Breastfeeding Encouragement Needed

UofMWolverines · November 2011

Yesterday, I posted asking about the accuracy of the Wii Fit Plus to weigh LO because mine was indicating that my LO was not gaining weight. Today, we went to the pedi's office and as the Wii indicated, she has not gained any weight at all in the past two weeks. I have been feeding her at least every 2 1/2-3 hours during the day and every 3-4 hours at night -- basically, on demand -- these time frames have largely been dictated by her. I also feel like her feeding cues aren't always clear so anyway, in light of all of this information, we're speculating that I have low milk supply (particularly because my breasts do not always feel full after 2 1/2 hours between feedings), possibly due to my thyroid condition.

Sooo... now the plan is to continue to feed her at the breast and then to pump after each feeding. Pedi also wants us to feed her at least an ounce (really, as much as she wants) of formula/expressed breast milk in a bottle after each breastfeeding session. This low supply issue comes after having cup fed her in the hospital, then using a finger feeder, and now using a nipple shield... we've just been working so hard at this breastfeeding thing and it's so discouraging to run into another problem - let alone one that has resulted in LO not having gotten enough food for 2 weeks!

I'm not thinking about giving up... but some encouragement and maybe any thoughts re: low milk supply would be appreciated. I did start taking Fenugreek today and will obviously ask to have my thyroid levels checked at my upcoming 6 week postpartum visit.

mabst196 · November 2011

I've definately heard thyroid issues can cause supply problems. I'm sorry this is proving to be so difficult for you. Hopefully the pumping and fenugreek will help build the supply. Good luck to you! If you end up needing to supplement permenantly, don't feel like a failure. Any breast milk is better than none.

karinothing · November 2011

I am sorry you are having trouble. I think it is great that you want to continue nursing. I have heard from more than one mom that at 8 weeks things magically get easier. Perhaps this will be the case for you.

I personally would feed her expressed breast milk v. formula if possible. I would pump with each feeding. I know that it is hard, but it is possible to raise your supply.

Have you read Kellymom's website about low supply? https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

Good luck

btsrc5 · November 2011

(( hugs)) I am sorry you are going through this.

When DD was first born, I was trying to nurse her then pumping while Dh supplemented with a bottle of expressed BM at every feeding. My supply definitely went up, so much so that I had to stop pumping for a few days to get my supply to go down. I also used a nipple shield for the first 5 weeks.

You are awesome for continuing to try to BF even after all the set backs. Hang in there. If you have any questions or if I can help in any way, just let me know.

Runnergirl2242 · November 2011

You are doing great. You are doing your very best and I hope that it gets easier for you soon!

MrsLoos · November 2011

Breastfeeding can be so challenging. You should be proud of yourself for sticking it out this long and doing everything you can to make it work.
I've had my fair share of challenges with breastfeeding, mostly due to my babies being premature & in the NICU for several weeks. However, supply has also been an issue. You mentioned using a nipple shield. I'm not sure what your circumstances are for using it, but they can be a contributor to low supply, there is not as much stimulation to the breast when using a shield. There can also be issues with milk transfer when using a shield which could be playing a role in your LO's slow weight gain.
Good luck to you. And please don't beat yourself up about having to supplement. You are doing what's best for your baby!

Djcieply · November 2011

You are doing a great job! This week I got told by our pedi to start supplementing one feeding a day with formula he doesnt think DS is gaining the appropriate amount of weight. He also eats about every 2.5hrs when awake and I will let him go 3.5hrs when hes sleeping during the day. Some days (a lot of days actually) he takes NO naps so when he wants to eat every 2.5hrs its hard for my supply to keep up.

I have also been using a nipple shield, that Im trying to wean DS off of, so hopefully that will help! Dont beat yourself up you are a very strong woman for sticking with it for this long with all your set backs, I hope it gets better for you I know how frusterating it can be.

kujayhawkgirl · November 2011

I'm in your exact situation. Our DD is 4 weeks old today and still is not quite up to her birth weight. I started using a nipple shield at about 2 weeks, due to inverted nipples and DD having trouble latching in general. Then, the past 1.5 weeks, we have begun supplementing with fortified formula (basically, we mix more powder formula into the water to make it higher calorie). DD has been gaining weight consistently.

My mentality is that I am willing to do whatever it takes to be giving DD as much breastmilk as I can, which is better than no breastmilk at all! Our number one priority is the health of our LO, so if that means supplementing with BM or forumla, then so be it. At least I know I'm giving her what BM I do have -- I'm doing the best I can and so are you!

MrsClark8109 · November 2011

*HUGS* BFing is so much harder than I anticipated...yesterday randomly out of the blue my supply decided to tank by 1/2 @ pump sessions I usually got 4 oz at, I started getting 1-1/2. I too am trying the fenugreek and I hope it works...

Although it doesn't help with supply--try not to beat yourself up--you've done EVERYTHING you can to try to make this work for you and LO...and if you end up supplementing, you are doing the best thing for baby because you are making sure LO gets what LO needs...its not the end of the world.

ras26 · November 2011

Hang in there! My LO lost just over 9% of her birth weight and was very slow to gain it back. We too were using a nipple shield due to flat nipples. We were getting weight checks every week and it took until her appointment just before 4 weeks to finally exceed her birth weight. I cried every week when she fell short and I felt like I was starving her. To get past birth weight, I had supplemented with formula on only a couple of occasions, and we weaned off the breast shield, which was key. The turning point was at the pedi's office at around 3 weeks when LO was hungry and they told me to nurse her. I'd forgotten the nipple shield and was panic stricken because I didn't think I could get her to eat without it. I managed to get her to latch for just a minute or 2 and that was enough to get us over the hump and just a day later we were completely without the nipple shield. It's been better since, but I still supplement 1 feeding a day with formula because it keeps her from waking up every hour at night to start her off with a full tummy. Don't beat yourself up for supplementing if you have to. You have to do what is right for you and your LO. You're doing great!

StephK · November 2011

We had the same issues many in this thread experienced. Breastfeeding itself hasn't been much of a challenge for us, her latch is great, it doesn't hurt, but she wasn't thriving on my breast milk alone. She was gaining, but really slowly. Too slowly. Then, at one of her weight checks right before her 4 week appointment, she lost some weight. So, my pedi told us to supplement after every feeding. Knowing that I don't make enough calories in my BM, we chose to go with formula instead of expressed BM (plus, I hate pumping) and she put on weight immediately and hasn't stopped! She finally exceeded her birth weight at the next check and we backed off to just supplementing as necessary - if she's still hungry after nursing - and it has continued to work well. There are some days where she'll get three bottles (I try to pump with each bottle) and others where she's not interested at all.

Another secret that's worked for me to increase the BM calories is to feed one breast at a time, over a few hour window of feedings, to get as much hindmilk as possible. I had been offering each breast at each feeding and our theory is that she was getting too much foremilk. Since I started that, it seems to have helped, too. I keep at it because my LO still prefers nursing much, much, much more than ff feeding and definitely finds it comforting. I'll keep at it as long as I can.

You're doing the best that you can and getting your LO to thrive is the most important thing. Good luck!

EarthMommi1 · November 2011

karinothing:
I am sorry you are having trouble. I think it is great that you want to continue nursing. I have heard from more than one mom that at 8 weeks things magically get easier. Perhaps this will be the case for you.
I personally would feed her expressed breast milk v. formula if possible. I would pump with each feeding. I know that it is hard, but it is possible to raise your supply.
Have you read Kellymom's website about low supply? https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html
Good luck

This. I would start pumping and only try to feed BM. Breast milk is supply and demand, anytime you supplement with formula, you are decreasing demand from the breast and therefore decreasing supply. Read about this from Kellymom, as PP suggested. Also, if you haven't yet, get in to see a LC ASAP. There are also some prescription medications available to help increase supply as a last resort. I must add, as a nurse I really side eye your doctors quick suggestion to supplement... I hope he/she offered some help with BF or options for you before going that route.

cantalopes24 · November 2011

StephK:
We had the same issues many in this thread experienced. Breastfeeding itself hasn't been much of a challenge for us, her latch is great, it doesn't hurt, but she wasn't thriving on my breast milk alone. She was gaining, but really slowly. Too slowly. Then, at one of her weight checks right before her 4 week appointment, she lost some weight. So, my pedi told us to supplement after every feeding. Knowing that I don't make enough calories in my BM, we chose to go with formula instead of expressed BM (plus, I hate pumping) and she put on weight immediately and hasn't stopped! She finally exceeded her birth weight at the next check and we backed off to just supplementing as necessary - if she's still hungry after nursing - and it has continued to work well. There are some days where she'll get three bottles (I try to pump with each bottle) and others where she's not interested at all.
Another secret that's worked for me to increase the BM calories is to feed one breast at a time, over a few hour window of feedings, to get as much hindmilk as possible. I had been offering each breast at each feeding and our theory is that she was getting too much foremilk. Since I started that, it seems to have helped, too. I keep at it because my LO still prefers nursing much, much, much more than ff feeding and definitely finds it comforting. I'll keep at it as long as I can.
You're doing the best that you can and getting your LO to thrive is the most important thing. Good luck!

We had weight gain issues for different reasons but still had to up the calories so I pumped and we added powdered formula straight to the BM. I also find she feeds better if I dont switch breasts. Staying hydrated, eating non instant oatmeal, and trying to relax about it hs ready helped build my supply

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