possible supply problem

ajlipsey

I don't think I have enough milk to satisfy my LO. Let me just tell you he has really bad AR so he throws up pretty much everything he just ate. Or at least it looks that way to me, but that's not after every time. But when that does happen he is just as hungry as before he ate and threw up. And I have nothing left! Or what I do have left isn't enough for him. I have been trying to pump in the morning but since this all started I don't even get to pump b/c by the time I can I"m empty! 

I will take any advice b/c right now I'm at a loss and feel like a failure at this. I don't want to give up BFing but I don't know what to do! And if I give him a bottle of pumped milk how much do I give an 8 wk old? It just seems like he's always hungry!

TIA! 

emberlee3

Hang in there!  It sounds like you are doing a great job.  Some babies with AR comfort nurse a lot because the milk is soothing to their irritated esophagus.  Even if it seems like he is spitting up a lot, it's probably only a few teaspoons.  If he is gaining weight and has enough wet/dirty diapers, then your supply is perfect.

It is also normal for BF babies to want to nurse constantly and seem hungry all the time, especially when they are so young.  Nursing on demand gives your body the signal to make more milk.

At this age, your milk supply is starting to regulate to what baby eats.  So in order to pump extra milk (like for a freezer stash) you need to add an extra pumping session every day at the same time (roughly) to signal your body to make more milk.

You can look on kellymom.com for info on how much pumped milk to feed (and tons of other helpful info about BFing).

Good luck!

bancbev

How many wet and poop diapers is he having a day?  That is the best (IMO) indicator if he is getting enough.