I also have a question for moms who have breastfed- I breastfed my last child for 6 months (would have liked to go longer, but...) but the entire time she needed to feed every hour (at night she could go a little longer- up to 3)- I know this is normal at first, but the feedings are supposed to spread out over time. Even at 4 months when we started cereal, she still needed to eat every hour, the cereal just took the place of three of those hours. At six months I tried giving her one bottle of formula in the morning and one in the evening and after a few days of that she started to act like my boobs were poison (she would scream and turn away when I tried to feed her). I know that my supply was good because I occasionally pumped and always got at least five oz at a time, but I was wondering if anyone ever heard of poor qualitly milk, like maybe it didn't have enough fat in it? I wasn't on any prescription or over the counter meds, I didn't wear an underwire, I ate good. The only thing I can think of is that I would have a little coffee in the morning, but only a cup. I was considering using a lactation tea with this upcoming child, but was wondering if it will help if my problem is probably not supply. Anyone have any insight? My other concern with the tea- all of the blends I have found contain anise, which I hate, and I would stomach it if I thought it would help, but is it just as effective to use the fenugreek alone, or are the blends better?
Thanks for all the responses, but I really don't think it was nipple confusion or the ease of the bottle. She had bottles for the entire time she was breastfeeding (of expressed breast milk) when I was at work and she never showed a preference- and I always used slow flow nipples, even when she was older.
she actually may not be latched on effectively. a baby can continue to gain weight if the milk supply is abundant. but the feedings may not be effective if she doesn't have a deep enough latch. check out dr. jack newman's video clip.
http://www.drjacknewman.com/index.php?option=com_content&...
just cut and past to your address bar.
I actually wondered the same thing, with my first she rejected my breast after a single bottle and I had many, many lactation consultants try to get her back, but it was no use. My point, I pumped for three months and my milk was always very light and would separate and go bad within an hour. If I left a bottle out for even a little while it looked like I had left it out for three days. With my second I had a much better nursing experience and when I pumped the milk looked like cows milk and stayed that way for quite a while. BTW I didn't take any supplements besides iron and prenatal vitamins. I wouldn't worry about taking all that stuff. Just my experience. Good Luck!
Combine fenugreek and blessed thistle. You can do capsule form or buy loose herbs and a tea ball to make your own.
I would avoid any and all caffeine. It is, after all, a drug. There is something calle nipple confusion where they come to prefer the flow and intensity of the imitation nipple. Try adding nuts and seeds to your diet.
She might be preferring the easier flow of the bottle vs working harder at the breast. I don't think there's such thing as poor quality breast milk, and I don't think you need lactation supplements when you already have good supply.
I would say that Izzy just prefered the flow of the bottle over the breast.
Congrats on your pregnancy!
M.
i am by no means an expert - just a mom who nursed her son for just shy of 3 years (and he never took a bottle!) but my first gut instinct is to say that maybe she preferred the ease of the bottle. i cannot remember the exact #'4 - but it takes only a few muscles to drink for a bottle - but WAY MORE to nurse from the breast. make sure you get slow flow bottles if you use one with your next baby. and i would definitely get in touch with a lactation consultant. they are SO knowledgeable about this type of thing! our pediatrician's office has one - but if yours doesn't - i bet a mamasource mom is one - and if not i know a few i can refer you to. i never used any of the teas so i cannot speak to them - but i also never drank any coffee. again - my biggest word of advice to you is to go to la leche league or find a lactation specialist. here's the local yahoo la leche league for la
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Community-LLLofLA/?y...
