How can I get my milk supply up, I don't think Lauren is getting enough. While she is nursing she is content for a while then she starts rooting around and crying. I don't know what to do. I don't what her to be hungry. Help..please!! Could she be doing this because of the gas she has? she has been letting the gas out alot today so I know she has it.

By Heaventree on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 02:12 pm:

Here Sweetie,

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/increase.html

Hope this helps, you sound panicked, just try to relax. More frequent feedings will tell your body to produce more milk, but you need to give your body time.

When she starts rooting and crying put her back on the breast.

By Kaye on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 02:26 pm:

Another option is to pump between feedings. You won't get alot. I was amazed at how much less my younger guy ate (still only 4 ounces at 5 months). But you have to realize breast milk is like liquid gold for these little ones. Pump what you can, this will do two things, it will increase your milk supply, but it will also give you a visual that she is drinking some. Have hubby or one of your dd's feed her a bottle, and then make sure you pump again, don't skip the feeding! As long as she is getting more breast than artificial nipples she should be fine as far as nipple confusion. I also really liked that mine would take a bottle if needed!

By My2cuties on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 05:45 pm:

Thank you Heaven, I seem to forget about their site, they are wonderful!

Kaye, I do pump, but I don't have a good breast pump, I am only getting like 1 ounce when I pump. I really want to invest in a good one.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 05:54 pm:

Candis, FWIW, I had a Medela electric pump and was never able to pump more than 1 ounce (from each side) at a time. That doesn't mean your baby isn't getting enough.

GERD could still be a possibility. DD would latch on, nurse for a little bit and then become upset and cry for no apparent reason.

Have you seen a Lactation Consultant? Most hospitals and/or OB/GYN practices have one. Definitely worth looking into. They were VERY helpful when I was nursing.

By Emily7 on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 06:27 pm:

I don't know if you are on WIC, but your local WIC office should not only be able to provide you with a good breast pump, but also help you with your breast feeding questions.
A glass of ice tea always mad me produce more milk, I am not sure why. Even now while trying to dry up if I drink a glass I am very uncomfortable.

By Dana on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 10:34 pm:

BTDT and still doing it. Here is what made a huge difference for me (i'll look for the links). Feed the baby from the breast a full 15 min on each side. After feeding, pump w/ a double pump for 15 min (go purchase one now, it is well worth it..I waited a couple months before doing it and wish I hadn't. If you don't purchase one, rent a good one from your hospital or find someone who rents them, it will run about $65/month, but you might only need for 1 month to get you going). Feed whatever you just pumped to your baby. If you baby is STILL hungry, suppliment w/ formula if you must. Don't feel the need to feed X amount of ounces just because your baby is X wks old. Your breastfed baby will not each as many ounces in one sitting as a bottle fed baby. Okay, so now you have bfed, pumped and formula if needed. Do this for EACH feeding. It is SO time consuming. Chances are your baby will be able to wait for you to finish your 15 min pumping (on double pump). Keep doing this each day until you feel your baby is getting enough. Start now, though, don't wait. She will be inceasing her demand as quickly as you are trying to catch up to her.

Also, note that at about 3 wks, your supply of milk reduces quite a bit because of hormone changes. Immediately after birth, you hormones cause the milk to flow. At about 3 wks, the hormones drop (and quickly) and your body is now working from DEMAND to produce the milk. So if you find you have less now, this could be the issue and the extra pumping will get you going.

I never did get a good supply going for myself, but I didn't know what I know now. I did bring my milk up from .8oz to 2oz and in the morning I WAS getting up to 6oz but I have recently dropped to 4 oz. You ask "how does she know how much?" I know because I was lucky enough to be allowed to borrow a nursing scale that tells me exactly how much the baby drinks. So I know what I pump is actually the same amount that my baby pulls from me. So I never did notice a difference between pumping amounts and baby drinking amounts. But I did notice a difference when I finally bought an electric pump. Oh, and I worked and worked and worked on getting a proper latch. I still have to work w/ DS cause he tends to get lazy. A huge difference w/ improper latch. Let me go see if I can find the site that helped me the most. I'll post later if I find them.

By Dana on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 11:03 pm:

This is not the site I was looking for, but it had some good tips.

http://www.breastfeedingworld.com/Increasing%20Breast%20Milk%20Supply.htm

Here it is. His videos are really good to watch.

http://www.bflrc.com/newman/handouts/0501-HO_B-Protocol_to_Increase_Breastmilk_Intake.htm

Check all around his site and read and view all the videos. It is very helpful. Hope that helps.

By Dana on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 11:10 pm:

Here's a better link with easier to find links to other pages.

http://www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html

You might want to try a supplimental lactation device as well. You can see pictures and read more at this site I just posted. I got one and it was somewhat helpful, but that was when DS went to the hospital for a week (age 3wks) and there was one nurse who hated to see us suffer thru the efforts I took in order to increase supply. Being so tired at this point, I let her bully me into going to bottle ....but only on her shift LOL.

Proper latch on made the biggest difference for me.

By Pamt on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 11:52 pm:

Ditto Trina. I would talk with a lactation consultant first. It could be milk supply, but it could also be gas or reflux, latching problems, letdown problems, etc. My DS would pull off and cry because I had such a strong letdown that he would begin to choke and cry. My milk would literally shoot across the room. I learned to let him nurse until I felt the pins and needles tingle of letdown. Then I'd pull him off and letdown into a cloth diaper. When the strong rush of milk stopped then I could put him back on the breast to nurse. Definitely see a LC. It was a free service at the hospital where I delivered.

By Monicamomof3 on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 - 09:17 pm:

Hey! How is Lauren doing with the nursing? I just ran across your post and wished I could have seen it when you wrote it to encourage you a bit.

Is everything going ok?

By My2cuties on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 08:28 pm:

Thanks for asking, we take it one day at a time. My milk supply, in the breast that had Mastitis, is getting back up. She is more happy for a longer period of time now. I found a couple people that could support me breastfeeding her and a support group so I am doing alot better. I can't believe she will be 2 months old in just a little over a week. I will give an update of how her 2 month appointment goes then, hopefully that will tell that she is getting plenty of food and gaining good.

By Monicamomof3 on Thursday, July 14, 2005 - 09:40 pm:

I'm so glad to hear that you are hanging in there! Great job!

Oh- Mastitis IS NOT fun. I had it for the first time on my 3rd baby. I felt like I had the flu and that my breast was going to throb off! It hurt soooo bad.

Keep up the good work and good job getting support for yourself.

By Lauram on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 06:26 pm:

Ditto on consulting a lactation consultant. I had BIG troubles in this area. I had to take pills, teas, etc... It worked though! Also, feed on demand! (LLL was NOT helpful for me- I needed more specialized individualized support).