Help!! I Want to Continue Breastfeeding, Is It Too Late?

If you really want to continue, you should see your doctor (ob/gyn) or a lactation specialist. La Leche League will be in the phone book. There is a natural product by presrciption that can help stimulate and improve milk production.

I wanted to take a moment and say to you that you should be commended for doing what you are. When my first son was born, my milk came in LATE--I had to supplement and was told to just "give up the nursing." I was a twits end, but it was to important to me to give up. I kept at it and my milk supply increased when he was about 3 and a half to 4 months old.It was very rough at time and caused a lot of tears and frustration. I nursed him for 14 months. Still had to give him the occasionaly bottle of formula, but I felt that I was giving him what I could provide, and I felt good about that. When my daughter was born, I could have nursed 5 babies I felt. She NEVER would take a bottle, and went straight to a sippy cup at 4 months. I also nursed her until she was 14 months. My second baby boy is now almost 2 and I weaned him when he was 13 months. I had to supplement with him as well. My OB says that it apparentsly has somwething to do with my hormones. For some reason, with my boys, I was not enough for them. But Hey, I stuck to my guns and nursed for over a year each. Keep up the positive attitude. Even if you have to still give the formula bottle, you are not loving your baby any less or harming them. Make feeding time special, with nursing or while giving a bottle. Your little ones will pick up on your love and caring for them. Good luck with everything and HUGS to your children--for they are a precious gift. Take Care--T.

I think pumping would help to make your milk start producing more. I nursed all three of my kids (the first two for a year each and then my last one - now 3- until he was two years old). I did a combination of formula and breast feeding when I went back to work and was still able to do both successfully. I think if you really try it will probably work out for you. The less you worry about it, the more relaxed you will be and your milk will let down better. Best wishes and God Bless you and your baby. P.S. Whatever you do will be good for your baby because you care and it will be down with love and compasion. :-)

Don't give up!! Drink plenty of water. Do you like oatmeal?? I ate oatmeal cookies and that helped my milk production. There is something in oatmeal that helps. Have a nurse in. Take a weekend where you do nothing but lay around nursing the baby on demand. Pump one side, while she is nursing on the other. If she eats every 4 hours, pump in the middle of that. Rest, and don't get stressed out. That affects your milk too. Just nurse, nurse, nurse and drink water water water. You can do it!!!!!!! I breastfeed both of my children until they were both 1 year old, and I went back to work with both at 8 weeks and six weeks respectively. I still managed to make it. You can do it. Don't give up!!! My boys still like to snuggle, and I know it is because of the time spent breastfeeding them. Call the lactation specialist at your local hospital. They can help. There are herbs/supplements you can take to help with production if you need them. If you want to email me, please do. If I can't answer your question, I can get the answer from some great sources. Please don't give up. Breastfeeding is such an awesome experience for you and your child.

B.

Start taking the herbal supplement Fenugreek, Fenugreek will help your milk come back. I would take 2 capsules in the morning and then 2 in the evening before bedtime. Not knowing your health (weight/height, illness?)that is the best I can recommend. If your urine or sweat starts smelling strongly of maple syrup, then cut back the dose. There will still be a small smell of maple, but it should not be strong. If you have any reservations about taking Fenugreek, ask your pediatrician.
My daughter's Drs told her to take it to increase her milk supply.

T.

I agree with the others, all helpful advice I have heard. What worked for me after my DD was born was to just devote my days to doing nothing but eating, drinking water & nursing (felt like constantly) until my milk supply increased. I was like you & started a little supplementing at the hospital and maybe one of the tiny bottles they give you at home, then just got rid of them & did nothing but nurse. Kellymom website is great, has a lot of advice for breastfeeding & says that even if it seems like they are getting nothing, it stimulates more production. I know how it feels to "start over again & feel new to it", my first is 8 1/2 and the baby is now 10 months. You are a great Mom for trying so hard!!! Best of luck to you!!

Well, you know my experience with actual breastfeeding was unsuccesful. But I pumped for 3 weeks so he would get the breast milk (I supplemented with formula). It's my understanding and experience that pumping helps milk production. If you really want her to continue getting the breastmilk, I'd start using the breast pump. Sorry, I know that's a poor alternative to a snuggly baby. Also, make sure you're getting plenty of fluids. If you have to stop, you can feel really good about having provided breast milk already during the most important time.

I've never taken fenugreek, but I have used babywearing to increase my supply (having your baby near you does something to your hormones to help your supply) and I have made some yummy "Lactation Bars" and the recipe is on my website here:

http://heavenlyhold.com/pages/Breastfeeding.htm

I hope you're able to continue BFing...but just remember any BM is better than none at all so don't beat yourself up!

Th more you feed and pump, the more milk you should produce. I took brewers yeast tablets and they seemed to help my milk production and also seemed to thicken my milk. Sometimes the activities you do and the foods you eat or don't eat can have an effect on your milk production. I breastfed my daughter exclusively til 6mo. and then til 18mo. altogether. I applaud all mothers who sacrifice to give their babies the best even if for just a short time.

Hi K..

I know exactly how you feel. You want to breast feed so much and if it doesn't work out, its very emotional. I also tried the pump and paid a lot of money for a good one, but honestly, the pump was too much work and I never got much more than 2 ounces at a time, that did nothing for my baby. Naturally, he took to the bottle more than the breast too. I just gave him breast when he nudged me for it. It dwindled down to once a day, at night time. Don't feel bad, as long as she's getting the DHA from formula and she's healthy, she'll be fine. Enjoy your freedom.

I don't know how you have been doing lately or if you are still trying to bf the baby. Please check out the web site www.kellymom.com it is a great site for mom's who are bf their babies. In your case it will be helpful to rent a hospital grade breast pump from a hospital while you are taking Fenugreek supplements or even if you can get a prescription from your Dr. called Raglan. Try to keep baby close to you as much as possible, this is called kangaroo care. Try wearing your baby with a sling or front carrier. As long as baby is willing to suck at the breast you will be able to get your milk supply back. You may want to get an SNS, which you can obtain from a private lactation consultant, local WIC office, or also Hospital. This will allow you to keep baby at the breast sucking for longer time periods. Your best bet is to contact the local lactation consultants and see if you can get these devices. Medela sells the Supplemental nursing systems (SNS) Good luck!

you should try a hand pump. i used a medela harmony manual pump and i was always able to express more then with an electric pump! just increase your fluid and caloric intake and keep pumping! i nursed twins which everyone told me it would be hard but i didn't give up and i'm glad i perservered! and you will too!! La leche league can also help! good luck!

I nursed and supplemented twins for 13 months successfully. I would just keep offering her the breast first, both breasts, and then offer a bottle of formula or pumped breast milk afterwards. Pumping after nursing consistently at least once a day may help. Also, call your own doctor about taking medication that can boost your milk supply. Remember a little breast milk is better than no breast milk.

I tried breastfeeding in the hospital with my newborn but she wouldn't stay latched on. The lactation consulatant was great & we tried everything but she just didn't like it. I was so devistated that I couldn't breastfeed. The LC and my pediatrician both said that the more I pumped, the more I would produce. It was horrible for me. I either felt like I was consistantly hooked up to the pump or feeding her a bottle. She has been formula fed for 2 1/2 months now and is perfect. I'd say if you wanted her to get the benefits of your breastmilk, keep pumping after every feeding. Your milk will increase and maybe she'll be satisfied. Good Luck!

Hey K.!
Just wanted to encourage you on your endeavors to give the best to your baby and wanted to let you know that the pump cannot get out nearly half of what a baby can get out of the breast, so I would take the advice below about having a nurse-in! Anything that she puts in her mouth will slow your production, so put all the formula, bottles, pacifiers, etc away and just let her suckle or lick or nuzzle your breasts as much as she will! The breasts work on supply and demand so whatever comes out will be replaced so have her get out as much as she will on her own! Then you can help things along by manually expressing some too. Try getting in a hot bath and submerge your breast in the water and express some that way - the heat helps it out! Also, even though it is messy, if you start leaking out of one side while she's nursing out of the other then let it leak!! Again, whatever comes out will be replaced! You can contact your local La Leche League for more support too. The knowledge there is priceless! A Certified Lactation Consultant can tell you all about a textbook and that's great at $40 a pop, but LLL is a group of moms who have been there and are doing it themselves and best of all IT'S FREE!!!!! Just remember to nurse, nurse, nurse, nurse, nurse!!! (and Fenugreek may be good to check out too though I think it may take a few days to kick in gear) Just DON'T GIVE UP no matter what!! If adoptive mothers can nurse their adopted babies then don't let anyone tell you that you have to wean her - your milk will come back full strength! Happy Nursing to you both!!!

Pump, Pump, Pump! I have nursed my 7 month old exclusively, and whenever my supply seems low this works! If you consistently pump after nursing everytime for 2-3 days, your milk supply will increase. It is supply and demand, your body will think it needs to produce more. You won't get any milk when pumping the first few times, but stay on the pump for at least 10 minutes, if not longer. After a few times, you will start to see results. I would even pump after the middle of the night nursing sessions. You can definately increase your supply, it just takes a little patience and extra time!