I am a new mom. My baby is 3 weeks old. I only pump just for the fact the I've never really produced enough milk for her so I pump and supplement with formula so I can somewhat regulate how much she is taking in. Lately, I haven't been able to pump as much. Everyday it seems I get less and less. I have the best pump, and it works great... I just don't have the same amount of milk as I used to. Is there something I can do to increase my milk supply?
2007-02-14 06:25:07 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I haven't tried to breastfeed her since the hospital... I'm not even sure if she will latch on, she wouldn't do it well there. The Lactation person there told me to supplement, so I'm not sure how I would even begin to bring her back to breast.
2007-02-14 07:29:06 · update #1
Supplementing is difficult. Your breasfeeding becomes a game of catch up and it is almost inevitable that the supplement will keep increasing and the milk supply decreases, even when pumping. If you only use the pump to solve your problem, just pump as often as you can. Dedicate a couple of days to pumping. The problem is more complicated than that though. You have to be so careful about how much you supplement. I know you don't want to starve your baby, and I'm not suggesting that, but you want to use as little as possible to supplement with. You have to continue to drink tons of water, increase your caloric intake, try using breast milk tea it has herbs that really help increase supply. Some foods and herbs actually decrease supply, as does caffiene and stress. I went through it, and I was never able to bring my supply up, infact my supply continually decreased just as yours is doing. I do have a friend that was able to maintain her supply while supplementing without having to work at it. For some reason, some women are just able to produce tons of milk and others not enough. My other friend still occasionally leaks after she ended breastfeeding over 2.5 years ago. I was so jealous. She's producing milk and doesn't want to and I'm trying to breastfeed and can't produce enough.Good luck to you.
2007-02-14 07:06:26 · answer #1 · answered by jc2006 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your formula supplementation is sabotaging your milk supply, unfortunately. If you will let the baby nurse as often and as long as she wants and gradually decrease the amount of formula you give her, you can be assured that she is gettting enough milk. Your body will increase its "supply" to meet her "demand". There is no need to regulate the amount of milk she is getting. She can do that herself.
I agree with previous posters, get some help from LLL or a LC quick!
2007-02-14 15:07:48 · answer #2 · answered by Ducky's Mom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The baby is far better at stimulating milk production than a pump. Please, please get assistance to get the baby back on the breast, even if it is only part time, even if you do have to top up with pumped milk and/or formula. However supplimenting with formula for some moms causes their supply to go way down.
Please contanct La Leche League and get some REAL assistance. It is FREE. Also contact WIC (if you are American) or your public health nurse (if you are Canadian). To see what other assistance is available to you.
Only 1% of mothers who have not had breast surgery can not make enough milk BUT that is only if they have the right assistance. You CAN do it, you just need a little help.
There is some info on increasing the amount you pump here:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html
Also read:
Is your milk supply really low?
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#supply
How does milk production work?
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/milkproduction.html
2007-02-14 14:32:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
After each time you breastfeed her pump 10 minutes for each breast. It should increase in a few days. Also drink plenty of fluids and get as much rest as you can.
2007-02-14 14:37:30 · answer #4 · answered by Laura H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drink lots of water, and pump for short times but more often, not forgetting to "do" both breasts at the same sitting!!
Good luck - and RELAX - that's the most important thing of all!
2007-02-14 14:32:57 · answer #5 · answered by essdee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is better to put baby to breast they will suck to get what they want
and if you have a sleepy baby try breast feeding in the bath tub wakes baby up and is so nice snggle time
2007-02-14 14:39:34 · answer #6 · answered by chrisandlindsayjohnston 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋