how do you know if your milk is drying up?

Question

i will feed my son for an hour 30 minutes on each
breast he will still be hungry.. i dont know if i have enough milk for him?? i didnt feed him for a day will tthis effect my milk supply and when i pumped id only get 2-3 ounces of both thats it and my son is only 7 1/2 wks and he eats from formula 6 ounces..
please anyone nothing anything
thank you

Answer 1

IF your concerned about your milk supply then step up how often your nursing. Try nursing at least 10-12 times in a 24 hour period. Breastmilk is produced on a supply and demand basis. If you demand the milk supply to go up it will. Everytime you replace breastmilk with formula you are sending a signal to your body that you need less breastmilk.

If you need more information call your local La Leche League Leader.
1-800-la leche

Answer 2

Not feeding him for a day will definately affect your supply so I would reccommend that you breastfeed your baby as much as you can for as long as you can to build up your supply. Try not to give formula as it is totally different from breast milk and with him having it, it will also affect your supply. Remember it works on supply and demand, the more your baby feeds the more milk you will have. Don't limit his time at the breast, let him take his time and make sure you are both comfortable and relaxed. Just because he is taking 6oz from a bottle doesnt mean that he isn't taking the same amount from you too, don't worry about not being able to pump much out-I could never get much, maybe 1oz at a time, some women just cant get milk out with a pump. Try hand expressing and I would reccommend you see your health visitor or lactation consultant at the hospital for the correct technique for this. Dont worry! Your milk shouldnt dry up, if you feel like you have less in your breasts this is probably just because your body has finally settled down and is not over-producing on the milk, there is just what your baby needs in there. Also; as you feed your baby your breast produces more milk to replace what has been taken so you should always have milk for your baby. Try not to do too much and try to get rest so you're not tired, try and eat a healthy well balanced diet- all of this can affect your supply so dont get yourself run down!

Good luck and stick at it, you will do great!

Answer 3

Congratulations on nursing your son! Breast is best, you know.

As long as your baby feeds, your milk is not drying up. The amount of milk produced depends upon the amount your son consumes. If he drinks lots, lots will fill your breast. If he nurses only a little, the milk produced will be a small amouont.

You know your milk is drying up when 1) you stop nursing, and 2) no milk, or only droplets, issue from the nipple.

I you wish to increase your supply, here are a few helpful hints:
1. Eliminate personal stress. Milk flows more freely when you are relaxed and have peace of mind.
2. Take a warm shower. The milk ducts are "triggered" by warmth (and your baby's hunger cries!). Because a shower tends to relax you, you're getting two benefits for increased milk production!
3. Keep in mind that pumps work best when you are relaxed and have peace of mind.
4. Be sure your son is latched on to your nipple. You will know he is latched on when you feel his pull as he suckles, by his relaxed state, and his continued, uninterrupted feeding. If he displays constant irritation, struggles, or cries when you attempt to feed him, he is probably not latched on and is crying because he is getting no milk. Also, what you eat can affect the taste of your milk. Let's hope all those fruits and veggies are keeping your milk flavorful!
4. Babies get accustomed to the method of feeding they experience more. If you are formula-feeding more than breast-feeding, your son may be more comfortable with the formula. Therefore, he will be more likely to wean (little by little, stop feeding) from the breast. You can pump your milk and put it in bottles, if you wish. That way, your son can still get the perfect benefits of mother's milk.

Whatever you choose, know that your milk production is proportionate to the baby's amount of feeding. Your milk will not dry up unless baby slows down, or unless other problems exist. Feel free to consult your doctor or a lactation nurse if you are concerned. A lactation nurse specializes in breastfeeding and can offer very helpful advice. Internet sites on the subject can be helpful as well. Here are a few:

pediatrics.about.com/od/breastfeedingproblems/Breastfeeding_Problems.htm
www.parentingweb.com/lounge/problems.htm
www.breastfeedingbasics.com/

Take good care of your son...and yourself!

Answer 4

I am only able to get about 2 -3 ounces when pumping for my baby--but that is about how much she eats at a feeding.

Your milk supply will decrease if you feed your baby less (using formula or expressed bottles instead).

He may not be hungry--but tired or simply wanting to suck.

To increase your milk supply, drink plenty of fluids and either nurse your baby more frequently or express a little imbetween feedings. The more stimulated your breasts are--the more milk they will produce.

Answer 5

pumping is no indication of supply... the formula is probably the problem. stop giving him formula and nurse nurse nurse nurse nurse... get in bed mostly naked for a weekend and nurse as much as the baby will. It will boost your supply back to where it should be.

By giving formula, you are signaling your body to not produce as much milk. The baby is full longer on formula (because its so hard to digest) and then your breasts dont get the stimulation they need to produce more milk.


6 weeks is also a growth spurt time... constant nursing is normal for a baby in a growth spurt. Once your supply is back up to normal, he should go back to a more regular pattern.

If youre really concerned about his intake, count diapers. He should have 5-6 really wet disposables (6-8 cloth).

Answer 6

Pumping has nothing to do with how much milk you have, pumping is a skill.

A baby that is latching badly can nurse for 5 days and not get full. A baby that is latching properly can nurse for 5 minutes and be more the full.

Introducing a bottle BEFORE making sure that breastfeeding is going well can really interfere with breastfeeding. They call it "nipple confusion" but it isn't confusion, it's really laziness. A bottle drips constantly, there is little to no effort required to get the milk out. You have to work to get milk out of a breast, and this work is good for baby it has been shown to help with proper jaw and sleep development.

Less than 1% of women, who haven't had breast surgery, can NOT make enough milk. However adding formula, bottles, etc, etc, and otherwise mismanaging breastfeeding can cause numerous problems.

Toss your bottles and get back to breast! Once that is going well you can reintroduce bottles if you must. Until then there is syringe and cup feeding if you must be away from the baby.

Lots of good information
http://www.kellymom.com
http://www.lalecheleage.com
http://www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/index.html
1. Many women do not produce enough milk.
Not true! The vast majority of women produce more than enough milk. Indeed, an overabundance of milk is common. Most babies that gain too slowly, or lose weight, do so not because the mother does not have enough milk, but because the baby does not get the milk that the mother has. The usual reason that the baby does not get the milk that is available is that he is poorly latched onto the breast. This is why it is so important that the mother be shown, on the first day, how to latch a baby on properly, by someone who knows what they are doing.


4. A baby should be on the breast 20 (10, 15, 7.6) minutes on each side.
Not true! However, a distinction needs to be made between "being on the breast" and "breastfeeding". If a baby is actually drinking for most of 15-20 minutes on the first side, he may not want to take the second side at all. If he drinks only a minute on the first side, and then nibbles or sleeps, and does the same on the other, no amount of time will be enough. The baby will breastfeed better and longer if he is latched on properly. He can also be helped to breastfeed longer if the mother compresses the breast to keep the flow of milk going, once he no longer swallows on his own (Handout #15 Breast Compression). Thus it is obvious that the rule of thumb that "the baby gets 90% of the milk in the breast in the first 10 minutes" is equally hopelessly wrong. To see how to know a baby is getting milk see the videos at www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html


8. Pumping is a good way of knowing how much milk the mother has.
Not true! How much milk can be pumped depends on many factors, including the mother's stress level. The baby who nurses well can get much more milk than his mother can pump. Pumping only tells you have much you can pump.

2. Breastfeeding mothers' milk can "dry up" just like that.
Not true! Or if this can occur, it must be a rare occurrence. Aside from day to day and morning to evening variations, milk production does not change suddenly. There are changes which occur which may make it seem as if milk production is suddenly much less:

An increase in the needs of the baby, the so-called growth spurt. If this is the reason for the seemingly insufficient milk, a few days of more frequent nursing will bring things back to normal. Try compressing the breast with your hand to help the baby get milk (Handout #15, Breast Compression).
A change in the baby's behaviour. At about five to six weeks of age, more or less, babies who would fall asleep at the breast when the flow of milk slowed down, tend to start pulling at the breast or crying when the milk flow slows. The milk has not dried up, but the baby has changed. Try using breast compression to help the baby get more milk. See the website www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html for videos on how to latch a baby on, how to know the baby is getting milk, how to use compression.
The mother's breasts do not seem full or are soft. It is normal after a few weeks for the mother no longer to have engorgement, or even fullness of the breasts. As long as the baby is drinking at the breast, do not be concerned (see handout 4 Is my baby getting enough milk).
The baby breastfeeds less well. This is often due to the baby being given bottles or pacifiers and thus learning an inappropriate way of breastfeeding.

The birth control pill may decrease your milk supply. Think about stopping the pill or changing to a progesterone only pill. Or use other methods. Other drugs that can decrease milk supply are pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), some antihistamines, and perhaps diuretics.

If the baby truly seems not to be getting enough, get help, but do not introduce a bottle that may only make things worse. If absolutely necessary, the baby can be supplemented, using a lactation aid that will not interfere with breastfeeding. However, lots can be done before giving supplements. Get help. Try compressing the breast with your hand to help the baby get milk (Handout #15, Breast Compression).


3. Physicians know a lot about breastfeeding.
Not true! Obviously, there are exceptions. However, very few physicians trained in North America or Western Europe learned anything at all about breastfeeding in medical school. Even fewer learned about the practical aspects of helping mothers start breastfeeding and helping them maintain breastfeeding. After medical school, most of the information physicians get regarding infant feeding comes from formula company representatives or advertisements.

4. Pediatricians, at least, know a lot about breastfeeding.
Not true! Obviously, there are exceptions. However, in their post-medical school training (residency), most pediatricians learned nothing formally about breastfeeding, and what they picked up in passing was often wrong. To many trainees in pediatrics, breastfeeding is seen as an "obstacle to the good medical care" of hospitalized babies.

5. Formula company literature and formula samples do not influence how long a mother breastfeeds.

Really? So why do the formula companies work so hard to make sure that new mothers are given these samples, their company's samples? Are these samples and the literature given out to encourage breastfeeding? Do formula companies take on the cost of the samples and booklets so that mothers will be encouraged to breastfeed longer? The companies often argue that, if the mother does give formula, they want the mother to use their brand. But in competing with each other, the formula companies also compete with breastfeeding. Did you believe that argument when the cigarette companies used it?

Answer 7

Will have to do both formal and Brest milk