help with supply--here's what I'm trying so far...

notthebride123

Hi all--

Never have posted here before, but my baby is only 9 days old. She is not gaining weight (still down significantly from her birth weight) s =o today the dr recommended I supplement with formula after each feeding. Needless to say I spend the majority of the morning in tears and hyperventilaing. I am going to pump in conjunction with every feeding (just rented a Melena Symphony from the hospital) and I am also trying the following:

-drinking 1 or 2 cups milkmaid tea daily

-eating oatmeal for breakfast and possibly once again for a snack and eating oatmeal cookies

-taking capsule form of fenugreek/fennel/rrl (the dose is 3 daily)

-drinking non-alcoholic beer (recommended by the lac consultant for the brewer;s yeast)

What else am I missing? What else can I do? I am also going to see another LC on Wednesday for a fresh perspective.

As a sidenote, I am still thinking that my baby is possibly tounge-tied. My older daughter was and no one (several drs/LCs) couldn't tell for months. She was at least 2 months when someone mentioned it to me. The LC I will see on WEdnesday says she is expecierneced with determining several different tyoes of tounge ties.

Sorry for the misspellings. I am delusionally tired. (Oh yes, did I mention we also thin the baby has colic?)

I may lose my mind. TIA for the help!

 

rosiemomma

https://www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2011/06/top-ten-tongue-tie-myths.html

This is about tongue tie ^^

The best supply booster is to empty the breast as often as possible, by pumping or putting baby to breast. The more often you empty your breast  the more milk your body will make. Put baby  skin-to-skin as often as possible and ditch any artificial nipples (pacis/bottles) give the supplementation in a cup or dropper.

More here:

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html 

 https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/alternative-feeding.html

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/decrease-formula.html 

 

Cali1012

I know for me, pumping every 2 hours (regardless if I got much at all), helped tremendously with increasing my supply. Also, my daughter was born tongue-tied, but we didn't find out until she couldn't latch or eat after my milk came in. I think it's worth taking her asap to the LC or to a ENT specialist to get it looked at - that can definitely inhibit nursing and lower your supply if she's not nursing effectively (at least in my limited experience with it, that's what happened to us). 

MrsCAA

 

 Try compressions while pumping (i didnt have a hands free bra, and made DH massage/comress while i held the flanges for a wk until i got the hang of it) see link

https://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html

Pump after each feeding with a minimum of 10-15 minutes.

Rest, drink fluids, high fiber diet

It's OK, if you have to give formula, its better to give a little formula then end up in the ER being evulated for dehydration (thas was us) or worse

Also pump for you LC, and she can make sure you're flange sizes are correct, and a good LC can tell be looking at you're pumped milk if its colustum, transitional milk or milk. 

 - My milk took 13 days to come in (saw the LC every 3 days for 1 1/2 wks), and even then it was a low supply. But i worked and worked and didnt give up, only to find out at my 6 wk appt i have retained placenta. and once removed my milk supply was fine. Also it could be thyroid.

Christine&Chris

Sounds like you're on the right path. Keep in mind too your milk just might be slow to come in at only 9 days pp.  I LOVE my Symphony rental - it's what's helped the most, I think, in maintaining my supply (though I'm an EPer). I don't have a combo fenugreek pill, just the regular. The bottle says 6 caps a day; kellymom says 9+ (based on grams per dose), which is what I take (3x3/day). Maybe up that?

Drink 80-100oz of water and as crazy as it sounds right now - relax and sleep. Put baby to breast or pump every 2 hours, which is almost contradictory to the sleep point.  Are there any bfing support groups in your areas that do weigh ins to see what baby is transferring? - most likely LC group, hospital support group or LLLI would have it. Hang in there momma - you sound determined!!

JenGarden

It sounds like you're on the right track.  Definitely make sure you're drinking enough liquid (non-caffeinated) and eating enough calories.  I know it was difficult for me to eat right after I had DD - I was so tired and had my hands full.  Nurse, nurse, nurse, and spend as much time skin to skin as you can.

schoolsoutbride

You could also try a SNS (pic in my blog) to stimulate your boob while FFing and help her learn to nurse.

duncanpowers

Make sure you're eating enough calories for breastmilk, and I found that I could get a lot more brewers yeast by taking tablets of it instead of drinking beer. Unless you just like nonalcoholic beer