Breastfeeding problems

I have a 5 week old and for the first 3 weeks I managed to b/f him exclusively but never felt that I had enough milk. Unfortunately he didnt put any weight on so I have had to supplement him with formula. He has gained weight but I am disappointed that I cannot feed him enough myself. I have taken Fenugreek capsules tried to eat well and rest when I can but still my supply is not that good. I would like to be able to feed him exclusively again but really need to get a good supply going. Is it the case that there really are some moms that just cannot produce enough milk? Any suggestions on what to do??

If you are pumping at all, you should stop immediately. Until your milk supply is up, do not supplement or pump and do continually feed on-demand. It may take a few days to get your supply up. I can almost promise you it will work out. Drink "mother's milk" tea as well as taking the fenugreek capsules. Stay away from decongestants (sudafed), mint and parsely. I exclusively breastfed my #2 until recently and had the hardest time with #1. I do not believe that mother's cannot make enough milk. It's usually pumping and supplementing that get in-between the naturally balanced feeding relationship between mother and child. Please let me know if I can help any further. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your input. I have to top him up with formula because he is just not getting enough and so is crying and not sleeping. I also thought if you pumped it helped stimulate a good supply?? Excuse my ignorance I am new to this!

Thank you so much for your input. I have to top him up with formula because he is just not getting enough and so is crying and not sleeping. I also thought if you pumped it helped stimulate a good supply?? Excuse my ignorance I am new to this!

Also - make sure you dont' confuse crying for hunger with crying for sleep. Of course it is IDEAL if a baby falls asleep while eating, but many times it will not happen. Some child books advocate trying the "feed, play, sleep" system - which basically means that your child doesn't use your breast to fall asleep. He or she may not be hungry after feeding from both breasts.


Make sure you ARE emptying both breasts - that helps signal to your breast that you need to make more milk. Make sure you're getting to the hind milk - which will be creamy and opaque - that will help your baby feel more full and go longer. THEN switch breasts...Try drinking 8 oz of water 15 minutes before your feed, and massage your breasts to get the ducts all loosened up. Then try breast feeding.


Curious - how often are you pumping? And how much are you getting?


Also - visit La Leche League website -there are quite a few women on this site who are advocates - and they will offer even more help. I did get a great book by Kathleen Huggins called "The Nursing Mother's Companion" and it is very helpful.


i'm also of the opinion that everyone can breastfeed. SOmetimes it takes a bit of time for your baby and your breasts to get in sync - so give it more time. Your baby will get the hang of it and so will your boobs!!

Thanks for the encouragement. The trouble is my boobs never feel full so it is hard to tell whether they are empty or not! He always falls asleep when feeding so that is a problem too. To be honest I have pumped to see how much milk there is and believe me there is not much I am very lucky to get 2 ounces! I hope that I can get a good supply as I was worried it was too late.

I've been told that a baby can get an additional 3oz after you've pumped your breast...(somehow we want to give more milk to a baby than a pump.) If your child is particularly sleepy, it may make it harder to empty your breast - but it is important to do so.


I HIGHLY recommend a visit from Hulda - it's a bit expensive but she can come and visit you and help you see what's going on and help you with some tips to get your supply up. She's with Annerly Midwives and she can offer some guidance right in the comfort of your home.

Don't worry if pumped milk doesn't amount to much as I don't think it indicates the quantity of breastmilk available (I never managed to pump more than a few drops but baby was fine).


It's important that you have enough rest & be relaxed, so get someone in to help out around the house & don't fret too much on this issue (no stress, remember).

Just drink loadsa water & breastfeed on demand - even though you don't feel anything coming out!


La Leche League told me that so long as baby has 4 full nappies a day (a full nappy = pour 4 tblspoonful of water), baby's getting enough.


Don't give up on breastfeeding, if only for the quality one-on-one time with your little bundle of joy!

You may also try to eat more papaya or have fish soup (can add papaya too). It may help to produce more milk. Good luck!

water water water - drink about 3 litres a day, this will also help and relax. Feed on demand, and reduce your top up - just feed him when he wakes up - this is a difficult time at 5 weeks becasue they are going through a growth spurt and need more - feed feed feed for about 2-3 days then everything will sort itself out. Don't go out and just focus on this.

totally agree with dimac4 & remember - no stress

Thanks all for your advice I feel encouraged to keep going! I got the latch checked and seems to be fine so will try to rest more, ddrink more and not stress! Thanks again.

First of all, thanks for the kind words about me, hkchoichoi.


Great tips here above, and here is also a recent reply I sent to a client that had problems keeping it going and baby was loosing weight, just few points:


The milk production, as you probably know, is all about balance:


Suction (long enough, at least 15 – 20 min per breast, and often enough, at least every 3 – 4 hours, but sometimes up to 2 hourly). If baby is not sucking enough then add some pumping right after every other feed, around 10 minutes each side.


Food: Eat at least 4, if not 5 meals per day. Each feed needs to include good amount of protein: Milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yoghurt, lentils, meat, chicken, fish, ham, turkey, tofu… any protein. Also, of course vegetables, fruits and plenty of fluid. Carbohydrates are important too, but they usually are easily obtained, most people have enough bread, fruits, rice and pasta without any effort.


Fluid: At least 3 litres of fluid, mostly water, each day. Avoid juices, coffee, tea.

Rest: Anxiety, stress, being busy, getting on with normal life… It is hard to eliminate all of this but to increase the milk supply, I would seriously try and take a “sick” day or two where no guests, all help in the house used. Try mostly to have your feet off the floor!


Stress and anxiety, - try to not worry too much about the supply. Make sure to get one good nap each day and perhaps have the baby with you in bed to help her to snuggle up and further increase prolactin levels in your body.


Activity: Go out once per day and just have a nice walk around the neighbourhood and get some fresh air, 15 – 45 minutes, just a little freshen up type of thing.



Other things that might help:

Plenty of oats, oatmeal, oat bars, etc. Guinness beer is one product from this, so perhaps take 1x per day one glass. Make protein shakes with yoghurt, low fat milk and oats and Flax seed oil and a tiny bit of nuts is also great for increasing the supply, and can come as extra to a meal, or as one extra

Flax seed oil

Fenugreek or Fennel in general (tea and capsules, take capsules 3x per day and drink tea between meals)

Dill and chamomile also might help, as spices or In tea

Massage your breasts in warm bath or shower just before a feed, 1-2x per day, gentle strokes with a bit of oil, the whole breast towards the nipple area

Use hot pads on the breast for around 5 – 10 minutes just before the feed, to increase flow of milk, and blood and open the ducts for easier flow

Wash fingers and just before a feed, put one finger and stroke the upper gum of the baby with a movement out of the mouth, then in again and let her do the suction and motion of the tongue. Do this for around 1 minute, to stimulate her suction reflex

Put an effort into latching the baby really well on, make sure she does not slide back and that as much of the breast is in her mouth as possible, especially towards the end of the feed, often when the mum relaxes the baby slowly slides. Also, relax shoulders and make sure to relax your whole body. Perhaps change positions, side, front, lie down etc, to stimulate all the ducts.


Again, this is a part of what you can do,- something I advised a woman in a similar position as you are in. I hope this helps and just remember to believe that it will work - that alone increases the milk greatly!


Warm wishes,

Hulda

Hulda, thank you so much for the time you took to write such a helpful reply. I now know that I am not eating nearly enough or resting come to that. I shall try your suggestions. Thank you