issue with my breastmilk?

Question

i had a baby a week ago and it took a few days for my milk to come in but i had a c-section and was and still am on very strong painkillers so i cant breastfeed but i pump but discard of the milk afterwards but i have noticed i dont have nearly enough breastmilk to feed my son's hunger ,not even an ounch worth of milk from each breast....has this happened to anyone else? and is there anyway of fixing it as to were i can produce more milk?...i want to breastfeed but there is no way i can fill his little tummy up with what i have so i have to go with formula....any help would be great...thanks!!

Answer 1

Congrats! I had twins via c-section 10 months ago. Here's a few thoughts:

1. Stop pumping and get that baby latched onto your breast! The painkillers I was on didn't affect my babies. If you're really worried ask your pharmacist if the painkillers you are on are safe for breastfeeding. Most doctors prescribe stuff that is because they recognize the importance of breastfeeding.

2. The baby nursing directly will always get more milk than a pump. Not all women respond to the pump well.

3. I had latch difficulties with my preemies so I pumped for 3 weeks then went to see a lactation consultant. My smaller twin had alot of problems that interfered with nursing but my bigger twin was able to nurse after just one visit with the lactation consultant.

Good luck and hang in there! Congrats on your baby boy!

Answer 2

Hi there
Congratulations on the birth of your baby and your decision to breastfeed. First off, you should talk to your doctor about the medications you are on. Most painkillers prescribed for c-section recovery are safe for breastfeeding. The amount which would enter the breastmilk is minimal, and the risks are far outweighed by the benefits of breast milk to the baby.
I applaud you for pumping -- it is a difficult thing to do, especially while caring for a newborn and recovering from surgery. The pump, unfortunately, does not match the motions of a newborn and the many muscles of the mouth that work to express milk and stimulate production. That is likely why you have not been able to pump as much. I strongly urge you to speak with your doctors. I'm not sure why they have you dumping the milk. It can be difficult to establish feeding at the breast once baby has become accustomed to the bottle. I highly recommend you seek the advice of a lactation consultant. Their services should be available to you through the hospital where you delivered. They should be able to help you establish nursing and can recommend various supplements to help increase your milk supply. Also, La Leche League is a wonderful resource. You can find a local chapter through their website here: http://www.llli.org/WebIndex.html
The site also has lots of good information about breastfeeding issues. I hope this is helpful and wish you all the best with your new baby!

Sincerely,
Amanda

Answer 3

I also had a c-section and was on painkillers but they told me it was okay to breastfeed. I would ask what kind of pump do you have? You need a Medela if you plan on pumping. Also newborns dont' usuall drink more than 2 ounces so an ounce from each breast is good and enough. Their tummies are very small. If he needs more you will make more. If you pump do it every 2 hours to increase supply. If you allow the baby to breastfeed himself then do that first and afterward pump what might be left.

Honestly i am the queen of pumping i got married when my son was 2 months old and i had saved 100 ounces of milk in the freezer for him to drink when i was on my honeymoon.

But if you do this then don't stray far from your pump or baby or you will experience engorgement.

Answer 4

I had three c-sections and breastfeed all of my children. Do not discard your breastmilk, start breastfeeding your child right now. The painkillers will make the baby sleepy, but that is ok. Your milk will regulate itself, but you must start now! Don't wait. The baby's sucking will stimulate more milk production - the breast pump isn't good enough. Whatever you do, don't use formula to fill in - let the baby nurse every time he is hungry - this will stimulate the milk production. If you supplement with formula, your body will produce less milk. It'll be tough for a day or two - I started breastfeeding immediately all three times - pain meds and all!

Answer 5

hi there, i am a mum of 2 and have breastfed both - not without issues mind you!.my youngest is 7mths & im still breastfeeding but i did have initial supply issues. i am sure you would have already been told about drinking heaps of fluids - this is the fastest way to increase supply, i really notice the difference even now if i dont drink enough in a day my supply drops. im talking litres of water!. do you have an electric pump? it is so much easier & you can go for longer at a time. you have a letdown and the milk starts to flow, when your milk stops flowing keep the pump going even if your breast feels empty, if you go for long enough quite often there will be a second letdown which will give you a bit more milk. more importantly it will encourage more milk to be produced even if you dont get a second let down (sometimes it would take me 20min or more to get the second letdown).express every 3hrs like this for a few days- you will probably start to moo(only kidding),you will get nothing done besides expressing & drinking water, (& looking after your baby) but it is worth a few days of inconvenience because breastfeeding saves you hours of washing & sterilising bottles (apart from the other benifits). ps- you must relax you mind & body when expressing!-i visualise a waterfall to help get my milk flowing.hope it goes well for you.

Answer 6

First of all you can definitely produce enough milk to feed your baby no doubt about it. It is all about stimulating your breast and getting them to increase production. The amount of milk that you see when you pump is not the same amount that a baby could get out of your breast. No, pump is as good as a baby not even the really expensive ones. Once you are able to nurse the baby do not try and put him on a 2-3 hour schedule. This is not good for babies b/c breastmilk is digested very easily so they are hungry more often than formula fed babies. If you feed the baby on demand typically every hour your milk will increase as a result. Also, babies really do not need much to fill their tummies. the amount that formula babies take is more than what little babies really need(hence, the relationship between formula and obesity)
I hope this is helpful You should contact yout local La Leche League go to le leche league .com and search for a group near you and call one of the leaders they are always willing to give advice any time and are very knowledgable and it's free!

Answer 7

I also had a c-section and of course pain meds. In the hospital they didn't say anything about the pain medication and I nursed my daughter. She and I would both fall asleep while feeding. Don't get stuck on ounces. The baby will let you know if he's satisfied. Also, I sleep with her, and she eats while we nap. You could always pump which increases
production.
Stay away from formula! Use it only, only only, as a last resort. It's yuky stuff.
I will say that it's a wonderful trick to have a baby that will feed off a bottle. Gives you a break and lets Dad bond with the baby.

Answer 8

Congratulations! I had a baby 4 months ago. She liked to sleep on my breast, so I did not produce enough milk. So I started to add formula after the breast. So today she is a half and half baby. Feeds on breast and I supplement with formula. But I noticed that as she grew my milk increased because she learned to suck better. Don't give up. Is worth it!

Answer 9

The more milk expressed, the more you'll make. Pump more often to build up supply, plus once you start nursing, he's going to eat more often (b.milk digests faster than formula) Breastmilk is like supply and demand, the more 'demand' the greater the supply becomes. And don't worry over how many ounces you have, look to the baby for clues on how much he's getting- does he seem satisfied? Lots of wet and dirty diapers? Good weight gain? etc. Don't get hung up on ounces.

Be prepared for trouble at first when you switch baby from bottle to breast (unless you are only going to pump and bottle feed) Keep with it and you'll be fine.

Answer 10

I have been breastfeeding for 6 months as of now and plan to continue and I still have plenty of questions.
When I pumped I couldn't produce enough milkor it looked like I didn't, but when I am feeding my daughter I produce plenty. Go ahead and try. If you are concerned most hospitals will weigh your baby and let you know if he is gaining enough wait.
Good Luck feeding and I hope it works out. It is the best decision I ever made for my daughter and I was so opposed to it before. My husband had to talk me into trying. And I am glad I did.