Milk Supply - Marquette,MI

Are you switching the breast you start on? Do you start the right then left and the next time start left them the right. This helps to even out the milk flow because they always drink more from the first one.

It may not be a supply issue, but not being able to let down. I had a very hard time relaxing enough to let down. Good luck!

I had a massive supply of milk while nursing my children (I actually donated to a milk bank too). What I really think made the difference for me was drinking a great amount of water, eating well and getting as much sleep as possible (listen when people say sleep when the baby sleeps).

I don't deny I ate more when I was nursing than I did when I was pregnant and I had a huge appetite because I was burning so many extra calories nursing. I have had friends go on diets immediately after the baby was born and they had trouble producing milk. I ate like a horse and still dropped the weight very quickly because of the nursing.
I hope this helps. Sounds like simple advice, but truly makes a difference. Hang in there and don't be afraid to contact a lactation consultant or your OB/Gyn with questions. And remember, drink H20 all day long (before nursing, after nursing, in between).

Regards,
Kim

good work! keep at it! the best thing u can do is nurse often. the more u nurse the more your body knows u need. if baby is going to sleep and take a long break for feeding its also a great idea to pump in between. your body knows how much baby needs and will produce! i still at almost 7 months produce more on one side than another. nurse on the slow side first since baby will suck harder and start to stimulate more on that side. keep it up! good for you for nursing!

At my Baby Talk class, it was suggested to drink O'Doules to increase milk supply. I know it sounds silly, but some of the moms tried it, and claim that it really works.

One thing to remember is that you need to do the best thing for you and your baby. I started with breastfeeding my newest and about 2 1/2 months in, she would only nurse on both sides for about 5 minutes before screaming at me. I would pump afterwards and only get a total of about 2 ounces but she would drink 4-5 ounces out of a bottle. Since then, she has been nursing in the morning since I am so full and then I pump the rest of the day. She gets both breastmilk and formula. I know there are many that would disagree with my choice but with two at home, this is what is working. It was getting too stressful having her scream at me and not want to even nurse. She is still getting breastmilk and I am proud of that. Formula still has good nutrients in it and is not horrible for her. You have to decide what you want to do and be comfortable with that.
I am taking both Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle supplements. Both are found at health stores. I know other moms who drink Mom's Tea and have found that very helpful. Another mom gave me fennel oil to put on my breasts and that works great but I don't know where she gets it. You can only use it for 10 days in a row because it causes you to pee a lot :)

Congratulations on your new daughter! I have had supply issues with both of my girls, especially with the first one. One resource I found very helpful was a website called kellymom.com; it is developed by Dr. Jack Newman, who specializes in breastfeeding issues. Try this link:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

Things that have really helped me are:
pumping after feedings (more difficult with two, I know)
drinking water - I know everyone tells you to, but it did make a difference
Fenugreek supplements - found at a health food store

Some say that eating oatmeal can help; I don't know if it helped or not but I added it to my diet.

There are other things you can do too. Best of luck.

J.

Ditto Jess 100%. Its probably not that oyur supply is low, its that you aren't nursing your baby on one breast long enough.

What leads you to believe you odn't have enough milk? At 2wks, you may or may not be engorged. I wasn't at all engorged every with my oldest, but with my oyungest I was for only a couple days. My milk supply evened out almost immediately with both kids.

If you think this because she is hungry, you need to nurse on one breast only per feeding. Dont' switch hit. Not only does this allow your baby to get the fatty hindmilk that comes after nursing for a while, but it keeps her sucklin at your breast so your boyd knows how much milk tomake. if you switch her to the other breast before she gets that hindmilk, she will only get the foremilk, which is thin and watery, and will not give her the proper nutrition or fill her up. She needs ot nurse on one breast until she is full, falls asleep, or pops off and is content.

The best way to up your milk supply is to nurse nurse nurse. Don't offer bottles or pacifiers, no formula. Nurse when she fusses, nurse when she eats her hands or wakes up, nurse her to sleep, she should be eating at least every 2hrs right now, round the clock.

Hi H.,
I've nursed 4 babies and will be nursing another one in January. I consider myself a pro! :)
It'a all about supply and demand. You may not realize it, but your baby probably isn't nursing as much on the less producing side. My right side always produces more milk, but it's not significant enough to bother me or look different.
Here's what I suggest to help increase your supply on that side. Always nurse your baby first to the less producing side. She is more hungry and will work hard to get that milk out. This really should help the problem. This will also help the fuller side decrease it's supply and therefore, equalling out the breast.

The other suggestion I have to help with supply is to take a supplement called Fenugreek. You can purchase this as any place like GNC and I've actually seen it at HyVee in the Health food section.

Good Luck!

Do you have an electric pump? If not get one asap and pump the breast that's not getting used much. Try to switch breasts when breastfeeding. I would also use something herbal to regain your milk supply. I've been having great luck with a tea called Breastea and I saw an increase in my milk supply within the first day. You can get it at breastea.com.

IMMEDIATLY RIGHT NOW - get on llli.org. find a la leche league group in your area. RIGHT NOW.

look in all towns near you if you cant find one directly in your town

in the meantime, relax, nurse ON DEMAND and nurse until baby is full. ignore the "10 minutes on each side" stuff, and nurse until baby is full on one side, then switch to the other the next time. sometimes you can juggle your arm a little and wake baby up a bit so they will nurse more.

drink lots of water, eat lots of fruits and veggies.

please, get the help you need, and your doctor isnt going to do it. get ahold of the la leche league. and dont worry, sometimes though we THINK we dont have our milk supply, we typically do. it is rare that a woman would actually lose her milk for no reason.... at least i would hope. dont give up! :D keep nursing, even if it seems like it is 24/7. just keep doing it! :D

Hi H.,
The la leache league was a godsend for me. I called them several times with a few issues, and they talked with me for a long time, and gave awesome advice. They have a toll free number, and it's a free service that you should definitely use.
That being said, one thing that I learned from them is that it is very common to produce more on one side. Also, we can't tell as well as we may think when we are producing at max potential.

Good luck!

First, find a LLL group near you! Second, what makes you think you're having a supply problem-- is baby having less than 6-8 wet diapers every 24 hours? Or are your breasts just feeling less full? It's NORMAL to feel less full as your breasts and your baby adjust to each other! Just nurse, nurse, nurse and count the wet diapers-- if it's coming out, you know it's going in!

H.,

At 2 weeks, you are just starting to establish your milk supply. The best thing you can do for you and your baby is to nurse nurse nurse. Whenever the baby sucks her fingers, fusses, or makes sucking noises, those are her cues to you that you should latch her on. Don't worry if it seems like it hasn't been long enough between feedings. It is totally normal to feed your baby every hour during the day at that age. Also, you should try not to go more than 2 or 3 hours between feedings during the day. You can't spoil your baby by nursing her too much. Make sure to keep track of which breast you start with and start with the other the next time. That way both breasts are being stimulated equally. Some mom's nurse on only one breast per nursing session, that's usually fine too.

If you really feel like you are having problems, contact your local La Leche League or a lactation consultant. Try not to give bottles or supplement with any formula at this point, it will only lessen your supply.

Good luck! Know that you are making a great choice for you and your baby by nursing.

Jessica

Hi H.
It has been a few years - but I nursed 3 babies.
Try warm wash clothes - that will sometimes help milk flow - otherwise diet - make sure you yourself is drinking plenty of fluids and eating non salty foods.

I would also recommend that you continue to nurse on the "low" breast - just the sucking motion should help increase milk flow on that side.

If it still is a concern - don't hesitate to contact your doctor - often the nurse/doctor may have helpful advise.

Bless you for trying so hard!!!!
Drink Healthy Nursing Tea by secrets of tea...Organic tea without caffeine and very delicious taste.

Hi H.! I had the same problem with my first two children and was only able to nurse them for about a month. When I had my daughter, my youngest, I had a different doctor and he told me to drink a gallon of water a day. That was the only thing I did different and I was able to nurse her for six months. Hope this helps! J.

Hi H. -

Nursing is THE hardest thing I have ever done - Good for you for trying and keep it up.

My pediatrician told me the most wonderful thing when I was struggling - he said, every day you do it is good. So all you have to do is wake up and say, "I'm going to nurse today" and get through the day - don't stress out about the 1 year mark or anything. There were LOTS of times when I thought, tomorrow I'm done with this, but I can do this one more day. And then the next day I'd wake up and think, "Ok, one more day." And I ended up nursing until my daughter was 2 1/2. :)

One of the tricks that we used was after nursing my daughter, use the breast pump. Continue to pump well after there is no milk - because your body should increase production to meet demand.

Also, I disagree with the previous people - my daughter was HUNGRY and there was nothing I could do to make her not hungry sometimes - I had no more milk. So, I would use the breast pump to increase my production, but give her formula to make her less hungry. You should not feel guilty about feeding your daughter - don't let anyone make you feel bad about using formula when you have to if she is still acting ravenous and you have no more milk.

I'd also recommend calling La Leche League and asking for their advice. I know a lot of clinics have nurses who will also meet with you to talk about breast feeding.

Hang in there - it will get better! And you've provided your daughter with two weeks of breast milk, so even if it doesn't, you can be proud of that. :)
Good luck!

Your body produces what your daughter eats. If you are "lop-sided" (for lack of a better word), it is because she's not eating as much on the one side. Have her nurse more on the lacking side and it will eventually even out. There are so many that say they ran out of milk and that is simply not true. There is enough milk for your baby. Some babies just like to nurse more than others. Every baby is different. Seek professional lactation advice from a La Leche League Member. I attended for the first year I nursed my first-born. It was the greatest thing I could have ever done for me and my baby. But in the end, your comfort is what matters. Sorry if I sound like I'm on a soapbox. I am just a firm believer in nursing and will help any way I can.

H.- I feel your frustration! I'm having pumping issues and trying to increase my supply so I can pump more. I would agree with almost all the other posters- nurse, nurse, nurse- do not give artificial nipples(formula). If she's hungry, fussing, whatever- nurse her. You can try oatmeal for breakfast, Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, Milkmaid Tea, Lactation cookies, pumping after feeding. Just keep nursing her and you will build your supply. www.kellymom.com and www.drsears.com are good sites- your dr may not be the perfect resource but hopefully someone at LLL can help you. The best advice I can give you is to drink a LOT of water- A LOT!!

Why don't you think you have milk? Are you measuring by pumping? Pumping is a very inaccurate way to determine how much milk you are making.

To make more milk you need to nurse. Nurse nurse nurse. At 2 weeks old, you should be nursing every 2 hours at least, never going more than 3 or 4 hours between feedings. After you finish on one side (baby will fall asleep, or maybe pull off, fuss, or just unlatch) do a few breast compressions (check out kellymom.com and look it up) and then switch over to the other breast. If you are supplementing... STOP. NO bottles, NO pacifiers. Just nursing. You may have a baby attached to you 24/7 at first, but this will build up your supply. Keeping baby next to you while you sleep (either in bed or in a co-sleeper... Kellymom.com also has safe co-sleeping "rules" on their website) will allow baby to nurse at night at will, and allow both of you to get good sleep. Learn how to nurse while laying on your side.. make that a priority. Also be sure to be eating well (so you can heal and feel good) and drinking lots of water. Cut out any caffeine for now as it is dehydrating.

You can also take fenugreek to boost your supply. You can get it from any Health food store.

If you have more questions for me, or would like to discuss this further, please e-mail me teagansmummy AT yahoo DOT com.

Hope nursing continues on for you and you baby girl!

If baby is getting at least 6 wet diapers a day, and 1 poopy diaper, she is getting enough.