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February 2011 Moms
Lilleybug
member
If you are breastfeeding come in (long sorry)
Lilleybug
member
Long story short I had a hard delivery and lost a lot of blood so my milk did not come in right away. In fact, I never even had colostrum (I know because I had several nurses and lactation consultants come in and try to hand express some and nothing came out). Finally, after a week after I delivered, I finally got some milk. I was pumping every 2 hours and at first all I got was 1-2ml! I tried Fenugreek, didnt really do anything. I am now trying Mothers Milk Tea.
I tried breastfeeding for 10-20 minutes or for however long he would latch on for, then supplementing with formula and then pumping. I did this round the clock for 2 days every 2 hours and it was way too much. Then I tried letting him latch on for 10-20 minutes and formula feeding or just formula feeding and then pumping. Now I get 15-20ml every time and he is still feeding about every 2-3 hours.
My goal is to EBF. Someone said I should stop giving him formula during the day and just let him feed off of me whenever he wants. Im just afraid he is going to get really frustrated or that my body is not going to produce enough for him. I do realize though it is a supply/demand type of thing so in theory the more I BF him I should produce more and more each time. Anyway, I am just looking for advice. It feels like every nurse, person, or even lactation consultant I talk to has a different opinion. So if you were me what would you do? Continue to BF and supplement or FF and pump (I try to BF more than pump but sometimes he is fussy and it is easier to FF and just pump depending on his mood) or would you try to stop FF during the day and only EBF?
Im afraid that because he was in the NICU and was FF 2-2.5 oz every 3 hours he is used to getting a lot more than what I am currently producing. I never knew BFing could be so complicated!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: If you are breastfeeding come in (long sorry)
If you are determined to EBF, I would ditch the formula as soon as possible. Don't cut out all of it, but at least try to nurse first and if he gets frustrated and can't get enough, then add 1oz of formula.
My LO cluster fed last night from 10pm until 4am straight. Maybe a few 10 minute breaks. After a couple of hours, I sat there starting to panic because my boobs were like jello by then and I wondered where I could possibly get more milk for my giant baby.
I just kept latching him on and wouldn't you know it, while he was sucking, my breasts somehow managed to make more milk. You just need to get as much stimulus as possible. However, if LO gets too frustrated in the process, then helping out with pumping and formula is necessary to keep everyone sane, obviously.
With DS1, I messed around with some formula in the beginning as well. We had tons of issues but eventually managed to EBF until 13 months. It just took almost 2 months to get there but it was WORTH every tear I cried. Hang in there!
I think we will try it. No formula and offer 1 oz after if he is still hungry. How long should I go on each side? Or should I just let him go on one side until he is full and do the other side the next time? Or let him feed on one side until he is full and pump the other? I feel like I am making this more complicated than it needs to be!
The LC's at our hospital always said to feed from one and then burp LO and offer the other. If baby doesn't end up wanting/needing to nurse on other side then pump it. But alternate which side is being nursed first.
I agree with divakotka. I've had many of those "jello boob" moments, but somehow my body always produces and she is satisfied. As long as LO in latching, then let him go to town.
IMO, if he has a good latch and it is going well then I would let him feed on one side until full...just until you both completely get the hang of it.
I would feed on one side til he pulls off, burp, offer the other side, burp, and then try to offer the other side again. It'll help increase your supply and fill him up enough.
OP, is this 2hr nursing sched. happening every day since he was born, or did this start recently? If it started recently, chances are it's just a growth spurt and will pass in a day or so. Growth spurts happen at 2wks old, 4-6wks, then 3 months, then 6 months, and again around 9 months. Babies tend to nurse either every hour on the hour, or more than that. They're trying to get your body to make more milk.
Also, keep hydrated. Drink one whole 8oz glass of water EVERY time you sit to pump or breastfeed, ON TOP OF what you already drink. Even if you just had a glass of water/sweet tea/juice/whatever, grab a full glass of water too. Keeping hydrated helps you keep a good supply.
It started when he was in the nicu and he was there for 10 days so he is pretty set on that schedule. His pediatrician also recommended trying to feed every two hours and then supplement with formula. I just tried feeding him. He did 30 min on one side and 20 on the other and then drank 1 oz of what I had pumped and 1 oz of formula. He still seems to be hungry. I was not aware babies nursed so often since he was formula fed for over a week and I had no milk until recently. Maybe I will try nursing him again within the hour and let him go as long as he wants to.