Emergency-Lactation problems

togmama

Baby Blues, other half going back to work, and low milk supply has me bawling like a baby. I pumped to check that I am giving my 5 day old adequate milk and I only could produce 1/2 an ounce in twenty minutes and there was a dead stop. He does poop and pee regularly; he isn't fussy but baby is already small (6 lbs 6 oz). I had a c-section so I'm praying the delay in engorgement is due to the major surgery. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR THIS DESPERATE MAMA? I need my milk to come in and let down 

obryana6219

Pumping isn't a good way of knowing how much your producing. Baby extracts milk much better than a pump. Try to relax when you nurse/pump. Have a designated place that's calm, has water and snacks, and is quiet. Not everyone feels a letdown either. I exclusively pump and I'm still working on increasing my supply through power pumping and extending my pumping sessions. Give it time.

Jenly17

Breathe, mama. I've totally been in your shoes! In fact, I could've written this verbatim when DD was born. My milk didn't come in for 4-5 days post-partum and I had a vaginal delivery.  Just because you don't feel full yet, doesn't mean that you won't soon!  Have you consulted with any of the LC's at your hospital, or looked around for a La Leche League meeting that you can attend? If not, I think this is one of the best steps that you can take.  

This is what I did when I was in your shoes:
-Ate oatmeal (rolled oats) for breakfast every damn day.  It was boring, but for me it helped my supply. 

-Attended a weekly post-partum support group/breastfeeding meeting. I cried through the whole thing bc I was tired, overwhelmed, baby blues AND that's ok! I still learned a lot, and all of the other new moms either felt the same way, or were super sympathetic and supportive.

-Hired an LC to come to my home to do a full check up on
myself: nipples, breast tissue, nursing positions, etc 
baby: latch, tongue tie, lip tie, etc.
my pump! Making sure that I was using it properly, it was fitting correctly, etc.
This visit alone made a world of a difference for me and DD. Once my LC determined that I had a low supply, she helped me find some great supplements that really boosted my supply.

Some of the supplements that I used were:
Motherlove More Milk Special blend
Malunggay 
Fenugreek

Sorry this is so long! It's overwhelming sometimes and you don't know where to turn but you have a lot of support here. Btw, I am no expert obviously, just someone who's been in your shoes, so take or leave any of this info, but I do hope it gives you a starting point. BIG HUGS! You can do this.

araecasey

If baby's peeing and pooping and is content and not losing a dramatic amount of weight, rest easy. Your milk will come in, your baby is okay. His smallness in itself isn't an issue; both small are large babies are just variations on normal. We just wanna keep an eye out that he starts growing in height/weight/head circumference soonish. @obryana6219 is spot on that pumping doesn't tell you a darn thing about your supply. There are lots of variables to explain, but please trust us that a pump can't tell you how much milk your breasts hold. Not all women experience engorgement in the beginning! Maybe you're one of the lucky gals who avoids it. I also completely agree with @Jenly17, a support group or support person of some kind could do worlds of good to offer you tips, encouragement, hands-on help, and to be your emotional safety net. HUGS! From what you've described, I'm not alarmed about your supply. You're doing great!