Breastfeeding & Lactation - Waterford,MI

Have you tried taking Fenugreek or using the 'mother's milk' tea from GNC? I used both to increase my supply while breastfeeding my twin boys and it helped quite a bit.

--K.

I believe if you let her do what she needs everything will be just fine. Let her direct you and the milk should come in. Call LeLeche League if you need to talk with someone.

Pumping actually reduces your milk supply over time. A plastic pump cannot trigger the same hormones as a warm baby can.

As for the feeding in the evening...Sounds like marathon feeding which is probably why she is sleeping so well at night. It is completely normal...it's not that you don't have milk in the evening it's that she is filling her system up with it so she'll empty one side flip to the other empty that and by the time she's done there the other side has more milk. What a smart girl you have :-D Chances are if you lay down with her around 10pm and nurse her to sleep you won't need to give her that 2oz bottle.

This is very normal. I have heard it called cluster feeding. THe baby will nurse for several hours in the evening to store up for the night. All 3 of my girls did it...unfortunatly they still did not sleep through the night!
As far as pumping, it can increase your supply but it can aslo decrease your supply. I would try to make more time to nuse during the day instead of pumping.
blessings, K.

I totally appreciate your efforts and determination both as a mother and as someone who works with moms and children birth to five! We recently had a staff meeting with two WONDERFUL women from Spectrum Health. They run breastfeeding support groups and believe me, these women know what they are doing. Call ###-###-#### for assistance, otherwise there are groups at Spectrum Health Healthier Communities at 665 Seward Ave NW Suite 210 on thursdays from 12:30-2:00 p.m. These meetings are free and they help you feed right there. The thing that I learned about pumps is that they are very convenient, but they don't actually stimulate the brain to stimulate the breasts to produce more milk, which is what happens when your baby is at your breast. If you are pumping 2 ounces, she is probably only eating two ounces at a time. She still has a very tiny stomach, about the size of a walnut. Supplementing with formula will keep her fuller longer than breastmilk because breastmilk breaks down easier because it is completely compatible with your changing baby. oh, Le Leche groups also have a 24 hour hotline where you can actually speak to someone about any problems. They are in the phone book. Good luck to you and your new baby! Keep doing what you're doing...every little bit counts!

Your baby and your body responds very badly to stress. If your baby is fine, then that is all that matters! Your are so lucky she sleeps through the night (this is a big indicator that she is happy and content!) Stop stressing and enjoy your baby! They grow up fast!

Hi
Is there any break at all in the times that she latches on at night? All of my kids did "cluster" feeding at night so they had a full tummy and would sleep all night just like your discribing. There would only be about 20 to 30 min between feedings and they always seemed hungry until they just fell asleep.

For your low supply you may just need more liquids during the day to keep up your supply till the end of the day. Are you drinking milk also? That can make all the difference. Everytime I nurse I make sure I take in at least 8oz of water or some other liquid and I notice a big difference in my supply if I forget to drink enough.

Hope this helped a little.
Feel free to PM me if you'd like to chat some more
K.

Hello,

I know that there is a tea you can drink to increase your milk supply. I have gotten some from Harvest Health Foods for a lady at my church who had twins but I can't remember the name, and my sister-in-law used it and she said it works. If you tell them what you need they will help you find it. I also did see it at Meijer one time.

Hope this helps,
B.

Are you pumpimg all day and feeding bottles or pumping in addition to nursing? Nursing will make a difference in your supply - baby is the bast pump, also, try pumping one breast while she nurses. Are you feeling a let down? It can take 10 minutes sometimes, can you pump a little before she latches on? Also, get some Mother's Milk tea at the HFS it will help increase your supply. Also when babies go through growth spurts, it takes your body a day or 2 to adjust and satisfy her. Exclusive nursing is better for her gut and prevents digestive problems, and supplementing can greatly impact your supply. If you are not finding a solution, go to La Leche League leaders or a lactation consultant to help you. She might have a bad latch.

Hi P.,

Congratulations on your baby girl. In answer to your question, the best way to increase your milk production is to put your baby to the breast, rather than the pump. A healthy baby, who nurses well, gets milk out of the breast better than any pump. Many people feel that a pump will work better, when actually, most pumps rely on the baby to keep the supply up. Figure you need to nurse the baby 8 times (minimum, as it's actually 8-12 times) in a 24 hour period. All the running around you're doing with the others needs to wait until baby has been fed, not the other way around. I know it sounds impossible, but with just a little planning moms find they can easily fit it in their day. Maybe wake your baby up 15-20 minutes before you need to leave for an errand. She'll probably nurse without needing to fully wake up anyway.

Some things to help boost the supply are taking it easy and getting the rest you need. After sleep your prolactin level increases, so you'll have more milk. Just remember, every mom's supply dips in the late afternoon and evening. After some sleep at night it pops right back up. It's great that your baby sleeps all night, if she's gaining wait well (as she is), but just remember, that means more frequent feeds are needed during the day to keep those 8 feeds up. After another couple of months, she won't require that many feeds and will drop them on her own.

You can also take fenugreek to boost the supply. Ask a local LC about the dosage, or email me privately and I will send it. But it only works well if you are frequently stimulating the supply as well.

Check out your local LLL group. www.llli.org They're a great source of support and helpful information.

Warmly,

S.

Is your baby with you during the day??? If you can nurse her directly, she can get much more milk from you than the pump can and your milk supply will increase. Plus if you have time to pump, in my experience it's faster/easier to nurse. Are you uncomfortable nursing in public. I nursed my boy everywhere and never had a problem in Michigan. Good luck!!!

Good for you, P., for wanting to exclusively breastfeed your sweet daughter. Best thing in the world for her! One thing is that, for only being 4 weeks postpartum, it sounds like you're doing too much. I have 4 so I know it's hard to slow down. Your milk supply is still getting established and you need to be taking good care of yourself. She sounds like she's growing well and that's wonderful, so you're doing a lot that's good for her. It's amazing that she's sleeping all night. It may not last, though. Pumping doesn't give your body the exact same signals as your baby nursing at the breast, which may be one of the factors. With b/f babies being so portable, the best thing you can do is to put her to the breast wherever and whenever you can at this early stage. Also, try to get her to totally empty one breast at each feeding so she gets the rich, hind milk that doesn't come out right away. You can move her to the second breast afterward or wait till the next feeding to start with that one if she's asleep and content. I'd suggest you check the LaLeche League website for more info. It's www.llli.org then click on resources then on answers. Going to a meeting in your area might help you a lot, especially to get some support and mom-to-mom help. I am a leader in Warren and we meet next Monday morning. Of course there are other groups around too. I know you're busy but you'd be amazed at how being part of an LLL group can enrich your life. We have play dates monthly as well, as do some of the other groups. Good luck, and hang in there! You'll never regret this investment in your sweet baby's life!

Good for you!!

Relax -- this is totally normal!!! My baby always seemed to nurse continuously at night -- and for a 4-week-old that seems about right. At 10 months I STILL seem to feed her much more in the evenings than during the day.

Your milk supply is just fine! You and she will fall into a rhythm soon enough. She's gaining weight and having wet diapers, so no worries. Good luck!!

I hope I can offer you a few ideas.

First, I can't imagine why pumping would take less time throughout the day than just feeding her. I suggest you find an activity for your other kids, set out coloring books, a tv show, anything, and then take the time every two hours. I am supplementing my four month old and it takes way less time to breastfeed him than bottle feed him now that he has the hang of it. If you are out of the house, use a "hooter hider" or something for privacy but just do it. Feeding is the best way to get milk supply up!

However, I have had to accept a little supplementing and although it was disappointing at first, now that I have started some rice cereal it does not seem like a big deal. In fact, it is convenient to let my husband feed him once in a while.

Try to relax and enjoy your time with her and not stress and don't be so hard on yourself or attached to labels about how much she did or didn't breastfeed.

Hi P.,

Congrats on your new baby girl. My baby girl will be 1 yrs old in 9 days and my second baby girl is due on January 1st. I am so sorry to hear about you breastfeeding frustrations. I wouldn't worry as long as she is gaining weight, and having the proper amount of wet/bm diapers. Most womens milk supply is lowest in the evenings. Sometimes, I thought I must be out of milk in the evenings, and there were nights that Lily seemed to nurse continuously for hours. But, I wasn't and she was just fine. I would just make sure that you are eating enough.. which I'm sure is not easy with three boys plus your little girl. As long as your doctor isn't worried, don't worry. It sounds like you are doing an awesome job!

P.

I have a 4 week old boy that marathon feeds at night, too. It is frustrating because my husband wants to spend time with our boy after work, but all he wants to do is nurse. It is also about from 7 to 10, and then he sleeps until about 3 or 4 for a little feeding and back to sleep until 7. I think as long as your daughter isn't getting frustrated at the breast (like she isn't getting enough milk), then she is just filling up for the night and it's not a milk supply problem. Good luck! Congrats on your little girl.

P.,
It doesn't sound to me like you have a lack of milk, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to pump 2 more oz. I'm guessing the problem might be that your daughter is a little lazy when it comes to nursing. When she gets your milk from the bottle it may be quicker and easier for her. When it is time to nurse from you, she uses you like a binkie, and isn't really drawing down your milk. With my son, I learned a trick, if I could count 1000 1 1000 2 1000 3 1000 4 and he didn't suck, then I would take him off the breast. Then maybe have your husband take care of her for a while, stay out of sight for an hour or two. Then, try nursing closer to her actual bedtime, around 10 pm. It maybe that she isn't that hungry at 7 but, she does like being held by you. It could also be, that very soon, she won't nurse from you at all. She may choose the bottle. Supplementing with a bottle works for some kids and not on others. I know several moms who only nursed for a few months and then had to pump for a year. If this happens, it's ok, don't beat your self up over it. Remember it was her choice. You will both be happy, you have more flexibility with feedings, she gets her food fast and easy and if you still pump and hold her often she will still get all the benefits of nursing. Good Luck.

hi P.,
Rest assured you are making enough milk! Even in the evening, when they feel empty, they are producing milk *continuously* as your baby sucks. My 18 month old has the same nursing habits in the evening--wanting to nurse all evening, switching sides-- and i think she always has. I think it's just her way of winding down for the evening.:)
D.
www.carrymeslings.com

Good morning Pam,
Make sure you are drinking enough fluid's during the day and in the evening. I notice that I don't produce much milk if I am dehidrated. Also keep in mind when nursing your daughter may get more milk from you than when you pump. Also if you are nursing on and off for three hours straight you are not giving yourself time to reproduce. From personal experiance it take me about 3-4 hours to fill back up to produce 6-8 ounces. But please remember if I nurse in between or do not drink enough fluids that amount goes down. Try to take a deep breath and don't give up!

Best of luck!
P.

Pumping isn't a good indicator of what your little one is getting by nursing. Nursing is supply/demand and the pump will not get as much out as your baby can.

I'd venture to guess if you nursed more during the day then you would have more. Maybe you can fit in a short nursing session in the car with your other boys strapped in the car seat for a few minutes when you're running around?

It does sound like cluster feeding at night.. I wouldn't be concerned about her getting enough if you're getting enough diapers, but I've heard that babies will cluster feed especially if they aren't getting their special nursing time during the day.

Another thought.. can you try using a sling.. then you could nurse while you were moving around with your boys.

Because it's been 4 years since your last baby you probably forgot what a newborn is like! It's normal that you have what seems to be a "drop" in supply in the evenings, and your baby is doing exactly what she's supposed to. Don't worry! Don't supplement, just keep offering her the breast. I know it's frustrating and time consuming, but pretty soon it'll be better and you'll look back on this time and be very grateful that you could provide for her 100%. Hang in there!

It sounds like you are very busy, try drinking more water, it always helped me with milk production. When you are pumping so much during the day your body thinks thats when you need your milk. Also, maybe she is going through a growth spurt. Good luck and hang in there. I breastfed both of my kids and never supplimented. They are both healthy and great eaters(they love all veggies, even brussel sprouts). Good luck!

Whew! Slow down and relax a bit. Nothing makes a better supply of milk than a BABY at the breast. Pumps are a wonderful help, but they are no sub for the stimulation a baby's sucking creates. You need to sit and relax with your little sweetie and give you both what you really need...time together. Breastfeeding is a supply and demand circle. ANY supplementing interrupts that circle. Sitting and pumping doesn't take any less time than sitting and breastfeeding, plus you have the bottles to deal with. She has alot of diapers and sleeps through the night. You are doing GREAT!! It's wonderful to have the determination that you have. Keep it up, you deserve to relax. You are doing what's best for you and babycakes. The first week of school is always hectic...I remember the days...getting out the door ontime was always the goal of the day! You can do it!!

You are to be commended for breastfeeding, especially with such a busy life. But, it IS the best thing for your daughter. The only way I know to increase your milk supply is to nurse, nurse, nurse. Pumping is good, but it does not have the same effect as your baby suckling. A few days exclusively nursing from the breast should help you regain your supply. And don't forget to drink lots of water/tea.

Good luck.

It could really be the craziness of being busy. Stress, exhaustion,and nutrition & wellness impact milk producion. Drink lots of water. I have heard of and utilized the power of getting in bed, skin to skin with baby. using the teas available are also helpful. Beer is suposed to be helpful too - one bottle a day. I know frequent pumping is supposed to help but I also know from my own trials that pumping is different than nursing and so the amount of milk extracted is less(in my experience). Could you not be puming for a long enough time? I recall being advised to not even start pumpig until 6 weeks b/c milk productio is not really well established until then - again not sure how true. I would try to take the weekend to slow down and nurse as much as possible(easier said than done). Oh, and about not producing at night - if you don't nurse you don't produce so that makes sense but to feel empty still in the morning? Good luck & congrads!!!

Don't give up. You are doing great! Super mom! The best advice I ever got was to A) make sure you are drinking tons of water, and B) go in a quiet room, grab a book, and pump, when you are relaxed that will help, also, I too had a wonderful sleeper, but found myself missing that middle of the night milk, it helps! Try waking yourself up one time in the middle of the night, pump, and save that milk for the crucial times. That middle-of-the night feeding will help your supply build ( because your body will produce by supply/demand), plus you will be building yourself a great supply in the freezer!

Pam ~
The baby is the most efficient pump there is. Then comes the electric pump, then the hand pump, then manual pumping .... so by pumping all day, you're not emptying the breast as well as you would with actual nursing.

How long is she actually latched on each side? She should be doing about 10 - 15 mins on one side, then as long as she wants on the other. You want her to get the fore milk and the hind milk.

And is she actually nursing that whole time? Or is she using you as a pacifier?

Is there a lactation consultant at the hospital where you delivered? I work at Wyandotte Hosp, and can give you the number to ours if you would like to talk to them.

Another thing you can try is to apply a warm compress to the breast before she latches ~ it will help the milk to come down a little faster.

Good Luck!
D.

There could be a few things going on. First, pumping isn't any substitute for an actual baby at the breast. It just isn't as efficient.

Second, by pumping all the time and offering your daughter the bottle, she is getting used to the bottle. She doesn't have to work as hard to get the milk from the bottle as she does from the breast. I would not have your husband give her the bottle at night. If she isn't taking the breast well, wait a bit and try again. When she gets hungry enough she WILL eat. Keep offering. Also, try going into her room, closing the door and having just one one one time with LOTS of skin to skin contact. This helps both of you.

Third, baby is 4 weeks old. Your body is getting into the rythmn of nursing. You are always fuller in the morning then you are in the evening. However, this does not mean you don't have enough milk. If you didn't have enough milk you wouldn't get another 2ounces by pumping. Your supply is JUST FINE. You just need to get baby to suck a bit better.

You're doing such a wonderful thing by exclusively breastfeeding!!! It provides your daughter with an AWESOME start at life! Way to go! Sounds like baby is healthy and growing well.

Lastly, relax. Make sure you are getting enough water, protein, and vitamins. (continue taking your prenatals until you are done bfing) Make sure you are getting enough sleep. All of these things ensure your supply stays strong. Stress, lack of sleep, anxiety .... it can all affect your supply.

Also, if you really feel like after all the comments here you are still getting nowhere. Call a lactation consultant. They are worth their weight in GOLD! I used one early on because I was having several issues. She spent an hour with baby and I and after that ... no more problems. They are wonderful wonderful resources.

Good luck!

Hi P.,
go to www.llli.org and find a La Leche group in your area. You will find a ton of support there.

Good luck,
J.