Help! When did your supply increase??

[DHBH0930]

I had a c section on Thursday the 19th and was breastfeeding in the hospital. My plan was exclusive nursing and the occasional pumping later to go out for a few hours.

Well that hasn't worked out as planned. On day 3 she started dropping too much weight so we had to start supplementing with formula. Was expecting it to only be for a few days till my milk came in. My milk came on the 23rd.

I was super stressed by then, they kept making us stay at the hospital longer because my BP was so high. I don't think the stress, high BP, c section, and lack of sleep helped with my production. I was feeling so crappy I asked about pumping so I could focus more in healing then spending an hour with her latched on (I love nursing just not the time it takes, by the time she finishes it's time to start again!) I also wanted to be able to SEE how much she was getting.

I rented a pump till mine comes in the mail, electric double pump medela. I first started getting 15-20 ml total between both on the 23rd. I am up to 20-30ml on each breast now, about few feedings a day we have to use formula because I can't keep up with her. She drinks 2oz each feeding and sometimes wants to feed every hour or two, but it usually takes me 3-4 hours to make 2oz.

I'm trying to drink as much as I can, and my appetite sucks, might not be getting enough calories to produce more?

Anyone have/had similar issues? How long till your supply passed babies demand? I'd love to be making enough to not be pumping every 2-3 hours, I have other stuff to do then pump so often, like SLEEP!

 

[sheldonsmommy]

Babies feed very frequently in the first couple weeks, unfortunately. As they get older and their little tummies can handle more food, they can go longer without.

My only advice is to feed on demand, as the schedule is dictated by baby, so that's the only thing that will regulate your supply properly.

If you want to use a bottle to have free time occasionally, then pump when baby takes the bottle so your body stays on schedule. You can develop a nice freezer stash that way!

If your baby has enough wet and dirty diapers, then there's no need to worry exactly how many mls your baby is getting. Hope that helped!

 

[kitabird]

Newborns suckle for much of the day without always getting a great deal of milk. Your breasts need the stimulation in order to get the message to make more milk. Maybe you could try more feeding directly and skin to skin? If you want to exclusively pump have you tried the sticky thread at the top of the page? As I understand it you would need to pump every 2-3 hours round the clock until baby is a good deal older.

 

[summer rain]

A pump is no indicator of supply. I can rarely pump more than half an ounce even if baby hasn't fed for hours, yet I actually have oversupply. The more you top up with formula the less your body will get the signals to increase supply and the less milk you'll make, even if pumping alongside. If it's possible I would advise seeing an LC xx

 

[staralfur]

Short-term, nursing is hard. It is a round the clock ordeal and you do spend most of the day with a baby latched on. Long-term, nursing is going to be about a billion times easier than pumping.

 

[rachelleigh]

I second the comment about seeing a lactation consultant. We actually had 10 appointments with them and while things are far from perfect yet (have now been referred to feeding specialists at a children's hospital) they really got us off to a great start, especially with giving me advice on how to keep my supply up. I do believe you need to pump after every time baby takes a bottle or every 2-3 hours if you're exclusively pumping or if baby has to be topped off after nursing. While the amount you pump is not always a good indicator of how much you're producing, it does send the message to your body to keep making milk.

I think LO was about a week old when I started building up an extra supply. That was after pumping every 2-3hrs from two days old on.

Definitely try to eat well and drink plenty. My LC recommended some kind of high calorie meal replacement drink like ensure if you're not in the mood to eat. Fenugreek is great for helping to boost supply and definitely keep taking prenatals.

 

[Noo]

You need to nurse and not pump to successfully increase your supply quickly. If your baby eats hourly then you need to pump hourly if you're planning to continue pumping only. Babies are far more efficient at demanding supply than a breast pump and their use isn't really recommended unless separated from your baby until your supply has established. I'd suggest increasing pump sessions - Particularly overnight or just put the baby to the breast.

The first few weeks of nursing is literally sitting with a baby on your boob around 80% of the day. This is completely normal and you'll find it more difficult to keep up and not supplement if pumping so early. You need a babymoon... You & baby in bed with drinks and snacks and feed feed feed.

 

[thayet]

Definitely find a good lactation consultant. I ended up having to take both herbs and domperidone (Rx) and my supply is finally increasing. Get any and all help you feel you need, the earlier the better!