9 days pp, Milk supply LOW!

[acorn]

Hi, All. Well I made it through HG hell....it lasted to the bitter end, but ended the moment my beautiful baby girl, Daliah, was born. Worth every single moment of HG!

Am 9 days postpartum and am having difficulty breastfeeding.
Am in care of a lactation specialist.
My regimen is as follows:

I breast feed on each breast for 10 min (total 20). Baby is extremely unsatisfied but likes to be on my breast).

I pump ten min. on each breast (only 10 cc/ml milk per breast comes out).

Then, I give her to DH or mom who feeds a supplement.

Twice a day, I alter the above plan by using a tube attached to my breast so that she latches on to my breast and when she feeds, she gets a good supply of milk without thinking it's the bottle. This helps with nipple confusion.

The doc and lactation specialist said she needed a supplement b/c she lost more than 10% of her body weight and since she had bad jaundice (that required a home therapy bili-bed), she needed to eat so she could poop out the bad merconium and bring jaundice level down.

Everyone still thinks I can bring in a milk supply, and I try to stay optimistic, but I am feeling like it will not happen!

Has anyone else had an experience like this, or similar, that might encourage me to keep trying?

Amy

[emily]

Amy,

I had a friend with a similar situation. She ended up pumping for 6 months rather than nursing, but it looks like you will be headed on the road to success once your milk come in. Hang in there. I know there are some herbs you can use to increase milk supply, but I don't know the specifics.

Emily

[MamaLily]

Amy -

I had a similar problem. I didn't have a decent milk supply until maybe 2 weeks after delivery. It was so frustrating!

DD wasn't gaining enough weight and she was irritable and hungry, so finally her pediatrician had me give her some formula along with nursing. And then he gave me a list of ways to help increase my milk supply:
- Drink a lot of liquid
- Relax ( easier said than done with a new baby and little milk supply!)
- Take Fenugreek
- Nurse often (I think the regimen you are doing sounds good, although I'm no lactation specialist)

The pediatrician offered to give me some prescription drugs to help increase my milk supply, but after all the meds I took with HG, I just couldn't face taking more medicines. Fenugreek made me smell like maple syrup, but it did indeed help increase my milk supply.

Before I gave birth, I was so committed to breastfeeding that I didn't even buy any bottles. I figured that I would just nurse exclusively for at least a few months. So I was very disappointed when my milk didn't come in and I had such a hard time breastfeeding!

Along with low milk supply, I also had a horrible time with soreness. By the time DD was a week or two old, one of my nipples was half gone (excuse me, too much information!). I couldn't nurse at all from that side for 2 months...I had to pump with a hospital-grade pump. It was very discouraging! And it took up all of my day! I would nurse on one side, pump on the other side, bottle feed DD with the milk I pumped, and then give her another bottle of formula. What a circus! I still don't know what possessed me to continue! But I did keep going, and after 2 months everything went well. I nursed DD until she was almost 11 months old and it was a great experience overall!

Anyway, I'm sorry this is so long. I just want you to know it is possible to successfully breastfeed even after a rough start. I know you can do it!

Hang in there!

- Anna

[jjbeck]

I have the same problem...and it has been three months. Some of the things that has helped me is plenty of fluids, fenugreek, homepathic drops for increasing milk supply, and believ it or not a big cup of ice cofee. I know coffee is not the healthiest, but Ava does not seem to mind, and I get an extra ounce or two of breastmilk.
But now that am feeling better, I am thinking of taking three days of just staying in bed with Ava and only getting up to go to the bathroom. My doc recommended I do this and she is convinced it will help.

[Natalie]

Hi Amy
Ok, this is very unmedical but it worked for me. To improve the quantity of my breastmilk I ate a lot of double cholcolate chip muffins I'm talking 4 in a row (I can manage 4 but then I start to feel sick)!!
I don't know why it worked but it did. I had been very sick, plus i had only put on 21 lbs over my pre-conception weight so I gave myself permission to pig-out in a big way!
I hope all you people out there reading this are not too horrified
Natalie

[JennyK]

Has your problem resolved itself yet? If not, consider Motilium (domperidone). I use it and, whoa, lots of milk. I know three other who use/used it with great success. http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/pre ... gogue.html

Jenny

[mammaclare]

I wanted to provide a side of one with a story that basically mimics yours exactly. I used the SNS for feeding, then pumped, drank Mother's Milk Tea (basically a fenugreek tea) and cried a lot. After 10 days the lactation consultant had me quit. She said my mental health was more important than trying to win a battle that appeared futile. Rory was under 6 lbs and I was a wreck. I wanted to BF so much and still am sad about it, but my breasts didn't change during PG or after delivery so the LC really felt I truly wouldn't ever get a supply. I was a "less than A" cup the whole time...

I hope that your experience is like some of the above successes, but if not I can tell you have a perfect and healthy little boy thanks to Similac!

[carriedodson]

I echo the fenugreek! I took it the first 4 weeks and I was flowing great, it also smells yummy to the baby so that is an added bonus. Lots of luck
Carrie

[acorn]

hi all.
unfortunately my supply still isn't much. about an ounce after pumpiing each breast. total!

i am doing evrything but it is not increasing, however, my baby loves to suckle and woyld all day if posible. i now have a breast infection and am being treated w/ antibiotics.

not sure how long i can keep trying, but doo know that i'll continue to offer my breast as option since it us great comfort to her.

amy

[MamaLily]

Amy -

I've been wondering how things are going for you. I'm sorry to hear that you have an infection...I hope it clears up for you soon. It must be frustrating to get only a little amount of milk after trying different things to increase your supply. I assume you've tried the fenugreek? It took such a long time for me to get my milk also, and it was a very gradual process! I'll be thinking about you...please let me know how things go.

- Anna

[carriedodson]

Sorry to hear about your infection. I had two UTIS during nursing days and it was hell on baby. She got a bad yeast infection from the antibiotics. Can you keep pumping anyways? Are you pumping after every feeding during the day?>

Also, if this is the end of breastfeeding for you, go easy on yourself. Sometimes things happen we can't control (like HG) pick yourself up and don't feel guilty about it. You are doing the best job being a mommy whether you can continue breastfeeding or not. If you have to supplement with formula, it's ok. Your still number one in baby's eyes.
Don't worry it will all work out.
Carrie