BFing - 3 months and not enough milk?

melanie

My DD is a little over three months and up until now BFing has been going well. She has been gaining wieght nurses quickly,  but always pulls off smacks her lips and seems satisfied. This week she has been nursing longer and she seems frustrated, she pulls and kicks her feet like she can't get more. I have started giving her formula after she nurses and she will take another ounce. When I give her a bottle I pump, but so far it hasn't increased my supply she keeps acting frustrated.

 I am waiting for a call back from the lactation consultant.

Has this happened to anyone?It seems so strange that it was going so well and now its not.

 Thanks

amykins1283

Babies go through a growth spurt around 3 months.  This means that they will want to eat more.  The only way your are going to be able to keep up with her demands is to breastfeed her and stop supplementing with formula.  The best way to increase your supply is to let her go to town as much and as often as she needs to.  If you keep supplementing her then your breasts aren't going to get the signal to make more milk. 

She might be frustrated for a while but your boobs will eventually catch up and everything will work itself out. 

ETA:  Pumping in place of a feeding won't help increase your supply.  You need to pump between feedings or after she has gone to bed.  Basically, make your boobs think that she is eating an extra feeding. 

KRMac

amykins1283:

Babies go through a growth spurt around 3 months.  This means that they will want to eat more.  The only way your are going to be able to keep up with her demands is to breastfeed her and stop supplementing with formula.  The best way to increase your supply is to let her go to town as much and as often as she needs to.  If you keep supplementing her then your breasts aren't going to get the signal to make more milk. 

She might be frustrated for a while but your boobs will eventually catch up and everything will work itself out. 

This exactly.  She is letting your body know to make more milk.  Keep her on the boob and let her eat as much as possible...settle in on the couch with some snacks and lots of water and snuggle and nurse.   GL!   

BabyButler2010

amykins1283:

Babies go through a growth spurt around 3 months.  This means that they will want to eat more.  The only way your are going to be able to keep up with her demands is to breastfeed her and stop supplementing with formula.  The best way to increase your supply is to let her go to town as much and as often as she needs to.  If you keep supplementing her then your breasts aren't going to get the signal to make more milk. 

She might be frustrated for a while but your boobs will eventually catch up and everything will work itself out. 

ETA:  Pumping in place of a feeding won't help increase your supply.  You need to pump between feedings or after she has gone to bed.  Basically, make your boobs think that she is eating an extra feeding. 

This   GL!

jilicious

amykins1283:

Babies go through a growth spurt around 3 months.  This means that they will want to eat more.  The only way your are going to be able to keep up with her demands is to breastfeed her and stop supplementing with formula.  The best way to increase your supply is to let her go to town as much and as often as she needs to.  If you keep supplementing her then your breasts aren't going to get the signal to make more milk. 

She might be frustrated for a while but your boobs will eventually catch up and everything will work itself out. 

ETA:  Pumping in place of a feeding won't help increase your supply.  You need to pump between feedings or after she has gone to bed.  Basically, make your boobs think that she is eating an extra feeding. 

Yep, this. Formula is not the way to go because your body will never get that baby needs that extra ounce from you. If you are nervous about your supply, add a pumping session one hour after LO eats to your daily routine. 

ChristinaD09

Pumping after a feeding should definitely increase your supply.  Maybe not in place of a feeding, but after a feeding.  Because its just telling your body it needs to produce more milk than what it is. 

HOWEVER, its a growth spurt so I'd just BF and let her cry for the couple of days it takes to get your supply up.  My little guy never went through a noticeable one, because I pumped a few times a day too, until right around 11 weeks when I went back to work (and wound up with an oversupply issue).

ChristinaD09

Oh, and pumping before you go to bed won't work.  I do it.  I just get full a little bit before its time to pump (it will train your body to think you need that much milk right before bed--it won't give you extra milk all day or anything)

baby_tar_heel

You can also take fenugreek (find it at GNC or similar stores) to increase your supply the easy way!

SissyKate21

The only suggestion I have (that hasn't already been addressed) is the importance of hydration.

You MUST keep drinking a lot of water. From what I've heard from the ladies on this board, it is the #1 winner for keeping your supply going strong. 

That's not to say that there isn't something else happening (such as a growth spurt, etc.) and that's where all the other advice from pp's comes into play. 

GL!