i need help, not enough milk coming in!!!

Hayley - posted on 02/26/2011

you really need to be pumping every hour and a half to 2 hours to build up your supply or even better (if you can) breastfeed him that often :)

Nora - posted on 02/25/2011

Thanks carolyn and pamela

Pamela - posted on 02/25/2011

these ladies have some good advice, i wish i would have read this when i was breastfeeding! i nursed my daughter for about the first month and then when i went back to work i pumped exclusively and it is very hard. i started weening her off of breast milk at about 3 1/2 months, because it was very hard for me to keep up. i dont think i can give you as good of advice, but i def. know what you're going through. hang in there!

Carolyn - posted on 02/25/2011

Nora just keep putting him to breast as often as you can. Nikki is right, 3 months is growth spurt time where baby seems super duper hungry 24/7 , which is good because it helps bring the milk in more increasing your supply. so i agree at this point, avoid topping him up, unless he is not actively nursing ( you can hear him swallow and transfer milk) since im not sure from your post wether or not he is drinking for the breast or just comfort sucking and not actually transfering milk since you talk about pumping ever since he was born. If he is nursing, just nurse more frequently and keep returning him to breast as long as he will take it. if he gets frustrated with the flow of milk as it slows later in a feed, try some breast compressions and massage to help the milk flow faster, especially since baby is getting bottles.

dont be disappointed with yourself.

Breast feeding is hard, and if you are exclusively pumping, it can be even harder. So be confident , and proud that you have come this far.

Nikki - posted on 02/25/2011

Keep putting him on as often as you can for as long as he will stay on as it will stimulate your milk. You will not get as much milk from pumping as your baby will get from latching therefore it can be quite deceiving. I wouldn't top your baby up with your expressed milk otherwise he will not eat as much from your breast, maybe freeze it for times that you maybe away. Pumping to increase your supply and then giving it to your baby defeats the purpose because it won't increase your supply.

Be aware that at around 12 weeks they go through a growth spurt and it can feel as if they never seem full. It can be really frustrating and upsetting when you feel as if you are not giving your baby enough, but you need to relax, your body knows what to do. Try and have a little confidence in your ability to feed him, it is very rare for a breast feeding mum to loose her supply.

But for me pumping cause a lot of problems in the end, I wasn't pumping much milk at all which was disheartening but I learnt it doesn't mean that the milks not there.

I would really suggest meeting with a lactation consultant to discuss your situation.

Nora - posted on 02/24/2011

carolyn-thank u so much u give me an ease of mind i am doing the 1-2 bowls of oatmeal a day and after latching him on i pump for a good 10 minutes i guess i was just really scared because a month ago i was storing milk and now ive used it all and struggeling to get him his next feeding and it suxs because i think hes hitting the stage were he is wanting another oz or 2 so im a lil disappointed with myself

Carolyn - posted on 02/24/2011

if he will latch, let him latch and stimulate your supply. Top him up afterwards with some pumped milk, but the best way to increase your supply is to get baby suckling as often as you can. Baby is the best stimulation for milk production and flow. So latch him for stimulation and pump afterwards.

3-4 oz is actually a really good output, considering the average is is like 1-2 oz combined when it comes to pumping.

you are around the time where your supply will also regulate. So you wont feel as engorged/full anymore because your body will stop producing the excess of milk.

make sure you are pumping for a good 5 minutes after the milk stops flowing as well.

pumping more often should increase your supply. its supply and demand, the more you demand from your breasts the more they should supply.

at 3 months ish, most women only make enough for one feeding even if baby is drinking directly from the breast because its meeting the demand for supply. so your supply sounds quite normal to me.

you can try coupling the fenugreek with blessed thistle, which are often used together to increase a low supply, but it doesnt sound like an issue. Oatmeal helps many women, a bowl or 2 a day does the trick for many people. there are recipes for lactation cookies out there as well.

but if you are currently pumping enough in one session to feed a feeding, sounds normal like i said before. Many women who are exclusively pumping have to pump double time to get a single feeding.