Breastfeeding - Zanesville,OH

M.,

1. Stop giving her any formula because breastmilk is produced based on demand. And continue to get her latched on properly as that helps stimulate more production.

2. Drink more water

3. Feed her whenever she wants to eat and forget about a set schedule

4. Get some Fenugreek capsules. Also some of that "Mother's Milk" tea is good.

(Also, understand that pumping is much less efficient that a baby feeding, so you will get less.)

Finally, relax! You are doing a wonderful thing, and all will be well.

Best wishes,
K.

Way to hang in there!!! I know exactly what you're going through - but it is sooooo much better for baby. I breastfed baby #1 for 13 mths. and baby #2 for 14 mths. Baby #2 would never take a bottle so I felt like he was constantly on me...but I would do it again! My children have always been healthy - now 3 1/2 and 19 mths.
This is what I tried and think it helped - Mothers Milk - it is an herbal tea. You can get it at vitamin shoppe for like $5. You can have like 3 cups a day. Hope this helps and keep hangin in there!!

Google "increasing breastmilk supply". There are supplements (Fenugreek), oatmeal, cookie recipes, teas, all kinds of things to help you out. Whenever you give her the formula, pump at the same time to try and get more milk in production.
It sounds like you've been through a lot, have you seen a lactation consultant? Have you been to a La Leche League meeting? When it comes to a bad latch, the best thing you can do is take her off and re-latch her EVERY time she pulls back. She will get used to it, I promise. It's like biting, break the latch, pull her off, wait a minute, re-latch. She learn that she doesn't milk milk unless she does it the right way.
Hang in there!

Good job for sticking it out!! :) You can try Fenugreek. It is an herbal supplement. However, it will make you smell like maple syrup. A friend of mine used and it with a combo of that and pumping after each feed she had a great production level again. http://www.babycenter.com/404_can-the-herb-fenugreek-incr... Keep it up. Make sure when you are pumping you empty the breast in full usually pumping 15 mins or more. Also, pump after your baby feeds for more stimulation to let your body know it needs more and will get the clue to make more the next time.

As far as your sore nipples go....have you tried a nipple shield? I used one with my son and it was wonderful! Also you can get those chilled packs to put in your bra and they are very soothing. The purple bottle of cream is great too and safe for baby.

i'm no expert...but did just get done bf my son after almost 14 months! :)

Nurse, nurse, nurse!!! Pumping interupts the natural process. Also, relax when you are nursing so your milk will have a chance to letdown. If you are stressed it doesn't work as well. Get as comfortable as possible, lay your head back, close your eyes and RELAX! I know this is hard from experience. My daughter and I have been through a lot too, latch problems, thrush, mastitis. We have stuck to it and have made it farther than I ever thought I would (she will be 2 years next week!) I really hope this helps. Nursing a child is the greatest gift from God. It is also the best nutrition you can give her. Talk to a lactation consultant or your doctor, they can be so helpful. Good Luck!!

I am currently breastfeeding my 4th baby. I usually nurse between 2 and 3 years. I can tell you that the first few months are definitely the most difficult. Nursing more during growth spurts is just something you have to deal with, but sounds like you are doing a great job sticking it out. It won't be long before your baby is eating solid foods, and nursing maybe a little less.

Thrush (yeast) can definitely make the breastfeeding experience miserable. Make sure you are not eating too much sugar, because that can aggravate the problem. Also, start taking acidophilus every day. You can even give powdered acidophilus to your baby (put some on your nipples prior to each feeding). I buy Jarrow brand from Whole Foods.

If your baby's position is not causing you any pain and your nipples aren't breaking down, then I say let your baby nurse that way. My mom is a Lactation Consultant and she always said it looks like my baby nurses way down on my nipple, but it doesn't hurt and my baby is growing. If it is hurting, then just keep repositioning her until she figures out she won't get to eat unless she does it differently.

It doesn't sound like you need to be supplementing with formula. The breast is never completely empty. Just like saliva, more will always be produced. The milk ducts get emptied, but the body is constantly refilling them. The milk flow just slows down quite a bit after the milk ducts are emptied. How much you can squeeze out or pump is not an accurate measurement of how much your baby is able to get out. The baby's suckle is much more effective than a pump or your hand. Just make sure the baby is getting at least 6 diapers in 24 hours, and that shows the baby is getting enough. Also, continuing to let the baby suckle at the breast, will cause the body to respond by making more milk.

If your baby is fussing at the breast, it is not likely because your baby is still hungry and not getting anything. Maybe she needs to burp or needs to poop/pee, or be changed. Sometimes my baby gets fussy because he wants suck to go to sleep, but his belly is full. You can try swaddling, bouncing, and shushing, or try giving a pacifier.

If your milk supply is truly low, like your baby is not growing well or not putting out enough diapers, then there are some things you can do to increase your production. First and foremost is to nurse your baby more. Reduce your stress level. Have a glass of wine or a Guiness (known to increase milk supply). Also, Fenugreek is an herb that can help boost production. I have a feeling you are making plenty of milk from what I read though. Giving formula is only going reduce your supply, and it's not as good for your baby.

Get a support group for breastfeeding and parenting. Talk to friends or join La Leche League or an attachment parenting group (AP International or search yahoo groups)

Remember that you need your sanity as well. Take breaks when you can get them. Have a glass of wine. Get a babysitter and love on your husband. Write in a journal, talk to a supportive friend, or just take a moment to cry. You only have one baby right now, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get someone to babysit for an hour or two. Try having 4 little ones. I barely get time to feed myself or sit down. One positive is that I'm back in my old jeans already, a month later. LOL!

You might have a clogged milk duct. Since it hurts so bad when feeding, and since she prefers the end of the breast you might need to squeeze the nipple farther into her mouth when she is first latching on to get her to take more of the breast. My youngest daughter used to do the same at first. It took a while to get her to latch properly so it didn't hurt. Use You should get some breast cream. (pure-lan,or lanolin cream) It is in the baby isle at the store. It will be in a purple tube, or the pure-lan I think is in a yellow tube. You can use that even while feeding. It will heal any cracks in the skin around your nipple. It is safe for the baby. Use it as much as possible. Also, you might want to start using the breast pads inside your bra. It will help with the friction.
To release your milk if it is clogged, get a warm to hot wash cloth and place it on your breast to help release the clog. When you are in the shower try to have the water hit the top of your breast, the pounding of the warm water can also help release the clog. If it is clogged, you will definately know it when it releases! My sister in law had one also and when hers released she said she felt like a sprinkler! I wasn't that bad, but you will feel it when it releases. Be on the look out for a fever. If you get a fever, call the doctor immediately, you have mastitis(sp?). It is a very painful breast infection and you will need antibiotics.

Good Luck! I hope that some of these tricks might work and things get better soon.

I have 3 children, and my oldest two I had no problems with but my youngest, I got mastitus twice.

I would seriously consider talking with a lactation consultant...They are really helpful. Breastfeeding is so wonderful and it should be for both of you. I had to go to a lactation consultant for 3 of my children and I was so glad that I did...they really helped me alot. I nursed all 4 of my children and 2 of them I nursed for 15 - 18 months. I had to stop nursing the other 2 for medical reasons. Also talk to your pediatrician...they have ointment for the yeast that you can put on your nipples and it is safe for the baby to nurse with it on your nipples. I had to do that with my last baby. Nystatin ointment I think it's called. It is a prescription. I hope this helps.
M. (mother of 4, stay at home mom)

If she's not latching on properly you won't produce as much milk. Also, you can't expect the pump to get as much milk out as your baby can. Try pumping the one breast while she's nursing on the other. And definitely call La Leche League for assistance with the latching on. The first few weeks are an adjustment, but after that it should be pretty easy.

M.,
Have you ever tried taking Blessed thistle? It really helped with my milk supply!! I did not take fenugreek b/c I read that it might actually stop milk production.. I quit taking the blessed thistle for awhile and noticed a drop in my supply! I also was brewing the Mother's milk tea as an iced tea w/reg.decaf tea bags and tons of lemon and drank that throughout the day. Keep pumping, you will get more once your body gets used to it!
Good Luck!!
R.

It sounds like you should talk to the lactation consultant at the hospital. With all of the problems you've had, it might be good to hear the expert's opinion. At our local hospital (Miami Valley), they will talk to you even after you are discharged and they never even ask if you delivered there. It really is just a service and support for you. Just call the hospital operator and ask. Good luck!

First of all congrats on your baby and for sticking it out through the beginning (in my opinion the hardest part!). I'm no expert, but for me, whenever I would get stressed out from you name it, not enough sleep, fussy baby, money issues, going back to work, finding childcare, etc my milk supply went WAY down. As soon as things would calm down, it would come back up. Also, there is a book called nursing mother/working mother (I think) which is really good at laying worries to rest. Good luck with everything!

Hi M.! I have a feeling that her not latching on correctly is the number one problem. I nursed all three of my kids and they did well when they latched on properly. She has to take the majority of your areola as well as the nipple to get an ample amount of milk out. The more milk she removes from the breast, the more you will make. You would be surprised how much more milk the baby can get out than we can with a pump! If you're still sore, put some Lansinoh on your nipples. It's pure lanolin and helps tremendously, and is safe for your daughter. You don't have to wipe it off before you nurse. If you are going to pump, I have a couple of suggestions... use a hot washcloth (has hot as you can tolerate) and wrap it around your breast for a couple minutes before you start to pump. It also helps to keep a hot washcloth around the breast while your pumping if you can juggle it. The heat from the washcloth allows the milk ducts to open and helps with the let down reflex. I also used to pump the other side simultaneously while I nursed the baby. That can take a bit of practice, but you can get much more milk that way.

I am encouraging you to stick with it! But remember, correct latching is vital, and the more milk she removes from the breast, the more you will make. Also, if you are stressing out, your milk production may slow down. I always kept the big "jug" they give you from the hospital filled with water in the nursery at night so it was there to drink when I got up to nurse Kaelyn. Drinking is important, as you already know.

If you haven't already, I would google La Leche League and find your local chapter. LLL Leaders are usually great at helping you problem-solve either in person or by phone & email.

When I had problems with my milk supply, I had good luck with fenugreek tablets. You can find them in the vitamin or natural foods section of most large grocery stores. I also had a friend tell me that raisins were helpful for building milk supply, and I don't know if that really works or not but it certainly can't hurt.

Good luck in figuring things out!

please contact La Leche League group in your area or check out their book - it answers all your questions... you can get it at your local library.

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

I really feel for you - I know how those feel when you go through the easily fixed problems you are facing.

Keep the Faith - breastfeeding is THE way to go!

I never fixed a bottle of formula!!!

call the la leche league, they have tons of info on how to keep it up.

just have to say: i am a huge fan of breastfeeding. i bf my (now) toddler until she was 1, loved it, etc. then i had baby #2 & it was terrible. no latching on problems, but she has reflux which would make the feedings miserable w/ both of us crying after each one. then i had this intense non stop migraine. so after 6 weeks, i stopped bf & felt so guilty about it & still do to some degree. but, she is doing much better on formula, something i didn't believe could happen. & i feel better b/c the headaches went away. i'm saying this b/c sometimes bf isn't the answer. & i NEVER thought i would be saying this! but a mama doesn't know until she's had to go through terrible times while bf.

bf can be very draining physically, so if you do choose to continue bf, just make sure you are drinking lots of water & eating small meals & snacks throughout the day. i noticed that my energy level & hydration really impacted my milk production. i've also heard that drinking one beer helps w/ milk production...sounds silly, but... it could help you with other things! ;o) but i wouldn't advice it, every time i drank 1 alcoholic beverage while bf, my baby would scream for hours. not recommended.

also, when bf my toddler, she enjoyed snacking all day long & didn't sleep well at all. once we got her on a semi schedule for feedings, things got better. try getting her to eat longer & only on one breast (after you get your milk supply up). & she has to stay latched on correctly or else you will continue to have very sore nipples, making bf very difficult. ouch!

Hi M., (Love the name by the way)
Anyhow...I remember having the same problem with my first daughter. Do you have the nipple cream/gel?? I recommend you to use that faithfully. If not, try and use vaseline, lightly. (after you shower of course). Than, I would say instead of letting the shower hit them, put the washcloths over them while standing in the shower...even if its two or three. Make sure you DO NOT use soap on them for a few weeks. (That's what I remember being told by several nursing mamas)..Sometimes a hotpack than a cool compress always helps or vice versa. Even before or after nursing or even expressing (man the expressing was horror for me)..anyhow..you can squeeze a little milk from your nipples onto your fingers and rub the milk on the nipples right before you gel them or which ever you use. In time, it will get better...trust me. I have 3 girls; all three breast fed (well mainly my first and my 3rd)...my middle child breast fed until 4 months (but also we had problems with her latching)..she preferred a cup...(SMILE)...anyhow, in time it will become a lot easier. Good Luck and Congrats!!

Hi M....it sounds like you have been a real trooper through everything. If your DD has made it through the growth spurts (with growth and weight gain), she is probably getting what she needs. When I was nursing my daughter, my milk supply dropped dramatically when I went back to work or was stressed out...I often had wondered if she was getting enough. I was a little nervous about taking anything (not due to any negativity...just my own feeling), so I used the pump very often to help boost production. At one point I was even waking up in the middle of the night (when my DD was sleeping through) to pump. I would often get just an ounce from each side(sometimes less) from pumping, but at least it is letting your body know to make more milk. Good luck!

I can't say anything that hasn't already been suggested so I just want to let you know that I commend you for breast feeding your daughter and sticking with it. Not many women would have stuck with it with what you have gone through. I would suggest checking out la leche league, make sure to get her latched on correctly to stimulate your breast better (hence better milk production) and relax!! If you are stressing your milk isn't going to let down as well. :-) My prayers are with you. I hope you find what works for you and your daughter with this and the sleeping arrangement.
~~~S.

I totally agree with the first mama to respond. You are doing an AWESOME job. Breastfeeding is not always easy. I can tell you that from personal experience. I had a very hard time with my daughter for several months. I cried at every single feeding (she was tongue-tied and it caused a lot of pain).

I would encourage you to find a local La Leche League meeting and attend a couple. The ladies there are really wonderful and are more than happy to help you figure things out.

When you mentioned thrush, it made sense to me as to why your nipples have been so sore. Keep a close eye on your diet as this can have something to do with the likelihood of you developing yeast infections. Another good topic for La Leche League ladies.

It is common for some women to not have as high of milk production in the evening. You can take supplements such as fenugreek to help increase your supply. What I have done is start taking the fenugreek until I notice an increase of supply and then I stop. I also started eating things with oats in it. I really like oatmeal cookies and oatmeal/raisin bars (Quaker Oats makes a great one). So, I will eat something like that and have some water DURING a feeding. Having the water during a feeding has seemed to help a bit too.

Have you noticed that she eats from the tip of your nipple in some kind of pattern? Like, maybe at times when your flow is greater? She may be trying to control the amount of fluid going into her mouth. My son will do this occasionally.

I know this is a lot to try to handle with your little girl being so young. Don't get overwhelmed with it all. It can take a few months for the nursing relationship to take on a more positive side. Believe me, I know. :)

If you need any more support, please feel free to contact me privately. I am currently breastfeeding my second child and have been through quite a bit with breastfeeding issues.

God bless, hon.

I would stop with the formula so that she does not start to prefer the faster flow of a bottle nipple and the taste of formula. The pump will usually not stimulate your letdown quite like the baby will, so I would stick with exclusive breastfeeding (if that is your goal, of course). Every woman and baby are different, so what may have worked for one might not work for another. I would contact a lactation consultant and have her help you through this until you're back on track. Good luck!

Hi M. - I had a problem with my milk supply for a while too. Even though you are not getting much when you pump keep it up. Try pumping AFTER you feed her and not in between. YOu can also try Fenugreek which is an over the counter herb that helped me quite a bit. YOu take 4 capsules 3 times per day for about 1-2 weeks until your mild supply builds up. If she is having a hard time latching on correctly try a nipple shield. The Elizabeth Blackwell center at Riverside hospital is a great resource. They will also allow you to come in and they will observe BF session to see if she is latching on right and give you suggestions as well. Another resource is to call the lactation team/consultants at what ever hospital you delivered. Good Luck and hang in there! BF it totally worth it and such a wonderful bonding experience.

Did you start on a birth control pill? I would stop watching the clock or the ounces in the bottle when you pump, and instead just watch your baby. Some women simply cannot pump as well as they can breastfeed, and the baby will always be able to remove more.

There is a good possibility that you are not drinking enough water. I had the same problem with my older one. She ate ALL THE TIME... I felt like "meals on heels". It was awful. She wouldn't sleep either. Very long first 6 months of fighting her. Anyway, I had trouble producing enough milk because she was constantly nursing. We would nurse for 40min then 20 min of screaming, nurse 40 min, 20 min scream (you get the idea). So, I started drinking a ton of water and postponing her eating so that I could get a little thicker milk for her. It started working within a few days. Once you can supplement with rice cereal it will keep her full longer.

On the bright side, at least your nipples are tough now ;) j/k..:D I'm sure you've already tried this, but alternating the position you hold her in may help her latch on better. My dd would ONLY latch correctly in the football position. Her mouth was so tiny and my breasts were so engorged that it was really hard for me to nurse her sometimes. You may also want to try a hot bath or shower at night. A warm compress on your breasts may also help increase milk supply. How long is she feeding before you 'run out' of milk? If she's feeding for a good amount of time, she may just want to suckle for comfort. If you keep pumping, even if you only get an ounce at a time, it will help to increase your milk supply. I know when I pumped I had to do it FOREVER to even get an ounce. Like the other moms, I recommend seeing a lactation consultant or contacting the LLL. They are fantastic resources and they don't treat you like an idiot. It seems like if I talked to my dr about my bfing problems, then thought I was weird. Not sure why. Anyway...Good Luck!!!!!

Contact your local La Leche League Leader immediately! They will help you through this! Good for you for breastfeeding! It gets SO much easier...I promise!

Hang in there girl! It's not easy to nurse! I thought the same way you did, "Nursing will be great!" Um, yeah. Pardon the pun but, it sucked at first. I had a very similar problem, minus the thrush, and also tried pumping only to get an ounce at a time. When your babe eats every two hours or less, you have little time to pump to up your supply. After I stopped BF'ing I was told about the Nursing Tea and the prescription your OB can give you. Also, I got a HUGE tip that helped me with pumping. Instead of serializing everything each time, you can keep it in the fridge between sessions. Then its cold and you don't waste all that time cleaning.

Here's a good nursing quote: "No one told me how hard it would be at first and no one told me how hard it would be in the end." It's SO true!

You may want to exclusively pump, that way you know she's getting enough and it's not so hard on your breasts. Sometimes though, if you find that you are still not making enough, just giving her a bottle is fine. You are not a failure if she takes a bottle. You are not a failure if you pump. You are doing your very best by her, and sometimes the best thing is formula. That is ok. That does not make you a bad mom. Hang in there. It will be alright, and as long as she's growing and otherwise healthy, you have nothing to worry about.

Hi M.,
it sounds as if you have been through a lot.
You are a wonderful mother for sticking with it. Have you considered attending some La leche league meetings? They would love to help you and are so very friendly.

I have to encourage you to stick it out, if you can get over this hump you will be so much happier. You will look back and take a long sigh and know you stuck it through for your baby. It sounds like you should continue to work on the latch, is there a lactation consultant at your local hospital that can help for free? I know St Elizabeth South has free walk in visits, if you are near there.

If you are still sore your latch is still incorrect....work with it and I promise you will both be pros soon enough.
You are an awesome mom to do all of this for your baby!
BEST BEST BEST Luck to you!

There are a million things to suggest but truly I think the best thing at this point is for you to contact a Lactation Consultant (where you delivered should have some on staff or a way for you to contact one, or look up La Leche League in the phone book). Have one come to your house and spend some time with you so you can fill her in and she can watch you feed your daughter. If that doesn't help, contact a different lac consultant and repeat. I nursed both my kids for a year each and with DS (my first) it was just awful and I got really terrible advice from lac consults in NC. I listened to them and nothing improved. If I had sought a second opinion things probably would've been different.

With two years of nursing experience, I could write here all day with suggestions. Feel free to e-mail me with your telephone # and we can chat- might be easier than typing! :)

I hope you find the right combo of techniques for you and your DD.

J.

I had a lactation nurse recently suggested More Milk Plus or you can get this tea for Mother's Milk. It does work. I have used Fennel Seed also and it increases your milk. They are all natural and won't hurt your baby. Try not to give up. My 2 1/2 week old also only took the tip and it kept me raw and broken open but with the lactation nurse I learned it also did not empty the breast and would eventually lead to not giving as much milk so try to retrain baby to open wide and take the whole thing. We trained ours by pumping and using a platex nurser bottle so that she would open wide. When you give the bottle sit them upright so that they will still have to work for the milk and then when offering the breast again use nipple shields until they get on all the way. I hope this helps! Good luck and hang in there, I nursed one for 14 months and it was so worth it. I know the pain of nursing, I have been through it with four of ours and on one my nipple was almost hanging off. It is tough but I'm glad you have support, that will help. Hang in there!!!

My son was very similar to that. He wanted to nurse, nurse, nurse.
Eat oatmeal (the real stuff not instant) Oatmeal cookies, etc.
Also, if you like tea, there is tea called "Mother's Milk Tea"
You can get it at a health food store, or I have seen it at Kroger, and I think Meijer. It is around $4 for 16 tea bags.
I had a great improvement with those two things along with mega doses of water.
Good Luck

Here's what worked for me:
Try fenugreek tablets (3/day), blessed thistle tincture, and one Guiness beer per day. Also, pump and feed more. Try a Power pump--5 minutes on, then 5 minutes off, then 10 minutes on, then 10 minutes off, then 15 minutes on, then 15 minutes off--then start over with 5 on. You can do it until you reach 2 hours. Also, drink a TON of water before you go to bed--then when you wake up to pee, pump. Then before you go to sleep again, do the same thing.

Honestly, if you aren't producing milk fairly well within the first few days to a week, I doubt it will ever come in better. I wasn't able to produce much milk for either of my boys. It came in a tiny tiny bit better with the second, but there was hardly anything. The most I got was about 6 ounces out of both breasts. It gradually dwindled to about 2 oz and 1 oz, etc. I tried pumping and breastfeeding every 2 hours... for about 6 months with the first. It just never got better. I was drinking over a gallon of water a day. I took Fenugreek tablets. The Fenugreek might have helped a tiny bit, but not enough to make a difference really.

My mom had the same trouble, my cousins, and I have friends with the same experiences. Some people just can't produce milk. It's nothing the mother does wrong. That's just our chemistry.

I used soy formula as a supplement in the beginning and finally a replacement milk. My boys both had sensitive stomachs and I used soy instead of milk formula. They both gained weight very well. In fact, my first son couldn't eat enough formula and keep it down. I ended up putting a teaspoon of cooked cereal in his bottles. He was born at 8 lbs 7 oz. He got down to just over 6 lbs. At 2 months I started putting cereal into his bottles, and then he finally started gaining weight.

I encourage you to keep pumping if that is your desire. Don't feel like a failure or that you haven't done enough just because you can't get enough milk from your body. Formulas are of great quality and will provide great nourishment for your baby.

I have breastfed three of my four children, and could never successfully pump. I talked to the lactation consultant and she said some women just can't pump. I would only get on ounce or two after sitting there for a half hour trying to adjust and readjust the pump. With my second kiddo I worried that she wasn't getting enough, and talked to the doctor. He said as long as she was still growing she was obviously getting something and if we saw a stall we would figure out what to do next. With this last kiddo my nipples cracked and bled and at one point I was in so much pain, I wanted to be done every time I fed, but we are alright now. My question is, does she vry and pull off any other feedings? Or has this only been at the bedtime feeding? I'm just wondering if she has an ear infection, that's what my son would do. He refused to eat like something was wrong with my breast, so I took him to the doctor and found out he had an ear infection. Just a suggestion!

keep pumping. I nursed for 2 years each of the four kids. Also...rememmebr your bodymakes what your daughter needs. It is an amazing thing. the amount he baby eats... tells yor body how much to produce so that you don;t make too much and leak all over the palce. Your bady has adjusted to her needs.

If you pump get an electric and pump on a high setting... also I had to pump before a feeding or actually during a feeding at let down to get my supply to increase ( for freezing and going back to work) While baby was on right, I pumped left and then vise verse after we switched sides....SO I was able to increase my milk supply during feedings....

Again don;t really worry about the amount right now she is young adn getingw hat she needs... she is growing your supply shoudl increase as her demand increases as well. BTW all fur of my kids nursed differently.... on every 20 min for 40 min during the day i jsut sat in a chair a dn nursed for hours.. the next 10 min total five on each side every 3 hours and my last was totally text book... exactly liek the books had alwasy said... each kid is different ... no worries
good luck!

Hi M., I had a similar experience when I was home with my son. I was determined to provide breastmilk to my son however I ended up pumping rather than nursing. My son got very fussy at the breast and breastfeeding became a chore and I was concerned that he wasn't getting enough. Thus I began pumping and gave him breastmilk in a bottle. It worked out great. He became much happier at meal time and I knew how much he was getting. I am sure this approach isn't for everyone, but it worked for me. If all else fails, you might consider it.

I didn't read the other responses, so you may have already gotten this one. If she is not latched on correctly and stimulating the right part of your breast, then your body will stop producing. You really should contact a lactation consultant. Call the hospital where you delivered. Most of the time they will come and do a home visit for free. You can also go to them if you need to. I don't know where you live, but there is a little shop inside of The Toledo Hospital that is strictly devoted to breastfeeding. Good Luck and good for you for sticking it out through the rough times and still wanting to keep going.

You can utilize the lactation consultant at your local hospital. In most cases, they don't charge and they are a wonderful resource. They successfully increased my supply with my third child. Good luck!