How do I increase my milk supply?

[mommasboys2]

My son was born 9/16 and up until he was 2 weeks I had no problems with milk supply. After the 2 week mark though he went from always getting enough to always hungry regardless of how long he nurses. I am supplementing formula after almost every feed because he is never full. I always let him feed off of both breast for as long as he wants. I decided to buy a pump to use in between feeds but I can only get an ounce between both breast. Last night I pumped for 25 mins on each side and barely got an ounce. I also only feel my milk let down every 3 or 4 hrs but he is eating every 2 hrs. I have tried eating oatmeal as suggested by someone else and drinking plenty of water. Any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you!

 

[noon_child]

Ok first off I'm going to have to ask a few questions to get a better picture of what is happening:

How did you know that past the two week mark he wasn't getting enough?

Do you have any pain during feeds, or are your nipples misshapen at all after he feeds?

Do you have any medical conditions?

How is postpartum bleeding? Is there any chance you could have retained placental tissue?

 

[mommasboys2]

Ok first off I'm going to have to ask a few questions to get a better picture of what is happening:

How did you know that past the two week mark he wasn't getting enough?

Do you have any pain during feeds, or are your nipples misshapen at all after he feeds?

Do you have any medical conditions?

How is postpartum bleeding? Is there any chance you could have retained placental tissue?

After the two week mark no matter if I let him feed all day long he never seemed full. As soon as I fed him the formula he didn't want to nurse anymore for the normal 2 hours.

No pain during feedings although my right nipple is sometimes pinched after feedings. We have had difficulties with him latching properly on that side. The first week my nipples we cracked from him not latching on properly.

The only medical conditions I have is a blood disorder which causes my blood to clot to fast. I was on a blood thinner inject my entire pregnancy and have to continue it until 6 weeks post partum.

After having him I bled pretty heavy for the first 2 weeks but since then it has only been brownish discharge sorry tmi. I have been wondering if something may be wrong because I definitely bled longer with my older two but I didn't have to take the medicine with them either bc the disorders developed as I got older so thought maybe that was the reasoning.

I am still breastfeeding everytime he eats, but he will feed off of both breasts then cry bc he is still hungry. I have started pumping after he feeds every time for 20 mins but I can't even get 1/2 oz between both breasts.

 

[noon_child]

There are two usual reasns baby doesn't seem full:

1) they are going through a growth spurt. You don't make enough to satisfy so they feed all the time to increase your supply. These usually last 3-4 days until your supply increases to meet the demand. Any formula given during this period (unless you pump to make up for it) leads to your supply staying a little lower than it should be, extending the constant feeding as they continue to try to build it up.

2) they can't effectively remove the milk from your breast. Usually due to a shallow latch but sometimes a result of something like tongue tie. The pinched shaped nipple is a sign of him squashing the nipple when feeding (either because it isn't in far enough or because he is using his gums rather than his tongue.

If it was number ( 1) the best advice would be to remove or reduce the formula. However without a good latch and correct feeding action from LO he might never be able to take enough milk(2). Number(1) is very common but that isn't to say it isn't number (2). Do you have contact of and Lactation support who could come to your house and observe feeds?

The best way to measure if baby is getting enough is not via their behaviour so much as through their weight gain/loss, their nappies, and your own health (eg well drained breasts and minimal pain).