Help with Breastfeeding - Euless, TX

Why are you pumping??? Pumping is a huge hassle!!! If you're a stay at home mom, don't pump. I breastfed both my daughters--the first for 14 months and the second for 11 months and I only pumped a handful of times for both. And, believe me, I'm not a granola mom--I did it because it was easy. You don't have to carry around bottles of formula, pumping gear, freeze/unfreeze breast milk.....what a hassle. hang in there!!! best of luck!

The first question would be why you're needing to pump at this point? In general, pumping isn't nearly as efficient as the baby. I personally could never pump more than 3 oz at a time and that was after BF was well established. Giving formula will only decrease your milk supply, since the increase in supply is based on the increased demand from the nursing baby (or pumping IFF you do that efficiently). Your lack of production during pumping could mean that you don't have effective "let-down". There's a hormonal reaction when the baby starts nursing that produces the hormone (oxytocin) that's necessary for the letdown. That wonderful hormone is also responsible for the feeling of well being (and sleepiness) that many nursing mothers experience. [I would love to get some more of that hormone now that I've got a teen and pre-teen :)] Various hormonal imbalances (including low thyroid and adrenal) can make the letdown less efficient by interfering with the production of oxytocin. Formula can contribute to gassiness, as can various foods in your diet, with dairy being the most common culprit. Other foods are those that typically contribute to gas in anyone such as broccoli, cabbage, beans, etc. For my youngest, I could not consume any of those (including dairy) nor could I drink orange juice. I personally would not have been successful at breastfeeding my first son if it hadn't been for the support I found through my local La Leche League. I highly recommend you find a group close to where you live. Best of luck to you.

I didn't pump much. I only pumped when I was really full and she wasn't emptying them. I pumped for maybe, two months and then she was able to empty them, At first I tried to keep some in the freezer, but since she was breast feed only, she never used it. Unless your dr. told you to supplement, I wouldn't worry about pumping unless you're uncomfortable.

I always had better luck if I pumped on one side while letting the baby nurse on the other. I never would produce more than 2 ounces when I pumped, but somehow both my babies were able to get what they needed. Pumping is not a true indicator of how much milk you are producing. Babies nurse often in the beginning. My daughter nursed every 1 to 2 hours for the first two months. I know it is hard at first, but it really does get better, and you will not regret the time and closeness you will have with your daughter. If you are supplementing because you think she is not getting enough then you could actually be decreasing your milk supply. The more a baby nurses the more milk you will produce. Sometimes it could take several days for your body to increase the supply so just hang in there. Babies will also want to nurse more around growth spurts. This will increase the supply to what they need at that time.

You should join www.cafemom.com and join one of the Breastfeeding Moms groups. There are VERY helpful people on there including several lactation consultants.
First of all,what you pump is NEVER an indication of how much you're producing.
Second, your body will only produce as much as your baby is eating so the formula you're giving her is sabatoging your efforts to make more milk. Bottles make babies swallow more air which in turn makes them more gassy.
I really suggest you read the book "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer" by Tracy Hogg to help get your baby on a flexible routine. Because of this book my daughter was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks old and sleeping 10 hrs per night at 10 weeks old. This book is AWESOME and will truly help! GOOD LUCK!! :-D

Hey take Fenugrek (not sure on the spelling) you can buy it at Whole Foods and probably at the regular grocery store. It will help tremendously with your milk supply. My dr. recommended it when I was having trouble with milk supply. It does not harm the baby at all. Also, you should only pump after feeding the baby if you pump before you won't have enough to feed her. Pumping will help with you supply too. The answer to 'when will I produce more milk?" It depends on the person. I never had enough milk and had to supplement with formula.
Good Luck and just stick with it. It will get easier some times it can take up to 3 months before it does but it does.

When I breastfed my kids, I'd try to set up a schedule of 12:00, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm and so on. My kids would get first dibs on mom and what ever they didn't drink, I'd pump the rest. By pumping more and drinking lots of liquids, my body produced more milk and then I was able to freeze some. This made it so dad could help with the midnight feedings and I could use them when I wanted to bottle feed. I was told that babies with all breastmilk have less gas problems. Mine didn't have any gas problems and I did all breastmilk. So, I'd try to wean them off of the formula (you'll save a ton of money if you can do it)and work on producing more milk. When you're first getting started, I'd suggest even pumping at night to get your body use to producing at night (I know it's a pain)but later on I was able to skip the night pumping and do it all in the morning. Just make sure you take in tons of liquid. That's the key. Flavored tea got me started. Lastly, check out LaLeche league and see if there is a lactation consultant in your area. Some hospitals have them or where you bought your pump, they may know of one. They are a wealth of information can help you with every aspect of breastfeeding. Good luck and congratulations!

check out the help available at www.motherof7.com; you can find a dvd instructional on breastfeeding, a short version and a long version - from a mother of seven children with endorsements from La Leche etc.

there are pills called more milk plus they help bring your supply in. i would try pumping after each feeding. also if you are full in the morning you should be pumping at night. also dont give bottles of formula. that will not help your milk come in. babies stay full for 4 hours on formula and around 2 on breasmilk. my son had horrible gas. totally normal in a bfing mom. the formula could also be causing that too. i have to give my son soy milk because cow protien causes him to have an upset tummy. the best gas drops i found are the little tummy drops. they seemed to work best. need anything let me know

If you want to establish a good milk supply, throw the formula out of the house NOW. Pump at least once a day, either after the first morning feeding or in the middle of the night sometime - you'll be more relaxed and most likely produce more then. I could never get much from the pump unless my baby was nursing on one side while I pumped on the other, so that's something you might want to try too.

Trust your body, but don't confuse things by introducing formula so soon. You are making the perfect food for your little baby, and if you want to make more of it you need to nurse every time -- especially now in the beginning when you're establishing your supply.

La Leche League is a valuable resource, and so is www.kellymom.com

I would always pump in between feedings, you can also pump while she is having the bottle of formula. I noticed that I could nurse my son first thing in the morning and pump afterwards and still get 4 ounces. That was just the time of day when I produced the most milk. For me it took about 4 or so weeks before I established a great milk supply. I don't know what kind of formula you are using but it could be making her gassy, also if you are drinking or eating a lot of milk and dairy that can possibly cause fussiness in an infant. Same with broccoli, spinach, the same stuff that would make you feel that way.

Kathleen, Congats on your new baby! You've already gotten a lot of great advice. I second wwww.kellymom.com. Also La Leche League is wonderful. They have a mother's forum on www.lalecheleague.org. I would not be nursing today if it weren't for La Leche. I actually dove crying to my first meeting. I thought that I was starving my little one. With the Fenugreek, it is important to take enough. You will smell like maple syrup. I know, it's odd to walk around smelling like IHOP. Also, oatmeal increases your supply.

your milk works on a supply and demand basis and if you give a bottle of formula your body doesnt know you need milk at that point so it wont make it...get rid of the formula and continue on demand as desired...i also want to point out that there is a growth spurt at 4 weeks and again at 6 so this might be why you see increased hunger just continue on demand and your body will comply....also an AMAZING website for breastfeeding questions run by an IBCLC is www.kellymom.com there is also a message board should you need to answer any questions

hope that helps and hang in there your doing a great job!

Hello,

Breastfeeding is a on supply and demand service. The more your baby nurses the more milk you will produce. I would recommend you don't use a formula bottle because formula will fill her up for a longer period of time than breastmilk. As far as pumping, I was never good at it, so I can't offer any advice there, sorry. Hope this helps!

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If you ditch the formula, you'll produce more milk. she'll have to nurse more. breast stimulation will send the signal 2 your body that it needs to make more milk. If you're feeding every 2 hrs i'd pump that hr in between. try for the first am feed to pump 1st then nurse--your body has more milk then and, she'll work harder plus she'll get more of the fattier hind milk.

good luck!

L. (typing 1-hnded & nursing my 1-yr old now)

I totally concur with Lori. Ditch the formula...ditch the gas! More baby at breast will improve your supply. I got more from hand expression rather than a pump. Just me...keep trying!
Marianne

You've gotten some great advice so far but just wanted to add a couple things. The more you put baby to nurse the more you will produce. I totally understand using a bottle oncein a while to avoid the pain if you are having issues with cracked nipples or something. But really that will hinder your quest to produce more. Make sure you are drinking TONS of water and if you still feel the need to get a boost in supply, run to the store and try a mothers Milk tea. They work wonders. (just ice it down if you don't like the taste hot, it makes it better, I think) Also check out www.BreastfeedingSupportOnline.com Its a great community of women that can help you with any questions you might have. Good luck mama!

Looks like you've been getting lots of good advice. I have nursed six children so I have some good background on this... Something to think about... How long is she nursing? Do you switch between sides. The longer you nurse on one side the thicker the milk that comes out and the longer the baby will stay full. So if she stops after 5 minutes and then restarts, use the same breast. Use the same one for at least 15 minutes, relax while you are nursing, and drink tons of water all day long. As far as pumping, I only did it if I needed a bottle of my milk while at a wedding or was going to go out without the baby. Right now you want to establish your supply so keep nursing, like the other gals have said, pumping is never as efficient as a baby, so only do it if you must and very ocassional at this point in time. When I went back to work I pumped in the morning (the side the baby wasn't eating on), I would pump at lunch time both sides, and with a portable pump on the way home. Then I would feed the baby on the other side when I got home. My son was drinking 32 oz of my milk while I was at work! Congrats on your baby and keep at it!

I did not start pumping until my son was 6 weeks. Then I pumped once a day at home and twicw when I went back to work when he was 12 weeks old.

your body will only produce what you need... so if you are only pumping 3 x a day and not at night, you will only produce enough to fill those times... you should pump for at least 20 minutes on each breast when the baby eats to ensure that she is getting enough and that there is enough for her. even if you can pump just once at night that would help too.

personally i would not pump unless you are creating so much milk that you need to let more out after a feeding, a pump cant empty your breast as well as a baby. if you are using formula occasionally (i know i did once in awhile when i was just to sore to bf) i would try hand expressing instead of pumping, i would do it into a bottle & could empty my breast more than a pump & it made me feel less sore. if you do give your baby a bottle then still express milk when they eat so that your body keeps producing...also the more & longer the baby feeds the more milk you will produce.

Hi Kathleen,
Congrats on your lovely daughter!

I had same issues when my son was born, 19 months ago. I was barely producing milk, he was gassy with formula-- wouldn't sleep well because of it --which meant almost no sleep for mommie either :(.
Even with pumping, my milk production unfortunately didn't increase... guess just wasn't meant to be.

Here's something to consider, only just-in-case...
My son had an originally undiagnosed milk protein allergy to the formula. At about six weeks of age, he had blood in his stools, and was put on Nutramigen, and several weeks later still had same problems and went on to Neocate. No problems after that.

He is now nineteen months old and has completely outgrown his cow's milk protein allergy :)

I am NOT suggesting in any way that is the case with your daughter, and my intention is absolutely not to worry a loving new mama!!
I share this with you, because two other mothers did the same for me, and for us it made a substantial difference in getting to the right formula more quickly!

Blessings to you and yours.