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Breastfeeding
Increasing Supply, I'm Kinda Clueless
My son JUST turned 6 months and has been EBF (although he started solids two days ago). At his appointment Friday, he hadn't gained any wight since 4 months--In fact, he'd actually lost about 5oz. I'm worried he isn't eating enough and he has been cranky for some time now--I'd chalked it up to his personality but after a good feeding of solids and breastmilk he's pretty happy acting. He's strong, hitting all of his milestones (quick!), not lethargic... Just the weight issue.
I only have one breast that produces milk. At pumping (which I just started doing yesterday morning to try to suppliment his feedings with a BM bottle) I get about 1oz out, sometimes a tiny bit less, sometimes a tiny bit more if I can stretch out when I pump/feed.
Little guy only nurses for about five minutes. It seems like after letdown happens, absolutely nothing else comes out--either in pump or for him. That first few minutes will happen then he spends the rest of the time suckling for a few seconds, moving his head away, suckling again, over and over. He wants to feed every 1-2 hours, which makes pumping a pain because there is really no time. Basically I feed him, pump an hour later, feed him an hour after that, pump the next hour, etc. At night, he can go 1.5-3.5 hours between feedings, depending.
Like I said, I've been pumping and trying to give him that extra 1-1.5oz pumped after whenever his next feeding is. I'm not making enough to stash and save up because he eats it before I get any kind of positive supply. I've been trying to also supliment with rice ceral in the morning and veggie puree at nights--Both after I've given him the breast first, of course.
I don't know... Any advice on what I can do? I really don't want to have to give him formula as I feel it'll lead to a path of just eliminating my supply all together. I'm also clueless so I might be going about this the wrong way, of trying to increase my milk. Any suggestions!
Thanks in advance.
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Re: Increasing Supply, I'm Kinda Clueless
Have you always produced on 1 side only? If so, any idea why? Is this the first time LO has had weight issues? Have you started hormonal birth control or any other medication recently?
I would continue to pump after feeds, wait 20-30 min then pump for 10 min on both breasts simultaneously. That will leave you 20-30 min in between feeds/pumping. Supply is mostly dependent on demand so increasing the number of times you feed/pump will help boost your supply. If there are other health factors at play you may benefit from this and taking galactagogues (fenugreek, other herbs, possibly Reglan or Domperidone, etc).
Aside from your supply, try feeding LO high calorie foods like avocado instead of rice cereal which isn't a calorie dense food.
Yeah, I had trauma to my left side that's left me with only one functioning breast, milk wise. I have an older child I nursed for about a year on just one side without supply issues. LO hasn't always had weight issues--he was born pretty lil (7 pounds) and never lost weight until this recent appointment, he actually double his weight pretty quickly, within under two months. Then it just sort of came to a halt. I'm not on any medication.
Thanks for the pumping advice, I suppose I'll try to pump more than I do but at once an hour as it is, it leaves me little time to do much else, especially if the baby needs attention.