Myy baby is 2 weeks old and I am not producing enough milk... what can I do?

Question

I am taking pills to increase milk production, but it isnt working enough.... I would like to be able to breastfeed him, but i know if i cant i cant....does anyone have any ideas on how to increase my milk production?

Answer 1

I have provided a link.

Answer 2

I went through the same thing you did. My doctor even put me on the medicine (can't remember waht it's called. It's actually used for something else, but they noticed that it helped lactating women produce more milk.) The meds didn't work though. It got to the point that I was supplementing with formula more and more, so I just switched him to formula. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I kept thinking, "This is so natural...this is what I'm SUPPOSED to do, but I can't! I can't feed my baby the way nature intended." Tough, but in the end, it worked out, and I now have two happy, extremely healthy boys...27 months and 11 months.

I've heard that you should definitely stay away from breast pumps during the first 6 weeks or so if you're nursing. They can actually mess up your milk production. Chances are you're taking several weeks or a few months off to take care of your newborn, so this shouldn't be a problem.

I'm sorry, i wish I could give you more advice, but in this case, all I can do is share my experience. I hope you get your milk flow up, and if you do end up having to formula feed, it's not the end of the world. Congratulations to you and your new baby!

Answer 3

Try to gain more relationship with your baby. The more deeper relation with your baby, will also stimulate the glands that produce milk. Also, breastfeed him more often. That also will increase stimulate.

You also need to drink a lot of water, and eat a lot of food. Don't worry about your weight for a couple of months, until your baby is ready to drink formula milk.

Don't forget to exercise a little. A little exercise will help increasing hormone to stimulate the glands. Also watching or experiencing happy-themed, nature-themed film is helping, as good as comedy film. Laughing will release the stress that is addressed as a common problem for the milk shortage.

Answer 4

DO NOT SUPPLEMENT WITH FORMULA!

I don't know why people tell you to supplement with formula when your milk production is already not what you'd like it to be. It is important to nurse often and nurse longer. Milk production is based on supply and demand. The more your baby wants, the more your body produces. So once you supplement with formula you'll be nursing less often and your body in turn will think the baby doesn't need much milk.

Take plenty of fluids and make sure you are getting enough rest. It is hard to get any sleep with a newborn, I know. So get naps whenever you can get it. This will help. And like I said, nurse often and nurse longer!

Answer 5

What pills are you taking? Why are you taking them? And what makes you think you aren't producing enough milk? Without knowing these things, it is very difficult to know what comes next.

That said, a couple of thoughts. The *only* way to produce more milk is to nurse more often. If you don't nurse often enough (*at least* 10-12 times in 24 hours), even galactagogues (drugs to increase milk production) won't help. If you *do* nurse often enough, you will almost never need the drugs in the first place.

Another consideration is that if the baby isn't nursing *correctly*, then that's the equivalent of *not* nursing. It is the baby removing the milk from the breast, not the mere act of *trying* to nurse that results in milk production. In fact, most often "not making enough milk" in the early days is really "the baby isn't nursing well".

You need to see an expert who can evaluate whether your baby is nursing correctly *and* check the baby's mouth for any unusual configurations. This involves putting a finger inside the baby's mouth to evaluate it. Even if you saw a "lactation consultant" in the hospital, please look for someone. *Anyone* can call herself a "lactation consultant" without one *minute* of experience or training. Instead, look for a La Leche League Leader (see sources section below) or *certified* lactation consultant (she will have an "IBCLC" at the end of her name).

In the meantime, if you have been nursing every 3 hours or every 4 hours, try to increase it to every 2 hours during your normal waking hours, timed from the *beginning* of one feeding to the beginning of the next and even if you have to wake the baby. Baby also needs to nurse at least once and preferably 2-3 times at night.

You do *not* need to force yourself to drink water to produce enough milk. In fact, one study showed that women who force liquids produce *less* milk than those who drink to thirst. There is *no* food that you must eat or avoid.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!!

Answer 6

I had the same problem w/ my new baby a few wks ago and the wic (women infant children) counslers told me to take Blessed thistle and fenugreek. they both are naturel herbs in pill form that you can get at the store or at the health food store. they recommended I take both together.you take three of each 3 times a day,it seems like alot but it really does work GREAT,also there is a tea called mothers milk tea drink 3-5 cups a day it also works great. i tastes like black licorice,but not strong its actully good tasting. Also you need to increase your calorie intake to 2500 calories a if possible and they have to be good calories not from junk food. if you can't up the calories thats ok the pills and tea will make LOTS of milk .

Answer 7

First of all stop worrying, you are a great mother.
Babies get all the good stuff from the breast milk that they receive in the first few weeks, so really you need to stop stressing if you can't produce any more.
You could try to feed your baby formula and accept the fact that you can no longer breast feed.
If you are really worried about this you may want to speak to a doctor who will reassure you or point you in the direction of someone who can.

Answer 8

try taking a warm shower and letting the water hit your breasts (it worked for me), also try expressing milk with a breast pump especially the electric ones because the pump acts like a baby nursing and you can try expressing by hand. IF worse comes to worse formula feed because the first 2 weeks has the main stuff the baby needs anyway. Dont feel like a failure if you have to formula feed. Good luck

Answer 9

i had the same problem and I quit trying. I would suggest for you not to do the same. Do you have a lacation consultant you can contact. MIne told me that the more baby nurses the more milk will come. She told me to take warm showers and place a warm towel on your breasts while nursing to help with letdown. Don't give up -- everytime you baby is hungry try to nurse him and if the baby won't nurse pump. Try to nurse or pump every 2 -3 hours. You may be doing it all day but the more consistent you are the better it will be. Also she told me skin to skin contact is good.

I saw someone gave you a link to la leche -- try to contact someone and go to the meetings. This can help also. GOOD LUCK AND DON'T GIVE UP!!!

Answer 10

Drink lots of water and feed your baby more often. The more you feed the more milk you will make. And don't worry you are doing a great job

Answer 11

one drink water when u are breast feeding
two in between feedings pump each breast for 20min literlly as u do this more and more ur milk supply will increase,, i had this same problem ,... i pumped during the day as well as breastfeed during day and at night he got abottle of breast milk....

congrats on baby it will all come togeather