My lack of milk!!

[leedsforever]

Well its not been 11 days and IM still not producing much milk!!

When I express it comes out in streams for about 5 mins and then stop!! I prob only get about 30ml/1oz from each breast!!

Same when she goes on me... she sucks for a good 15 mins maybe on each sometimes not even that and then Im still topping up with expressed breast milk!

Again its making me want to give up!! When her feeds become more Im going to find myself expressing all day or soemthing just to get her nice and full!!

 

[lulu0504]

Keep putting her to the breast. The more she is there the more it stimulates your milk production. Its still early days and will increase the more she feeds

 

[marley2580]

It actually sounds like you're doing really well. I've got tons of milk, I'm almost exclusively feeding a 9 month old, yet I can't get more than 2oz from each breast. I would suggest trying to keep her on one breast for the whole feed, that way you can be sure she gets the hind milk.

 

[leedsforever]

I do try but its quite rare she will even take my breast especially if she has been sleeping and really hungry!! Shes quite lazy!! Cos Im topping up with formula you see!!

When she pulls away I always try a few times to get her back on to make sure she gets it all but she gets so frustrated ...

 

[marley2580]

It sounds like you may need to make the decision to either go to bottles fully or exclusive breast feeding. Once they start taking the bottle some babies refuse the breast. It's not too late to go back to the breast but she does sound like she may completly refuse the breast before too long - I could be wrong though.

 

[jacky24]

MILK STOUT BEER, works miracles, just not too much hun, after drinking the beer drink lots of cold water... friend gave me the tip.... Good luck hun

 

[Samantha675]

Plus your LO will be able to suck more than you can express.

 

[Mamafy]

A baby is a far better machine to milk a breast than a pump so I wouldnt go on that. I would say hun if you want to breast feed then get rid of the pump and the formula and just basically keep her on your breast until your supply catches up. The more you rely on the pumping and the formula your supply will go down.

Breastfeeding is tough, so good luck with it hun

 

[ryder]

As long as you have the pump latched correctly then it should work. Some pumps work better for other people too... Some people find the electric ones with different settings and speeds to work well, while others find the manual pump to work better.

The best time to pump for alot of people is usually first thing in the morning when you are fullest.

Pumping and formula do not force your supply to go down. Your supply diminishes if you do not stimulate the glands enough, whether it be with the pump or your baby.

If you feel you can handle it, then I would pump and breastfeed during the daytime, and then give formula before bed (as I think you mentioned before this how she will sleep best??) so you can rest well.

Also make sure you are eating well and drinking loads.

 

[clairebear]

ah hunni hang in there it can be hard like the others said baby can get more from u then a pump. keep putting her to ur breast it will help ur supply xx

 

[B4byAnge1]

Also, I was told that one of the best ways to get your supply up is to let your baby stay on the breast at night, or maybe pump at night at some point? Something about the hormones being more at night, so your body makes more milk?

 

[Margerle]

As long as you have the pump latched correctly then it should work. Some pumps work better for other people too... Some people find the electric ones with different settings and speeds to work well, while others find the manual pump to work better.

Please try lots of options, but if it doesn't work, you aren't alone. The average woman cannot successfully pump one feed in one sitting without a lot of practice.

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html

The best time to pump for alot of people is usually first thing in the morning when you are fullest.

Pumping and formula do not force your supply to go down. Your supply diminishes if you do not stimulate the glands enough, whether it be with the pump or your baby.

If you feel you can handle it, then I would pump and breastfeed during the daytime, and then give formula before bed (as I think you mentioned before this how she will sleep best??) so you can rest well.

Also make sure you are eating well and drinking loads.

Wrong.

Supply goes down because the milk isn't pulled out of the storage sinuses in the breast.

Stimulation is only part of it.

And some women cannot pump no matter WHAT the method - manual or machine.

What does current research tell us about milk production?
Current research suggests that there are two factors that control milk synthesis:

Milk contains a small whey protein called Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation (FIL) – the role of FIL appears to be to slow milk synthesis when the breast is full. Thus milk production slows when milk accumulates in the breast (and more FIL is present), and speeds up when the breast is emptier (and less FIL is present).

https://www.kellymom.com/images/charts/breast-anatomy.gif

The hormone prolactin must be present for milk synthesis to occur. On the walls of the lactocytes (milk-producing cells of the alveoli) are prolactin receptor sites that allow the prolactin in the blood stream to move into the lactocytes and stimulate the synthesis of breastmilk components. When the alveolus is full of milk, the walls expand/stretch and alter the shape of prolactin receptors so that prolactin cannot enter via those receptor sites – thus rate of milk synthesis decreases. As milk empties from the alveolus, increasing numbers of prolactin receptors return to their normal shape and allow prolactin to pass through - thus rate of milk synthesis increases. The prolactin receptor theory suggests that frequent milk removal in the early weeks will increase the number of receptor sites. More receptor sites means that more prolactin can pass into the lactocytes and thus milk production capability would be increased.

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/milkproduction.html

I encourage you to do what is right for you and baby. But I wanted to clear up some misunderstandings.

 

[leedsforever]

It sounds like you may need to make the decision to either go to bottles fully or exclusive breast feeding. Once they start taking the bottle some babies refuse the breast. It's not too late to go back to the breast but she does sound like she may completly refuse the breast before too long - I could be wrong though.

there is no way I can mentally cope with turning to breast feeding exclusively...!! I know it doesnt fill her up and she gets very very upset sometimes I worry she will stop breathing...!! Thats how worked up she got when I tried this!!

And call it selfish but after sam's mum said her 6 month old still feeds every 2 hours in the day I just couldnt commit myself that much!!

I was out today and my boobs were so so uncomfortable and when I got home I pumped and managed to get quite abit out!! !! But still unsure how long I will keep this up for!!

 

[1st_baby]

dont not worry about feeding her formula , i ve been breast feeding my son now for 3 months and i still feed him formula till this day ..i tried everything and i do mean everything to the point where my son was attached to my boob all day long and still couldnt make more then 2 onz so hence why i give him formula ..this way i know he is full and happy ..as long as your baby gets some breast milk its ok ..don feel bad give her what you have .

 

[ryder]

Actually Margerele, pumping for some women is a very successful way to stimulate milk production, as well as many other factors. Everyone is different, you cannot generalize people by something you read online at work. There are too many factors, that is the problem with people researching independantly online, most sites do not explain every type of factor or situation.

There are no misunderstandings, or any incorrect information in my previous post.

Not sure why you feel the need to quote and go after every post I make that doesn't go by your opinion? Your not always right ma'dear!

 

[Carley]

I pumped every day every 2-3 hrs, and after 3-4 months, my supply was getting less and less... I agree pumping doesn't stimulate like a baby stimulates milk...

 

[Margerle]

Actually Margerele, pumping for some women is a very successful way to stimulate milk production, as well as many other factors. Everyone is different, you cannot generalize people by something you read online at work. There are too many factors, that is the problem with people researching independantly online, most sites do not explain every type of factor or situation.

Whatever makes you think biology has anything to do with "independent online research?" LOL

There are no misunderstandings, or any incorrect information in my previous post.

Uh, yes there is, which is why I corrected it. Milk production is dependent on emptiness cues.

Not sure why you feel the need to quote and go after every post I make that doesn't go by your opinion? Your not always right ma'dear!

I correct any post that contains error and I give factual evidence for my corrections. I don't post to be personally right, I post to be helpful. If you don't like things I post- then I suggest you offer evidence for your position.

 

[Carley]

Bring in the claws ladies... I think the best breastfeeding advice can be given by a breastfeeding Mum. It's fine to be a doctor, or nurse, but reading it from text books, and actually doing it is two different things...

 

[sonny]

Leeds you can do both quite sucessfully if its what you want.
I had to give tabs bottle top ups as she was in special care and i couldnt hold her for the first 5 out of 12 so my milk didnt come in properly initially now doing both is so flexible and convenient for all of us.

I was recommended to stick Tabs on the boob for up to half an hour or at least 10 mins if she was refusing (then build that bit up to up to a half hour) then offer the top up. Do this every feed when you are at home if you dont want to do it while you are out (i think it was you who didnt like to do it in public?)
I now do this on 3 of her feeds a day then after boobie she will have between 2-4oz. If its just bottle she will have between 4-6oz.
She has approx 6-7 feeds a day as with her reflux i find she is more comfortable with smaller more frequent feeds. She is a BIG baby but doesnt have that much in terms of oz amount...aroundapprox 24oz a day so dont be too hung up on amounts and trying to make her full.
I also pump 3 times a day to mix her meds but have only ever ever managed to get 1oz out (thats both together)

Write down what she has and when and how much etc then see if there is a trend going there
Tabs sometimes has 6oz at midday then an odd feed at 2pm of 4 oz then 5oz at 5pm.
all babies are different and im just trying to get over that you can do both but get that baby stuck on! lol (well for a bit before the top ups)

 

[sonny]

Also forgot to add,tabs had trouble getting my nipples initially because they were small so i was recommended to use the soft thin silicone nipple guards so bubs could get a grip.....now my nipples have grown a bit etc and tabs is more practised she doesnt need them anyone.