The nurses are great! He may be latching on wrong..and that is a simple solution. If Upland is not close to you. Try to find another breast feeding clinic.

Jennifer

Here's my advice...

On the pain, you push through it. It'll hurt for about three weeks and then you'll be comfortable again. Get some lanolin cream and put it on your nipples and they'll feel MUCH better!

On not having enough...you probably do. Your baby is likely still nursing because they like to suck...it's soothing. Additional nursing sessions by your baby will also increase your milk supply better than a pump can. Judge if your baby is getting enough by if they are growing and making wet/poopy diapers, not by if they want to nurse more. And...back off the formula. Your baby will demand more from you by nursing more and your body will make more milk on its own.

Just remember to drink lots of water...no fluid in, no fluid out...

Good luck!

Sorry this is going to get long but I can identify with everything you said and I want to pass on what I have learned after nursing two sons, both until almost 2 years. First of all, it sounds like you're doing all you can so GOOD JOB MOMMY!! Hang in there, it WILL get so much easier....Now, sounds like you have a "sleepy baby". I had one of those too! As soon as I would put him to breast he would doze off. I remember being terribly worried he wasn't getting enough. I would have to remove him from the breast, walk/bounce him around and talk to him like "Wake up sleepy" kind of loudly to get him to wake up, then put him back on to take a full feed! If husband or someone else is around, get them to do this! That can be their "job" while yours is to nurse, nurse, nurse!! If you do nurse a lot now your supply will come in but you do need to keep at it and I would try NOT to supplement with formula at this time. He may get nipple confusion this early going back and forth especially with the problem with latching on earlier. Also, the more you supplement, the less you nurse the less supply you will get and this is the crucial time for building your supply. When he wants to nurse, put him to breast, at this stage there's no such thing as nursing too often. The pain in the beginning is somewhat normal and yes, will pass as your breasts get "broken in" so to speak. BUT you need to make sure he's latched on correctly because if he is not, not only will he not be an effective nurser but it will hurt a LOT worse for you. Make sure he is opening his mouth WIDE when he goes on and takes in the whole areola not just the nipple! OUCH! and make sure his lips, especially his bottom lip are not tucked in but pursed out, otherwise he is sucking on his lip instead of the breast and not getting a good latch. I hope you have at least one supportive mom around you who can come over and sit with you and help you with latch on etc, but if you don't you probably need to call a Lactation consultant or check with your hospital to see what kind of breastfeeding support they have. Stick with it!! It REALLY will get better and be such a wonderful experience once you get past the challenging first weeks! One book I highly, highly recommend for ALL of the questions that will come up over time is called "The Nursing Mother's Companion" by Kathleen Huggins. I used that book so many times and it is full of so much info and reassurance!! To back track a little....as long as baby is having a lot of wet diapers throughout the day and is gaining weight at your Dr.s appointments, he is getting enough milk. But you do want to continue to try to get him to take that FULL feed so that he gets the end part of the feeding, the rich "Hind-milk" that's full of all the good fat he needs to grow on. Feel free to contact me if a question pops up! I'm happy to be a supportive ear!! Best wishes to you and your family, :-)Janet

Hang in there. I went through the same thing. I was advised by a lactation specialist to feed anytime my baby wanted it for 3-5 days. I did it and my milk came in so much more and my baby was SO much happier. Also, I know the pain is terrible! If it only hurt initally, just push through. Use warm salt water and lansanoh cream to sooth in between. But if they are cracked and bleeding you can rest them, but you would still have to pump. Good luck! I hated it for 3 months, but I am SO glad that I stuck with it. Hopefully, it won't be long before it gets better!

First...congratulations A. on your new baby boy. I am also a first time mama to a 13-month old son. It's a great ride...hold on!

I haven't had time to read the other posts, so I hope I don't repeat. Breastfeeding is supply and demand...if your son demands it then your body will produce accordingly. Make sure you are eating healthy and drinking lots of water. As far as the pain is concerned, there can be soreness at times for different reasons, including heavy nursing. But it also can be because he may not be latching on correctly. If you're not already working with a lactation specialist then I highly recommend that you talk with one asap. Some great resources include your birthing hospital, La Leche League, The Pump Stations (Santa Monica), and Bright Beginnings (Redondo Beach). Torrance Memorial Hospital has a great breastfeeding group for new moms that helps you out with the early issues. In the meantime, you can use things like Mother's Milk Nipple Balm (Whole Foods) or Lanisoh. Personally, I always like the Mother's stuff the best, but it's a personal preference and what you can get your hands on quickly. (You may have even gotten a sample tube of something from the hospital. Check your goodie bag.) You can also buy these things called "Soothies" which you put on your nipples between nursings...they are awesome. I bought mine at Rite Aid, but you can also buy them online. They are like little cold gel pads and really help an aching mom. I hope this helps a little. This mama board is a great resource and has helped me many times. Congrats again and best wishes!

He probably is acting like he is hungry because he is... LOTS of times, with breastfeeding, a baby "cluster feeds"...meaning, they nurse even every hour. This is normal and common. You must feed him whenever he is hungry, no matter how often.

ALWAYS feed on demand. Always... and your body should produce milk according to your baby's needs.

Breastfeeding is arduous and takes time.
But also VERY important is:
1) Make SURE your baby is latching on properly...the ENTIRE areola should be in his mouth encircling it. He should not just be sucking at the tip of the nipple... this is not proper latching on.
2) to get full and proper benefits of breastmilk nutrition... a baby must nurse long enough to get to the "hind milk", which is the denser richer and nutritionally denser part of breastmilk. To get to the "hind milk" it takes about 15 minutes of nursing. MANY babies, nurse for at least 1/2 hour or more. Or if they are a power-nurser maybe less.
3) I would nurse using BOTH breasts PER session. That way....there is not a long period of inactivity for each breast.. .and thus, they will produce more milk, on demand.
For example: if a baby nurses on the left breast, then say in 2 hours later on the right breast... then in 2 hours later back on the left breast...then that is 4 hours that the left breast was "idle" and was last nursed on...to me, that is awhile. With me, and per my Doctor, I nursed with BOTH breasts per session. To me, this helps with milk production. I did this with both my kids, and my milk production was good.

4) yes, push through the "pain." It will get better, your nipples are just getting used to the nursing. But look out for any infections, if that applies to you. Use Lanolin breast creams, which helps a great deal. ALSO, when bathing, do NOT put soap on your breasts/nipples, because this dries the skin out and makes it worse. Just wash your breasts with warm water.
Your breasts will heal. This is the nature of breastfeeding.

(5) Don't use formula... unless you know FOR SURE that you are not producing enough milk. If you use formula... then it will impact your milk production, lessening it.

IF your baby is growing/gaining weight well at each well-baby check-up...then your milk supply should be enough.

But remember, NURSE ON DEMAND, 24/7. No matter what.

all the best, hope this helps,
Susan

Give it time... I'm a mother of two and with my first child, I wasn't lactating enough, so after 3 1/2 months went to formula, but on my second child, it was great! I breast fed him for about 13 months... The more and often your baby is on your breast, the more you will lactate. Also, try to drink lots of liquids, like milk and juice. You'll get the nutrients from the drinks, and your baby will too! Oh, and try to feed him both sides so he won't be hungry all the time. When the baby falls asleep, just try and put him on the other breast by getting him to latch on by stimulating him. That usually works, and when fed both sides, the baby will feed every 2 to 3 hours (at the beginning...), so you'll have more time for yourself!
Regarding the sore nipples, I had the same problem with my second child, and it was PAINFUL!!! But I continued with the feeding. There are some gels that you can apply to the area, that won't affect the baby when swallowed. You might want to ask your doctor about that one, because I cannot remember the name of the ointment right now.
Even though it is painful, try to enjoy every minute of it. You'll be surprised how fast time flies, and even the pain becomes a good memory... :)
GOOD LUCK NEW MOMMY!!!

Breast feeding takes quite a bit longer than bottle feeding. it is more work for the baby. Keep at it. Your son SHOULD be eating a lot at this age! Do not listen to people who tell you otherwise. Let him nurse when he wants to nurse. He needs the practice and the nutrition. Keep with it! As for nipple pain, yes, push through it. I have four kids, and the second and fourth were power suckers! :0) It hurt so bad that it brought tears to my eyes, but that will go away over the first few months. Persevere and you will never regret it. About the amount of milk you are making. You cannot judge by how much you pump. Nurse more and you will produce more. So there is your answer. Nurse and nurse some more. Congratulations on your new baby!