LOW milk supply.

[Avasmommy721]

Originally Posted by BiscuitFarmer I'm going to make Lactation Cookies today (:

I am new at all this being a FTM, I am going back to work and trying to keep my milk supply up is getting really hard. I am going to start drinking a gallon of water as someone said on here, but I never heard of lactation cookies?? can I have a recipe and do they work? I am going to get Fenurgreek today. I just am not getting alot of milk when I pump.

[Heather1583]

I didn't read all of the posts, but from the responses you gave that I saw I thought that it sounds like she is just getting frustrated bc she isn't hungry. I was super paranoid (as the hospital made me) with my first son giving me time frames and standards for how long he should nurse at each feeding, etc and you know what? Each kid is different. Some are super efficient and get all they need in 10 min or less (my 2nd son was 7 min!) And some take forever. But if she pops off and is content, let it be. If she seems frustrated, you can offer her a paci, sometimes they just like to suck. It helps space out your feedings if you have a baby who is like that, and then imo they nurse better after they are good and hungry. Good luck! Glad to see she is gaining wt!

[BiscuitFarmer]

Okay, so here's what I've noticed. She latches on, and after a few good sucks, starts pulling off. I keep latching her back on until I feel my letdown. During that short time, she's rather content, gets what she can. When she starts pulling back off, I keep looking at my nipple to see if I'm leaking. When I stop leaking milk and can't push any out using my hand, I switch breasts, do it all over again, then give formula and pump. Somehow, I managed to get almost TWO OUNCES from ONE SIDE. This hasn't happened for over a month now. I'm shocked. I also suddenly developed mastitis in the middle of the night, woke up swollen and with a fever and flu symptoms totally sucks, but I have some antibiotics to take for it if I can't get it to go away with hot compresses and massaging.

[HarleighJanes.Mama]

I agree with PP that it sounds like she is getting frustrated. I have to say pumps are horrible indicators of what your supply really is.
How is her poop? I'm wondering if bouncing back and forth between the breasts during a feed is causing a fore/hind milk imbalance and possibly giving her a tummy ache.
I'm glad to read that she is gaining, and bravo for not throwing in the towel.
I hope the mastitis clears up quickly. I had double mastitis when my son was a month old. I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone.

[BiscuitFarmer]

Originally Posted by HarleighJanes.Mama I agree with PP that it sounds like she is getting frustrated. I have to say pumps are horrible indicators of what your supply really is. How is her poop? I'm wondering if bouncing back and forth between the breasts during a feed is causing a fore/hind milk imbalance and possibly giving her a tummy ache. I'm glad to read that she is gaining, and bravo for not throwing in the towel. I hope the mastitis clears up quickly. I had double mastitis when my son was a month old. I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone.

She poops every few days. Like every four days. It's mushy and brown/green. The mastitis seems like it's already gone. I read up on it, and I saw that if you continuously feed in the same position, it could not empty the breast properly, and I'm guilty of that. So I did the football hold instead of the cradle hold on the breast with the clogged duct, and it hurt really bad, but I felt it pulling from the sore section of my breast. I knew it was working, and I think it like.. loosened up the milk there or something because that spot is much better, and my fever is gone and I'm feeling overall better. I'm shocked it only lasted a day. I felt like death. I couldn't move my limbs, or walk straight without starting to black out. Ugh. But I'm glad it's gone. My boob is still really sore, but it's better than it was.

And I've considered the fact that she's not getting hindmilk like she should. During nighttime feedings, I generally don't have to give her bottles. Which is great, right? Because nighttime feedings are so important to keeping supply up. So if she feeds off of only one side during a session at night, the next feeding she'll get the other side and she's content because I'm full on that side.

[daddyn4wisechix]

Originally Posted by BiscuitFarmer Okay, so here's what I've noticed. She latches on, and after a few good sucks, starts pulling off. I keep latching her back on until I feel my letdown. During that short time, she's rather content, gets what she can. When she starts pulling back off, I keep looking at my nipple to see if I'm leaking. When I stop leaking milk and can't push any out using my hand, I switch breasts, do it all over again, then give formula and pump. Somehow, I managed to get almost TWO OUNCES from ONE SIDE. This hasn't happened for over a month now. I'm shocked. I also suddenly developed mastitis in the middle of the night, woke up swollen and with a fever and flu symptoms totally sucks, but I have some antibiotics to take for it if I can't get it to go away with hot compresses and massaging.

Have you tried getting a few drops of milk on your nipple before trying to latch her on?? I do that when my DS gets frustrated at the lack of speed w/my letdown... when he is frustrated, he does the same things your DD is doing... all of my kids did...

If the few drops of milk don't work until I have a letdown, then I bounce them while they wait for the letdown (nipple in mouth), walk (same position w/nipple in mouth), sing, etc.

You got 2 ounces?! AWESOME!!

Oh, nuts!! The key is to nurse even more & to put baby's chin in line w/the lump... which sometimes means baby should be hanging over your shoulder and/or upside down ... when I was tandem nursing, I'd have the toddler do the acrobat nursing to help w/the plugged ducts... didn't want to hang a newbie upside down! LOL I also used my hand pump & hand expressed in line w/the lumps in the position a baby's chin would be if they were nursing.

Okay, just to make you feel better I nursed baby & he fell asleep before nursing on both sides... I felt full, so I decided to (hand) pump... uhm, I got NOTHING out of the 1 side & barely 10 drops out of the other that was full & DS hadn't nursed on before he fell asleep... then I HAND expressed & ended up getting 2 ounces in less than 5 MINUTES... the pump got nothing... the pump does work & it worked fabulously in the beginning... I am just not one of those women who can pump past the 1st month or so & get a lot of milk... even then, I can only get full 6 oz bottles from each breast in the very beginning.

Originally Posted by HarleighJanes.Mama I agree with PP that it sounds like she is getting frustrated. I have to say pumps are horrible indicators of what your supply really is. How is her poop? I'm wondering if bouncing back and forth between the breasts during a feed is causing a fore/hind milk imbalance and possibly giving her a tummy ache. I'm glad to read that she is gaining, and bravo for not throwing in the towel. I hope the mastitis clears up quickly. I had double mastitis when my son was a month old. I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone.

ITA!!

Originally Posted by BiscuitFarmer She poops every few days. Like every four days. It's mushy and brown/green. The mastitis seems like it's already gone. I read up on it, and I saw that if you continuously feed in the same position, it could not empty the breast properly, and I'm guilty of that. So I did the football hold instead of the cradle hold on the breast with the clogged duct, and it hurt really bad, but I felt it pulling from the sore section of my breast. I knew it was working, and I think it like.. loosened up the milk there or something because that spot is much better, and my fever is gone and I'm feeling overall better. I'm shocked it only lasted a day. I felt like death. I couldn't move my limbs, or walk straight without starting to black out. Ugh. But I'm glad it's gone. My boob is still really sore, but it's better than it was. And I've considered the fact that she's not getting hindmilk like she should. During nighttime feedings, I generally don't have to give her bottles. Which is great, right? Because nighttime feedings are so important to keeping supply up. So if she feeds off of only one side during a session at night, the next feeding she'll get the other side and she's content because I'm full on that side.

It sounds like you are really hanging tough & things are getting better.. minus the mastitis, but since that is feeling better, you're on your way . Also, at some point I'd be cutting back on the formula until you don't use any. Using that will reduce time at the breast & will stop your body from meeting the supply demand ratio. I would do is ever so slowly though so DD isn't hungry... I'd put her to breast more often after reducing the formula... it will stimulate more milk even if she doesn't get all kinds of milk right away.

I know it seems like you can get anything out of your breasts, but I assure you a nursling can!! When I was nursing & prego I couldn't even get 1 DROP out... NOTHING... I was so sad for my toddler... especially since nursing hurt like crazy while pregnant & if I was going to suffer, I wanted it to be for a purpose. One time I asked my then toddler if there was even any milk in there & she assured me there was... I was doubtful, but wouldn't ya know... she fell asleep a few mins later & let go of the nipple... out came a small stream of milk from her drooling mouth.. I was SOOOOOOOOOO happy & relieved!!

Oh, & I just read that the only thing that comes closest to a nursling is HAND expressing... go figure! They said hand expressing is far more productive than any pump... & that of those who were hand expressing or pumping AND hand expressing after pumping had much better milk supplies & were nursing far longer than those who just use a pump. Who knew?! I sure didn't.

Hang in there.. you are doing AWESOME mama!! Oh & I am curious to see if her poop changes color, frequency, etc. when she is getting more hindmilk w/all of that good fat in there. Keep us posted!!

[ajbailey89]

Has she been checked for a lip/tongue tie?

[BiscuitFarmer]

No, she hasn't been tested for a tongue tie. Are there any signs of that that I would be able to notice?

I'll try to keep her to the breast even when she's not hungry. I read, when it comes to the mastitis, you SHOULDN'T let your child use your breast as a pacifier...? I thought that was crazy. I thought letting your child suck even if they weren't actually nursing was great to keep your supply up, and continuing to empty the breast was good for clearing up mastitis, so A=b, B=c, then A=c, right? Hm.. anyway.. I'm nervous about removing the formula suddenly and completely when she's having problems being satisfied, for whatever reason, but I can't just do it suddenly. I'll keep trying to nurse her for longer and longer so maybe she won't need it at all. Oh, and I'm glad you mentioned the drops of milk on the nipple first. I was thinking that I couldn't do that until my letdown occurred, but then you mentioned walking around to occupy them until then. I NEED to try that!!

[songbird516]

Tongue tie is sometimes hard to see, but if you run your finger under her tongue and there is more than a little tiny bump, she may have it. Lip tie can also affect latch; I figured that out because my second has a lip tie and his latch is shallow, although effective. Lift up her lip and check the front/middle where her front teeth will come in. There shouldn't be much skin attaching the lip to the gums. There is quite a flap of skin attaching my son's lip to his gum, so he can't flange his lips out like he should.

It sounds like you're making progress; so glad that the mastitis didn't stick around

[tibeca]

Please take the time to go to an IBCLC. You have a LOT going on, far too much to handle online. Her poops sound like a very serious food allergy (bf babies should have yelllow/orange poop), which would explain all of the other behaviors (super frequent feeds, fussing at the breasts, etc).