I have been breast feeding my 2 month old son but I have never started producing any more milk -?

Question

I do not need advice on how to produce more since the doctor and I have tried everything - apparently I am on of the rare percentage that just doesn't make much milk due to a prior surgery. He has been breast feeding then bottle feeding every feed per the pediatrician (until I returned to work, where I pump). I am contemplating giving up breast feeding as we are having to do both all the time. I feel like it is taking a lot from me and I am not giving him much of anything. I would like to continue breastfeeding as I love the closeness and bonding and I love feeling like I am providing (even though I am not). I know breast is best, but is it going to help him to continue if it is sooooo little? I am so saddened that I am not producing more as I would love to breast feed exclusively, so please don't harrass me on something I can't control.

Answer 1

I feel your pain. I went through the same exact thing. I also have flat nipples too so that just added to my troubles of not producing enough milk. I had never even given thought to bottle feeding. I wanted to breast feed exclusively and was so hurt and felt like less than a woman or a mother because I couldn't. There's nothing you can do about it though. I ended up pumping whatever I could get out and supplementing it (mixing them together in the bottle)with formula. I just couldn't take it--my baby would cry and I knew it was because she was hungry and I could not just let her go hungry! But I read that ANY amount of breast milk is benefitting your child. And if you give your child breast milk(whether pumped or sucked)breast milk for at least 6weeks--they are getting those antibodies and all that good stuff that makes the "breast the best". So I was content with stopping after that and such a happier mom and my baby has great health to this day(she's 2.5). Plus it was such a hassle to try to pump and do bottles seperately--and I was so tired & I had not even went back to work yet....I just didn't see it working. Anybody who would harrass u over this is ignorant. They just don't have a clue what its like. Do what you feel is right for u and ur baby. Even if its not what you WANT to do. U will b relieved --trust me....and everything will be just fine.

Answer 2

You've done a wonderful job fighting a difficult battle these past two months! Any milk that he gets will be a benefit to him. SO he's already had a great benefit for 2 mos and any amount of milk you are willing and able to give him will continue to benefit him. ANY breastmilk is always better than none at all.

You sound like you really love nursing, but are also finding it very stressful so far. Maybe switching to mostly nursing for comfort and/or at wake up/bedtimes would make you feel less stressed and allow you to enjoy nursing more?

Have you only worked with the doctor, or have you talked to a La Leche League Leader and/or a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) about your supply? They tend to know more about it than doctors. Maybe they would have other ideas you haven't tried. I'm assuming you've worked on breastfeeding management, checked latch, all of that. Have you tried any herbs or prescription meds?

Have you considered providing the supplements AT the breast with a supplemental nursing system? This is a bottle/bag with tubing that is taped near your nipple so the child gets BOTH your milk and the supplement at the same time.

Answer 3

I am sorry that you can't breast-feed all the time, but don't give up what little you have. Studies have shown breastfed babies are smarter. Personally I feel that my children are closer to me because of the bond. Although you could still have the closeness with bottle feeding it just isn't the same. If it really takes a toll on your body try just breastfeeding at bedtime. Don't give up I am sure you can work out a plan and still give your son everything he needs.

Answer 4

Do what you think is best and don't feel guilty at all. I'm sure you know that breastmilk helps in the development of the immune system, so if you could hold on just a little while longer to give him the boost that he needs to ride him through all those vaccines in the first 6 months of life...it may pay off later. And that 15 minutes of exclusive snuggle time rocks...no matter how little milk he gets. Just have a bottle next to you if you must. good luck good mommy!

Answer 5

Please contact BFAR Breast Feeding After Reduction and other nipple surgery:
http://bfar.org/

Other than that remember breastfeeding isn't all about the milk. Eve he your son is getting NO milk he is still getting the bonding and comfort.

Also you could use a Supplimental Nursing System (bag with a tube that runs to your nipple) so he is getting milk while breastfeeding.

FYI it isn't abnormal for breastfed babies to eat "every hour, for an hour". It isn't the norm, but it is well within the relm. You might want to read:
So I Nursed Him Every 45 Minutes
http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/elizabeth_baldwin.html

However, though it is expensive. I think a SNS is the way to go. Then he is getting your milk, formula (or pumped or banked milk), and stimulating your supply, bonding etc. All at the same time.

Answer 6

Hey Mom.

Same thing happened to me, she's 11 months now, she's fat and perky, smiles a lot, and rarely gets sick. I quit at four months I got my breasts back, and she loved/loves the ba ba. No biggie. I had a c-section. My only regret was that I didn't keep pumping, because I think the weight would have come off sooner/better. LOL! Just make sure you keep burping her as some gas should really be your only concern. Breastfeeding is just NOT for everyone. Believe me the baby won't think any less of you. And If your Partner has an anitquated view at all, just save some up for him/her and and put it in his/her lunches. lol!

Answer 7

i had my son when at 36 weeks and he was 3 weeks early... i was goin 2 breast feed so bad.. i thought it would be neat but i did not like it... since i had him 3 weeks early my milk did not come in.. so we had 2 bottle feed him in the hos... then when i came home my milk was not all the way in until 4 weeks later and it was not enough 2 give him.. so i really did not know what 2 do.. my mom told me 2 keep pumpin.. and most of the time i did not want 2 do it since he was not getin much 2 eat cause i did not have that much milk... but later on when he was on bottle .. my milk came in more.. and i just let it go 2 waist... but other that... u can try hot packs and stuff.. that might work... that makes your milk come down... maybe u have a coloded milk duck.. i had that... but i dont know..

Answer 8

you will probably eventually dry up but if you are going to stop why don;t you just do it at nite or when you get home from work until your milk stops then you still have some close wonderful breast time where the baby looks at you while feeding and hopefully it'll keep you from getting engorged if that will happen with you i don;t know since you don't have much but you could possibly do this for months or maybe just a few days i think it depends on you since you don't make alot but it seems like a good idea then your not totally giving it up but your not killing yourself trying to get enough either


ps you could even keep it up before bed and during the nite no waiting for bottle to heat up lol

Answer 9

You can continue if you enjoy the closeness and bonding and follow up w/ the bottle like you are doing. If it is straining you too much and feel bad b/c of everything then you need to be ready to stop. It is better for your son to have a happy mommy then a depressed mommy. I'm not sure what you have tried to do as increasing the milk supply but just one thing I tried was using a medication from my gyn called Reglan, it is not typically used for this reason, but it increases prolactin levels. It worked really great for me.

Answer 10

You poor thing! I'm sure you feel very badly, but you did all you could. You need to do whatever you feel comfortable with, but if it is getting to be too much, IMO you should stop. You went the first six weeks, which is the most recommended time to breastfeed to build up anti-bodies. The most important thing is for you to be healthy so that you can take care of him and you are probably losing a ton of sleep trying to do both every time.