Bottle Help and Milk Prodution Help

Some thoughts...
1. If you aren't producing enough, or he's not able to get at the milk because of a poor sucking reflex don't stress. Don't stress. Don't stress. The fact that you've done it for this long deserves kudos! Sometimes we're built for milk, sometimes we're not. I wasn't and although it was tough to face, ultimately my DS and I were much happier when we switched to formula. Much, much happier.

2. Try a Avent sippy cup. They worked for both my kids at 6mos. They actually preferred them since they were easy to drink from.

3. Being underweight may or may not be an issue...again, DS was off the weight chart until he was 2. Now he's a whopping 20%!

GL!

How frustrating to be working so hard yet still be unsure if your baby is getting all he needs!
You're going to get tons of advice, so I'll add mine to the pile. I second, third and fourth the suggestion to call an IBCLC-certified lactation consultant. If you're *really* lucky, you might be able to find an IBCLC who is also a pediatrician (but it's far rarer than it should be). IBCLC is the highest level of training and certification for a lactation consultant and they typically have years of experience and clinical knowledge most others do not. You will be able to get insight into your concerns that will help a lot.
La Leche League is a great resource, too, and all their phone help and other services are free. Your local LLL Leader will likely be in the know about who is IBCLC-certified in your area and could steer you to finding her. You cal find your local LLL Leader at www.llli.org and "Resources/local help".
I highly recommend the book "The Nusing Mother's Guide to Making More Milk." I believe the author is Linda Mascaro. It was published just last spring so it is very thorough and comprehensive, and touches on many issues other resources do not. It's also very confidence-building, since it discusses many signs that your baby is doing well. Your local LLL Leader may have it in her group's library for you to borrow if you'd like it right away and don't want to buy it.
Many mothers have success with fenugreek, but I suggest using capsules over teas, just because the dosage is more accurate. The recommended dosing when using it as a galactagogue (milk increaser) is 3 capsules 3 times a day. Be aware it can make your sweat and urine smell maple syrup-y and if you are diabetic, it is not recommended because it can affect blood sugar.
It's OK if he refuses to take a bottle. I mean, he's been flying first class his whole life, so no wonder he's not interested in being demoted to coach! ;) If after consulting with an IBCLC you feel supplementing is the way to go, there are many ways besides using a bottle that you can offer additional calories. Many moms use a Supplementary Nursing System. You can also try syringes, straws, spoons, and flexible cups. Working with an IBCLC will help you choose and manage how and if you do it.
You may also be interested to know that the before-and-after-nursing weighing is a notoriously inaccurate way to judge total calories ingested. It sounds like it really shook your confidence, and I just want to reassure you that your efforts to nurse your baby are in no way wasted. Looking at stool and urine output is far more accurate. It's also good to remember that babies are biologically designed to eat frequently, and human milk is so nutritionally perfect for your baby it is digested completely and quickly. It's very natural and normal for a baby to receive two ounces of milk at one nursing session, and then come back for another "top off" an hour or so later. His overall daily intake could be quite a bit, even if it is two ounces at a time.
Studies also show that babies who nurse frequently actually receive more high-fat hindmilk than babies whose feedings are scheduled or delayed. An IBCLC or LLL Leader can tell you about tricks such as super-switch nursing to get more hindmilk into your baby.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies be breastfed at least until they are one year of age. Nursing--especially during this ugly flu season--is one of the best things you can do to help your baby stay healthy. You and your baby will reap many benefits from your devotion and proactive attitude. I sincerely wish you the best!

Hi, T..
If you are able to make an appointment with an IBCLC (lactation consultant) she will be able to answer many questions and bring resolution. When you say underweight, has he fallen off the curve, or is he just less than where they expected? When you weighed him after nursing, what kind of baby scale was used? This can impact results. How many times a day does your little one nurse? Is he sleeping through the night?
Babies consume an average quantiity of milk daily. The size of a mother's ducts (not breast size) determine in part how many ounces are given at each feeding. A mother with large ducts will be able to space feeedings more than a mother with small ducts. If your breasts actually gave 2 oz, that may just mean your baby needs to eat more often than another baby.
A wonderful book is Making More Milk by West & Sandora. They look at infant causes of low supply, and mother causes of low supply (such as hormone issues, etc). They also discuss targeting specific remedies (Fenugreek, Reglan (prescription), herbs) to the specific cause of low production.
Lastly, If you have a high quality pump, you could try pumping and using that milk to supplement at the breast. If you will be supplementing with formula, the supplemental nursing system (tubes by breast) may be difficult to clean. It's a great product, but clogs easily. When I work with a mom who will be supplementing with formula, we often use a feeding tube lowered into a baby bottle, because feeding tubes are a bit wider. (This is why an IBCLC might come in handy). You might see if your little one will drink from a straw, too.
Good luck investigating!
A.

Wow, I told this same story! My hubby was in the field when I found out & my baby was 4 mos, but the rest is the same. I tried everything-fenugreek, alfalfa, Mother's Milk tea, pumping... my milk eventually dried up though & he was fine w/a bottle thankfully. They sell bottles for babies who don't like them. It's basically a cylinder of milk that hangs between your breasts by a string & attaches to a tube that you stick to your nipple somehow (I can't find pictures or the bottle itself to show you, wish I could!) so baby can get milk & have the feeling of nursing at the same time. I found 2 articles about it on La Leche League's website, but no pictures. Maybe they can help you find one like that though, since he apparently wants to continue nursing. One article called it a nursing trainer bottle.
I did find this just now... http://www.lact-aid.com/uses.htm
Good luck! My biggest problem was that I felt I had been starving him because baby wasn't getting enough milk & I didn't realize it. You're not at fault, he's not at fault, these things sometimes just happen (if you're having the same feelings).

I had this very problem. I tried EVERYTHING too. What worked in the end was to continue breastfeeding but supplement with baby oatmeal and baby food. With the oatmeal, I would mix it with formula instead of water for the extra protein and calories. Enfamil's Gentlease(25$) or Baby-R--Us' generic version of Gentlease(15$) smells and tastes the least offensive..we tried all the formulas too just in case it was a smell/taste issue and those two are the best, trust me.
My son was under 3% for weight. He finaly took a sippy cup at 10 months, but we struggled with this from 5 to 10 months. Now he is up to the 40% for weight.

Being 'underweight' is not a concern as long as he is following his growth curve. Not gaining weight (or very little is a problem). My kids are always low on the growth curve, but hey I'm skinny and that's normal. But when my 4th baby weighed LESS at her 4 month check-up than she did at her two month check-up, we knew she just wasn't getting enough from me. We added formula to her diet, and she started picking weight up and now she's happy and healthy. And we're having milk production issues again (probably due to a cyst in my breast) with baby #5 now. :(

But for increasing milk supply make sure you are getting plenty of rest. Lack of sleep or stress can cause supply issues. Drink plenty of water, and my nurse told me to 'megadose' on vitamin C. Also try to pump an extra 10-15 per side when you are done nursing to try to stimulate more milk. You can try fenugreek, brewers yeast, and/or mother's milk tea. And there is a prescription that you can get from your dr called reglan (it made me too drowsy to safely drive).

Good luck

pump, pump, pump!!!

thank you both for your service to our great country. hoorah!!!

Try taking Mother's Milk tea. It tastes like black licorice, but if you drink it cold, it is not so bad. It really boosts the milk production. If that doesn't work you may have to get a tube that attaches to your breast and supplements formula while he breastfeeds. I had to do that when I had my twins because I couldn't keep up with my milk supply. Also sometimes women lose their milk supply earlier than they want. I lost mine with my oldest at 6 months and with my twins at 4 months (because I had to have surgery).

Fennel Essential Oil from YoungLiving Essentail Oils can help your milk supply. Email if you would like to know more.

I had the exact same thing with my son right about that age too. So I stressed, which really didn't help the milk production. This is what worked for me (per a lactation consultant's advice - I would recommend seeing one): I did a few times of taking him to the doctor for feedings. Weigh before, feed, weigh after. Most offices will do this for you, you just have to make an appointment so that the nurse can do the weighing. I started hard and heavy on the fenugreek. I started with 4 capsules 3 times a increased, decreased as necessary. Also, I started eating oatmeal in the mornings. All of this, finally got my production up after about a week. Oh, and I went from feeding on just one side, to both sides. (I had had damage, and was trying to let one side rest, but my baby was more important). The lactation consultant also mentioned a prescription that is supposed to increase milk supply that I was going to try if these didn't work for me.
For the Fenugreek, if this works for you, go to a place like GNC, as they have it in bulk. Also, it will make you smell like maple syrup, your body odor, and your urine - just a warning. :) Good luck.

I don't know what to tell you about getting your son to take a bottle, cuz neither of my kids ever did, but increasing your milk supply is something I have experience with. Here are the things I've tried, all of which were effective, but I'm listing them in order of least results to most:
- Traditional Medicinals makes a 'Mother's Milk' Tea that you can buy at Smiths/Kroger, or at a Health Food Store
- Fenugreek capsules, also from a Health Food Store
- Collostrum, again from a Health Food Store ... in my experience, using collostrum will give you more milk than you ever knew you wanted; it is available in chewable tablets or a powder you mix with water or juice

Good luck! Please don't give up!

Fenugreek and More Milk Plus have worked well for me. For some reason (I think hormones) I haven't produced much milk on my own with my 3rd baby, no matter how much I nurse and pump. So these supplements have been lifesafers! I started out with fenugreek, which you can get at a pharmacy or even Walmart. But at the high dose that I needed it made me dizzy. More Milk Plus is several ingredients, including fenugreek but in a smaller amount. I buy it at Good Earth. It costs quite a bit more, but works more quickly. I can adjust the supplement to how often I think I need it. When the baby was nursing more because of a growth spurt or sickness, I just increased the frequency of the supplement for a day or two. As she is a year now and eating more solids, sometimes I skip a dose because enough milk builds up between feedings. Good luck!

Hi T.,

TryMore Milk Plus by Mother Love. Get at Whole Foods.

I am a birthing Doula & this is something I highly recommend. Another thing to try is Mothers milk tea by Traditional Medicanals. These can be used together.

Also try not to worry too much as stress can have an effect on your supply.

Good luck!
A. Cowles, CD (DONA)

Has your doc recommended solids? At 6 months, he's old enough. Start with rice cereal then oats, then move on to veggies then fruits. Remember, introduce just 1 new food at a time and wait 4 days between new foods.

My neice went through the same thing. She grew great until about 6 months old then her weight dropped off the chart. They tried everything. She did grow and gain weight, just not fast, and she stayed below the 5th percentile. She is 7 1/2 now and she is very small for her age, but she is healthy and active. Sometimes kids just grow their own way.

To help get your supply up breastfeed on demand. Also make sure you are getting enough water and eating enough during the day. Also look up online the breastfeeding growth chart and see where your baby is on there. Most pediatricians use the formula growth chart on all kids. If you have a breastpump you can also pump for 10 rest for 10, repeat for an hour for a week, and that should up your supply.

I would not worry about being off the charts...my almost 2 year old is still just getting on the charts after not being on them since 3 months old. That's a breastfed baby for you (there is a breastfed baby chart that is not real easy to find, but you can always try to find it and take it in to your MD next visit).

As far as ideas to stimulate breastmilk supply...try pumping after the baby eats...or feed on one side and pump the other until it is coming out slow...that will force your body into thinking it is feeding twins instead of just 1 baby and will pump up your supply. I unfortunately have the opposite problem of WAY too much milk, but I find when I need to pump, the next few days, I am EVEN more full of milk. I use an inexpensive one that I love (as I am a SAHM too so don't need the storage milk but every so often...right now pumping for just-in-case since I have to have knee surgery in a week...) The name of the pump is Evenflo Comfort Select and plugs in or is battery ooperated. The only problem that I have had with this pump is it occasionally loses suction after I clean it, but it you take of the soft plastic part that extends into the bottle and squeeze the tip open and closed a few time, suction starts right back up again. I love that the suction adjusts strength and it was not very expensive.

Don't give up! Also try the solids, but keep up breastfeeding! It's well worth it (and safer during this flu/viral season for your baby to be getting all those antibodies from you!!!)

FYI- when your kiddo gets over 1, you can try Pediasure to try to boost your kiddos weight, but we just tried that for my son and it only increased him 2 pounds more...he's almost 2 and only 22 pounds...they are now just saying it must be genetic (my brother was small until end of high school too)! So good luck with that, but don't fret it!

Hi, at 6 months you could be starting him on solids. Not sure from your post whether or not you've done that yet, but start with some rice cereal and you can start giving him fruits and veggies, etc., soon after that.

Just remember that this is a natural process. At some point, it is natural that you will simply not have enough milk to feed your baby nothing but milk(e.g., nobody feeds a 1 year old nothing but milk) so it might be he's just at a stage where he needs more than milk. Try all the advice about the herbs, etc., but for what it's worth, I tried it all, and for me, at 4.5 months, my baby just wasn't getting enough milk and despite everything I tried and all the advice I got and breastfeeding every two hours, he just kept dropping weight. When I talked to my pediatrician, he told me that despite what everyone would have you think, a huge percentage of women end up having this problem, so some women make enough, and some just eventually don't.

Not to say you can't up your supply, but just to say that if it doesn't work for you, don't drive yourself crazy. I know too many women who have gone nuts trying to up their supply while their baby went hungry and the lactation consultants kept getting them to try one thing after another that didn't work.

Try a herbal suppliment called Motherlove - More Milk Special Blend. I have a 7 month old daughter and when I first gave birth I had problems with my milk supply. My lactation specialist recommended this and it worked wonders. You can get it in pill or liquid form. The only store I could find it at was Boosom Buddies (google them for a store near you) or you can buy it online. The cheapest place (store and online) is the following www.luckyvitamin.com. I hope this helps, I know how frustrating and sad you can feel with this problem and all you want is your baby to be healthy and happy. Good luck!!!