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December 2015 Moms
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Breastfeeding: not producing enough

BethP321BethP321 member
in December 2015 Moms
I feel completely upset, frustrated and depressed that I can't produce for my baby. I'm producing milk, but not enough. I can't pump a bottle to take when I leave the house and today he has been non stop feeding, but he's not swallowing anything. He is on a three hour nonstop feeding spree right now and I'm extremely aggravated. How can I "up" my milk production? I don't have an appetite, I could go for days without eating, but I obviously don't. I drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. I am so envious of women who can pumps ounces and ounces in a day. When I pump before feeding I still only produce maybe a half oz both breasts combined. I'm about to give up and formula feed, but I love to BF and don't want to lose that bond. I need any advice I can get... I'm mentally losing it.
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Re: Breastfeeding: not producing enough

  • Court11152325Court11152325 member
    @BethP321 it sounds like your LO might be going through a cluster feeding/growth spurt. Letting him suckle (even if you don't think he's getting anything) is a great way to help stimulate your supply. It's hard even for those with a good supply to keep up during a cluster feed!! My LO is just coming off of a 3 day cluster feed. My nipples hurt and I felt like she wasn't getting a thing, but she had plenty of poopy and wet diapers. That's the best way to truly judge your supply!

    Don't give up momma! Check out resources like kellymom and know that your body was made for this.
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  • leek71983leek71983 member
    I had the same issue in the beginning. I met with a LC and tried several things that didn't increase the supply. What I finally decided on was a little of everything. When LO is hungry I bf on both sides (so I don't have to pump). Then I give him formula. There are other times where he just gets formula from DH while I pump. I figure any breast milk is a good shot of antibodies from me. He stays full and we are all happy. You can find something that works for you. I was very frustrated until this combo got worked out. Good luck!
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  • kdoak2015kdoak2015 member
    I did the same as PP and we are all happy with this decision. It's a lot of work but what isn't when it comes to newborns.
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  • rachel10488rachel10488 member
    I have been drinking mothers milk tea every morning, taking 2 fenugreek tablets 3 times a day, eating oatmeal every morning for breakfast, eating lactation cookies made with Brewers yeast (Pinterest has good recipes) for snacks AND drinking at least a gallon of water a day. Oh and I try to pump about 3 times a day after feedings
    It's A LOT of work for some of us to get a good milk such ply but this all seems to be working for me. Sometimes I only pump .5oz off each but the other day I got a whole 2oz off one and felt so accomplished!

    Goodluck!! Keep trying!
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  • teachmegs817teachmegs817 member
    I will piggyback on what @leek71983 said about supplementing.  I am not saying introduce formula if you don't feel it's right for you right now, but it was a HUGE relief for me and my family when I did.  I looked at it as not only something that I was benefiting from, but LO and DH too.  Plus, he was still able to get my breastmilk and be satisfied.  

    I ended up stopping bf'ing all together and went strictly to pumping 4-5 times a day and then supplementing with formula.  I am now going to all formula with going back to work in 2 weeks and I'm happy with the fact I was able to give LO breast milk for the first month 1/2.  We are currently experiencing some major set backs with the formula transition though.  It was beginning to make me feel super guilty about giving up pumping, but it's something I know I wouldn't keep up with and LO's demands would only increase as he gets older.

    A tip that may help you as it has helped a lot of other women on this site and my LC recommended I do this had I kept up with bf'ing when I went back to work.  Try cluster pumping.  You pump for 10 minutes, off for 10 minutes, and you do this for an hour.  It might be something you have to do once a day, maybe even twice a day for a few days.  It may increase your supply and/or ability to pump a bottle to be able to take out of the house when you go somewhere.  Good luck! Breastfeeding is no joke. I think the only way I'd really be able to focus my time/attention on it, is if I were to have had this baby towards the end of the school year (Teacher here) so that I could be out on maternity leave and go into the summer and be off with LO.
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  • dec15mumdec15mum member
    As PP said cluster pumping is good, pump for 10 then drink a big glass of water then pump 10 minutes later and so on.
    You're keeping hydrated and that's great, I've heard drinking a really yeasty beer but haven't tried that.
    Also, I know it's easier said than done but done let yourself get too stressed because that can affect your supply!
    While you're pumping look at your baby or a picture of your baby, that tends to get the milk out!
    Hope some of these works for you
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  • BethP321BethP321 member
    edited January 2016
    Thanks everyone. My son was awake and fussing for 10 straight hours and I caved in and formula fed for the first time and I felt so disappointed. But then he had a huge poopy blow out (most days we're lucky if he poops at all) so it made me think maybe he's not eating enough just from breastfeeding. I feel completely defeated and I honestly don't know how to de-stress do maybe this isn't for me. I will try all the advice before finally throwing in the towel though.
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  • ssn109ssn109 member
    I also can't produce enough for my LO. I breastfeed, supplement with formula, and pump. At this point, he basically gets formula bottles all day and I give him breastmilk bottles twice overnight. I eat lactation cookies with steel cut oats and brewers yeast, take fenugreek, drink water like it's my job, i rented a hospital grade pump for a few weeks, and have even tried power pumping. I've had to resign myself that I will never be able to EBF, but I take comfort that he's getting some breastmilk. I take even more comfort that my baby is fed and full, which is ultimately what matters most.

    I'm not saying it hasn't been emotionally difficult for me to accept I couldn't do this, especially since I put so much effort into trying to succeed. But I decided I'll keep doing my best, and that's just going to have to be enough. There are so many other things as a parent we can't control, we might as well come to terms with it on this issue.
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  • Court11152325Court11152325 member
    I don't know how well it works - I've heard good and bad - but some women take Reglan 3-4x a day to boost supply. I don't know if you need a prescription for it or not.
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  • leek71983leek71983 member
    Court11152325 said:

    I don't know how well it works - I've heard good and bad - but some women take Reglan 3-4x a day to boost supply. I don't know if you need a prescription for it or not.


    I have been taking it. You do need a RX. It hasn't impacted my supply much. I'll continue it until it's gone. I also take malunggay, which is supposed to help with breast tissue repair. I had a reduction 10 years ago so the LC thought that would help.

    @BethP321 I felt the same way when we started formula, but now I feel so much better. I know baby is fed and he still gets "mommy's milk." I no longer feel stress when it comes to feeding time.
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  • sarahjulypsusarahjulypsu member
    How old is LO?
    BabyFruit Ticker
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  • lalg28lalg28 member
    Another idea...how is the latch, is it big and wide, does it hurt? A bad latch can cause a decrease in supply, per my LC. I'd speak with an LC if I were you, don't let it keep dwindling.
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  • angbrienzaangbrienza member
    BethP321 said:

    Thanks everyone. My son was awake and fussing for 10 straight hours and I caved in and formula fed for the first time and I felt so disappointed. But then he had a huge poopy blow out (most days we're lucky if he poops at all) so it made me think maybe he's not eating enough just from breastfeeding. I feel completely defeated and I honestly don't know how to de-stress do maybe this isn't for me. I will try all the advice before finally throwing in the towel though.

    What they said!!! Cluster feeding is good, it means he is helping to build supply! Nothing is wrong with formula feeding, doesn't mean you have to give up breastfeeding. I too am supplementing. I feed both breasts first then top up with formula. Is he gaining weight? Having 6-8 wet diapers a day? Poop is sometimes less frequent with breast fed babies. They can often go several days. Go by wet diapers and weight gain. Just because you can't SEE the milk, doesn't mean he's malnourished! It takes a couple months for milk to regulate! Try your best not to stress! You're doing all the right things :)
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  • RSB1982RSB1982 member
    @BethP321  I'm sorry you are having this problem :-(  I know where you are coming from.  I posted a similar story in the Breastfeeding thread.  We have been supplementing since before we left the hospital.  I'm trying multiple different things to increase supply and so far, not much luck.  I tell myself that some breastmilk is better than none at all.  We can't beat ourselves up too much over this - formula is perfectly fine. Breastfeeding does not have to be all or nothing.  A lot of women end up supplementing with formula, especially when they return to work.  I hope you find something that works for you.  And just know, you are not alone when it comes to this issue.
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  • meansallisonmeansallison member
    I was only producing a half ounce, I started taking Fenugreek capsules 2 days ago and now I'm getting 3.5 ounces and it should go up in the next few days. I also started eating a big bowl of oatmeal in the mornings and that had helped. I suggest giving fenugreek a shot. I bought mine at a local vitamin shop. I take 2 pills 3 times a day. Bottle of 100 was only 10 bucks. Hope this helps!
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  • amye02amye02 member
    This thread made me feel better, I'm not alone. I'm having to supplement with formula because it's the only way to settle DS. I felt like a complete failure at first, but SO tried to reassure me that it's better for me and for DS if he's full. I'm going back to work in 2 weeks so he will be getting formula all day and I will BF early AM and all night.
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  • BethP321BethP321 member
    edited January 2016
    @teachmegs817 I loved your pumping tip (10 mins on, 10 mins off). I was out running errands all day and came home. I've been pumping for about an hour doing this and I got 2 oz on one and 1 oz on the other (I just had a clogged milk duct in the lesser breast so I hope it gets better). This alone makes me feel so much better. It's 3X as much as I've been able to pump in the last couple of weeks.

    @meansallison For $10 I can't really go wrong. I will definitely have to try this. Thank you. (:
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  • kelseyofannekelseyofanne member
    Just a PSA... the amount you pump is not necessarily indicative of your supply or the nutritive profile of the milk baby gets (formilk/hindmilk balance). Go by baby's weight gain and wet/soiled diapers. Also remember that breastfed babies sometimes poop infrequently. Could be once in a week and still be normal!
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  • TaylovesbradTaylovesbrad member
    Work with a lactation consultant. My son had a tounge tie so he couldn't extract milk thus impacting my milk production. He had a great latch so you couldn't tell.

    That said, I supplemented with formula. The most important thing is your baby is fed and you don't lose your mind.

    One way to increase is to pump right after you finish feeding him. Empty boob signal body to make more. Good luck. You are not alone!
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  • TaylovesbradTaylovesbrad member
    Also trust your instincts! You know your baby best
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  • taysuntaysun member
    In regards to fenugreek, my LC had me taking four capsules 3 times a day.
    I was able to stop supplementing and only did this for a few weeks before I didn't need to take it anymore.
    I also want to second pumping not being 100% indicative of supply. Babies usually are more efficient than the pump and some women don't respond well to the pump or have less effective pumps.
    If baby is having the correct amount of wet diapers and gaining weight they are usually getting enough. Also keep an eye on the soft spot. A sunken in spot suggests dehydration.
    It's possible your baby is cluster feeding or comfort nursing which could account for the length of time and/or lack of swallowing.
    I highly recommend seeing a lactation consultant for piece of mind. They can do what's called a weighed feed where you undress baby, feed him and then weigh again to see how much he is getting.
    If your insurance doesn't cover an LC, WIC has them free of charge.
    If you are having supply issues you may also want to consider renting a hospital grade pump.
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  • MomofEv+1MomofEv+1 member
    If you are trying to get more when pumping, Google "hands on pumping". It should bring you to a 9 minute video from Stanford University that explains a technique to get milk that wouldn't otherwise be accessed by pumping alone. Many women can double their pumping output by using it.
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  • mrs14678mrs14678 member
    I am pumping only, but there's this Fenugreek + Blessed Thistle drink powder I found at the grocery store... It tastes awful, but I notice that if I take it, the next day, my supply is awesome. Also, pumping the 10/10 thing works too... But it's more exhausting.
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  • BethP321BethP321 member
    So a couple of weeks ago I had that clogged milk duct on my left breast, and now that breast is still continuously producing less when I pump.  I can get 3 ounces easily off my right breast, but only 1 ounce off my left breast if I'm lucky.  I still supplement formula, but nurse beforehand and then pump 2-3X per day.  I'm wondering if my bad boob will ever catch up.  Anyone else have this?
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