Feeding Every Hour What Can I Do for Breast Milk

Hello Francesca,

Congratulations on your bundle of joy! Yes, they can do that. However if you're looking to increase your milk supply, you can drink anise star tea. Also at the healthfood store / sprouts/ wholefoods they sell a tea called "mother's tea". it's a combination of herbs that help producing milk. also, drink lots of water. Good luck! I did have to start my son with some cereal a bit early because of the same reason. talk to your pediatrician. ~C.~

often new moms confuse hunger cues for soothing skills. It is true that it seems they are eating continuously when they go thru the growth spurts, but they will also wake hourly just because the moro reflex (startle reflex) is triggered hourly during the most active part of the sleep cycle. What you can try is other calming techniques, swaddling/whitenoise/movement(like a swing) first. If they are really hungry none of these things will have much impact and they will let you know. Try Dr Harvey Karps Happiest Baby on the Block techniques for soothing.
If you are pumping and feeding extra it sounds like you are doing a great job of making milk at 6 weeks old. Please feel free to email me or if you would like a consult for reassurance call your lactation consultant. K. @ The Nestingplace

Franchescha,

As a mom of six children(which I have breastfed all, and still am. My nine month old went through that as well.This is what helped. I would nurse on only one side. Burp him and latch him back onto the same side. Then for his next feeding I went to the other breast.
There is foremilk and hindmilk. Foremilk is what comes out first and empties in the stomach faster. The hindmilk is what keeps them full and satisfies them. By switching breasts during the same feeding she may not be getting the hindmilk. Also they do increase their appetite at this age.

To keep your milk supply up you need to be eating nutritious snacks throughout your day. Drink Lots of Water! So important that you get enough water. Nurse her more than giving her a bottle. It is easier for her to get it from the bottle than from you and it may make her lazy and not want to nurse.

You are her source of comfort. She may just need a little reassurance as she is still getting used to her world. Babies love to be close to their moms as much as they can be. Keep up the good work. I encourage you to nurse as long as you can. Mothers milk is the best nutriton for your growing baby.Take care and go with your first instinct.
Blessings,
E.

Hi F.,

how awesome that you decided to breastfeed Mia!
My son seemed to nurse all the time - he actually would literally nurse for an hour or two if I let him - day and night. It seems like I spent the first 3 months or so sitting on my behind nursing. But I gladly did it, because it is just the best way to nurture and feed your little one. Later I learned how to nurse lying down, and it was a life-saver because I got more rest, so you might want to try that (if you are not doing it already).

First of all to your question of having enough milk: the best indication of whether or not your girl is getting enough milk is the fact if she is growing and gaining weight. If she is, she gets enough milk. My son gained 7 ounces the first week (while most babies lose some weight initially), so there was never a question if he got enough milk. Some babies simply love to suck a lot. I used to say that Julian just liked to "hang out" on my breasts.

While nursing her, you can gently rub her back or feet to see if she stays awake longer to nurse more, if the issue is that she falls asleep too quickly.

Also offer her the other breast when you can tell that she no longer swallows milk regularly but seems to just suck for comfort.

In the beginning I used to think that Julian was actually eating the entire time while latched on, until I realized he was only sucking like other babies would suck on a pacifier.

You can change her diaper before you switch breasts, which will probably wake her up, too, and encourage her to eat more, if she is still hungry.

There are several teas that stimulate lactation. I used to drink "Mother's Milk", I am pretty sure it is made by "Traditional Medicinals", but I could be wrong. If you go to Sprouts or even many drug stores, check in their tea section for herbal teas that state they promote lactation.

And my final suggestion is that you could check out a La Leche Group in your area. Breastfeeding moms meet there to get their questions anwered, to get support, and to share what they have learned. I loved attending the meetings, because I learned so much, and later I was able to share with other moms what I had learned over time. I used to go to the Grapevine group, but there are several groups in the area. You can go to this link to find a group close to you: http://www.llli.org/Web/Texas.html

Enjoy your sweet baby, and enjoy the time she is nursing, it passes quicker than you think.

M.

Very normal! They go through a grwoth spurt about this time, then usually every 3 months or so!

Hi F.,

Don't worry...your little one is going thru her first growth spurt! Her wanting to nurse so often is her way of increasing your milk for you. It will probably continue like this for a couple of days, then she will go back to a more "normal" feeding schedule (and your milk will have increased to meet her need). And, be forewarned....this will happen again at about 12 weeks!! :-)

Hi F.,
I'm glad you are able to pump so much since she's very little. I'm surprise she eats 4 oz. Usually at that age they eat 2 oz, but every baby is different. Also, try to nurse her and do not give the bottle unless you are not avaliable. By doing this she will have more oportunities to latch on and learn faster. In the beggining I had a lot of problems with my baby girl because she used to fall sleep all the time. Feeding time was 2 hrs; 20 min on each breast like the consultants recommend and then she will fall sleep to wake up again "hungry" after 30 min. then feed her 20 min on each breast again. Now that I look back I learned 2 things: 1. I thought she was eating (because she was moving her mounth) but she was using me as a pacifier and 2. When she waked up after 30 min. of feeding she was not hungry she just wanted to smooth herself by being close to me and using me as a pacifier. Keep the good work, in my experience after 3 months everything was sooo much easy and I'm glad I was persistant and never gave up.

If you are concerned about your milk supply, the best thing to do is to exclusively breastfeed as breastfeeding is the most effective way - the baby is just a whole lot better than a pump in most cases.

Some babies are what they call gourmets and eat slowly and less at each feeding, thus by the time they are done with one feeding, they're ready for another. Also, with the bottle, she may be getting too much at once, thus she doesn't realize she is full right away (the same goes for people when they eat - they say it takes about 15 minutes to feel full). I had that problem with my first when I was juggling the breastfeeding and the bottle.

And, babies do go through these growth spurts at which time, you just need to nurse more to keep up. Hopefully, you are only pumping after she nurses to ensure she is getting the most.

I know it seems like all they do is eat when they are so small. This can be a little difficult, but trust me it gets easier. What your are saying sounds completely normal.
Babies do go through a growth spurt around 6 wks. She is probably just eating often to increase your milk supply. The more she eats the more milk you will make.
It also sound like she may be using your for a pacifier.
I could tell when they weree just sucking and not eating, but it took a while to figure it out. You can look for other ways to sooth her so she is not attached to you all of the time. I found when mine like for me to sit on a large exercise ball and bounce while holding them and my son really liked the swing. You may find it to be a few more weeks before they are interested in anything besides blinds and fans such as playmats or bouncers.
As long as Mia is gaining weight, you are making enough milk so don't worry about that.

Sounds normal to me! I went through this with my son and daughter (who is three months old). My doctor told me that her constant feedings will help produce more milk and were probably the result of a growth spurt.

F., don't worry. It is normal for her to feed that often. Many people and doctors want babies to be on a schedule but I have always let mine feed on demand. Sometimes it was hard b/c they would often seem like they were nursing all the time. I have five kids and am still nursing my 7 month old. He is on "real" feed but he still has days when all he wants to do is nurse. It is well worth it though. Never let anyone convince you that you aren't producing enough. UNLESS... she is under weight and screaming all the time and writhing at your breast. Then maybe you are having a problem, But if she is happy, good weight then she just likes to eat small frequent meals. i wihs I had that good of eating habits! Good luck!

6 weeks (also 3 months and 6 months) are very common growth spurt times. Also, common for young babies to eat very often, don't worry, they don't keep this up through all of babyhood! Just because she eats that much bottle doesn't mean she was that hungry, babies have a huge sucking need! Like Kay W. said, you might try other soothing techniques first, and then offer the breast. It really is easier to just breastfeed instead of pumping, all the wondering if it's the right number of ounces can make you crazy, just feed her when she is hungry (breastmilk production is pretty self regulating, you can't overfeed her from the breast) and watch for lots of pee and poop diapers and weight gain, and she'll be fine!

Totally normal to be eating machines. Fenugreek supplements and/or tea can help. If you feel you need help, find a lactation consultant. Breastfeeding is the absolute best way to get your milk up - if you can pump for a few seconds to get things going, than feed, and then give formula if you don't produce enough, that's best. Don't bottle feed first. Also, if she's not latching well, she may not be sucking well. I had lots of problems because I got sick right after I had my little guy and went to a lactation consultant for 3 months before things got comfortable. They can do wonders if you get the right one. good luck!

First--an old-fashioned idea. Maybe yoiur milk is NOT rich enough to keep her filled. Try this to test that--express some milk in a small glass--like a juice glass--about a third or so full and let it sit. If your milk is rich, cream will form at the top of the milk--just like fresh cow's milk does. If it does not--you need some richer, more filling milk.

How do you get this--try drinking lots of milk yourself and lots of protein rich foods and 6 glasses of water each day! Get in some orange juice--DO NOT drink nutrient shakes and the such. You need to eat regularly and well! Also actual nursing (as opposed to expressing milk)promotes milk production and bonding---baby may need some bonding!

If nothing works--maybe the baby has a digestive issue--is she gaining weight--has proper bowel movements, etc.--Make certain all of that is normal too! If all fails--look up The LeLeche League--they help nursing Moms with ideas, worlds of experience and help---there are several groups in the area--find one close to you location!

Me--Mom of 2--Nana of 3--married 30 years to the same guy!