Need your breastfeeding expertise!

alysonmh

Breastfeeding is so important to me so I'm pretty frustrated with the issues I'm having. I had no issues when breastfeeding my daughter 10 years ago, I had more milk than I knew what to do with so I thought it would be the same this time around but I was wrong. I just don't seem to be producing quite enough and was hoping to get tips from other moms who may have experienced similar issues.

My son is now 10 days old.  For the first 3-4 days I breastfed exclusively but my son lost 14% of his body weight so the pediatrician recommended we supplement with formula until my milk came in. I cried for an hour after the appointment because I was so disappointed in myself for not producing enough and for having to give him formula. So after breast feedings we began giving our son 2 ounces of formula to help fill him up and gain some weight back. Today, 6 days later he is now only taking 1 ounce of supplemented formula after I breastfeed him maybe 3 times a day. So I know my supply is increasing but I thought by now (10 days after birth) he wouldn't be needing any formula what so ever. I've tried fenugreek and I will let him nurse for over an hour back an forth between breasts before I will offer the ounce of formula to supplement.

My OB has prescribed Reglan to increase my supply but I haven't started taking it because of the potential side effects, I consider it more of a last resort. She also recommended pumping for 5-10 minutes after each feeding to create more of a demand but I feel like if I'm nursing him for at least an hour each time, how can an extra 5 minutes help? His latch is great, the only issue is that he has is falling asleep at the breast a lot. I will change him between breasts, dress him down to his diaper and play with his hands/head to try and keep him awake.

Am I not doing something I could be? Does anyone have experience with how effective Reglan is and if so what side effects did you experience? Do you think the extra 5-10 minutes of pumping could really make a difference if I'm already nursing so long? Did your milk increase even after 10 days after birth? Any other tips?

I just want to say I know formula isn't the devil and giving him a few ounces a day isn't the end of the world but I really want to exclusively breastfeed. I'm also concerned that if I don't get my supply up it will vanish after I return to work. As it is I can't get more than half an ounce when I pump if I'm lucky. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Melody330

First, hugs! You are doing a great job.

The most important thing I can tell you is ANY time baby gets a bottle, you need to pump. It signals your body to make more milk. Even if you just nursed for an hour, you MUST pump if you give a bottle. I would even say to increase pump time to 10-15 minutes to help stimulate a letdown. You can freeze or put pumped milk in fridge and supplement with that instead of formula.

I know it seems tedious, but pumping is an absolute necessity if you're going to give a bottle. I would be hesitant to start taking meds without it.

Good luck!

LunaBug924

Pumping is definitely your best bet to increase your supply. And like pp said, even if you just nursed, if you're offering a bottle at all, you need to pump. It's likely that you won't get much the first few times. It can be discouraging, but trust the process! Your body will get the message to make more milk.

Good luck, mama, you're doing great!

VitaLuna

I pumped after feedings early on, as well.

Also, just because LO is drinking the extra formula, doesn't mean he necessarily needs it or is still hungry. Do your best to keep him awake while eating (a challenging task, I know!), and maybe stop the bottles to see how his weight does. Or, if you have the resource for a weighted feed, you can try a few of those. You may be making enough now and just don't know it.

I have struggled with supply from day 1. I don't know that I personally would do reglan. I think there are other options out there (fenugreek, lactation cookies, lots of water, etc) that would be best to try first.

clwheel

I would agree with pumping after feeding. The pedi told me to start getting used to pumping around 2 weeks I believe it was so I may have given myself an over supply but I started pumping for 10 minutes or so after every feed. You can also try some power pumping to see if that helps. That helped me when I was sick.

Good luck You're doing great if he's only down to a 1 ounce supplment anyways!!