Low milk supply

S.B.Thomas · March 2014

I seem to be having a low milk supply and need help with trying to increase supply for 18day old appetite. I had problems the first five days with her not latching. She would screen bloody murder anytime she got close to my breast. Then one day we tricked her and since then we have not had a problem BF. But at her two week apt she had not gained any weight from her first visit. She was not back up to birth weight and she only needed to gain 5oz.

She was also really fussy. Past five days I have BF and then given her formula because we didn't think I was producing enough. She feeds really strong, gulps at the breast for 5 min each side but then just stops. Not necessarily falling asleep but just stops sucking and goes to more of a chewing on me. I have tried to relach to get that strong suck but doesn't work and sometimes she just stares at me while at the breast.
I rented a scale and have been weighing her at feedings to see just how much she is getting and she is only getting an ounce to 1.25 oz. from me. I am pumping after while H gives her a bottle of formula or what I previously pumped and I am only getting .5-1 oz. She is eating typically 1.4-2oz of formula after BF.
Since adding the supplement she is not as fussy and is not needing a pacifier to sooth. Which is great but How do I get milk supple up to meet her needs? I tried ditching the formula but then she is hungry 45 min to an hour later and she is barely able to get 0.5oz.

mommatotwo2 · March 2014

I completely agree with @casey78‌. Your supply sounds fine. As hard as it is, try to trust your body and your baby to work together. She needs practice and newborns tire really easily. Even if she isn't falling asleep, her jaw could be getting tired. Put away the bottles, formula, the pump and scale for now. Get a bunch of snacks, plenty of water , a nursing pillow and a comfy spot in front of the tv or with a good book in hand and just nurse, nurse, nurse. When you aren't nursing, try skin to skin and just snuggle her. It all helps.

mommatotwo2 · March 2014

Also, you mentioned she wants to eat 45 minutes after the last feeding. That is totally normal behavior and that cluster feeding is actually a great way to boost supply.

BlueEyedDreamer · March 2014

I have been going through very similar issues since the birth of my LO with low supply and a slow climb back to birth weight.

My advice is to find a good LC. I definitely disagree with PPs who say to put away the formula and just nurse. I lurk on this board a lot, and while this advice is very often given in situations where it is appropriate, this is not one of those situations.

Your LO is 18 days old and still not back at birth weight. Until she reaches that weight, she needs a supplement. When I was resisting supplements, my LC explained to me that supplementing will help keep your LO strong in order to be a better, stronger nurser. Once she is back at birth weight, you can experiment more with returning to just BFing or slowly decreasing the amount of supplement you give. Unfortunately, 1.25 ounces per feeding is probably not enough to get her back to birth weight.

I've gone from pumping about 5mL at the very beginning to pumping about 2.5 oz now. What has worked for me in increasing my supply has been to be very consistent about nursing and pumping, try to power pump when you can, and nurse as much as possible. I nurse or pump (or both) every time that my LO feeds plus a few extras.

Also, 0-.5 oz. is a normal residual after pumping according to my LC. This is what will normally be left behind after nursing (or will be naturally produced during the time between that breast is emptied and the time you finish pumping).

mommatotwo2 · March 2014

I don't think there is anything wrong with supplementing and my first baby was formula fed, so no issues with formula. If you and your doctor feel your LO needs a supplement, by all means, give one. In the meantime, keep pumping when you give her one, to get your supply up. For the record though, I was not told that getting back to birth weight was a requirement before we could EBF. In fact, I was told to except some weight loss.

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