Breastfeeding help?

Question

My son is 4 weeks old and I am having trouble breastfeeding. He doesn't seem to be getting enough from the breast as he falls asleep or pushes away after a few minutes and then cries when we move him. I have been pumping and only get one god pumping session a day and only pump roughly 5 ounces over the entire day. How do I increase my milk supply as we don't want to use formula?

Answer 1

its very very rare that you dont have enough milk supply it will gradually build up as your body still doesnt know how much milk to produce and can produce up to a gallon a day! signs that hes satisfied is falling asleep i know this cus my baby does the same alll you do is move his fingers or tickle his little toes or get a wipe and pass it by his arm or anything to get him awake but at this age they tend not to stay awake pretty long and that arm movement of crying or pulling away is him still not knowing good coordination and he will llearn later on just give him time to learn and that usually means that he just wants to be comforted by the breast not that he's hungry. if he's full he only take 2-4oz at this age so dont worry and dont pump because that can give you a risk to be engorged unless you do it as a daily schedule to freeze it for later. hope this helps and dont give up!!! and dont give formula why should you need to if you have enough from your body your milk supply will regulate for his demand after 6wks
Best Regards!!

Answer 2

These are two separate issues.

The baby falling asleep at the breast:

Some babies are very sleepy. You must wake them when they fall asleep during feedings until you are sure they’ve gotten enough. Rubbing the jaw & feet help keep them awake. They might cry, but its very important to make sure they get enough food. Is he gaining weight well? Does he have enough wet diapers a day?

My daughter did this when she was first born and would fall asleep at every feeding. She lost so much weight she was an ounce away from "failure to thrive" before she finally started gaining. She was so hard to keep awake, my husband had to rub her to wake her up the whole time I fed her--it was a two person job. Most babies aren't this extreme, but it happens.

Supply:
First of all, alcohol decreases your milk supply by more than 50% for hours after you've drank it. Don't listen to that advice. They are probably thinking about brewer’s yeast which can be taken to increase milk supply. I’ve heard it works wonders but I have not used it.

Second, as the other mommies have said, you need to drink VAST amounts of water. This is believed to be one of the main causes of low milk supply. If your urine isn’t almost clear, you haven’t drank enough! Yellow=bad!

Third, you can take fenugreek pills or tea to increase supply. Mommies have been using this for over 1000 years and I can personally testify that it works wonders. Although you might end up smelling like maple syrup!

Fourth, Don't worry about "only" pumping 5oz. That is not indicative of what your baby gets from you. The only way to tell how much your baby is actually getting at a feeding is to weigh him before & after. You might be surprised how fast he gets it out of you!

You sound like you are doing a great job & I commend you for your commitment to breast feeding.

Answer 3

Like others have said , drink lots of water. Eat OATMEAL!! oatmeal can help increase your supply.
Remember ,its a supply and demand thing. The more demand there is for more milk, the more milk your body will make. Is your baby gaining weight? Is he putting out wet/dirty diapers? If so , I'd say he is doing fine;-)
There is also a medication to increase supply. But, maybe save that as a last resort. .

Answer 4

1. This sounds bad to some people, but a LITTLE bit of beer increases milk supply.

2. If a baby is falling asleep at the breast then the little one got enough!!! He is ending it because you gave him enough, not because he isnt getting enough!

3. Also the most important is DRRIIINKKK WATER. A breast feeding woman needs to drink at least 40 oz. of water a day!

Answer 5

Pump for 15 minutes every three hours and at least once during the night,seems treme but it helped me. Go to a health food or homeopathic store and get some fenugreek and blessed thistle. The fengreek is the most important one but the blessed thistle will help if you don't eat enough. While you are feeding your sone, do not let him go to sleep. Tickle his back,or pat his butt,whatever it takes to get on his nerves and make him nurse. Don't give up, it's takes some work but you can do this.

Answer 6

DRINK ALOT OF WATER. I mean chug water, you should be up to a gallon a day. if not more..also, when my mom was feeding she said her doc told her to drink a beer.. just one it is not enough alcohol to effect, and the yeast produced more milk..but check with your doc for sure..but start guzzling the water!! goodluck! and congrats- it is great that you are nursing! it is the best thing for him!