Supply Issues?

[Amatullah0]

DS is 5.5 wks old.

in the hospital, he was given formula, while i pumped and that was mixed with the formula(he had breathing issues, so They wouldn't let me nurse at first) by the second day, i was nursing him, but not exclusively. a week later, i was exclusively nursing. his weight continues to fall until the 3rd week when it started to go up. at 5 wks, he was back to birthweight. the ped wants him admitted if he doesn't gain an oz/day, so we're back to supplementing again, only, now, hes getting 2-4 oz formula every 2-3 hrs after i nurse him. hes doing a lot better, hes gained a lot of weight(perhaps 8 oz in a few days)

i feel horrible. i was starving him without realizing it. i want to get back to exclusively bf, but i don't know how. i suspect my supply is low. i'm sure that our latch is bad, and i doubt the bottles are making it any better. this week, since we've been trying really hard to get him to gain, i've been bottlefeeding him after nursing(since so one else is home to give it to him) and i suspect this is making it worse

please help me get him back to breast exclusively!!!

[PatioGardener]

Hang in there, Mama! You and your baby got off to a bad start with (it sounds like) no support from the health care system.

Are you pumping your milk at all? That will help to increase your supply until baby can feed entirely at the breast. Are you able to see a lactation consultant? Or maybe a public health nurse or midwife who knows about breastfeeding? If you post which country/city you are in you may get some help fidning someone good who lives in your area.

There is a stickie at the top of this forum with really good information to increase breastmilk. Some women eat special foods (like oatmeal), some take herbs (like fenugreek) and some take medications (domperidone) to increase milk supply. It sounds like you also need to increase milk transfer from breast to baby. There are some excellent videos here that may help www.drjacknewman.com - and pumping or hand expressing will help too.

If you have to supplement, supplementing with your milk is much better than formula. Either way, supplementing with a tube at the breast will help baby learn how to breastfeed. Jack Newman has a video about this too.

Good luck!!