I had a problem with breastfeeding?

Question

with both of my daughters, i could only breasfeed for about a month and then i dried up. When my oldest daughter was born, we were living with someone else and had no room of our own and i felt very shy about breasfeeding in front of everybody...so i kinda stood in the corner or snuck off somewhere but i dried up within a month. with my second daughter, i had my own place and i still dried up within a month. is there something wrong with me? i can kind of understand why with my first daughter since she was the first and i was very uncomfortable but with my second i was very comfortable....did i do something wrong or is this something that just happens because i am very dissappointed with my body and myself now.

Answer 1

As first, English it's not my mother tongue, but I'll try to explain my knowledge and experience to be helpful to you, best as I can!
What I can tell you are that the guidelines I have found in the book written by Penelope Leach helped me a lot. The technique she teaches it's not a rocket science, but what you have to be is really, really and very, very persistent. If you ask me, and from my personal experience it was hardest at the time of (I would call) breastfeeding crises, in which every mother falls sooner or later, but most often after first or second month. Why?
When you baby is just born, according to his/her weight will need certain amount of milk (food). As it's growing she/he would need more. The body is functioning the way that while baby is suckling this (suckling) effect is sending to mum's hypophysis (special little center in our brain) special signal to inform the brain what is going on. This center will transform that information and send it back to mum's breasts in form of (let say) order to produce new milk in addition to replace the one baby just suckled out.
Some mums have more milk that their babies need in the beginning. For them is important to mump out that surplus, as first to avoid inflammation of the breasts and in the same time to keep the volume of milk. Those that unfortunately have only enough quantity or bellow enough have to be very persistent to achieve more milk. Before telling you the ways to achieve that, it is important to know that the first milk that comes out from one breast (at every feeding) is more water-like (less dense and less nutritious). It will content baby's first hunger, but consider this as your baby has just drank something (not really eat).
More dense and nutritious milk comes after. Because it is denser it goes out less easy. Baby slightly become more and more tired. Beside that, suckling for baby is a hard job anyway. I have even seen the comparison that said it is almost equally hard job as for the grown man digging in the mine. That's usually the first problem mum's face it.
And here comes persistence! What kind? – You may ask! As first not to give your baby another breast where she/he will again just "drink" something. Keep it on the first breast until you fill it's fully empty. It's not rear that baby wouldn't like it. They like more (as the adults as well) if the things are easier. You should teach him/her otherwise is better, healthier, wiser. Second, with more difficult suckling baby will very likely soon get tired and fall asleep. So, it comes the second round of persistence in a way to gently keep your baby awake. Through the time you will develop your own best way how to do it.
The main key is as much signal through suckling is sent to your brain your breasts will through time produce more milk. Crises period are every period during breastfeeding when produced volume of milk is below your baby needs. The crises my last a week even two until breasts finally start to produce enough milk. Of course you wouldn't keep your baby hungry and you'll have to give it something additional, but in the same time keep breastfeeding. By understanding the procedure how the breast communicate with our brain to produce milk, you would know now that suckling is that stimulation for mum's breast that would result with higher milk production (I hope this doesn't sound so industrial).
Other things that would also help are your (mum's) regular every day schedule in their meals. You don't have to eat for 2 any more, but you have to have regular and healthy meals, and not just few bytes here or there. Drinking lot of liquid (milk, juices etc.) would help as well. And last but certainly not the least is importance of rest, as much as it's possible.

More details you can find in a book:
Your Baby and Child: From Birth to Age Five – written by Penelope Leach

The book you may find as well on Amazon.com web site!

I'm sorry for this long answer (I didn't though it would be that long), but I hope it would help even just a little!

Answer 2

I don't know your whole history, but here are some of the most common reasons Mothers *think* they have no milk and so on:

-babies need to nurse OFTEN, infact, unrestricted nursings and not watching the clock are the best ways to establish a good milk supply and healthy growth of babe
-sometimes babies kick up the amount of nursings thay need and this can often leave mothers feeling like the baby must be hungry because there is not enough milk. NOT TRUE. Acknowledge your baby's needs and allow him to nurse more often so your supply can catch up. These are often referred to as growth spurts, and supplementing with formula will only decrease your baby's time at the breast thus decreasing milk production
-when breastfeeding, we are unable to physically "see" how much milk baby is taking. Babies sometimes take different amounts at different feeds so we need to let them nurse when "they" need too. Following your baby's cues is the best option, even if that means nursing every hour or less. This is usually typical in the early weeks of nursing and as baby's grow they take more milk at a feed and can go longer in between.
-new mothers, and especially those experiencing embarrasment nursing, should connect with supportive groups like La Leche League or your local Public Health Unit may have a drop in group. These are always free and very informative. It's encouraging to see other mothers nursing their babies discreetly in public places.
-early introduction of pacifiers and solids, which can inadvertantly take the place of nurisngs, can also have a negative affect on your milk supply, perhaps this was an issue with you. I know from experience that when you're shy to nurse you tend to delay feeds and try to make them quick. Doing this can contribute to your supply falling way below the threshold of what your baby needs...leading you to feel as though you have "dried-up"
I really encourage you to seek out support. There is almost *always* a cause behind a Mother thinking her milk has dried up, a cause that could've been prevented.

Answer 3

Don't feel bad, my wife and sister in law had thier babies exactly one month apart. While my wife produced aboyt 28 onz of milk daily my sister in law only produced 9 onz day. It has to do with every woman's body each body works differently. That not a bad thing. But...

Try drinking beer (it has yeast and barley), that helps your body produce milk or simply ask your doctor if its okay to take yeast and barley You can buy it in pils as a supplement or powder in wevery GNC STORE. When ever my wife drank beer she produced more milk.

I'm not saying its okay to dirnk beer everyday one or two a week should do the trick. Hope that helps if you ever dicede to have another baby.

Answer 4

Don't feel bad some women just don't produce milk. My mother only made enough milk to feed for one week, my little sister was able to feed for 2 weeks were I was able to feed for a year. Some women even have problems with their nipples and the baby can't even get a hold to get anything. Be thankful that you were able to have a baby and that it's healthy. Now a days there are so many things a baby can get.

Answer 5

Some women just don't produce enough milk. The best milk is the colustrum produced in the first few days. I was only able to pump milk for my son for 10 weeks (He was on a feeding tube) and then I had to switch him to formula. He is now 2 and completely healthy. A baby doesn't HAVE to breastfeed for the entire year to be healthy.

Answer 6

You should try Fenugreek, a herbal supplement used to help build your milk supply. You can read more about it if you want more information. It can be purchased at GNC for about $7 for 100 capsules.

Answer 7

you shouldnt be dissapointed with you or your body. with me i had to nurse every 2 hrs on both sides for the first month to get good milk production.

Answer 8

I'll help you. You need to keep the breast-milk flowing to prevent drying up. You need a good girlfriend!

Answer 9

i felt like that for the first week after my son born.take some roasted garlic it really works.

Answer 10

It is just you and no I would not be disappointed!! that is just how your milk does. maybe your next will be better. Do not feel bad you can not help it and be glad you could breast feed!!!