Breast Milk Supply

Alyssa - posted on 01/28/2010

Yeah, I'm having the same problem - I was pumping every night before I went to bed to keep up a supply. But over vacation, I didn't pump, and it's never been the same since. She gets impatient, especially at night when she's tired and hungry. I've tried pumping like I used to and can't get near the amounts. I know they say the more you pump, but more you'll produce, but I would let it pump for 5-10 min, and nothing would come out. I know my supply is definitely lower, and I switch sides probably before I'm empty, and my daughter gets distracted if the flow is slow. With all the different foods she's eating, I'm not too concerned. I'll breastfeed as long as I can, and supplement formula occasionally if I"m away from her. But we've fed her breast milk this long and that's better than none at all. I would try like Robin said and mix breast milk with formula. Also, try various kinds - even a soy based formula, (my husband is allergic to dairy, and are afraid our daughter might be as well - the soy kinds taste different than milk based). Good luck!

Jennifer - posted on 01/26/2010

Invest in a breast pump... It is cheap compared to buying formula, and pays for itself in a few weeks! I keep up my supply like this and when they get a bottle, they get my milk.

Tiffany - posted on 01/25/2010

My Son was born at 29 weeks so I had to use a pump for the first 4 months until I could get him to fully breastfeed. Maybe if you get a pump and right before feeding her use the pump to get the milk to let down. Then another is that after she has finished eating pump everything completely out of both breast and this will help increase your supply.

Lauralea - posted on 01/25/2010

I have this problem too. My lactation consultant had us be sure that when we fed our son with a bottle that we weren't feeding more than 4 ozs in a sitting because it better replicates breastfeeding amounts. Also we always use a slow flow nipple, number 1, since breastfeeding isn't a fast flow. Another idea I was given was to nurse him before he gets really hungry so he won't be starving and as frustrated or impatient. My son basically would latch on, suck twice, turn and yell or cry and then do it all over again until my let down. We resolved this issue a few months ago but I am definitely seeing that he is nursing less now and I am not able to pump the amounts I was a few months ago. I also think that in his impatience I am switching sides before he has mostly emptied my breast and that is working against my production. I would suggest trying a different formula if you can. Now that my son is eating a variety of foods he is open to different tastes and formula goes alright. Maybe try formula in a Nuky/Nuby cup instead of bottle? Good luck. I feel your pain and am having to supplement more and more with formula. But, I am definitely keeping my morning and evening breastfeeding times because I love it.

Robin - posted on 01/25/2010

i had to changed to formula just before 6 months... i was back at work, expressing and feel pregnant and the combination of all three made my milk dry up.



we struggled to get our daughter to take formula... until we mixed it with breast milk! i started of 1/3 formula 2/3 breastmilk and slowly increased it until it was straight formula.



i keep doing exclusing breastfeeds in the morning and at night until 6 1/2 months before i gave up completely.