should i give up?

[Emmea12uk]

I have been suffering from very very very low milk supply since Tom's birth and i have tried everything! Tom can latch on well now so that is one problem down but he sucks and sucks for hours if i let him and comes off hungry - then downs 120mls 4oz of formula no problem. Then i pump and i am dry. He stops swallowing after just five minutes on each breast.

I have pumped and pumped and pumped and things have got no better. I tried drinking guiness but it is awful stuff. i asked my doctor and several pharmacies about domperidone and each said they wouldnt recommend it and that it would onyl increase supply a teeny bit.

i went to my doctor today and she told me to give up. i want to breastfeed so badly!! Should i just cut my losses and forget pumping and just let him feed for 30 mins before a bottle until i completely dry up, or is there a chance my supply might come back?

 

[freckleonear]

First of all, well done for getting this far! The first month of breastfeeding is really hard work, so you have done a great job.

Sometimes it can be very difficult to tell whether or not you actually have low milk supply. The best way to tell is if your baby is gaining weight and having plenty of wet nappies. See here.

Remember that pumping is not a good indication of how much milk you have. Pumping doesn't stimulate the breast as well as a baby, so some women just cannot produce milk by pumping. Even now, I hardly get anything if I pump.

Also, most babies will gulp down a bottle of formula after being breastfed even if they are not hungry, here is a quote that explains why:

Parents who don't know this is "normal" frequently respond as you did by giving a bottle because they think the baby isn't "happy or satisfied" with the breast. When the bottle goes in the baby's mouth the mouth fills with milk, the baby is obligated to swallow and the action of swallowing initiates another suck. The suck again fills the mouth and the cycle repeats, giving an appearance of the baby "gulping the bottle down hungrily". Kathy Kuhn, Lactation Consultant.

See this page for more information about whether your milk supply is really low, possible causes of low supply and how to increase your supply.

I hope some of that helps you. At the end of the day, just do what you think is best.

 

[ryder]

Freckle, im pretty sure Emma said she pumps After her baby is done suckling to see if she was getting any milk...

I dont know what to tell you though emma, if he only suckles for 5 mins on each side, my thoughts would be he isn't able to get enough either.

If you cut out the formula and do only breeastfeeding you could see if he is gaining weight etc, but then you also run the risk of making him loose weight if he isn't getting enough... Basically starving him.

Are you eating lots of protein, drinking lots off fluids etc?

Sorry, I have to disagre with the above post... The baby is not obligated to swallow when the mouth fills with milk, babies have every capability of refusing to take a bottle (seen it many times) and I highly doubt Emma is forcing the bottle nipple into Tommys mouth to force him to drink... just cant see it happening.

 

[LaDY]

Hun...just do what you think is right...you know your baby and im sure you have a strong motherly instinct...the main thing is is that you are your LO are happy and satisfied and that your LO is well fed and is gaining weight well. I continued to breast feed as long as i could and was disappointed that i didnt continue...i could have but i didnt feel my baby was satisfied on the breast so i changed to bottle...luckily it has worked in my interest...but at the same time i feel sad...and listening to other people is not always good...the way i see it now is that i could have tackeld breast feeding but seeing my LO refusing the bottle towards the end of a feed is a amazing change as he used to stay on my boob 24/7...and to see him happy and content makes me so happy...every baby is different hun...Your a great mum whatever you decide x

 

[Margerle]

Have you contacted a lactation consultant?

Because of the circumstances of his birth, your milk is giving him that extra boost. I would continue to do both as long as you can. But only you know your situation and if that is something that is workable for you.

Just to clear up some things-

Pumping is absolutely no indication of production as freckleonear correctly mentioned.

Eating from the bottle is very different than eating from a breast. It is possible that he's become adept at taking from a bottle with little air intake, but can't do that with the breast and takes in too much air?

He can possibly get milk faster and/or easier from the bottle than from your breast. Babies do have to work for that milk to get it to let down. In this light, he may be using your breast as a comfort, knowing the 'meal' is down the road a bit.

If you WANT to continue to breastfeed as you indicated in your OP, I would suggest allowing him to suck for hours and hours and hours over the course of the weekend. Go topless if you want so your nipples can airdry between feeds. Use lots of lansinoh and enjoy your little man

Fenugreek is a supplement that can boost milk production. You can look into getting that and including it in your diet as a tea. Wholegrains are also a bit of milk booster.

Finally lots and lots of patience, with baby and with yourself. I want to help support your desire to continue bf'ing. I certainly understand if it doesn't work out, but I want you to know it's still possible to continue.

Toria was able to get her production up and she almost exclusively bf's (or exclusively bf's now) after almost exclusive formula feeding. Diese was also able to increase her production after a loss. It just takes patience and perserverance.

You DO know your baby best, and it sounds like you desire to continue breastfeeding. We're here to support and help if you have any questions or concerns! Also contact a lactation consultant in your area if you haven't already. Their hands on approach, and local support will help a lot too.

 

[ryder]

Good luck hunny! Whatever you decide will be right. I know you have been trying for the past few weeks with alot of stressful things going on.

Sometimes we dont always get to have things the way we want, you've done good. Because of the conditions that arose when he was born the most important thing for him is to get nutrition, whether it is from breastfeeding or formula.

Although I do hope it works out for you if you do decide to keep trying.

 

[Munchkin]

Emma, definitely try and see an LC or join a breast feeding group in your area.

I did have supply issues as well. The one thing that made a huge difference to supply was getting rest.

I eventually had to give up at 3 and a half months because I was travelling twice a week and permanently exhausted and just could not keep the supply up even with domperidone (although it did help a little) and constant pumping.

My doctor did as well tell me to 'put the boy on the bottle' when he was a couple of weeks old, but eventually relented and prescribed some domperidone. I bought it off the counter afterwards (expensive as it is) and managed to feed him for 3 and a half months which was longer than I would have been able to had I just 'put him on the bottle'.

See how it goes and do what is right for you, but the breast feeding DOES get easier after the first couple of weeks if you can stick at it.

All the best.