Am I Producing Enough Breast Milk?

Don't give up-consult a lactation specialist for piece of mind-and drink lots of fluids. The first feedings are sufficient-she is just trying to establish the milk supply-it will come in-and when it does....you'll know it!

I'm a peer breastfeeding counselor, and I recommend going to see a lactation consultant or see if there are peer counselors in your area. The main thing is to have her evaluate the latch and ask if there may be a tongue tie.

I agree with the other moms in regards to pumping. Some women just don't pump well, and at 4 days, your milk may not have begun to increase yet. This is also called "when your milk comes in." A better way to express milk at this stage is by hand expression, and there's a wonderful video by Dr. Jane Morton of Stanford University: http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/HandExpression...

Some things to remember and a better gauge of your building supply:

LOTS of skin to skin with baby :)

The first 24 hours: 1 thick, black, tarry meconium diaper, 1 wet diaper
Day 2: 2 wet diapers, 2 poopy diapers that are still thick and sticky but more brown.
Day 3: 3 wet diapers, 3 poopy diapers that are now thinner and more yellowish-green in color.
Day 4: 4-6 wet diapers, 4 or more poopy diapers that are yellow in color and seedy (like mustard with seeds in it).
----- A GREAT website: http://www.breastfeedingmaterials.com/view-breastfed-baby...

Baby should be nursing at least 8 times per 24 hours, but probably more like 12-16.

You and baby should both be comfortable before beginning to nurse. Here's a great video about a fairly "new" concept, especially if you birthed in a hospital: http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/video/bn3clip.html

I could put this all in words, but here's an excellent video that describes how to get an optimal latch: http://www.ameda.com/resources/video.

Even though my organization, Nursing Mothers Counsel, is in the San Francisco Bay Area, there may be a similar organization in your area that you can take advantage of!!! All of our services are free, and we provide mainly one-on-one phone support from a highly-trained volunteer who has also breastfed (you get the same counselor every time). You can find more about us at http://www.nursingmothers.org. Feel free to use us if you don't have something similar in your area :)

But I'd start with a lactation consultant if you can afford it. The in-person, hands-on is usually invaluable to a new breastfeeding mom!!!

Some women just can't pump (or pump much), but it doesn't mean you're not making enough milk. Pumping isn't a good indication of your milk supply, don't worry a bit about it. If she is wetting her diapers and is satisfied after eating than she is getting plenty! With my son, nursing was pretty painful for the first week or two, you're not used to it just yet. I used Lansinoh brand lanolin and soft nursing pads and after a few weeks the tenderness went away and we were fine. By around 3 months when he really had the nursing thing down and was eating all the time I could pump 4-8 ounces, but at 4 days I wouldn't have been able to get much of anything. At this point building up your milk supply is important, if you start giving her formula than you won't be able to do this as effectively. Lots of women do formula and nursing, so if that's the route you want to take it's fine. Just don't do it because you think she's not getting enough, that's the magic of breastfeeding, you make what she needs! Feel free to PM if you have any other questions, BF was one of the hardest things for me to deal with, I had so many questions! Congratulations on your little one!

While I don't know about "chumping" I do want to remind you that both you and your new daughter are learning how to breastfeed. It takes time to learn a good latch. Thankfully, the more you practice the easier it gets. My son had issues opening his mouth wide enough so I had to be very vigilant about fixing his latch until he got the drift. Like others said you shouldn't be producing much milk this soon. Babies tummies are the size of like a marble at this point. They were built this way to give mommy's boobs a time to catch up. If you can't see a lactation consultant today, I'd recommend having a very experienced friend come over. Any mom who is experienced at breastfeeding will be happy to help you have a successful experience. I also wouldn't start formula feeding yet. It's something you don't want to rush to the second it gets difficult but it's a wonderful substitute if baby is truly hungry. Practice, practice, practice. Try different positions too. I learned my son did better if I just leaned back in bed and laid him down my body. As he got bigger we tried the more traditional positions. Congratulations on your new bundle!!

Call a certified lactation consultant. It can take several days for your milk to come in fully and it can also take a baby practice to get the latch right. You may need someone to show you a better latch. Further, pumps aren't accurate. To know if a baby is fed, you look at the output. Wet and messy diapers (and plenty of them) and about 12 feeds a day to start is a good rule of thumb. I think that you should give nursing a longer try before you reach for the formula because it is awfully hard to relactate but you can always supplement later. Many nursing issues can be overcome with a bit of knowledge. I personally had overactive letdown and my DD was basically drinking from a fire hose. I used a nipple shield temporarily and ended up nursing for 2.5 years. Don't give up before you've gotten help.

kellymom.com is also a good resource.

Your daughter can get far FAR more than any pump (no matter how fancy or expensive). But honestly, at 4 days old, your milk may not have even come in all the way yet. Her doing what she is doing will stimulate your milk supply and she will get what she should. If you have any doubts, ask your doctor (or HERS). All babies lose a little bit of their birth weight the first few days. She will start to gain it back and if she isn't where she should be at her first well visit, the doctor will say so.

Just be sure that she is latched on properly. If you haven't, especially if this is your first baby or your first time nursing, then please call your doctor or hospital where you delivered and ask for contact info for a lactation consultant. They can help you be sure your baby is latching properly.

And congratulations on your newborn!

No don't stop, its normal, hang in there. Get with a lactation nurse from the hospital or La Leche group to help with the chomping sounds like she needs help with latching on correctly and and gets eager when at the breast. The more you feed and pump the more milk you will produce, the most important thing I learned with my last child with pumping is not to give up. With my other child i had to suppliment with formula because I was not informed very well about breastfeeding and had no clue what I was doing outside of feeding him, pumping was a mystery to me! I could not understand how women were able to get six or twelve onces from pumping! I never have! So just hang in there and talk to other moms about breastfeeding, most areas have breastfeeding support groups that meet regularly. Also nipple shields can help! Good Luck!

I couldn't pump worth a darn, but I breastfeed like a cow. Definitely contact the La Leche League or your hospital's lactation consultant. It is also possible your baby is tongue tied, a small snip at the base of her tongue by her Dr can help with that.

Kellymom.com is a great resource.
Don't do ANY formula or you will get stuck in a cycle of baby eating more any you making less.
It hurt for 7-10 days when I started but after that it was piece of cake.

Alternate sides, and keep pumping. Maybe that side doesn't produce as much. Keep at it, don't give up! Make sure you eat foods that will help you produce more as well.

Gretchen covered it well, the only thin I'd add is La Leche League! The combination of trained leaders and fellow moms can't be beat!!! You can find one near you at http://www.llli.org/webus.html you can call the leader now for help and then go to the next meeting!

Is she crying because she's still hungry? keep drinking lots of water, keep your calories up. You should call the hospital and ask to make an appt. with the lactation consultant they are there 7 days a week (I went 3x) also see if your hospital offers a breast feeding class it was free at my hospital... I took my son till he was 5mo. and made some wonderful friends that I still see 4 yrs later

happy easter to you and your daughter!

Toni

I'd call the hospital where you delivered and talk to a lactation consultant (most have them). Or find a La Leche group in your area and talk to a leader. Some people don't get a lot when they pump but might be getting more when the baby nurses. Also if you had a c-section you milk may not be fully in yet. It took 4-5 days for me and no one told me the first time that the c-section can make it take a little longer.

If it hurts, she's latching on wrong or has a sublingual frenulum that someone missed. My first couldn't latch right because I was so HUGE and he was starving. After a week, we finally got some real help and he was great. It was some minor hand position changing.

My second made me cry and cringe when he latched, so we had our lactation consultant help me, who use to work at Dr. Sear's office and we had his frenulum clipped the next day. It was like night and day. She still does consulting and might be able to do a Skype type consultation with you before you give up on breastfeeding. Contact me and I can send you her e-mail.

Also keep in mind. I produce milk like a dairy cow, but when I pump, it takes me 30 minutes to get 1.5 oz....AND this is my 4th baby I've breastfed.

With my first, I had to take board exams and he was 2 weeks old. Couldn't get a drop with the pump, but he was fine. Babies are more efficient than a pump will ever be, so don't freak. Breathe, drink plenty of water and get a hold of someone with real experience.