Breastfeeding - Sacramento, CA

You can tell if a young baby is dehydrated when their soft spot is very indented and if they are not peeing as often as they normally do. If the soft spot looks normal and pees are normal and baby is happy then she is getting enough food. Why do people come out of the woodwork to tell us moms that we need to supplement with formula? I got that a lot and my baby was fine. They aren't as fat as formula babies, but doctors who deal with breastfed kids know that. My pediatrician recommended only breast milk for the first 6 mts-- then try to start with solids.

She might be getting more than you think when you're actually nursing her compared to what you're getting out of pumping. When my daughter nurses it feels like she's getting enough even when it's not a very long session. When I first started pumping I would get very little milk, about 2 oz in one pumping session. I have kept at it for about a month and now I'm easily getting at least 4 oz. I also do it at the same time every day so I think my body is used to producing milk when it's time to pump, just like when I nurse at certain times. Hope this helps.

I agree with the other moms! What you pump is not an accurate measurement of how much milk you produce. The only way to tell for sure is watching your baby: Is she growing? Is she happy? Baby is ALWAYS more efficient than any pump!!!

I also agree with trying not to introduce formula. Any supplements will eventually affect your milk supply, whether you mean it to or not. If you're worried about your supply, you could try taking Fenugreek for a week or so, but be prepared to possibly make more milk than your daughter really needs.

Nursing Mothers Counsel is a great FREE resource for breastfeeding moms at ALL stages (pregnancy through weaning)!! We are peer counselors, which means we've been where you are, and we provide free one-on-one counseling for as long as you need us. We are non-judgmental and provide support and information, which is what breastfeeding moms REALLY need!!! You can contact me directly at ____@____.com, or call our hotline at (650)327-MILK.

Hi K.,

I am so sorry that your Dr gave you such bad advice. Your baby is JUST FINE! She does not need formula. How much you can pump is not an indicator of how much your baby is getting. Your baby is MUCH more efficient at getting the milk out than your pump. Also, you said that your baby is growing just fine - that is the most important indicator that she is getting enough milk from you. And it has nothing to do with how much food you are giving her. Your baby should get the majority of her nutrition from your breastmilk until she is 1 year old. Foods are only for experimentation before that.

I pumped until my son was 15 months. I never pumped more than 2-3 ounces (total from 2 breasts) EVER. And my son never needed a drop of formula. My son also nursed frequently (every 1-2 hours). Some babies just like to nurse frequently and will take less at each session. It is NORMAL and it is what your baby needs. Don't try to get her to take more than she needs. Just because she drank the formula that you gave her doesn't mean she needed it. It is very easy to 'overfeed' a breastfed baby because milk or formula come out of a sippy cup or bottle much faster than from the breast - so she can easily drink more than she really needs when using one of those.

Please don't ask your pediatrician for breastfeeding advice. It is very sad, but most pediatricians haven't taken a single class on breastfeeding and they often give poor advice. If you have questions about breastfeeding, please call your local La Leche League or a lactation consultant.

You are doing a GREAT job! Don't let your pediatrician scare you into giving your baby something she doesn't need.

J.

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Pumping is never a good way of determining how much milk you are producing. The pump will never extract as much milk as your baby can. My sister in law breastfed both of her boys for over 2 years and was never even able to get milk out of her breasts with a pump.

Hi Kim,

I agree with all the moms that responded. I breastfed both my children for at least a yr. When my son was born I had a lot of milk and Nathan would only take one breast every 2 to 3 hrs and i would pump the other side. I would get only 2 to 3 ounces, I dated and put it in the freezer and used that for his cereal. I stated him at 6 mo. When Isabell was born I tried to pump but only got an ounce and no extra. Isabell took both breast every 3 hrs. or as needed. Both my children are healthy and smart.

Good luck and don't worry.

M.

Usually what you pump doesn't equal what your daughter is able to get when she nurses. I would nurse and then give her the sippy cup but you could check out the website below or you can contact someone from La Leche League or a lactation consultant for some advice. Also remember every child is different so she may not do things the way her big sister did.

You should check out the following website: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html

Sometimes the amount that you are able to pump is different that the amount your child is able to take in. Babies tend to be more efficient at getting milk than a breast pump. I was usually able to pump the most milk first thing in the morning, but I also had trouble getting a full feedings worth once my children hit 5 months. They were able to get all the milk their bodies needed through breast feeding though. I think their growth and amount of fussiness is a bigger indicator of milk supply than what you see coming out of the pump.

Just to echo what the other moms have said and add a few cents:

1. Try to avoid supplementing with formula. It will cause your milk supply to drop, since it's a supply and demand system. If you substitute some of the milk from your breasts with formula, then your body will think it doesn't need to make as much milk. Do this enough times and you definitely won't have enough milk and will have to supplement! Not a road you want to go down if you'd like to continue to successfully breastfeed.

2. As long as your baby is having 6-8 wet diapers a day, she's adequately hydrated. How much you can pump is not a good indication of how much milk your baby is able to get. Here's a link to a page that tells you what to look for to be sure she's getting enough:

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/enough.html

3. One more link - this is an blog with excellent suggestions and information about what you can do if your baby starts to stall out on the growth charts:

http://mostgladly.typepad.com/cj/2007/09/its-my-party-an....

4. Keep in mind that as your baby gets older she gets more efficient at getting milk out and your body gets better at making it. Unless she's going down for a nap or bed, my six month old usually only nurses for about 4 minutes on one side about every two hours. When she goes to sleep, she nurses for about ten minutes total (five on each side.) And believe me, she's getting PLENTY of milk - she's been exclusively breast fed until yesterday, when we started solids, and she is a fat little thing - she weighs 23 lbs!

So as long as she's peeing regularly and gaining weight (even if it's not a huge amount!) and is active and healthy, don't worry about how much you can pump out or her brief snacks.

Good luck!

I am a strong believer in a woman having enough milk for her baby. How do you feel about just nursing more frequently. Maybe your baby is getting all that she needs when she nurses. Your baby can get more from your breast than a pump can. She is better at it. My daghter is almost four too. When She was little I nursed her on demand as often as she wanted and as many times as she asked with cries or rooting or whatever.

Just a thought. The more she nurses the more milk you will produce. You can drink teas and tinctures and just more water and good food help increase milk supply.

Good luck. I know how hard it can be.

S.

My daughter found a special tea that helped her at the local health food store. Someone also suggested beer. DRINK LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER!

Hi- Judy is right on. If you want to continue nursing (your baby is so young, there is no doubt you should try) do not start supplementing with formula. Eventually it will diminish your supply and your baby will wean herself. Why would the doctor be concerned about her fluid intake? As other Moms have said the amount you pump is no indication of how much your baby is getting when she nurses. If she's growing and healthy then that's the sign she's getting all the nourishment and fluids she needs. There is just no way to "measure" how much a breastfed baby is eating. The way you determine breastfeeding success is the growth and health of the baby. The incidents of mothers not producing enough milk are very rare. You hear people say it all the time but sadly they are usually misinformed and getting bad advice. Your daughter will "tell" you if things aren't right by not thriving and being very upset. A hungry baby is a loud and cranky baby. Listen to your instinct and your daughters cues and if you're still worried call a lactation specialist, not your doctor. You are giving your daughter the best start in life by nursing her, good luck!