Keeping up my milk supply

[busymama77]

I had very low supply when I nursed DS which in turn led to an early ending nursing session - only 3 months. I was uneducated as to what I could do to keep my supply going - didn't know about how much of a booster oatmeal is and certain teas that you can drink to help increase your supply. I knew about drinking lots of water, but that didn't seem to help. I also did the 'schedule nursing' which I found out later on was a big "no, no".

So with all of that said, do you have any other suggestions on what I can do to keep up with my supply? Who knows. It may be completely different this time around, but I'm trying to prepare myself if it isn't and do what I can to keep nursing my baby boy.

[rubidoux]

How do you know that you had a low supply?

[busymama77]

Originally Posted by rubidoux

How do you know that you had a low supply?

Because he wasn't getting full during feeding and I took me a 1/2 an hour to an hour to pump 2 OUNCES. To me, that sounds like a low supply.

[Bokonon]

Pumping output is never an indicator of supply. Some women respond very well to the pump, and others not at all.

When you say he wasn't getting full during feedings, do you mean that he was hungry again shortly after feedings, or fussing after feedings? Those can also be normal, and as you say, scheduling feedings can be extremely detrimental to your supply. Most women produce ample milk when feeding on demand.

I think you are going to do just great this time around!

[hotharmony]

I would start on the site Kelly Mom and read everything you can get your hands on. It's totally normal for a newborn and any baby under 3 months to want to be at the breast constantly infact they really should be doing nothing but eat,sleep,poop, eat sleep poop and so on and so forth.

I woulds also find a good Lactation Consultant in your area now as this person will be able to help make sure the baby is transferring milk well when latched on and to offer support if you really do have a low milk supply.

I would just keep offering the breast at every peep and wince and wine and every time the baby wants anything I offer the breast.

[mambera]

Originally Posted by busymama77

Because he wasn't getting full during feeding and I took me a 1/2 an hour to an hour to pump 2 OUNCES. To me, that sounds like a low supply.

That sounds way more than fine to me actually.

1) When you are EBF you may not be able to pump much of anything at unless you skip a feeding, bc the baby takes it all

2) As noted above, some women don't respond well to a pump

3) A baby under 1 month old needs roughly 2.5 oz per pound of weight. So if you have a hefty 10-lb newborn he should need about 25 oz/day. If you are pumping 2 oz/hour that means you are making at least 48 oz/day.

So if you could EBF the baby and also pump 2 oz in 1/2 to 1 hour it sounds like you actually had more than you needed.

One thing that leads to women losing their milk is giving the baby supplemental feedings that are not your breast milk. In order for your body to keep making milk, the milk has to get removed on a regular basis. Otherwise your body thinks the baby is not hungry and starts to reduce production.

So if you give the baby a bottle, the baby is not hungry for the milk in your breasts. The milk does not get removed, so the body thinks it is making too much and starts to make less. This leads to more and more bottles and less and less breast milk, until all the milk is gone.

If you give the baby a bottle of formula, you need to pump to stimulate your breasts for the missed feeding. This will prevent your body from reducing the milk supply.

[rubidoux]

Originally Posted by busymama77

Because he wasn't getting full during feeding and I took me a 1/2 an hour to an hour to pump 2 OUNCES. To me, that sounds like a low supply.

I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be snarky at all. I think a lot of us have a strong impulse to doubt ourselves on this front. I had a close friend who had a huge, happy, healthy baby but she was always convinced that she wasn't making enough milk. She spent quite a lot of time, money, and effort boosting her supply. I also know a woman who's an MD and has been pumping since her now 9 mo old was born bc she can't stand not to know how many ounces she's getting.

I do think, though, that nursing is a lot like pregnancy -- every nursing relationsip is different. If you did have low supply last time, it's entirely possible that it won't be an issue this time. But there is no harm in eating some oatmeal and drinking some herbal tea. If you do feel that your supply is low again, you can have your ped weigh the baby before and after a nursing session to whether it's getting enough milk.