- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Breastfeeding
RickeyandDani
member
I LOVE MY THREE KIDS!
Want great discounts?? Want to earn free Scentsy or even earn some extra money??
Click on the logo and ask me how!
Not meant to BF
RickeyandDani
member
It's 2 weeks now and I'm STILL trying to BF. The most I can pump is 1.5 oz total in a sitting. The LC from my hospital put in an order for a Medela Symphony (insurance will cover it for 3 months). Well she said she thought it would be delivered on Friday and it wasn't. I'm so worried my milk supply is going to dry up. This is the most frustrating 2 weeks of my life. If I'm not pumping, then I'm feeding DS with a bottle or trying to latch him. Everyone keeps telling me to give up and I just can't bring myself to until I've tried everything. I've seen several LC's at different resource places and it's come down to it being my milk supply. DS was 9lbs when he was born so I was not able to produce enough out the gate so to speak. He started off with wanting 3 oz right away. I'm so tired though.....from pumping and feeding I usually spend 1.5 hours from beginning to end. I'm also starting to experience what may be PPD I think. Are the hospital pumps REALLY that great at getting the milk supply in, or am I just not meant to BF? I'm also drinkings some herbal tea that a LC gave me- it's supposed to help boost the supply.
I LOVE MY THREE KIDS!
Want great discounts?? Want to earn free Scentsy or even earn some extra money??
Click on the logo and ask me how!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Not meant to BF
I think I am giving up too. I have had a hospital pump on rental for the past month and the most I get is 2oz from my first pump of the day, then it's all down hill from there. I turn in my rental pump tomorrow morning, and I have a used Medela PIS from my aunt that I could use but really I don't see the point.
I like you feel like I spend the whole day trying to breastfeed or pump, and with only three weeks left of maternity leave, I think I would rather spend them loving on LO than trying to get milk from dry boobs. It kills me to say this and I burst into tears thinking about it, but enough is enough.
If you still have it in you to keep trying, then go for it. A lot of women are successful EP'ers, but if you are really getting down about it, then let it go and try not to beat yourself up about it.
Good luck!
Sorry you are having struggles mama - the first weeks are tough!
A few things...
That's actually a very normal amount for the beginning. A newborn's tummy is very tiny - 3 oz is actually too much for a two week old. They'll take more from a bottle because they like to suck, not because they are actually hungry. You might find this page helpful - https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html. Even a 9 pound baby only needs a little in the beginning. Don't let your baby's size or the amount you get from the pump make you think you aren't going to be able to keep up.
How are baby's diapers? This is a good guide for how many he should have and a better indicator of if he's getting enough than the pump: https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#supply
Are you hoping to only pump or do you want to only nurse? How often are you nursing? The first thing to try would be to nurse more often - try having a "nurse in" where all you do is sit in bed or on a comfy couch and snuggle and nurse all day (skin to skin contact is great) - don't worry about anything else! Just nursing is far less time consuming than trying to pump on top of that.
You've probably already heard this but do make sure you are eating and drinking a ton - force yourself to drink lots of water. And really try not to think about anything else.
I would also suggest contacting your local La Leche League - llli.org - you can call a leader any time and it's free. They may have some more ideas for you to try.
Good luck!
Breastfeeding Counselor with Breastfeeding USA
Babywearing Guide ** Newborn Carriers
Cloth Diaper Guide
Safe Bed Sharing Info
You are meant to breastfeed! Don't give up! Ncbelle already gave you great advice, but I just wanted to say that my first 3 1/2 weeks were just like yours. 1 1/2 hour feedings with the nursing attempts, feeding pumped milk, and then pumping. I then had 1/2 hour to 1 1/2 hours in which to sleep, eat, and sob uncontrollably about how we were never going to figure this out. It was the hardest thing I've ever done and it was worth it. You will get it!
Yes, pumping is still worth it! Your LO is only 2 weeks old, and your body works to gauge your supply up until about 6 weeks, although you can still increase it from there. I also had a horrible supply from the start, but due to some stupid advice from one of the peds in my office, we didn't discover my low supply until my DD was 6 weeks. I basically missed the window to establish my supply. I still pumped after every feeding until she was 12 weeks though. I stopped for a while, but I recently started again. Believe me, I know how much it sucks. It takes forever and you feel like literally it is all you're doing. Then there's the guilt and the feelings of failing, on top of the emotional roller coaster that is PP recovery anyway. I cried sooooo so much during those first weeks of her life. Every single day, until sometime in month 3 did I cry.
I am also one of those people who feels like I have to do every.single.thing I can before I give up. Otherwise I will beat myself up about it forever. Pumping is the first thing you must do. You can also eat lactation cookies (google for recipes) which are basically oatmeal cookies with flax seed meal and brewer's yeast in them. Or, if you don't have time to cook (Which I'm assuming you don't with a 2 week old!) then you can just eat oatmeal every day with the flax seed meal and brewer's yeast sprinkled on top. Then there are supplements, fenugreek + blessed thistle is a very good one. Many women on here (including myself) take either More Milk Plus or More Milk Special Blend, which you can get from motherlove.com or they have a store finder. There is also a prescription drug called Reglan, or another version called Domperidone. Reglan can have serious side effects, and domperidone you will have to find a compounding pharmacy. These drugs may not be ideal for you though, since you mentioned PPD, and depression can be a side effect.
I have to tell you that it is so tough, one of the hardest things I've ever done, was dealing with a low supply. The things that got me through it were 1) making small goals. First it was 8 weeks, then 12 weeks, then 4 monhts, 5 months, and now 6 months. 2) Once I finally accepted that I was willing to do all this, and that I wanted to keep doing all that work, it suddenly became easier. 3) Enjoy every single breast feeding session you have, even the ones that end with you crying in frustration because your baby won't latch. I know it sounds impossible, but this is all part of your journey. Once we got DD to latch I realized that I needed to make it a point to enjoy her. Play with your LO's toes, rub their back, rub their head, do whatever. THIS is what you're working so hard for.
My DD is now 5 1/2 months old, and she still gets some formula. She gets about half formula, and half breast milk. I'm sad and a little bitter that she can't get full breast milk, but I'm proud of myself for still being able to give her something. You CAN do this. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. If you end up having to give some formula, it is ok. You are still enjoying all the benefits of BFing as long as you are giving some milk too.
Sorry this is so long!
I'm so sorry you're going through this! I can imagine how frustrated you must feel, not to mention exhausted from trying (as if having a newborn isn't exhausting enough).
I wish I had some helpful advice, but all I can suggest is continuing to do whatever you can to pump and give your munchkin whatever milk you can get and supplementing with formula.
Honestly - don't beat yourself up if you can't. You clearly are trying everything under the sun and that speaks volumes as to what kind of mother you already are. There are greater tragedies in life than this, and more than breastmilk, your baby needs YOU!
A happy mommy is much more important. You're in my thoughts - please try not to be so hard on yourself!
Wow! This board is by far one of the most supportive ones I've ever been on. You ladies are all wonderful and inspiring. The last LC I saw, the one who put in the order for the hospital grade pump swears that it will help increase my milk supply. DS does seem most at peace the rare times I'm able to latch him and when I unlatch him and see milk in his mouth, it gives me hope.
The more research I've been doing it really sounds like I'm getting PPD and that just isn't helping me. Tomorrow is LO's 2 week check up so I'm going to have a talk about all this stuff tomorrow. I hope the pump gets delivered tomorrow. Even my sister who was the super duper successful EBFer for 4 kids says if after 1 more week nothing is happening I should give up. I'll try this pump once I get it and give it a chance. It's just too much to be in "limbo" with a newborn and no sleep.
I LOVE MY THREE KIDS!
Want great discounts?? Want to earn free Scentsy or even earn some extra money??
Click on the logo and ask me how!
One of the best pieces of advice I got on this board is that breastfeeding doesn't have to be all or nothing. I struggled with doing the triple feeding (breastfeed, then supplement with a bottle, then pump) for several weeks, but I realized that it was taking away from my joy with my child. So I just started breastfeeding and supplementing with a bottle, and pumping when I could. I'm glad I kept it up, because now that I'm at work, I can get in a couple of pumping sessions during the day that don't take away from my time with her. My daughter BFs in the morning (followed by a small bottle of formula, of which she usually takes 2 oz), then takes a bottle while I'm at work during which time I pump, then we BF at lunch, then she'll usually take one or two more bottles before I get home, and I get in another pump session before I get home. I usually BF once or twice when I get home and she'll take another bottle.
With three pumping sessions during the day, I usually get enough milk to give her one and a half bottles (so I save the extra half until the next day - so she gets one or two 4 oz breast milk bottles a day). It's not much, and it IS a lot of work for what she's getting, but I'm so glad I didn't give up - and I wanted to many times. And many people advised me to. But I love our morning nursing sessions and it makes me feel good to know that she's getting some breast milk. If you can't EBF, that doesn't mean you can't still be a breastfeeding mom and get that bonding time with your baby, and give your baby the benefits of breastmilk!
The only things that really seem to help my supply are oatmeal and lots of water. I've started trying power pumping, which is ten minutes on/ten minutes off the pump for an hour. We'll see how that goes - maybe that could be something you could try?
Best of luck to you, hon. I know it's stressful, but please don't pressure yourself. If you want to give up, that's fine and you're still a GREAT mom. It just sounds to me like you're not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
Aww, your little man is so cute!
OK, back to the topic at hand. Please don't say things like "I wasn't meant to breastfeed." Yes you were. You're producing milk. That's enough to start. I disagree with your sister who said to give it only one more week. I did not feel comfortable bfing until about 6 weeks into it. We had a lot of issues to overcome and it was stressful/tiring/hard.
That being said, if you are experiencing ppd, then you'll have to outweigh the benefits of bfing to the stress that it is causing you. Don't feel guilty about doing what you need to do.
If yo want to continue bfing, pumping is an option. I used a hospital grade pump from the beginning and for the first 3 months. I had latching issues so I had to pump almost exclusively for the first few weeks. I definitely had great success pumping with the hospital pump. So it's worth a shot. I now use a medela pisa and get about the same output. So who knows if it's different.
I know it's hard. I've been there. I would cry during feedings and it was just so frustrating. I remember my confidence continually being shot and thinking I couldn't do it. But I stuck with it. It got better. And now it is so wonderful. I hope you can have the same experience. GL!
TTC#2 October 2011. June 2012 diagnosed with mild PCOS and both tubes blocked.
10/1/12 miracle BFP 11/12/12 missed m/c (9w2d), baby stopped growing at 7 weeks
1/16/13 BFP, EDD 9/27/13, m/c 1/19/13
2/12/13 BFP, EDD 10/25/13 Please stick little one
A stowaway on board!
The best thing that I ever did was my shift in thinking from "OMG, I have to nurse x amount of times, etc." to making most of the nursing sessions big snuggle sessions with DD. I know what you mean by wanting to enjoy them while you have time. I figured out how to nurse lying down and while on the computer (and even in a sling while doing stuff around the house), so nursing also doesn't feel like a huge barrier to everything else I would like to do. Obviously you need to get a good latch worked out first, but once you do, it'll be a lot easier.
We do have to supplement with formula still, and I am still working on increasing my supply (I have PCOS, so I'm fighting the hormones). Fenugreek and blessed thistle helped, and I'm trying some other stuff too. I'm also drinking more water and trying to pump more often. We're holding the line at 6 ounces per day of formula, but she is getting a lot of milk too.
Try to take a couple of days and just lie in bed and nurse your baby. That is my favorite part of the weekend - to sleep in and snuggle and nurse.
OMG!! Ryan is SOOOO cute! That picture has the best "Hello World" expression EVER! Congratulations on your beautiful new baby!
I don't think I need to write much because the other ladies have really covered all angles. I have big babies and no one ever implied I could not produce enough milk for them because they were big- and I have the smallest little boobs ever! I bet my boobs themselves combined don't even amount to 12 ounces! This pumping and quantifying is freaking you out and it's totally not fair! I don't even understand why are they making/telling you to pump? Why? Why? Why? Why not just nurse your baby and make sure he's having enough wet and poopy diapers? Nursing a baby in the postpartum period is HARD WORK and I have NO IDEA why it seems like the IN THING to make new moms pump in adition to everything else so their milk output can be quantified! and their self esteem and confidence smashed to smithereens? I don't get it and of course you are exhaused and feeling overwhelmed! My goodness. Big hugs to you Mama- you CAN do this... is there a LLL group in your area? I think you would really benefit from meeting some other nursing moms and being surrounded by their support.
This was us too..Except I didn't stop worrying he was gaining until about 6-7 weeks. DS still takes 40+ min to nurse, but now that I know he's gaining weight, it's relaxing. The beginning is tough, esp. if your baby does not get the hang of it (mine did not, he was jaundiced, had to pump to bring in supply b/c he wasn't nursing and I had to supplement). It is worth it:)