Is it cause im not producing enough breastmilk?

Question

I've been talking to nurses family everbody about my problem and no one seems to understand me!!!! When i breastfeed my baby she dosnt breastfeed actively for the full 10 mintues..she'll only suck for a good 2 minutes on each breast then she will be sucking and sucking like shes really trying to get more milk out but it seems like nothing is commin out. Was there anyone who had this problem?

Answer 1

I had this problem with my 1st, wasn't producing enough milk and the poor thing was starving to death!!! Had to supplement breastfeeding with formula. Thank goodness we have such a thing these days!!! there was a time when children would just die because that's all there was (breastmilk)

Answer 2

I went through exactly this same scenario. I would say go to bed with the baby and just stay there. You are prolly totally stressed and depressed about this and that does not help your supply to increase. I know some have said it before, but make sure you are eating and drinking plenty. Forget the pump, the pump is not efficient. Get a SNS supplemental nursing system and that way you will still be getting the stim you need and she will be getting fed. You may or may not gradually wean away from it. Forget the pumping, it is deceiving and disheartening. The baby can empty your breasts much more effectively and then your brain will also get the message to make more. You have to get her to suck as much as possible so that your supply can build up. You honestly sound like you're not sure you can do it. I'm here to tell you that with patience you can. I wish I had with my first. After I nursed 2 others I realized that I prolly could have made it work if I had persevered. You might try nursing her at night when she is kinda sleepy just for the stimulation. Every time you nurse you send the message to the brain to make more milk. Also, after the initial engorgement your breasts kinda get the message how much is needed and some women never leak and never see a drop of milk. It was that way with my second nurser. Good luck to you sweetie, you can do it.

Answer 3

Is she not latched on properly? If her bottom lip must be out and completely against your breast, and her upper lip should be covering just about all of the pigmented skin around your nipple. If your nipple isnt far enough into her mouth she cannot draw milk from your breast.

Also, babies will first suck rapidly and actively swallowing the foremilk quite quickly before they start sucking larger amounts and swalling every couple or few draws.

So long as she's not hungry when she's finished, and you're not engorged, then nothing is wrong.

If she's still hungry and you're not empty, and you as a result feel heavy after nursing, she might not have the sucking skill down right. This is common for premies.

If she's still hungry when she's finished and you feel empty then it would indicate that your supply is not meeting her demand. Some women just cannot produce milk in enough quantity, or for long enough periods of time, to properly nurse.

Answer 4

I had the same problem with my four-month-old in her first month of life. I now pump exclusively because my husband and I found it too fustrating trying to guess if she was still hungry and how many ounces she ate, etc.

I would contact a lactation consultant. When I wanted to increase my low milk supply, mine had me to the following:

First put the baby to the breast of your choice. After he/she is finished with that one, offer the other. Then, after the feeding, pump both breast for 15-20 minutes, even if nothing comes out. Do this at EVERY feeding. If baby skips a feeding, do pump and store the milk.

I would purchase a good pump. I personaly recommend the Pump in Style by Medela. You may also want to research the herbal remedy, Fenugreek. I pulled the following off Breastfeeding.com for you (note, consult your physician/lacation consultant before trying any herbal remedy, for I am not a doctor):

"Fenugreek and breastfeeding - Fenugreek seeds contain hormone precursors that increase milk supply. Scientists do not know for sure how this happens. Some believe it is possible because breasts are modified sweat glands, and fenugreek stimulates sweat production. It has been found that fenugreek can increase a nursing mother's milk supply within 24 to 72 hours after first taking the herb. Once an adequate level of milk production is reached, most women can discontinue the fenugreek and maintain the milk supply with adequate breast stimulation. Many women today take fenugreek in a pill form (ground seeds placed in capsules). The pills can be found at most vitamin and nutrition stores and at many supermarkets and natural foods stores. Fenugreek can also be taken in tea form, although tea is believed to be less potent than the pills and the tea comes with a bitter taste that can be hard to stomach."-Breastfeeding.com.

If that doesn't work, I would also look into the prescription known to increas milk supply (I think it is called Reglan and this worked for me). Again, contact your ob/gyn or lacation consultant for further information.

Do try to visit www.breastfeeding.com. It offers great support and is generaly just a fun website for breastfeeding mothers.

Good luck. And remember, you are giving your baby the best start by breastfeeding. This is what I think when its late at night and I just don't feel like pumping.

Good luck

Answer 5

How old is she? Stop watching the clock and pay attention to the baby. An older baby may be able to get all she needs quickly as she is more efficient at extracting the milk.

Why do you feel like nothing is coming out? It's normal for their suck pattern to change throughout the feeding.

At first, prior to letdown, it feels/looks like they are seriously working hard.

Then, your milk lets down and they usually settle into a suck/suck/swallow kind of pattern that is not as urgent. Pay attention to what she is doing and see if you can tell if she is still swallowing. You might be able to hear her swallow. (A swallow sounds like a small puff of air coming out the baby's nose and you can usually see the muscle moving in front of the baby's ear, giving the baby the appearance of his earlobes subtley wiggling.)

Then, if they are full and just sucking for comfort, it'll feel more like "flutter sucking" instead.

Is she having plenty of wet and dirty diapers? Gaining weight and growing in length/head circumference? Meeting milestones?

EDITED TO ADD:

Pumping is NOT a good indicator of supply. If baby is latched on and nursing correctly, she will always be able to extract more milk than even the best breastpump.

From what you've posted so far, I am not convinced that you have a supply problem. More info might be helpful. Especially knowing if you can tell if she is continuing to swallow. Also, how does she act after a feeding? Does she seem content? Fall asleep at the breast? How often does she nurse?

Answer 6

Don't be in a hurry to add formula! The baby has to suck harder to get breastmilk, so she'll just get lazy and suck less efficiently if she can fill up on formula, which is not nearly as good for her. Is she wetting plenty of diapers? Does she act hungry and frustrated? Many doctors know little about breastfeeding, and one of them told me I was starving my baby and needed to give her formula. I went to La Leche League for help, and they told me I was nursing too often and needed to let my milk recover between feedings. They advised me to feed her every two hours, not constantly the way I had been doing, and she did fine on that schedule. Trust a lactation nurse or La Leche League (LLL), but don't bother with a doctor unless you know you have one who is sympathetic and trained in lactation counseling.

Lack of milk is VERY unusual, I was told - you just need to make sure she gets it.

Good luck - and do try to find a local chapter of LLL - they are really helpful and know exactly what you are going through.

Answer 7

Is your baby a newborn, if so maybe your milk has not built up a good supply yet? It is great that you are giving it a good shot. Keep on putting her on, eventually it will come in. The more your baby sucks the more milk will come in. In the mean time drink plenty of fluids and rest and try no to stress, that is something that babies can sense. I know hoe stressing it can be, I use to sit up and cry when I first started nursing. It hurt so much and she just wouldn't latch on. It took a whole month for her to get it right! Keep up the good job, and Good Luck!

Answer 8

Make sure she is latching correctly. If she does not have her mounth around the whole area then the milk will not come out right. Keep trying do not give up.
If you are still having problem get with a lactaid nurse and she can help to get the baby to latch on correctly

Answer 9

try mother's milk, it's a tea and it also is a supplement i belive you can find it at a health food store....it will help with you milk production also drink a lot of water and make sure you are eating well these effect how much milk you produce.....if you have to supplement with formula.....or try pumping to see how much milk you are actually producing......good luck.....you can still nurse if you want to continue....don't feel like you have to quit just supplement if need be.

Answer 10

I was having a similar experience, it happened that my baby had a hard time due to my nipple size, I breatfeed, in between times I would pump, and then (this may sound weird but it worked for me and 2 family members) I got a disposable bottles nipple, put in on top of mine, it created a vacuum when he sucked and was easier for him, than latching on to my breast.