i need help

Christina - posted on 04/24/2009

My midwife explained to me that there will be a point when babes just doesn't seem satisfied and always wanting to feed. Even when you feel empty put babes on the breast. She will stimulate your breast into producing more milk. There will be some delay as to when the milk will come in. I hope that you aren't fully committed to keep her on formula just yet. You are not a failure at all!! Breastfeeding is harder than people think. Emotionally, for sure. I advise you to keep trying when she cries put her on. Even if it seems like every half an hour, or seems like shes hungry. This worked for me, although it was at first very stressful...because I constantly thought I was not feeding my son enough. It all worked out, but this will happen often only due to the fact that she will increase her appetite! Good luck and put a smile on! You're a great mom for trying and caring!!

Stephanie - posted on 04/23/2009

Don't feel like a failure for giving the baby a bottle. The most important thing is that you have a lovely happy full up baby and a happy Mummy who's had enough rest. "Formula" is a horrible word, just call it a nice big bottle and enjoy your time with your baby.

Amber - posted on 04/23/2009

I personally don't like the taste it tastes like black licorice to me which I don't like but I drink it anyway. It does seem to help I get a couple extra ounces on days when i drink it compared to when I don't. The tea has fenugreek, nettle, fennel and anise which are supposed to help. I do get a couple ounces more though during the days when I drink about three cups.

Shandy - posted on 04/22/2009

I pump every 2-3 hours. How is the mothers milk tea? Have you noticed any change? Does it taste bad?

Amber - posted on 04/22/2009

How often are you pumping at work? I was pumping ever four hours and recently increased it to every three hours trying to increase my milk. I also drink the mother's milk tea. When pumping make sure you have sheilds that actually fit I was using ones that were too small and it made it painful and also lubricating with either lanolin cream or olive oil makes it more comfortable as well.

Melissa - posted on 04/22/2009

you are welcome the cookies are supposed to replace the beer or thats how i understand it I hope it works good luck.

Shandy - posted on 04/22/2009

thanks so much for all the support! I will try pumping more(if thats poss.) I'll also try the cookies, I hate beer so I'll try that last. Thanks again ladies!

Melissa - posted on 04/21/2009

P.S

Still maybe try the hot bath, it makes pumping great of course with a manual pump

Melissa - posted on 04/21/2009

I stole this from another post I hope she doesnt mind but because alcohol isnt good I hope it does work.Posted by Candace Rotert (yesterday, 2:55 pm)

Instead of alcohol, you can use Brewer's Yeast. It has the yeast without the alcohol. I recommend the pills instead of the powder. You can find it at GNC or other natural food stores. You take 3-4 pills 3 times a day. I did it for a while and it worked a little. Also, a mom gave me a milk producing cookie receipe. The cookies are great. Here's the receipe. Good luck!

Housepoet's Famous Lactation Boosting Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip & Flaxseed cookies (created by Noel Pickett noel@clubmuse.com)

Ingredients :



* 1 cup butter or marg

* 1 cup sugar

* 1 cup brown sugar

* 4 tablespoons water

* 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal*

* 2 large eggs

* 1 teaspoon vanilla

* 2 cups flour

* 1 teaspoon baking soda

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 3 cups oats, thick cut if you can get them

* 1 cup or more chocolate chips

* 2 tablespoons of brewers yeast* (be generous)



Directions:



Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. Mix together 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and water, set aside for 3-5 minutes. Cream (beat well) margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mix well. Stir flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to the margarine mix. Beat until blended. Sift together dry ingredients, except oats and chips. Add to margarine mixture. Stir in oats then chips. Scoop or drop onto baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment or silpat. The dough is a little crumbly, so it helps to use a scoop.



Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies.



Serves: 6 dozen cookies



Preparation time: 15 minutes



*can be found at any local health food store.

Melissa - posted on 04/21/2009

One time I was drying up and scared I was willing to try anything because breast feeding is important to me, someone told me to have 2 cans of beer so I quickly got some frozen milk out of the fridge but formula would work as well I had a HOT bath drank them while of course my husband watched the kids luckily for him it was night time and they were in bed. It actually helped I manually pumped in my hot bath and dumped it as I knew it wasnt good for my baby. If you have tried everything else or live in a small town lik me it works

I also seen a recipe which does a similar thing on this site if you look around its a post a bout a mom bringing her milk back.

Megan - posted on 04/21/2009

With my first (daughter) I had the same problem around 3-4mos...I took the doctors advise and tried to supplement with formula which only made her not want to nurse at all anymore so we were stuck on formula which she was taking 8oz every 3hrs and spitting half of it up...tried cereal and she was not interested until I tried making it with juice instead of formula or mixing in just a little fruit. That did the trick...she took the cereal and decreased the formula which made her stop spitting up and fussing for more. Hope this helps!

Medea - posted on 04/21/2009

Any milk you can give your child is great. Don't feel like a failure! Formula has come such a long way. Don't feel bad at all for giving your child formula. You should feel good about yourself. Stress will also reduce you milk supply!! Good luck!

Emily - posted on 04/21/2009

Yep I agree with pumping! - I absolutley love my medela swing pump & bought it 2nd hand on ebay - worth every penny - I used it at work a couple of times a day - definitely helps supply.
I know how you feel ..... its horrid when you think you're drying up - as others say its probably that baby is on a growth spurt - i started solids at 23 weeks as my boy was big & had stopped sleeping so well at night - that might help you too?
As for supplements - have you tried alfalfa? ignatia? if like me your periods have come back that will probably affect your supply so try taking some calcium & magnesium & agnus castus - I Can let you know doses if you are interested. - I found fenugreek good too but only in the short term - you have to stop taking it for a bit then restart to get the full effect I found.
Other thing is just keep feeding & pumping lots & that will keep your supply up ... Goood luck & keep going - 4-6m was the hardest brstfdg time for me but the greatest times are yet to come I reckon - I had great fun feeding my lil man til he was about 24 months old (a few weeks ago...) & I miss it terribly (he weaned himself)...

Mika - posted on 04/21/2009

Quoting Shandy:

Quoting Shimika:

Are you drinking lots of water throughout the day? You can also try eating oatmeal cookies. And there's a pill you can take. Im not sure of the name. Your doctor should know about it. I totally understand. I went through something similiar. And resulted to pumping because I need to see how much my little guy is eating. Have you started her on solids. Around this time most babies appetites grow a lot. She may need something more like cereal. Hope that helps a little.

Hi Shimika,  the pill I think your talking about is Fenugreek and yes I'm taking that 4 pills 3 times a day. and I drink tons of water about 1 gal. a day! I love water! I'll try the oatmeal cookies though sounds good! I've tried a few times with the cereal... not interested yet. Thank you so much for your help, I love your name by the way!

Yeah, thats what its called. Youll when shes really ready for solids because shell be grabbing at your food and watching you eat. My lil man wasnt to fond of the rice cereal. He ate a lil of the oatmeal. I didnt try Barley, I went straight to mixed and he loves it. Along with veggies and fruits. You might want to try mixing a lil fruit in the cereal to her to eat it. Keep at the breastfeeding. Im pupming and sooo wishes my lil man would latch on like he use to . But as long as he gets the milk Im satisfied. Oh and thnx for the compliment : )!

Carrie - posted on 04/21/2009

Something that has helped me when I needed an extra boost are two natural tinctures made by Wish Garden. One is called Goat's Rue, it is specifically for increasing milk volume. The other is Milk Enrichment, it is a combo of different herbs that aid in increasing volume and quality of milk. Also, you mentioned you have gone back to work...are you able to pump at work? According to my Bradley instructor, a baby needs to nurse or you need to pump if the baby can't nurse, about 8 times (give or take) throughout an entire day/night to maintain your milk. I allow my son to nurse as often and as long as he wants and my body will increase/decrease the milk with his need. A book that has been really helpful about answering lots of these types of questions is The Nursing Mother's Companion. Also, do you have a La Leche League near you? They are devoted to helping women succeed with breastfeeding problems. Good luck! I hope this helps! Keep your chin up, you're doing great!

Emma - posted on 04/21/2009

Quoting Cynthia:

On my fourth month with my second (he's now 7 months) he was feeding every two hours during the day and every three hours at night. That was with only breastfeeding. I knew it was a growth spurt and just everytime he cried, back on the boob he went. Sometimes he would even take both breasts in one session. Just burp lots during and after feeds and yes, pumping in between feeds does help. Any extra I pump I simply save to mix in with his cereal when he gets fed it in the morning. We only started feeding solids to him at six months. He's been great before that, as long as I kept him on the boob or kept pumping to get more milk produced. Your baby looks great in your photo and don't worry. As long as she is gaining weight and growing you have nothing to be concerned about as long as she producing poops/pee and isn't too gassy. Take care.

it sounds normal for that age. babys going through a growth spert and it will seem like hes constantly hungry, its babys way of telling your body to produce more milk.

sounds like your doing great and baby is thriving, try not to worry

Cynthia - posted on 04/20/2009

On my fourth month with my second (he's now 7 months) he was feeding every two hours during the day and every three hours at night. That was with only breastfeeding. I knew it was a growth spurt and just everytime he cried, back on the boob he went. Sometimes he would even take both breasts in one session. Just burp lots during and after feeds and yes, pumping in between feeds does help. Any extra I pump I simply save to mix in with his cereal when he gets fed it in the morning. We only started feeding solids to him at six months. He's been great before that, as long as I kept him on the boob or kept pumping to get more milk produced. Your baby looks great in your photo and don't worry. As long as she is gaining weight and growing you have nothing to be concerned about as long as she producing poops/pee and isn't too gassy. Take care.

Guggie - posted on 04/20/2009

Shandy, your baby's cues are not accurate measurements for how much milk she is getting. If you are worried she is not getting milk, measure her before and after a feeding session.





Four months is a very normal time for a baby to demand more milk. With breastfeeding, the way babies get more milk is to demand more, then your body responds by making more. Since you are past the "4th trimester" your body might be working so well that you don't notice the additional milk.



Offer nursing whenever she wants it to train your body to make more milk.

Shandy - posted on 04/20/2009

Quoting Penny:

I went through that too. So I was really curious to see how much milk I was producing, so I pumped. I was also told (and the best advice given to me by a nurse) when pumping, pump each breast for the full 20 minutes whether milk is coming out or not. It stimulates the breast to produce more. So I did that for 2 days and made myself engorged with milk. And my son couldn't have been happier. I seemed to go through this everytime he was starting a growing spurt.

Hi Penny thanks for your help! How many times did you pump a day and for 20min. everytime? I'm back at work now and cant seem to get much to feed her while I'm gone. About 2 weeks after my milk cane in, I started pumping and WAS getting 5-6oz. out of each side! I quit pumping cause I didn't plan on going back to work.

Penny - posted on 04/20/2009

I went through that too. So I was really curious to see how much milk I was producing, so I pumped. I was also told (and the best advice given to me by a nurse) when pumping, pump each breast for the full 20 minutes whether milk is coming out or not. It stimulates the breast to produce more. So I did that for 2 days and made myself engorged with milk. And my son couldn't have been happier. I seemed to go through this everytime he was starting a growing spurt.

Shandy - posted on 04/20/2009

Quoting Shimika:

Are you drinking lots of water throughout the day? You can also try eating oatmeal cookies. And there's a pill you can take. Im not sure of the name. Your doctor should know about it. I totally understand. I went through something similiar. And resulted to pumping because I need to see how much my little guy is eating. Have you started her on solids. Around this time most babies appetites grow a lot. She may need something more like cereal. Hope that helps a little.

Hi Shimika,  the pill I think your talking about is Fenugreek and yes I'm taking that 4 pills 3 times a day. and I drink tons of water about 1 gal. a day! I love water! I'll try the oatmeal cookies though sounds good! I've tried a few times with the cereal... not interested yet. Thank you so much for your help, I love your name by the way!

Joanne - posted on 04/20/2009

I listened to the pediatricians with my first and used formula when he did that...not bad but not great. Then I took some hints from a book called "So that's what they're for" - basically said "keep at it" if it works for you. Sometimes it takes a little more effort during a dryer time for you or a fussy time for the baby. She may be gassy, going through a growth spurt, adjustig to a change in your diet, ...really anything. She'll get through it and so will you. Bottom line is - it's OK to nurse her a lot if that's what she needs...it's also OK to add formula so that you can get rest. A rested mom is probably a better mom. You need to take care of yourself too.

Mika - posted on 04/20/2009

Are you drinking lots of water throughout the day? You can also try eating oatmeal cookies. And there's a pill you can take. Im not sure of the name. Your doctor should know about it. I totally understand. I went through something similiar. And resulted to pumping because I need to see how much my little guy is eating. Have you started her on solids. Around this time most babies appetites grow a lot. She may need something more like cereal. Hope that helps a little.

Rachael - posted on 04/20/2009

Have you seen your pediatrician or obgyn? Is your daughter going through a growth spurt? Try to feel better, you're not the first mom that's had this problem. Good Luck!

Shandy - posted on 04/20/2009

I mean more milk special blend, not more milk plus.