BF Moms - Need Help

I am so upset. DS is 3.5 months. For the past week or so, he has not been nursing well. He is sleeping 11 hours at night and nursing every 3 hours during the day (for 5 nursing sessions). I just took him to the doc, because I thought something was up and he only gained 2 ounces in 3 weeks. She wants me to start supplementing. I feel like such a failure. He is a very happy baby and always smiling and sleeps very well.

So, I gave him 2 ounces of pumped milk after his last nursing session and he drank it all. I attempted to pump (15 mninutes) and absolutely nothing came out.

So, I guess there is not enough in me when I nurse him? What can I do to get my supply back up? I really don't want to have to give him a bottle after every time I nurse.

Any advice??

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

Hmmm. My ds is 4.5 months. He nurses 8 times a day. He doesn't sleep through the night, so I feed him at 11pm (dream feed), then 6 am, 8am, then every 3 hours during the day. In the evening I go to every two hours. Maybe add a dream feed? What about starting solids?

Message edited 8/19/2013 12:22:46 PM.

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

I always added in pumping sessions when my dds were s
Erin (one late at night and one early in the morning). When I wanted to up my supply, I ate oatmeal every morning, drank tons of water and drank Mother's milk tea. I know a lot of people recommend more milk to increase supply also. I've also heard people recommend pumping for few minutes after feeding (even if nothing comes put) to stimulate production.

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

Also, try eating popcorn.

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

You're not a failure

The lactation consultant I used to see always said that a baby will drink what is being offered from a bottle. So the fact that he drank the milk even after you already nursed him doesn't mean that he didn't necessarily get enough from you.

As far as increasing your milk production. As others have said definitely increase your water consumption; I drink a TON of water every day; and have Oatmeal every morning Mon-Fri) My son is almost 8 months and still not sleeping through the night so I do feed him 1-2x during the night and then pump while I feed him before I leave for work in the morning. Adding that pumping session while I feed him has really helped increase (maintain) my supply.

I also agree with what others have said about pumping even after the milk stops flowing if you need to get out more pumped milk. I find that if I break the latch when pumping then hook the pump up again on the letdown setting 3 out of 5 times I can get a 2nd let down.

See if the added water; oatmeal; extra pumping help increase your supply. You can try fenugreek too.

good luck!

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

first off, please do not feel like a failure! you nursed ds for 3.5 months and you are still trying to go longer - thats a huge accomplishment; so many moms dont make it past month 1


I found fenugreek tea helped my supply, more milk plus did not.

try pumping after each nursing session - this is supposed to let your body know you need to produce more milk.
are you sure your pump was hooked up properly - i never had zero milk come out. ive had like 1/2 an ounce but never completely dry. try re-doing all the tubing etc

i know its not ideal to have to give him a bottle after each nursing session, but try to hang in there until he starts solids in a few weeks...dd took a few ounces less each day once we did that so you should be able to continue nursing

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

Thanks for everyone's advice! I'm willing to try anything!

Do you think I should continue offering him a bottle after I nurse each time? The ped really wants him to gain weight this week.

I'm still so upset. I was able to nurse DD for 18 months but she didn't sleep through the night until around 13 months so maybe that is the difference.

Oh, is instant oatmeal (in packages) ok?

Message edited 8/19/2013 1:14:47 PM.

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

I took fenugreek supplements when I noticed a dip in supply around 8 months. It really helped boost my supply even after I stopped taking it.

Also, do you limit him to specific time on each side or just let him go? I would leave him on for as long as he's sucking bc that will stimulate your body to make more. Basically I'd do some marathon nursing sessions if he's up to it.

I never got a lot when I pumped, but DD always got plenty. The LOs are much better at getting milk than the pumps.

Good luck! HTH!

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

Keep trying, if you really want.
Dont feel like a failure, you did great!

The things i tried were oatmeal, Mothers Mik Tea, Lots of water, Rest as much as you can and try not to get stressed. I started the tea (which has fenugreek) and it did really seem to help. I had to supplement along with BF cause i had limited supply and DD was fine with both.
GL

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

How are his pee and poo diapers? It sounds like he is getting enough because he is sleeping so well! If I were you I would add a nursing session. That will help with your supply! But I feel like you prob already have a great supply since you made it to 3.5 months. He sleeps straight through te night? I wonder if he isnt gaining as much because he dropped his MOTN feeding? Some babies are still up 2x a night at 3.5 months! Also the fact that he did gain is great - if he lost then that would be a bad sign you know? Doctors can be alarmists! Try not to stress.

Is he fussing at all at the breast?

I would do this - eat oatmeal every morning and I found pasta helped too! Drink 60-80oz of water and also try mothers milk tea a few times a day. Yes try to rest ans lat down once a day if tou can. Keep breast feeding and keep him latched as long as you can! And like I said add a 6th nursing session even if its just a snack...it will help stimulate your milk production and then you may not need to supplement. If anything I would supplement a few extra ounces a day and all at one time - ie not after every nursing session. Here is my opinion...the more you put him to the breast the better. And when you supplement that is less time at the boob so you aren't getting stimulated you know? Also the more you give him via a bottle in extra ounces he is going to get used to that and want more every day. This could be a vicious cycle where you have to keep supplmenting you know? My advice is keep doing what you are doing and don't stress!

On a side note my DD gained slowly - maybe a lb or less per month. She always pees and pooped and slept good so my dr was never worried. She was born full term and full size but due to her sleeping so much she gained slowly and was always in te 20-25th % for weight. Anyway try not to stress you are doing a good job!

Message edited 8/19/2013 4:44:42 PM.

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

Do NOT feel like a failure! Breastfeeding is so hard. I think it's great you've already made it to 3.5 months. I'm returning to work at 3 months and not sure I will be able to keep it up, esp pumping

You've gotten a lot of good advice on here. Hang in there and keep at it.

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

He is sleeping the entire night 8 - 7 and feeds every 3 hours (7, 10, 1, 4 and 7).

Yes, he is definitely fussing when nursing. I definitely think I'm not making enough.

I started pumping after each nursing session, will try and dream feed tonight at 11 and supplement with frozen BM after one of the feedings tomorrow.

Any ideas how long it takes to increase supply?

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

Help! It's me again! So I took everyone's advice. I supplemented yesterday about 2 ounces after each feeding but decided today to just supplement after one feeding so he doesn't get too used to the bottle.

But, he hasn't wanted to nurse all day - a little here and there and fussing at my boob every time. My mother-in-law just gave him a bottle after the last feeding (which went terribly) and he took down 5 ounces (not sure if he wanted more). I pumped for about 10 minutes and got about an ounce.

Any thoughts? I feel like he has already realized the bottle is much easier. I've had 3 cups of mother's milk tea and oatmeal already today.

Do you think I can get him back to strictly nursing?

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

I think you can, but I'd try to figure out what is causing him to fuss while at the boob? Do you feel your letdown? Could it be too strong and that's making him fuss? Could it be too slow and he's getting impatient? Have you tried various positions? I know it can be so hard, but I think once you can get him to relax at the boob, things will go better. And you need to relax while he's BFing too. Maybe try to get him to latch and bf before he's starving, so he has more patience. And try to get him to BF as much as possible for as long as possible. He may have learned it's easier to drink from a bottle, but I doubt a few bottles have ruined BFing for him.

Have you checked out the Kellymom.com website? She has lots of helpful advice for all Breastfeeding problems that could arise.

Good luck!

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

Kelly Mom

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

I agree with all of this. I would also check out some of this in from kellymom about getting him back to nursing.

I would try skin to skin nursing, it's hard for LO's to resist that. I had a rough time around 4 months bc DD seemed to have little interest during some feedings and I felt that she wasn't getting enough. I brought her to the ped and made them do a weight check bc I was ready to give up just to make sure she was being well fed. I took it one feeding at a time and we got through it. I ended up spacing out her feedings bc I finally realized she just wasn't that hungry when I was trying. She would do okey with the first feeding but after that it was a struggle. When I waited longer, she was more interested. I did find that she would take a bottle regardless but I think that was more out of the novelty of it, not bc she really was hungry. I would also try to add a dreamfeed although I would be nervous that it would backtrack from sttn but it could be worth it. GL


When you took your DD to the ped, was she gaining? Sounds exactly like DS. THe first feeding goes ok, but after that one he has little interest.

I did a dreamfeed last night around 11 and he ate a little bit, but not much.

I'm having such problems because he is sleeping at night and napping during the day so well. He is such a happy little boy and I just want him to thrive and not be starving!

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

We do the eat, play sleep too. When she refused to nurse and sucked down a 4 ounce bottle, what did you do? Did you pump and just try and nurse the next session? How many times did she actually refuse to nurse completely?

DS did not gain for the past 3 weeks but did gain from birth - 3 months.

I called a LC and will probably go see her tomorrow.

Thanks for all the advice! Please keep it coming!

BF Moms - Need Help

I think I only gave her the bottle maybe twice, both times for that second feeding. I don't remember if I pumped, if I did I probably didn't get more than 2-3 ounces at the most. I just kept trying to nurse the rest of the time. If DS was gaining all this time, it seems strange that he would suddenly stop. Could be a different scale, a full vs dry diaper, was he sick at all? Sometimes DD's weight is ridiculously different over the course of a week so I know it's not always accurate. Maybe your doctor or the LC can check his weight before and after a feeding to see how many ounces he takes.

Re: BF Moms - Need Help

I know it is strange that he was gaining so well and all of a sudden stopped. But he has been weighed on the same scale without a diaper each time. No sickness at all.

The LC is going to do exactly as you suggested and weigh him before and after a feeding.

Thank you so so much! I would still be crying if it wasn't for your and everyone else's advice .