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Success after IF
MrsRyan61804
member
Afraid my supply is tanking =(
MrsRyan61804
member
I have been exclusively breastfeeding since friday, Jack seems happy and is going 2.5-3hrs between feedings. Tuesday I got a pump and have started pumping after his feeding. At first I was getting 1-2oz combined from both breasts. I just pumped after a feeding and it wasn't even enough to coat the bottom of the bottle. Should I be worried? What can I do to increase my supply?
Forever in our hearts
~12/05 * 7/06 * 12/06 * 4/07 * 10/08~
"When the world says, "Give up" hope whispers, "Try one more time"
After 4yrs, 5 IUI's, 2 IVF's, 2 FET's, PGD, and 5 losses our little miracle is finally here!
~12/05 * 7/06 * 12/06 * 4/07 * 10/08~
"When the world says, "Give up" hope whispers, "Try one more time"
After 4yrs, 5 IUI's, 2 IVF's, 2 FET's, PGD, and 5 losses our little miracle is finally here!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Afraid my supply is tanking =(
Oh honey. This is not something you need to be worried about 1 week out... your supply isn't ANYWHERE near where it will be in the coming weeks/months... at 1 week and 1 day it's not even all the way in yet.
Ditto everything Gypsy said. Now's not the time to be trying to get extra milk.
Seriously, for most people at 1 week you're only getting a small fraction of what your body will be doing by 6 weeks.. 12 weeks. The tummy of a newborn only holds an ounce or so, so it's not unreasonable for your body to only make that much.
Also, you'll get different amounts at different times of the day.
Sorry this is so scattered.. I'm trying to help Jack write a letter at the same time.
Um... what else... no offense to Davez but do NOT go taking fenugreek or any other supplement till you have a reason to believe your supply is inadequate.. Fenugreek can be really really tough on a baby's tummy... especially really little ones.
But, if you want to help things along you should 1) get as much sleep as possible 2) drink tons of water 3) feed your body lots and lots of nutritious calories 3) eat almonds and oats!
You're doing great mama! NO reason to be worried right now!!!
ETA: and the most logical explanation for you situation is that your little one probably just ate a little extra! No worries!!!
Aw..... guys - her little one is only a week old! And she's talking about pumping AFTER a feeding. There's no reason to go get prescriptions!
Nothing abnormal is going on here! She's doing great!
I bet your supply is fine, as long as baby is happy, don't worry about it!
Baby is much more efficient than the pump so I wouldn't be surprised if you pump a lot less. I was pumping after a feeding with baby #1 and ended up with a painful over supply and then mastitis and then a yeast infection from the anti-b's to fight the mastitis...yuk!
If you want to start building a freezer stash I'd start by pumping once a day about an hour or so after baby eats. Don't be surprised if you only get 1-2 oz, that's a good start. If you are worried about getting away and having something for baby sitters, you really only need one or two bottles in the freezer. Baby will eat that while you're away and you'll pump that much when you get home, it's a revolving door thing.
GL! and I second kellymom.com tons of good info there
Listen to HannahandBen!!!!!! It is VERY VERY VERY unlikely that your supply is tanking. A pump bears NO RESEMBLANCE to your baby's suckling at the nipple - and what a pump gets out of your boob right now - means nothing.
Listen to HannahandBen. Drink plenty of water. Eat nourishing food. Get rest (when the baby sleeps.) Put baby to breast constantly - MORE than you think is "normal" - and let baby suckle away to his little heart's content. THAT will build up your supply. Oh and hold baby against your skin with baby in just a diaper - do this a lot.
"When it comes to sleeping, whatever your baby does is normal. If one thing has damaged parents enjoyment of their babies, it's rigid expectations about how and when the baby should sleep." ~ James McKenna, Ph.D., Mother Baby Behavioral Sleep Center, University of Notre Dame
Hannah -- do you have that FAQ you did on BFing handy? Maybe time for a repost?
You really are doing great Mrs. Ryan -- please please don't let this one time pump after a feeding make you feel inadequate. There's no reason to suspect you need any kind of supplement or Rx at this point. You may, it's true, but right now just concentrate on the basics. Feed on demand, rest, eat well, stay hydrated...you are doing wonderfully!
ditto hannah, it's way too early to worry about supplements and stuff. Unless baby is getting super fussy, sleeping less or not gaining weight try not to be so concerned. I'd call an LC long before I'd start supplementing.
I know BF'ing can be scary because you really have no idea how much baby is getting - super frustrating for a control freak like me
You just need to relax, watch baby, and let your body do it's thing!
E
I think after less than a week, you are doing fine. Pumping gets less than the baby...
also I never got 1oz one week after starting.
Supply isn't established for 6-12wks - forget what it is, but that means you won't get a consistent amount.
Water, fenugreek/blessed thistle, oatmeal or my acupunturist says congee since it is easy to digest (i never ate congee though). I ate a lot of oatmeal bars.
agreed!!! hon, you're doing JUST fine. go to kellymom.com and read up on supply and demand issues (heck, read as much of that website as you can). so long as those diapers are wet and dirty as often as they should be, you have nothing to worry about. I didn't start pumping (to build up a stock in my freezer so DH could bottle feed) until 2 weeks, and even that was early to pump. in those early days, I'd only get an ounce or so (and really, even now with a pretty well established supply, there are times when I only get an ounce out of one side). your baby is WAY more efficient at getting milk from you than your pump is. promise.
so relax, stay hydrated, and enjoy that baby!
Because we're fancy like that.
I just looked and I can't find the link anymore.. maybe someone else has it??
It turned into the BEST thread!! We had tons added to it by the bf'ing & ep'ing mamas on this board!
This is exactly what I was thinking.
LO #1 - 1 unmedicated/self-monitored IUI w/ donor sperm.
LO #2 - 1 m/c, 2 BFNs, 4th IUI worked (unmedicated/self-monitored with new donor sperm).
Life is beautiful!
Rule #1: Never judge your supply by how much you can pump. Judge your supply by how happy your LO is and whether s/he has adequate wet/dirty diapers for his/her age.
Rule #2: Low intervention suggestions: Eat oatmeal and almonds. Drink lots of water. Yes, there are ways of stimulating your supply, but this early, there's no need to bring on the big guns. Your supply isn't in yet.
Rule #3: If you really are concerned, first call a lactation consultant before self-medicating. They can do a weighed feeding to determine how much your LO is getting because of Rule #1.
You are doing great for where you are!! Just keep feeding on demand.
Thank you so much ladies. I feel so much better after reading this. I had no idea how overwhelming this could be. I did read having a great support system is key so thank you for cheering me on. My Dh made me lactation cookies today and since they are pretty yummy I hope them work. I am going to lay off the pumping and just listen to my baby. I just thought the sooner Dh could get up at 3am to feed the happier we would all be
Thank you all again!
~12/05 * 7/06 * 12/06 * 4/07 * 10/08~
"When the world says, "Give up" hope whispers, "Try one more time"
After 4yrs, 5 IUI's, 2 IVF's, 2 FET's, PGD, and 5 losses our little miracle is finally here!
Chiming in with all the other ladies to say you are doing a great job. Honestly, the one thing they don't teach you in classes is that you really have to just TRUST your body and TRUST your baby. You were both made for each other - literally! Think about cave women (hah - you know what I mean!) They had no choice but to just keep feeding. These first few weeks are such a critical time and if you stop trusting your body you can easily wind up supplementing when you don't need to, which reduces your supply, which causes you to supplement more and before you know it you've weaned.
Keep up with wet and dirties, rest rest rest, eat eat eat, stay hydrated and keep at it!
And honest - if you need advice, a pep talk, or just to b!tch, post as much as you need to
I am a runner, knitter, scientist, DE-IVF veteran, and stage III colon cancer survivor.