Nursing Concerns

K.,

I have been there. I made it through with a lot support from my lactation consultant. They are so helpful and understanding. Best of luck.

I had bad let down for the pump but I was producing lots. I could shoot across the room but sometimes could only pump an oz or 2.

I didn't read through all the responses, many of them have good suggestions but I'll tell you I tried them all when I was nursing my son. I increased frequency, drank a TON, ate enough, got my sleep and all that. I took mother's milk supplements and spent a few hundred dollars to have a lactation consultant come in and even rented a hospital grade pump to see if that would help increase my supply but nothing worked. I tried that Rx that some people have success with too. At the most I only pumped 4 oz. MAX at one time, regarless of his age or how much he'd eat in a bottle.

In the end even my doula and lactation consultant friends told me I did all I could. I realized that my son was a WAY happier baby with formula suppliments and that was enough for me. I still nursed till he was almost a year and pumped 3 times a day at work but he also was given formula. It was a hard decision to make and it stressed me out for a while but I concluded that I didn't have enough milk to meet his demand. I've heard that it's easier with the 2nd kid. We'll see.

All the best!

K.-
It is hard to be the only source of nutients for your baby, it is a big responsibility and sometimes makes you concerned. I nursed my first exclusively for 9 months because he wouldn't eat solid foods. Here is what I found and was told that helped calm my fears when I thought I had a low supply.
They go through growth spurts and need more milk but your body doesn't know that. You might feel like you are nursing all the time and dried out. It is frustrating but keep nursing. That is how your body knows to make the amount of milk that your baby needs. It takes up to three days to get a bigger supply letting the baby nurse on demand. It really does work but those nights of cluster feeding are draining. I remember Carter nursed every hour one night for 5 hours in a row for about 35-40 mins. I was in tears but it must of helped my milk supply because he was fine after that.
Don't go by how much you pump out. This isn't as much as your baby can get from you. The baby is much more efficent so don't judge how much he is getting by what you are pumping, there are times of the day you will produce more milk than others too.
Make sure you are hydrated. It is even more important than eating(of course you should eat), but mothers in third world counties that have barely any food nurse their children. I noticed my milk supply going down when I wasn't hydrated.
I would be careful with giving the baby a lot of supplementing if you want to exclusively breastfeed, if you don't than obviously that is fine. I just know your body will only produce what your baby is taking from you, it doesn't know about the formula:)
I hope this helps, sorry you are frustrated. You are doing a great job!!!
K.

Hi K.! I understand your concern and I hear a lot of moms who are like you and think they aren't producing enough and then end up quiting which makes me sad. It's completely different with a nuring baby than a formula fed baby. You have to let your baby tell your body it needs to produce more milk. When they go through their growth spurts they can act more fussy and will nurse more often, but this tells your body "I need to make more milk" and usually after a couple days your body will and the feedings go back to normal. I wish I knew some things with my first DS cause it would have made things easier for me to handle. I hated the growth spurts because I would feed him every hour for a course of 24 to 48 hours. I didn't get any sleep those days but after a day or two he went back to his normal feeding schedule. So your baby can be growing through a growth spurt and you may need to feed more often.

Some tips that worked for me with my 2 sons who were exclusively breastfed, and my youngest who still is:
ALWAYS be hydrated. Drink as much water as possible. I noticed the days where I didn't drink a lot of water were the days I didn't produce as much milk. I also would have soup on a daily basis. I don't know if it's an old wives tale as my mom told me to do this but it worked for me. I think it also has to do with the staying hydrated.

Do not feed on any kind of schedule. You're more likely not to produce as much milk this way. Feed your baby as they are hungry. This will let your body know if it's producing enough or not enough. When they go through their growth spurts, and there will be at least 2 to 3 in the first year, they will want to nurse more often. But in return your body produces more. And when it does the feedings will start to get longer in between AGAIN.

Try not to freak yourself out too much. Your body will produce enough milk. Nursing babies eat differently than formula fed. I always had to remind my ILs that my boys feeding was different than my niece since they were watching both and she was formula fed. Nursing babies will eat until they are full. Sometimes they are on just for a few minutes. Other times they can be on for an hour. It all depends on how hungry they are. Anyway, hope some this helps a little. Good luck.

Hi K.,
The same thing happened to me when my daughter was 5 months old. I was eating, drinking plenty of fluids, and everything else that they said was important when nursing. Out of no where, I dried up and I went from a more than plenty milk supply to having a baby that was crying all of the time due to hunger. My advice to you is to pump, pump, pump. It will take a lot of work on your part (and I simply gave up and switched her to formula), but it can be done. The more milk you get rid of the more it will produce (so they say). Even when I was in the hospital with this new baby (who was in the special care nursary for a while), they brought me a pump so that I could build up my supply and they had me pumping every 1 1/2 hours. Hope this helps!

K.,
I apologize, I didn't read any of the responses, so if you heard this, sorry.
I actually had the same thing happen at 11months (so close to making it 1yr. which was my goal). I tried the fenugreek, etc...I ended up contacting a lactation consultant...and she talked to me about having low iron...and low and behold, i talked to my doctor, and put me on an iron supplement (plus my prenatal vitamins still). My milk supply has come back, not quite the same as before, but better than before.
My lactation consultant also suggesting nursing on the weekends. This will help because even though pumps are good, they are not as good/efficient as your little one. If you would like to contact my consultant, email me, and I will give you her name. She was awesome!
good luck

you always get more out from the baby then the pump. so he could be getting enough. as long as he is gaining wt then he is.

K.,

I totally understand. I breastfed my daughter exclusively until she was 9 months old, but there were many, many days when I thought I was going to have to quit before then because I was sure I wasn't producing enough. Somehow though, we made it. I went back to work part-time when my daughter was 6 weeks old so I pumped a lot. At first I tricked my body into over-producing because I didn't think I was getting enough. I would pump on one breast while feeding her with the other. Do not do this! I got lots of milk and built up some freezer stash, but I also gave myself mastitis, which is horrible. This happened at right around 3 months. Afterward I was sure I wasn't producing enough milk because I could only pump about 3 to 4 oz. at a time. But like I said, we made it. I added an extra pump in each day at work and we really had enough to make it day by day. My daughter is not a big eater. She still eats very small meals now at 2 and a half. I think my body was doing what everyone says and making enough for my baby and nothing extra : ) I am expecting number 2 next month and I am going to just let things flow naturally.

Good Luck!

D.

Hi, K... I can understand your concern. I have 5 and was lucky enough to exclusively breastfeed 3 of them. With my littlest, who I am still nursing, my breasts always felt very empty, and he waS quite fussy a lot of the time. It turns out he was fussy due to reflux and NOT hunger. I would recommend you go see a lactation consultant. I saw one at the local hospital (free of charge) who was able to weigh the baby down to the ounce before I fed him and again after so she was able to see how much milk he was getting. You could also call La Leche League; they usually have some good tips. But this much I know....the best pump in the world is not going to get out as much milk as a baby himself can so your baby is no doubt getting more than you are pumping. Also, don't forget that it's all about supply and demand - the more you supplement with formula, the less milk your baby is going to want from you and the less you will produce. So if you are against using formula, don't do it at all because it could sabotage your production. At one point, my pediatrician had me feeding the baby, following that with a few ounces of formula in a bottle and then pumping. As it turns out, that was all overkill and almost put an end to my nursing. So good luck to you. I know you'll be able to work it out with a little help and don't forget to keep drinking, drinking, drinking!

Hi K.,

The doctor told me that pumping isn't as efficient as a babies mouth so you may not get as much BM out when you pump. When you do nurse does your baby seem content and is he gaining weight. A lot of times you can have your doctor weigh your baby before and after a feeding to determine if he is getting enough.

Good luck,
H.

Hi K.,
First, I think you are over-analyzing this whole thing. Remember... what you pump is only an indication of what you pump. NOT how much milk you are producing. As you know, letting down for a pump is completely different than letting down for your baby.
Second, I would not supplement with formula. Your baby doesn't need it but if you start now, it will be a hard habit to break because your supply will not keep up with your baby's demands if you don't let it. The best thing is to nurse your baby on demand when he's hungry. If you're back at work and you HAVE to pump I understand that, but if not, I suggest giving up bottle feeding altogether for a few weeks.
Third, around this time (3-4 months) your breasts will start to feel less full. This is not an indication that they are producing less... they're just less hyperactive about it.

Your instincts about doing everything correct are right - eat, sleep, drink lots of water, and stop worrying. Pump and bottle feed only if you will be away from your baby (ie YOU should never be the one with the bottle in hand - have someone else do that when you're away). If you're working, take the weekends to nurse a lot and exclusively. This can recharge your supply for the next week. Sounds like you're doing great.

Hi K.,

A few things: First of all, 3 oz. doesn't sound like such a small amount to pump for a 4-month-old.

I agree with what everyone said about getting enough rest and staying hydrated (you should have at least one 8-oz. glass of water every time you nurse/pump). You should also make sure that you're getting enough calories. You need 500 calories per day more than when you were pregnant -- this is like having an extra (small) meal each day. I don't know if you're taking any medications, but I know that antihistamines can dry up your milk supply (I would imagine the same is true for caffeine and alcohol, but you should consult with a doctor on this one).

And again, I agree with all of the other moms who said that supply increases with demand. So, I would recommend that you stop supplementing and try to actually nurse your baby (rather than pumping) as much as possible. Babies are better equipped to fully drain the breast than a breast pump is. Sometimes it takes a couple of days for your supply to catch up with your baby's demand, but hang in there! You're doing great! And pretty soon your baby will be eating solids (although he'll still get most of his nutrients from breastmilk until he's about a year old), so you won't have to worry nearly as much about being his sole provider of food!

If you feel like you need more support, you could check out a La Leche League meeting, or other breastfeeding support group in your area.

All the best (and keep up the good work!),
R.

I was an exclusive pumper for 4 months (I dried up by not pumping long enough/in a way to make enough milk) for my 19 month old daughter and am currently exclusively breastfeeding my 3 month old son...but I am back at work so I am forced to pump 3 times a day to keep my supply up and provide his bottles for daycare. Here are some things I learned for getting more from your pump (if it is necessary you pump) - otherwise, I suggest just nursing and avoiding the pump if you can as others suggested. 1) if you are away from your baby, look at a picture of your baby, maybe trace your baby's features and remember how wonderful it was the first time you held your baby; 2) do not listen to the general wisdom that you only need to pump for 10-15 minutes -- it depends on the type of pump and whether you normally have multiple let downs while nursing (I have a Medela Pump in Style Advanced with the 2 stage nursing action and I double-pump until the milk stops flowing, usually 10-12 minutes, turn the pump off and sit for 3-5 minutes then re-start it to trigger another let down...gets way more milk than stopping after the initial); and 3) RELAX -- when I stressed out the first few days I came back to work, I got a lot less out than I do now after having been back for 3 weeks. For me, if I believe there will be enough, there is. Totally mental (barring any hormonal issues you may have) if the baby is gaining well while nursing then it is likely mental issues over the pumping and not low supply. Good luck. If you want to build your supply back up, make the investment in a rental pump for a month or so to build your supply -- kind of expensive, but worth it. A friend of mine rented the Medela Symphony from Parkway Drugs - 680 N Lake Shore Dr # 108, Chicago - ###-###-#### and had great luck with it after not being able to get anything out with a Pump In Style...also easier on the nipples (I myself have to use the Pump In Style Advanced on the lowest suction setting or it hurts too bad but I can still get 24 oz out a day on top of feeding my baby in the morning, night and middle of the night). They were even great about delivering her extra pump parts at work when she accidentally forgot them one day! Good luck and I hope everything works out for you!

Hi K.,

I'm right there with you - I have a 4 month old son, too, and I've been back at work for a month. Pumping does seem like it's getting more difficult; I'm getting less per pumping session this week than last week, my stash is getting low, and my son will take 4.5-5.5 ounces per bottle feeding while he's in daycare.

All the advice here is great. Just keep at it - our boys will be okay! Feel free to email me if you want to rant to someone who feels the same worries you do.

Best,
S.

Please go to www.kellymom.com for support. They are the experts. You really can't tell how much your baby is getting through what you pump. The baby is much more efficient than the pump. Unless the baby isn't gaining properly or having enough wet diapers, then you shouldn't have to worry. Often time peole over estimate what the babies need. Now this is assuming you are feeding on demand.

I have a chart (from Similac) that says a 3-4 week baby takes 6-8 feedings in 24 hours and eats 3-4 oz each feeding. (1-2 month 5-6 feedings, 4-5 oz).

When I pump I have to wait an hour or two after the typical feeding time to get enough to replace the feeding (avent hand pump).

It's hard to tell when you're nursing. There are guidelines in the book "On Becoming Babywise" to tell if baby is getting enough food, but I can't remember them.

Have you seen a lactation consultant? Or called?

Does he act hungry when you're done feeding? Does he sleep a good nap afterwards or does he wake up hungry?

Good luck! Keep at it.

Hi K.!
I feel your frustration!!! I felt the same way as you (because I was not a good pumper either). But please know that your baby gets alot more from feeding off you then what you pump! Both of my kids were in the 90%-tile, and I still was not comfortable...!!! I wish God gave us see-through boobs so we could see that they were eating so much more!!!! I used to go to the hospital when they had their weekly Moms Group, and I would weigh the baby, then feed the baby, then weigh the baby, and that would most-always make me feel better! I also would go to the hospital that I had the baby at. They would let me do it once a week without a charge!!!

But I did become alittle better pumper when I did the following! I fed the baby in the morning, and then about an hour later when I got to work, I was able to go to a dark quiet place, and I would just close my eyes and think about nice things, and really try to relax. I would pump out double then I would when I was at home with the baby crying, or my hubby wanting something, or whatever! Plus it was still in the morning when your supply is at its most.

But know, if you do have to supplement cuz' it makes you feel better, or whatever, don't beat yourself up...I did, and it doesn't help.

Best of luck to you - you are doing GREAT!!!!

I agree with Emily. When you don't pump (i didn't) you don't know and can't measure and sometimes I feel that it's just the way nature wants it. Both my girls were always latched to me...sometimes 3 different times within the hour. There are many components to BM and you can be assured that they are getting everything they need. My advice, if you're not working, then don't pump. Not only does it change your breast shape over time, but it alters your milk supply because you supplement (with frozen) or formula...just my opinion, i nursed both girls two years without the pump and my breast are still perky and full. m

Relax for a moment
Take a breath.
You are a wonderful capable mom
Be proud of the work and love that you have put into nursing your precious babe.
I salute you.

I am not an expert-
I nursed both my girls for just over a year ea.
I have bigger breasts and my breasts would not get hard like some people- it took me a while to be able to tell how they worked. I just nursed when my little one was hungry. I tried not to fret too much when pumping was difficult. A couple of times I talked to a lactation consultant.

Question to you:
Up to now, have you been producing enough (baby weight gain,ect)?

Unfortunately, stressing out about stuff can affect your supply.

By the way- Pumping for me did not work as well as I would have liked. My daughters could get it out better than I could. During growth spurts I would nurse longer and more frequently. My girls flourished.

By supplementing you could be affecting your supply-
Your child needs to be stimulating your production with his/her need.

If you are really concerned and these tips are not working please don't stress too much and consult with a professional.

Best of luck, best wishes, and prayers

Like some folks said, you pump less than he will nurse.
Keep hydrated, eat oatmeal, and try to relax. (ha!! like we can, we're moms!)
Try to stop supplementing--everytime you do that, you're making less need for your milk. Milk is supply and demand!
You can look for advice at kellymom.com, or go to an LLL meeting (if you don't like/bond with one group, go to another).
good luck--I'm still nursing at 10 months and plan to keep it up!

I know how you feel. My son will be six months next week and has been breastfeeding exclusively. I had to start giving him one bottle a day of formula because I didn't feel like he was getting enough from nursing. A lot of people told me that he was fine as long as he was gaining weight, but it just didn't feel right. It was a difficult decision to start formula, even though it was only once a day. I really feel like I made the right decision though. When I give him the bottle I will pump right after and get 3-4 oz. If you are really hesistant on starting formula you should try to call a lactation nurse. Good luck!

So first of all Karen a few dowm had it right on the money. Don't worry your body will produce what your baby needs, you just have to let the baby tell your body not the pump. This is just the stage that your body is getting adjusted to the supply that it needs. Be happy that you don't have that horrible engorgement anymore. That always just plain hurt me.Hope it all works out and i am sure that it will take care

I can give you advice based upon my experience, but everyone is different. Therefore I think the best solution for you may be to go to an expert - get in touch with a lactation consultant. Call your hospital, contact your local La Leche League, or an independent consultant. They may be better able to "diagnose" your issue and give the best on point advice. I have used Transitions into Parenting in Naperville. Julia truly is the best.

I know exactly how you feel! When my son was that age, I went back to work. I noticed that I couldn't pump an adequate supply, no matter what I tried. But when I was with him he breastfed exclusively. And he seemed content. I think I freaked myself out and that stress made my supply lower. Just give yourself a break and watch your baby. Is he crabby and still hungry? or is he fine? Follow his cues, he'll let you know. And relax! That will definitely help the situation. Good Luck and don;t worry too much. I know that's hard.

hi K.,
sounds very frustrating! breastfeeding is hard, because you never really know how much your baby's eating. the only thing i can tell you that might be helpful is that when i pumped, i'm SURE that i didn't express as much milk as i typically made when i was actually feeding the baby. i was never able to get more than 5oz and i had an extremely prolific milk supply. i had to express a bit before nursing in the beginning because there was too much milk and it was overwhelming to him.
hope this was helpful. good luck to you.

Hi K. -

I suffer from low milk supply, and I have tried a LOT of stuff to correct it. So I consider myself an unofficial expert on the topic.

Other responders are right - you pump less than he actually gets. A pump doesn't work as well as a baby.
With the exclusive breastfeeding, was your baby gaining weight properly? If he was, then that's a simple answer that you're likely making what he needs.

I haven't made enough from the start, and it was frustrating because people never believed me. Have you had a LC measure what your son takes from the breast? If you're really concerned, it could be helpful to get an expert perspective to help you assess if there really is an issue. Because there are a lot of different causes of low milk and different things you can try to make more.

The book "Making More Milk" is an excellent resource - I just read it and it goes through a checklist of sorts as to possible causes of low milk supply. Even down to random things like too much peppermint, parsley or sage in your diet. My problem seems to be with my hormones, though I'm still working with doctors on this.

If you want more things to try or topics from the book, feel free to message me. But in general, I'd say that if he's gaining weight properly on breastmilk only, he's fine. If you don't think he is, than hiring an LC would be your next step.

Pumping is never as good as the real thing...your baby will always get what he needs when he is nursing. Drinking ALOT of water and getting plenty of rest (as much as possible with a little one in the house) are the best things to do to help with the milk supply. You are most likely not running low - it is just that your pump doesn't "suck" as well as the baby does. If you are really concerned though, you can call your hospital's lactation nurses and they can test you. If you do have to add formula to the mix...use two bottles, the breastmilk first and then the formula. It isn't that you can't mix the two, but in case the bottle doesn't get finished, you want him to have the BM first.

To increase your milk supply, you need to pump more or nurse more. If you're supplementing to keep your baby satisfied, make sure you're still pumping in addition to what he's eating. The more the demand, the greater the supply. The La Leche League people or any Breast Feeding resource center in your area should be able to give you more information and tips. Good luck!

your breasts will soften around this time making it seem like you have less. also your supply is now tapered to the demand of your son. babies always drink more from a bottle because bottles do not have a letdown. Also you always pump less then what your baby can suck out. If you truly feel like you are low, pump or nurse more often. Going with formula is only filling up your son, which means he will nurse even less, thus hurting your supply and demand.

Drink lots of water and keep your sodium intake down. Dehydration will decrease milk supply. If you're already doing that and your baby has been thriving, pumping is probably not as effective as your son is. Were you ever able to pump more than you are now?

If your concerned then pump/feed your baby more. I was told by a lactation consultant that the more you feed/pump the more you will get! Supply and demand she said! So try pumping in between feedings too and see if this increases your supply. It took my son 4 months to breastfeed and I pumped until he did. I used to pump every 2 hours and it brought my milk in alot. I am no authority but just from my experience that really helped. Also an electric pump works best if you have it!

K.:

it is a common concern/ what you pump and what your son gets when he nurses is different/

fussy to nurse is not just about hungry.... there may well be other things going on...

find a local lactation consultant or laleche league group to help you sort this out.

P., RLC, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions

Are there any other reasons you think you have low supply other than not pumping a lot? The amount you pump is not indicative of the amount of milk you son is getting at a feeding. You son is much more efficient at extracting milk than a pump. I exclusively BF my son for six months (no solids, no formula), but after a whole night of not feeding him on one side, I was only able to get about 1-2 oz after 1/2 hour of pumping! However, my son was gaining weight, healthy, happy, making wet and dirty diapers, full of energy and well hydrated so I knew he was eating enough.

Feeding your son bottles of expressed milk and formula WILL decrease your supply. You body makes milk based on his demand. So, the more milk your son demands, the more you will make. If you are still concerned, I would recommend stopping the bottles, relaxing and offering your son the breast more often, even if he does not seem hungry.

Being a Mom is tough. I remember being awed by how my son was growing and full after eating milk I didn't even see. It can be a little daunting, but remember, your body was designed to nourish your infant son. As long as your son is growing and making an adequate number of wet and poopy diapers, I would not worry. You are doing great!

kellymom.com has a ton of great resources. Here is a link to the page on supply http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html.

Hi, K.!
I will admit: I didn't read what everyone else has written, so you've probably all ready heard what I'm going to write. But I still wanted to respond to your post. :)

If your son is not acting fussy, he's got the correct amount of wet diapers (which I don't remember off hand), and he's gaining weight, then you shouldn't worry about how much (or how little) you're pumping. Babies that young really don't need as much food as we often assume they do. You will make the amount of milk that he needs.

With that being said, however, if he does act fussy, isn't making enough wet diapers, or is not gaining weight, you should definitely talk to your doctor.

I had the same concerns with my own son at this time last year, but everything was fine. We were able to nurse exclusively for six months when we first introduced some solid foods.

Good luck! :)

It's great to see so much support for breastfeeding moms!

The one thing that I am wondering is what kind of pump are you using...not all pumps are made the same. The motors are very different from pump to pump. The Medela Lactina or Symphony and the Ameda Elite are rental pumps with very strong motors. For home pumps the Medela makes a couple of great pumps all with the same strength motor...the Freestyle, the Pump in Style, and the Swing. The Ameda Purely Yours also has that same strength motor. Anything less than that is not adequate for trying to increase your supply. If you currently have one of these pumps it is worth getting the suction checked. Also, make sure that the flange fits correctly.
Typically moms are more successful pumping in the morning and as the day goes on they will notice less and less. You can try pumping after your shower too; the warm stimulation makes a difference for some women.

I agree with the responses that suggest eliminating the formula. In order to increase your supply the demand has to be there. Getting baby to the breast as often as he wants will help to stimulate more milk production. Having support from a Lactation Consultant can be pricey but they are a wealth of knowledge and will notice tiny things that can make a huge difference!

Finally, you could suggest to your OB to have a thorough hormonal screen. Be sure they include progesterone, thryoid function, prolactin, and testosterone because hormones regulate the entire milk process an imbalance can affect your production.

Good luck! Remember that breastmilk is the very best thing for your son and nothing else even comes close. You are giving him, and yourself, a huge gift with your dedication and persistence!

K.,

Relax.. stress is the number one reason your milk supply goes down. Also, it is supply demand. Feed your son and then pump (electric one) for 10 minutues will add more demand and your body will add to the demand.

Keep switching sides during a feeding. There have been several times that I felt my supply was low, and by relaxing and putting more demand by pumping and feeding I was able to get my supply back up. After feeding, pump for 10 minutes for a few days.. that will help get your supply up. If you are away from you son.. pump for 20 minutes (even if nothing is coming out, keep it up).

If you are having trouble with the let down. Listen to him cry while you are pumping. Try to keep your mind busy do not think about how much is going into the bottles.

My son is 6 months old and he has not been given any formula although I have been close. I noticed that once a month for about 5 days my supply goes down. I think some of that is when "cycle" would be due. Contact your Lactation consultant as well.

Good luck and do not fret. Time will change things. As long as your child is gaining wt. you have nothing to fear.

Yes you are freaking yourself out with the formula thing...

Think of it this way...if you were exclusively breast feeding you wouldn't know how much the baby was drinking and when the baby was full, it will stop eating!

Stop adding formula. Your breast milk is the best food for your baby!

Just relax and by the way, nursing your baby will help you relax and be a better mom. The hormone relaxin (sp?) is released when you nurse. Next time you're stressed out for any reason, pick up the baby and nurse! You'll feel soooo much better!

E.

Are you just pumping and feeding or nursing? I know when I pumped I never got a lot. I exclusivly breastfeed and my daughter continued to gain weight and was content so I know she got more nursing then when I pumped.

K., you that you are not alone!! Many women have this “problem” including me, a first-time mom. I went to a La Leche class where they said to nurse more often to increase supply and don't judge your supply by the pump. A wise friend said that women have been naturally breast-feeding for centuries without knowing the amount. The true test is if the baby satisfied after a feeding and gaining weight.
My doctor recommended supplementing with formula. Since I had to return to work, I ended up supplementing with formula and continued to breast-feed at night too. (And still do at 14 months!) While breast milk is the best, just remember that a happy, healthy child AND HAPPY MOM is the goal. Don’t worry, your child will be fine no matter what you decide.

Your breasts were made to be- supply and demand, it's that simple. Note Ellen's comments, if you never gave a bottle you would not "know" how much he drank. Don't use formula, period. Pump more, use and electric pump if you can it works better. Hang in there, it's best for everyone! I did it for 12 months for 2 girls. Enjoy it!

Hi K.,

My son is about to turn 1 year old and has been exclusively breastfed since birth. I've never pumped, so I don't know how many ounces I'm producing. I do recall times when it seemed there was a little less being produced, but I followed my lactation consultant's advice and nursed him more frequently to bring the supply up. (She said it's frequency of nursing, not length of time nursing, that brings supply up). How is your son doing? Does he act satisfied?

For starters, your baby gets more milk than you can pump from your breast. Second, if you want your milk supply to go up, you have to stop supplementing. Demand dictates supply. I know it's really tough, I've been there three times, but you can do it! Nurse, nurse, and nurse some more. Drink plenty of fluids and rest. Good luck!

I see you have a lot of responses, but the lactation nurse told me to pump a half hour before nursing, the baby will get all they need even if you have pumped. It will help to increase the supply you need as well. Your baby can suck a lot more out than pumping ever could. It really seemed to help me with my daughter! Hope that helps.

K. G

K.,

I would talk to your pediatrician about your child's nutritional needs. I too had a fear of not producing enough milk when my child was less than a week old. Even after working with a lacation consultant, my baby still wasn't getting enough. It got to the point where she was dehydrated and had uric acid crystals in her diaper (it looked like a rust colored powder without any liquid). Then I decided to pump and only got about an ounce from both sides! No wonder she awlays seemed hungry and screamed after only being latched on for a couple of minutes.

Long story short my pediatrician said that even though breast milk is a good choice, and some would argue the best choice, formula is a very close second. She urged me to pump what I could to give to my daughter so she would get some valueable antibodies, but not to be afraid to give her formula to make up the difference. After being given "permission" to give formula to my child I felt an amazing weight lift off of me. I felt like I failed my child, but sometimes our bodies just don't let us do everything we'd like it to.

I wish you the best of luck with this very personal delimma. You ultimately need to make the choice that is best for you and your child.