XP from BF board: Low supply BM after C-Sec

OleMissBride · February 2012

Posted this on the BF board, but hought some other CS mommas could help since I've heard CS can affect milk supply....

LO is now 9 days old and we've not gotten the latch down still. While in the hospital still, nurses and LC's encouraged suplimenting since she wouldn't latch- which we did. I still began to pump, but now looking back, it was only every 4-5hrs and not 24/7. Now a week later, still not latching, we're still having to supliment(I'd say 80%), and I started the every 2hr pump yesterday(to total aprox 10x/ day) to work on increasing supply- with my goal to move to EPing and no formula.

The most I've been able to pump is between 3 and 15ml, with about 10 being the average. Is this looking like a long term supply issue? Did anyone have a simmilar situation and was able to increase supply to make enough to EP(or anywhere close)? How long on average did it take to increase?

Between the 2-3 LC's at the hospital + the one at our Ped, we've tried several different 'schedules' over the past week and I'm affraid it's screwed up the consistancy.

FWIW:
- LO was C-sec at 39 wks
- I've upped water intake starting yesterday until I was about to float away, eating oatmeal
- I'm using a hospital grade Medela(starting last Thursday, used an older pump from Tues-Wed)
- Apparently I have moderate inverted nipples which is part of the latching problem
- Pedi doesn't reccomend using Fenugreek or any of the other natural products...going to do some research on this on my own today.

Any thoughts or help is GREATLY appreciated! I'm getting frustrated and don't want to use formula, but I'm not seeing much hope...

magdalina.h · February 2012

I have inverted nips and had to use a nipple shield or I pumped a few minutes beige nursing to pull them out. Pump every time she eats. Fenugreek is highly encouraged. She doesn't need a lot of milk right now so just keep pumping

treble_clef · February 2012

Keep trying to breastfeed. Your baby needs to keep practicing. Have you tried massage therapy or acupuncture? It took my friend (who had a vaginal delivery) about 15 days until she could stop supplementing with formula. She went to get a massage from a lactation specialist (like a lactation midwife, sort of.). She said it was very painful, but it worked well. My acupuncturist tells me to come to see her if I have too little or too much breast milk too.

You do need to drink A LOT of water, more than you were supposed to when you were pregnant.

Good luck!!

pitterpatter129 · February 2012

First, pumping output has absolutely nothing to do with how much the baby is actually eating. Has your LC done a weighted feed? About 1/2 an ounce to 2 ounces is a perfectly average pumping amount for most women. My milk didn't come in until day 10, so you're still in the "normal" range of days! Babies this age have a tummy the size if a large marble, so a little goes a long way, bit not a ling time! Keep feeding every 1-2 hours! If you still feel you are having supply issues in a few weeks, I'd contact the LC again. Don't forget to feed yourself and drink lots of water. If baby is having a lot of poopy and wet diapers and is gaining weight, then you don't have a supply issue. Good luck! (phone = no paragraphs, sorry)

JAP09-02 · February 2012

While I had a relatively easy time BFing at the beginning, I did switch to EPing around 6 weeks. At that point DD was sleeping through the night, so I did too. Big mistake! It took a lot of work to get my supply up. I did the oatmeal every morning and fenugreek as well. I also started pumping every 3 hours throughout the day. What I think helped the most was doing a power pumping session right before I went to bed. I'd pump 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off for an hour. I think if you give it some more time at current schedule you'll see results. GL!

jrew2u · February 2012

I wish I had some good advice like the other ladies have given you. I had the same problem only after week 8 of supplementing and pumping every feeding my milk dried up. I got to the point where I was pumping (TMI) blood. I tried fenugreek, mothers milk tea, ect ect ect... Nothing seemed to help. I had a VERY scary labor and the doctors felt that my body had just gone under too much stress. I hope that your supply comes in and that you have a much better outcome than I. Good Luck!

kimsy · February 2012

LucyD1029:
Definitely continue nursing. I used a nipple shield for 6 weeks without any negative effects. I pumped after almost every session. It took weeks to get the latch down.

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I had pretty much the same experience (after a vaginal birth, though). By six weeks, I'd say I was bordering on oversupply. Don't worry--it takes a while, but it often works itself out.

Stephanie2167 · February 2012

I also used a nipple shield for 6 weeks. Then at that point she finally "got it" and we were smooth sailing from there. Check more into Fenugreek. I used it.

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