breastfeeding?

Question

Im breastfeeding my 1week old daughter, but im frustrated coz when i pump milk, it doesnt get any far than 1 ounce, how can i have more milk? help

Answer 1

It is *not* a good idea to pump before your baby is about 2 months old unless you absolutely have to. No pump is *ever* as effective as a nursing baby, and you are still learning how to nurse. (Even if you have nursed several children already,`you are still learning how to nurse *this* baby!)

If you nurse your baby frequently (at least 10-12 times in 24 hours), you will almost certainly have enough milk. The only exceptions are usually if you have had breast or chest surgery (even as a young child) or if there is a hormonal imbalance (usually caused by PCOS or thyroid problems). If you just stop worrying about pumping, you will usually have plenty of milk.

And, by the way, 1 ounce at a time is a *fantastic* amount of milk to be getting at a single pumping when a baby is a week old. Most women get nothing to only drops at that age.

Answer 2

Breastfeeding is wonderful. Pumping is a drag. Your body is just beginning to produce milk now, so your milk supply needs to regulate. Your body needs to adjust to the needs of yoru baby and the pumping. Be patient!! You may have better luck if you wait a few weeks.

Are you using an electric pump or hand pump. Some women have better luck with electric, but I personally had better luck with the Avent Isis. The cups are softer and the hand control allows you to mimic your baby's suckling.

Anyway, I took Fenugreek when I had to pump because without it, I never got more than an ounce or two. You will not get as much ilk as your baby gets when she nurses.

Also, pump each breast while your baby nurses the other. Yes, it's hard, but your baby will stimulate a let down on the other side. If you are pumping at work, try pumping both sides at once and as weird as it sounds, record your baby crying. I got one of those picture drames that you can record a message on. I put a photo pf my daughter in the frame and recorded her calling to me for nursing. It actually helped!! Good luck. Don't give up! God bless!

Answer 3

There is an herbal supplement tea called Mothers milk Tea. It can be purchased at a health food store or over the internet. Also, it may be the breast pump you are using...I had a cheap one ($60) and it was horrible, it would take me an hour to get a few ounces! Your local WIC office will loan you out a hospital grade pump that is amazing! Good luck, breastfeeding is a wonderful bonding experience and SO healthy for both you and the baby! Keep trying...

Answer 4

The more you breastfeed the more milk your breast create to keep up with demand.

You've only been doing this a week, so its likely you're pumping out colustrum the pre-milk stage that is full is nourishment and antibodies for your baby. The Milk stage is due any day now, and you will swell up and feel some discomfort.... just give it a little more time... try not to pump but feed your baby directly off the breast as this is the best form of natural stimulation.

Some women of course, find that they simply cannot breastfeed and become very upset and anxious, if this happens to you, then don't see it as a failure, just switch to formula and enjoy those benefits... there are plenty of bottle fed babies that surprisingly do not burst into flames on drinking formula milk!

The best thing you can do, is relax and try not to get too stressed out... talk to your midwife and see a breast feeding counsellor if you're at all worried, your midwife/doctor should be able to put you in touch with one.

Answer 5

At a week babys stomach is very small at they cant take a lot of milk at once but baby will need to feed many many times a day in order to have enough milk to grow. And well doing this she is developing the supply and demand realtionship that will make it possible for her to get enough milk as her demands for milk grow. Also a pump can never be as efficent as a baby is and baby will always get more milk then a pump can pump. Keep breastfeeding baby on demand and enjoy the special relationship you two have. Also you might want to look into going to meetings of at your local La Leche group they are in valuable resource for breastfeeding mums and dads.

http://www.lalecheleague.org

Answer 6

Professional and Rickiehart72 said it all,dear..
Since the advent of bottle-feeding,a lot of mothers now have to re-learn Breast-feeding,a process that is natural......
Breastfeed --directly.Stop pumping.The more your baby SUCKLES,the more milk you have,and the better he learns how to feed.
.Alternating between the breast and the bottle at this stage causes what we call ''Nipple Confusion'' in a neonate,because the technique of latching on to the mother's breast is quite different from that of the bottle...
At the breast,the baby boesn't suck on the mother's nipple,but applies pressure with his gums to the areola,causing the milk to squirt into his mouth while at the bottle,he sucks hard at the teat.
The breast pump cannot imitate accurately this suckling,so use only from 2 months,when you have established a rythm.The breast produces as much as your baby needs.
You also have to abandon the idea of scheduled and timed feeds...it doesn't quite work that way,although you will notice a natural rythm of say 2-3 hours after a while.But the best is to practice ''Demand feeding''--which means you feed when he's hungry.You will notice your breasts ''filling up'' as it gets closer to your baby's feeding time.These are all hormone-regulated natural processes that you don't have to measure or calculate.
Your baby will get perfect nutrition if you do these things for the next 4 months,exclusively.
After that,start introducing cereals but be sure to continue breast-feeding for 1 year;unless you get pregnant again.
You're doing VERY WELL getting an ounce at 1 week.
Keep it up -but directly to the baby,please!

Answer 7

I am a mom of three who I breastfeeded. You baby at one week old won't even need an ounce at a time. But to get more milk all I can say is pump pump pump... The more demand for milk you put on your body the more it will produce. pluse you can store the milk that you pump for later. your body knows what it is doing when your baby needs more it will deliver. but if you can't wait just pump. You will start producing more milk right away.

Answer 8

I could pump milk for England with my first child, but couldnt pump any with the second two. However they got all the milk they needed when sucking, I breastfed for nearly 2 years and they are fine. Sometimes you just can't express.

One week is a very short time anyway, you milk will just be coming in now. Get lots of rest and enjoy your baby!

Answer 9

Don't worry about pumping right now unless you have too! It can make nursing more difficult, if you are determined to succeed you will! pumping right now will add to soreness and cracked nipples. Also your body has yet to adjust to nursing the wonderful baby girl you have. It takes about 4-6 weeks before you guys have any type of rythm to eating routine ( I use the work routine very losely) I would wait to start pumping. If it is a matter of pressure because people want to feed the baby as well, too bad for them. You had the wonderful pleasure of 9 months of pregnancy and hours of labor and delivery, you get the blessing of nourishing that child whenever and wherever you choose. Also pumpin and giving a bottle this early on can cause nipple confusion and that will just hurt your cause!

Answer 10

Dont know if you should be pumping right now. It acts differently than the baby does and will screw with your milk supply (which is just being established) Probably why you are having trouble. Try just nursing for now if you can and try the pump again in about 2-3 weeks, I bet you find a difference.