Breastfeeding Advice

I didn't read all the replies so sorry if I'm repeating someone else, but I've heard from a lot of people that something that works well is Mother's Milk tea. You can get it at GNC. It's just an herbal tea, totally safe, it was recommended by my pediatrician actually. Plus it's cheap. Good luck.

Hi J..

I had the same problem with my son. I was not producing enough milk, and the nutritionist told me to go ahead and just switch to formula. I was so upset, as I knew that breast milk was healthier! But, I switched after two weeks of pumping and breastfeeding. He began to sleep much better, I imagine because he was full. Broke my heart to know that I couldn't feed him, till I realized that I gave it my best try and he DID get the colostrum that is produced in the beginning and is the most important part of breastfeeding, anyway.

Hope this helps!

C.

Hi
I am a mother of 11 children. I started very young
my oldest now is 24 ,she just got married and is finishing
medical school.
I must tell you that I did both ,alternate formula and breast feeding.my children were big babies ,girls and boys and they needed milk faster that I could produce.
the dr. told me that all the vitamins are in the first sips of the breast milk ,so if they get some it will be ok.
all my children are very healthy ,hardly at the dr. office
eccept for comun colds.and they are not big anymore
just us babies .
I hope I was able to help a little
L.

Hello J.,

I know how you are feeling I have a 15 month old, who I breastfeed until 1 yr old. He was premeture and in NICU for 8 days.

If you really want to do it hang in there!!!!
I too was late in producing my milk, I just feed him on demand even if it meant every 2 hours (exhausting at first), but the milk will come in!!! And the time will gradually increase between feedings.

I used the pump while he was in the hospital. Started with just a few drops then was up to 4ozs., once we brought him home I breastfeed exclusivly. I did not use the bottle becuase I didn't want him to get use to the bottle and reject breast feeding.

I hope this helps!!!

DO continue to breastfeed and limit the bottle. However, you should also increase your fluid intake, eat nutritiously and take a vitamin/mineral supplement. Also keep in mind that a premature infant may eat more often because they usually eat less per feeding. A combination of all of this should help. If not, your stress management may be a problem: You have your hands full with new motherhood and adapting to your newborn. THAT IS NOT EASY!!! Have hope, though. THINGS WILL BE FINE.....If NONE of this works, please be aware of the fact that a small percentage of women simply do not produce enough milk to satisfy their babies. If this is the case, there is not much you can do to reverse this. You can, however, continue to bond with your baby; Your love (and the bottle and solid foods to follow) will compensate.

You can also take milk thistle and buy it at Wal Mart to increase milk production. Also keep pumping even if nothing comes out... your milk with automatically increase with stimulation over time.

Is your daughter home with you? If she is, I would stop pumping and just nurse her because that will do more for your supply than the pump. I would also make sure you are nursing or pumping frequently enough. Usually newborns want to eat every 2 hours if not more often. Since she is a preemie she could probably use the extra milk more than most babies. If she doesn't seem hungry more than you are feeding her, though, then don't worry about it. But I have a friend who had twins 10 weeks early and an idiot nurse told her not to feed them more than every 3 hours! Her son cried all the time and it took her MONTHS to realize that he was just hungry. Before that they were calling him the "crybaby"!

Make sure you are getting enough water and enough to eat. Your intake will affect your supply too.

Don't hesitate to contact a lactation consultant. Most take insurance. They have access to things like sensitive scales that will tell you exactly how much milk your baby got - they weigh the baby before and after you feed her. You might also have latch issues which will affect your supply and how much she's getting.
I have been nursing my daughter for 2 years, and while it was really tough in the beginning, it became second nature.

I hope this helped you and good luck! Congrats on your new baby!

Hello, I just had my daughter on Dec 15 , 2007 I breast feed her , I know it gets hard and even hurts sometimes, But the more you feed your baby the more you produce, and I was told top get in the hot shower and that really works for me. If you ever need someone to chat with my email is ____@____.com

Hi My name is K.. I have 2 boys 2 years and 6 months. I breast feed my oldest until 1 year and currently with my other. My advise to you would be. Drink lots of water. at least 8 oz with each feeding. If your baby is hungry feed again. Even if it has been 30 minutes. Feed your baby on demand. I can not stress this enough. I only produce about 2.5 ounces each breast also and it is enough for my 6 month old. Both my kids for the first 3 or 4 months ate about every 30 to 45 mins. I felt like they were permenatly attached.lol. Do not go by the books on feeding 3 to 4 hours. Does not work! It's definetly ok to use the bottle, but they recommend after the baby is 6 weeks old though. It's called nipple confusion. your baby could figure out its easier to take the bottle and refuse the breast. My sister has a 2 month old and she switches back and forth. no problem there for her. I would just feed her when ever she wants. babies only know what they need, like eating. they definetly wont over eat. I hope this helps. full babies are happy babies. If you need anymore advice let me know. I love helping moms! Also breastfeed as much as you can rather than the bottle! good luck,
K.

First RELAX!

Let me say frist off feel free to call me just e-mail me at ____@____.com and I will send you my home phone number,you can call anytime I know exactly how terrified you are!

First feeding every two hours is 100% NORMAL! I have breast fed all 3 of my children,1 year each child and I swear I thought I was starving my first child, turns out I was wrong. She is sleeping after you feed her because she is CONTENT! Keep feeding her DO NOT bottle her, when my second child became ill (dr.'s fault) I thought I was making him sick so I switched him back and forth causing my breasts to go through all kind of havoc, finally I met a really helpful RN who knew her stuff, she got me on track and got us breastfeeding normally. It may be 6-8 months before your wee wonder goes through the night without feeding. We had a co-sleeper for this reason.

I would bet my life on teh fact that if you breastfeed exclusively you're daughter will blossom healthy and naturally. Just remeber to eat and drink heartliy yourself and seriously please feel free to call, after a subsequent 3+ years of almost non-stop feeding, this is one thing I am very good at. Also, one thing I miss the most...

Be Blessed,
Christeena

Hello J.,

It is so nice to hear that you are working so hard for your little one. I know that it is not easy and it seems like she is not getting enough but she is. You are doing a great job.

I am a mother of 3. Their ages are 7, 5, and 2.
I breastfeed the 1st one for 14 months.
I breastfeed the 2nd one for 11 months(he wanted to stop).
I breastfeed the 3rd one for 20 months because he is allergic to COWS MILK and Dairy.

When I was breastfeeding the 3rd one I was having a hard time making enough milk so I went to see my doctor and she said that I need to go an GNC or to any health food store and get

Fenugreek

Mine was $6.99 plus tax. I know that because the price tag is still on it. : )

It is totally safe for you and your baby. You can go online and look it up and you will see that women have been using it for A LONG TIME. It is mostly for mothers that need to increase their Breast milk.
When I used it for the first time I had great results in about 24 hours. We were really happy. After I took several pills over a period of a few days I got a good supply of milk and I kept it.
I don’t think that you will need to take the whole bottle to get results.

Here is a great book idea for you as a first time mommy,
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2234879

Here is another book and they have it on VHS and DVD as well, I have not read or seen I it yet but I heard that it is GREAT and it really works.
http://thehappiestbaby.org/
on this site go into For Parents then click on Products for Parents scroll down the page until you come down to the third item.

I wish you and your little one the best. God Bless you and your family.

From one mother to another.

: )

P.S. I did not pump. I tried but it hurt and i never could pump enough to put in a bottle. I would always put the baby to the breast.

Hi J.! Congratulations on your new little one! I definitely recommend breastfeeding over pumping as your baby will keep your milk flowing longer and stronger than the pump will. Try the milk tea (found at Publix, health food stores, etc.) and supplements (found at health food stores, online, etc.) They made a big difference for me. I have also heard that the pumping afterwards will help, so definitely keep that up even if you don't feel like it is. It will take a couple of days, at least, to see any results. If your daughter goes through a growth spurt, she will eat more and you may not see that increase right away! A great site to check out is http://www.kellymom.com/. You can also contact Winnie Palmer's lactation support line at ###-###-####. They are amazing and will answer a lot of your breastfeeding questions!

Best of luck with everything!
M.

Breastfeeding is best, always, Talk to a lacatation consultant at your hospital with any concerns. Your body normally produces as much milk as the baby needs i.e. she is only eating 2.5oz at a time. My daughter was a year old and still didn't eat more then 4 oz at a time. it all depends on the child. As for sleeping every newborn is up every 2-3 hours nursing. It doesn't mean they are not getting enough they are newborns and need that feeding. Their stomacks are small and they can't eat too much. YOu really need to read some books and get more educated about newborns, especially if you think feeding every 2 hrs isn't normal.

In the first few weeks, your body overproduces milk. It does this because it's not sure how much milk the baby needs. Once you have been breastfeeding for a few weeks, your milk production decreases to fit your baby's needs. A lot of people switch back and forth, which is fine as long as you dont give the baby any formula. The formula will decrease your milk. I would breastfeed as much as possible, unless you want the baby to take a bottle later. You can also buy herbal teas at health food stores that help with milk production. Also look up the "Le Leche League" online, they are very helpful with breastfeeding issues.

J., first of all stop stressing yourself about this. Stress will only dampen this experience for you and your sweet baby girl. Go to any drugstore or publix and buy fenugreek. It's a natural supplement that increases your milk supply. Don't beat yourself up if you have to supplement with formula, it's not the end of the world. While breastfeeding is best, formula fed babies grow up strong and healthy, too. If your daughter will take both, look at it as a blessing. That means you can have a break and let a family member feed the baby and even have a night out when you are ready. Bottom line, do what you can to increase your supply and if it's not enough, supplement and feel good about it. Good luck and God Bless!

Measuring how much milk you can pump is not a good gauge of how much milk your baby is getting when she is nursing. Babies usually do a better job than even the best pumps. It's perfectly normal for a newborn breastfed baby to be hungry again after two hours. Watch her while she is nursing. Can you hear her swallowing milk? If she's falling asleep afterwards, she's probably pretty satisfied. Are you getting plenty of wet diapers in a day? IF you keep putting her to the breast frequently, that will tell your body to make more milk. If you still have concerns that she might not be getting enough, it may be worth calling a lactation consultant or a La Leche League leader. Especially for a first time mom, La Leche League meetings can be really valuable for support. It's nice to be around other breastfeeding moms and see what a normal breastfeeding relationship looks like.

Hi J.. I think it's wonderful that you are putting this much effort into breastfeeding. My daughter is now 6 months old but for the first 4 months, she would breastfeed every two hours so I believe that is normal. Have you tried using the herb Fenugreek? I did not have to use it but I have heard that it increases milk production.

J., Hi! To increase your production you need to breastfeed, breastfeed, breastfeed! Breastfeeding can take a lot of getting used to and can be really frustrating at times. Hang in there, it does get easier the more you breastfeed. It is completely normal for your daughter to wake up every two hours to be breastfed. Breastmilk is digested very quickly. This is nature's way of accomplishing several tasks: increasing your milk supply because the more you breastfeed the more you produce milk, helping to establish a "fast" metabolism in your baby (this is why breast fed babies often do not have weight gain problems later in life), and helping you bond with your baby. A newborn craves skin on skin contact from being in the womb for all those months of fetal development. You may notice that you do not produce a lot of milk when you pump because there is an emotional component to breastfeeding. You probably are producing a lot more milk when you are actually breastfeeding your daghter. Is your dauthter gaining weight? Is she producing wet and soiled diapers? This is the way to judge if you are producing enough breastmilk. If you want to continue to pump to help increase your supply that's fine. BUT, I would throw the pumped milk out and continue to establish a natural routine of real breastfeeding.Going from breast to bottle is probably confusing your little one and she probably really craves the closeness to you. You cannot over feed a breastfed baby. It may seem like you are constantly breastfeeding, especially the first three months. If you are able to put up with it, it's worth it. As a last note, drink lots of caffeine FREE fluids and drink water as you are breastfeeding. I hope this helps and good luck.

H. - a mother of 2 breastfed babies

Hello J., I feel your frustration. When I had my first child, the breastfeeding was challenging, but I called my local LaLeche League, and they were wonderful. A member came to my home and spent hours with me and my daughter and answered all questions and concerns. Please do not give up!!!!. With my second child I alternated between breast milk and formula, which worked out just fine for my busy schedule. Hang in there and look up the LaLeche League, they are wonderful.

J.-

It sounds like you are actually completely normal in milk production and in how often she wants to feed.

Truth is, the average woman produces about 3 ounces per pumping session. Especially since she was premature, you are producing well! A lot of moms with premies have a hard time getting their milk supply up because their baby cannot feed right away and it is the early feeding that kind of programs your body to produce milk. That does not mean you can't increase later--it's just harder to do. But it can be done, you just must be vigilant.

My baby was born 30 Oct 07, and I ONLY breastfed her until I went back to work last week. I am pumping 8 or more ounces at a time at work, and I believe it's because I was not giving her a bottle at all until last week. I would pump BEFORE feeding her, then feed her, then pump again. If you do this, believe me, you will see results.

It takes 3-5 days to see an increase in your milk supply from pumping extra, so don't get discouraged if it doesn't happen right away. Be patient, and feed your baby often.

Babies are supposed to be hungry every 2 hours, so that is totally on track. It has nothing to do with your milk supply, and would actually indicate that you have enough milk because she is getting hungry right when she is supposed to.

Hope this helps!

C. :-)
Mommy to Felicity (2 years) and Sophianna (10 weeks)

i found breast feeding very frustrating for the first 2-3 months. I couldnt pump more than 2 oz ever. My little girl fed all day and night. It became easier but every now and then ,I would give her a bottle so I could get some rest, or go out in public for more than an hour at a time. After 6 months I gave her 2 4 oz bottles every day and breast fed the rest. She is almost 16 months old now and is weaning(barely). IT has been worth it! Dont give up. Your body does adjust and it does become easier and very satisfing for the both of you. p.s. My little one still doesnt always sleep through the night. She rarely ever did.

Hi J.:

Do not get discouraged, it is a common occurance and stress can be a factor for not producing breast milk. You can switch back to formula, however she may have a change in appetite because of it or another sign that she's not a fan of the formula, but she will take it. One of my breast "broke" after one week and the other "broke" about two weeks later. My son was on soy formula first, then breast milk, then back to formula. He actually spit up most of the formula once I switched him back. In reference to nightly feedings, I've never heard of a favor here nor there...breastfeeding is normally easier if you are able. In my case, since I wasn't producing much at all, I pumped/saved my breast milk for during the day when he was more likely to finish an entire serving and breastfed at night if I could.
Best of Luck!

J.,

At first glance, I noticed we both have something in common, we both have daughters named Emma. Emma is my second child and is 3 years old.

About the breastfeeding, I nursed both my daughters successfully and you can too. No matter what, do what you think is best and don't worry about being judged, as a new mother the guilt factor is overwhelming. Breast milk is best, but if you switched to formula, Emma would be just as happy, as long as she has a full tummy. I nursed Kasey(8) for 4 months then switched to formula because I was working and lost my milk from not pumping on time. Emma I wanted to nurse for at least 6 months, and I did, but then I was ready to have my body back! They are both healthy kids!

The number one thing to remember is to nurse on demand. If that means every two hours or every hour, then that is what you have to do. Every time she is hungry, nurse. Your body will make as much milk as she needs. The more she eats the more it will make! With Emma I was getting just as much milk as you are when I pumped. I pumped so that I would have milk for bottles if I had to go somewhere without Emma, I don't think you have to pump to increase your milk, Emma will do that as she grows and wants to eat more! I think they say that their eating patterns will change very often in the beginning and then less as they get older and are nourished by other foods too.

Breastfeeding is not the easiest thing, and a lot of people stop with the excuse that the baby is not getting enough. But that should only be true if you are not exclusively breastfeeding. If the baby doesn't eat from the breast than the breast won't make more milk!
If she is eating then sleeping you know she is well nourished. Drink lots of water and be comfortable when nursing.

Everyone is different, do what is best for you and Emma and try not to feel too guilty.

Good luck and congratulations!!!
M.
____@____.com

Hi J.,
Your baby was born early, therefore to catch up will eat more frequently regardless of how much milk you produce which is probably enough. Every 2 hours is common but I know you must be desperate for some sleep. Breast pumps can't fake out your breasts therefore no matter what pump you use you will never get as much out as if you breast feed. That being said, keeping your mind off of pumping helps. TV helps a little but I noticed a book that you can become ingrossed in, is even better. What you will need to do is get a tight fitting bra cut holes in it to fit the pump through. Prop up the pump to a comfortable position. Also try to find a comfortable position for yourself and book you will read. This will leave your hands free. Pillows help. I could get twice the production with this method. Though I pumped for a year this way and because I wasn't breast feeding my body got used to the pump and continued to give me less flow. (My Daughter had a problem attaching)So I would not suggest stopping the breast feeding. Find a good support group if you want to stick it out. M. Ps. I am terrible at emailing so if I dont respond to future questions in a timely matter you'll know why. I'm a phone person.

J.,

When you are breastfeeding, your little one will be hungry more often. Your milk is easily broken down in her digestive system.

If you really want to breastfeed, do it exclusively. Your milk will increase as she feeds more often. A pump is a bad indicator of how much milk you are producing. I would recommend feeding her on demand and skip the bottle completely.

Blessings,

L.

(I've successfully breastfed three children so far.)

Also try taking fenugreek. When I was bf my son I realized I had kind of slowed down. I was also eating low carb but I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it or not. Anyway, tons of people told me to try it. I asked my ob doctor first and he said it's been around for years and perfectly safe. I got it at a health food store. You can get it in capsules or as a tea. I highly recommend it.

J., Have you tried the Lactation Dept. at your local Hospital or La Leche League. Both were a huge support system for me. Also, Dr. William Sears has a book called The Breastfeeding Book. (If you leave near Port Charlotte I'd lone you the book.)

The pumping is good to encourage stimulation. Is your pump of hospital grade? The one I bought at Babys R Us never worked well for me. I had to rent one from the Lacation Store at the Hospital. Try to put Emma to your breast as much as possible. The hormne Oxytocin will release, allowing your body to make more milk. The more a mom stresses the less milk her body will make. Have you tried Mothers Milk Tea? There are several different brands of Decaffinated Tea for nursing moms to help increase your milk supply. Plus, drink plenty of water for yourself!

The milk we make is the perfect make-up of food for human babies. The reason babies nurse frequently between feeding is their digestive system is able to process mothers milk quicker and in return they are hungry sooner. Their little bodies work hard to digest formula. The milk from a mother is what natured intended on.

I wish you luck. Remember, whatever you choose, you are making the choice that works best for you and your baby.

Take Care, C.

Not sure if this was mentioned yet, but talk to a lactation specialist. They are usually at the maternity ward in a hospital and give out great advice! They specialize in breastfeeding and can definitely help you out!

If you can't find one, ask the pediatrician's front desk or the doctor or even your OBGYN nurse/doctor. They usually keep a list of a good lactation specialist.

Good Luck!!

Hi J., Congradulations on your new baby girl.I read about your breastfeeding situation.I'm a first time mom.My son will be 3 in August.I'm no veteran in parenthood but I can share my experience with you.I breastfed for 2 months.It was priceless yet exhausting!My son would fall right to sleep afterwards..and would be up every 2 hours,sometimes an hour and a 1/2.I wasoncerened that I was not making enough milk because of how much my so would want to nurse.It felt like he was always hungry.My doc assured me that everything was going good and that I would only produce a couple onces at a time & that the more I nursed my milk could possibly increase or stay at a few oz.My son was hospitalized at 2wks old for 3 days because of jaundice.I was by his side 20 out of 24 hrs a day.I would pump ahead 1 to 2 bottles(3 to 4 oz,maybe 5 between both breasts.So, I personally think that everything sonds pretty good with you and Emma.Going to my doctor just to be safe definately made me more secure & confident as a new mom.Your 4 to 5 oz of milk sounds pretty good.I didn't get 4oz right away.I know certain greens(broccoli & spinach etc.) can give your baby bad gas(stomach ache.Good luck with everything and God bless you and your famly.

I had a similar issue with my son. In my case I tried everything suggested and resulted in putting him on formula because I'd rather have him on a bottle with formula, than constantly hungry. Ultimately the decision is yours, talk with your doctor and breastfeeding coach, If you find that you are still not providing Emma with the necessary nutrition you may have to go to the bottle and use a formula, My son is now 9yrs old and healthy. I wish you luck in your motherhood and though i wasn't able to breastfeed my children, I support you in your efforts.

J., don't be discouraged! I was never a good pumper either, but my daughter (now 21 months) thrived very well. Babies are much more efficient than breastpumps (although Medela does make a great pump)and can get more milk from you than a pump can. I credit it to the loving bond that helps milk flow when your baby is nursing rather than feeling like a cow on the pump! My daughter also nursed every two hours all day ( I was a little more fortunate at night), and sometimes she would nurse for an hour at a time! You should be more concerned with whether or not Emma is gaining weight appropriately, having 8-10 wet diapers per day, etc. I can't comment on the bottle feeding part since I never wanted to "waste" the few precious ounces that I had pumped by giving them to her when I was available for her to nurse directly!

What you are calling "set backs" sound more like Emma's growth spurts. Somewhere around two and four weeks, then again at 8 weeks and a few other times, too, my daughter would nurse constantly and I would worry that it was because she couldn't get enough milk. Turns out she grew an inch or more and gained copious amounts of weight then! There really wasn't any "extra" milk to be had because she was busy using it all and increasing my supply in the process.

I highly recommend finding your local chapter of La Leche League, reading "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding", drinking lots of water, eating well and getting plenty of rest (well, ok, as much rest as you can with a three week old that constantly nurses! :)) and drinking plenty of "Mother's Milk" and/or "Nursing Mom" teas.

Good Luck!

The first thing the doctor will look for is whether or not Emma is gaining weight and if she is you're most likely fine. Sometimes I found that my first baby would eat every 2 hours during growth spurts and then she would go back to every four hours. But every baby is different. Some babies stay at eating every 2 hours, some every 3 hours and some 4 hours. If I were you I would just keep pumping after each feeding. Sounds like you are doing everything right.

I also found that when I bottle fed and breastfed my first baby (I started introducing the bottle after 4 weeks) she eventually became lazy and refused to breastfeed. The bottle is so much easier to suck on and she figured it out real quick. When she was four and a half months old she weaned herself. What I am doing this time (I am due in 4 days) is I am going to breastfeed for at least two months before I introduce the bottle to her.

This part of advice is completely at your discretion. My milk didn’t come in right away and I was getting concerned and my daughter was hungry (rooting and crying). I called my pediatrician to ask what can I do to help my milk come in. He has been a pediatrician for a long time and is sometimes old fashion. But he told me to drink ¼ to ½ a beer and sure enough a few hours later my milk came in fully. So every time my milk seemed low I would drink a little beer (not get smashed or even drink the whole beer) and my milk production would go up again. (I was concerned about how much alcohol would be in the breast milk and he said as long as I kept it to ¼ to ½ a beer my body will filter a huge majority of it. And you are not to drink it everyday.) There are also herbs at the health food store that can help if you don’t want to try the beer. I tried it but for me I didn’t find the same results. Like I said before though everyone is different you might find the herbs work for you but not the beer. So…. I hope that helps.

Are you taking any kind of birth control? Certain kinds can decrease your milk production, so I just thought I'd check.

The hard thing about breastfeeding is that you can't see how much your baby is actually drinking. Do you think it's possible that maybe she's eating more than she was? I hope I'm understanding your question right... if you're breastfeeding and THEN pumping right after and only getting 1/2 an oz then that's not too surprising. Just keep in mind that babies can usually get more out of the breast than a pump can, even a really good one!

There's a tea called Mother's Milk which helps with increasing milk supply. You might not be able to find it in Publix, but it'll definitely be in Mother Earth.

Congrats on the new baby and hang in there! :)

Hi J.,
My daughter was just born in September and she was three weeks early and didn't really want to nurse. So in the hospital they started to give her formula cause she had to eat something. It wasn't until she was about 2 months old that she started to really like nursing, so up until then I would just pump and give it to her in the bottle.

Even if you have to give her formula to supplement her, just keep pumping and give it to her in a bottle for later, or if you get enough, freeze them for later use.

Just remember that Emma will always receive more milk from nursing than what you can pump into a bottle! Even if your breast feels soft again, if you pump after, you will usually get some more. You will also come to know as she gets older and gets on a schedule that your body will know when to produce more milk at different times of the day. When she starts to sleep longer at night, your body will produce less milk at night but then it will be there again for her morning feeding.

The more you excreet milk the more you should produce...so if that means pumping every 2 hours, then do it! Whatever you do, just don't give up!! I was very deterred in the beginning because she was very fussy on the breast and didn't seem to want to nurse, but then I would pump and she would guzzle it down from the bottle. So if you give her formula for now and still want to nurse, just keep pumping to keep your supply up and store it for later!

I hope this helps you...just don't give up, especially on those premature babies:) She'll come around!

J.

I am pregnant with my third and due any day now. I breastfeed both of my other children and I noticed that in order to produce a good amount of milk I really had to watch my fluid intake. Make sure you're drinking plenty of water and stay away from dieretics like soda, coffee, and tea. It's good that you are pumping when she is not eating, it does help your body produce more milk. Also try some warm compresses on your breast before you pump, sometimes it helps your milk drop more efficiently. As far as going back and forth between the bottle and breast, try to avoid it. The nipple on the bottle and the flow is confusing to the baby, you want her to prefer your breast. Good luck and keep trying.

I would recommend calling a lactation consultant from the hospital... they will have ideas for you. I know that when I was nursing my youngest - he preferred to eat every 2 hours during the day. ALSO, even though you have a really good pump, they have big electric ones you can rent from the hospital (you buy the parts that touch your body)... and they can help increase your milk better than the ones you can buy.

Hope this helps...
T.

My daughter never latched on so I pumped for 6 months so that she would get breast milk. I pumped every 2 hours for 20 minutes. and also fed her every 2-3 hours. Breast milk is pure so it digests alot quicker than formula so she will be hungry sooner. Breast feeding milk producing is a supply and demand thing so the more you breast feed or pump the more milk you produce. It is hard to keep up w/ the schedule especially after they start sleeping through the night and you are still up every 2 hours pumping but I thought it was worth it. Pretty soon I had a freezer full of breast milk and was able to feed her breast milk after I stopped pumping at 6 months...

Good Luck!!

J., you are obviously very dedicated! I was the same way. You should keep breastfeeding and do breast as much as you can. The baby stimulates milk production a lot better than a pump. Let your fears go and relax. Do not feel discouraged. You are doing the best possible thing your baby needs right now. And they do get hungry every 2 hours, especially when they go through growth spurts, then they just hang on the breast day and night. :)
Keep drinking fluids to increase milk production. Talk to your pediatrician, if your baby is gaining weight, you shouldn't really do anything else to increase the milk prodction. I produced the same amount when my baby was the same age. As my baby grew, I started producing more.
Good luck!
I.

I breastfed all three of my babies, way back when most moms were bottle feeding. I found that the more my baby sucked, the more milk I produced -- basic supply and demand. Supplementing w/ bottle will cut down your production. However, if your baby is not getting a good enough feeding, I can understand your temptation to let her "hit the bottle." See if you can hold off for a few days, although it may mean feeding every 2 hours, to see if your production increases. If not, maybe it's not "meant to be" for this baby. Although breast feeding is best, bottle feeding is better than your baby not thriving.

Hi J. and congrats on your new daughter!
You are probably going to get a lot of advice regarding this, but honestly, everyone is different (babies and moms) when it comes to breastfeeding. Some (babies and moms) pick it up easily and others need to work on it. My advice is to go see a lactation consultant which is a nurse trained to teach you and your child the best ways to breastfeed. You can pay for an individual consultation or I know at least FL hospital has weekly mom's lunches which are around $5. It includes a lunch, usually a guest speaker and free consultations from lactation nurses. I went the first week after my son was born and it REALLY helped. My other friend actually paid for the consultation but she said that after the initial payment the consultation kept helping her without her having to pay more. If you gave birth in a hospital they probably sent you home with some paperwork with the numbers you need to call for this.
RE: milk production, you will pretty much produce as much as you need as long as your are pumping and BFing regularly. A tiny baby can only take a couple of ounces at at time, so 4.5 oz is actually quite good this early on and 2.5-3 is about all a little baby can take.
Good luck and don't give up! It takes lots of practice!

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. My sweet girl is 18 months now. I lost so much precious time with her obsessing about breastfeeding as I was not producing enough milk and I spent all day either b-feeding or pumping. I so wish I could take those 13 weeks back and just hold her and feed her formula and tell her how much I love her rather than stressing about not producing enough milk. Do what is best for you, but that is my advice. I think the world puts too much pressure on us about breastfeeding, so those of us who can't "produce" feel inadequate. It all flies by too fast. Just enjoy your baby while you can as all too soon she will be a toddler.

J.,
You have gotten a lot of great advice her so far. I just wanted to say that feeding every two hours is normal for a newborn even up to 8-10 weeks. Also with her being a premie that sounds very normal. She should be eating often. She is just trying to catch up. I would nurse as often as possible then pump. Is her latch good? That could cause a problem with production and her getting enough. Drink plenty of water and eat normal meals. Try to relax. Even if you have to supplement with formula for a while it is okay. Just remember that she is getting about half of her nutrition from bf and that is better than non at all. I wish you the very best.
T.

Hi J.!

Congratulations on wanting to breast feed. You *can* do this. :)

First of all, how much you can pump is absolutely NO indication of how low/high your supply is. Baby is 10000 times more efficient at pulling milk from the breast than a pump ever thought about being.

What I've read to work best when trying to bring up your milk supply is NURSE NURSE NURSE. No bottles. If possible, make a day or two of nothing but nursing. Lay in bed in front of a good movie, or a good book. Have Daddy bring keep your glass of water full at all times and NURSE NURSE NURSE. That, after a day or two should bring you up real good.

You could also try eating oatmeal, drinking mothers milk tea, etc. Keeping yourself hydrated is a MUST.

But nothing will bring up your supply like baby can.

Good luck to you!

Its perfectly normal for a nursing baby to want to eat every two hours. BReastmilk is digested so easily and quickly in baby's tummy, that they do get hungry more often. It's perfectly fine. And SOOO worth it. :)

And I would say yes, ditch the bottles. They can be a horrible thing in the breast feeding relationship.

Again, Good luck to you!

I could never pump anything (I also breast fed my baby for 14 months and the first 6.5 of those months was breast milk exclusively!) so I think it is great that you can pump anything at all! I will say the the more your babe is on your breast the more milk you will make. So if you just let her sit and suck after you have given her everything you have it will make your body produce more milk even if you are unable to pump it.

Hi J.,
It has been many years since I was breastfeeding, but I had a premature baby, also. I had a lot of trouble getting enough milk. The hospital where my baby was gave me these suggestions--drink 1 beer, it has yeast in it and will help you relax, which may help the let down reflex--have your partner play with your nipples and even try to get some milk, this can be a little weird--pump more often--drink lots of water. A breast fed baby will want to nurse every 2-3 hours. This is normal--a little tiring, but so worth the tiredness. I will be honest here and admit that with my 29 weeker, I never did get enough milk. I tried every brest pump known to man. My daughter was use to the bottle at the hospital, which the nipples are easier to get milk than from our own nipples. By the time I got her home, and trying for a week to get her to breastfeed, I decided that we had both been through way too much. I really did not like one single bottle that I gave her, but was grateful that there was an alternative. Call the La Leche League--they are very supportive and full of suggestions. Good Luck!!

One bit of advice I would give you is to keep her awake the best that you can during feedings. A pump won't stimulate you as well as your baby. At times I had to strip down my son and use a wet washcloth on his forehead to keep him awake.

There are herbs and prescriptions to help with production, too.

i recommend visiting with Pat Lindsay, Lactation Consultant. She is located in Maitland. Check her website: www.patlc.com. She's a miracle worker.

Hi J.!

First, I want to commend you for breastfeeding, and hangin in there. Your baby will be healthier because of your commitment, and the experience will turn out to be a rewarding one, I promise!

With both my kids, I was concerned that I didn't produce enough milk ... but found out as time went on that it took me time to adjust to increased demand. It often took a few days, even a week, to bring my supply up. But with nursing it truly is a matter of supply and demand, so my advice is this. Continue to pump, always after you feed the baby, but also let her nurse as long as she wants to, and as often as she wants to. It is not unusual for a baby that young to want to nurse every couple of hours.

I also found that co-sleeping really helped my milk supply to stay up. I read somewhere that for babies under 3 months, not nursing for 6 hours or more would cause the mother's milk to start drying up. So you may want to think about bringing your baby in bed with you, and letting her latch on (and stay latched on) more frequently and for longer periods. You'll both have better nights, especially you. Exaustion can also contribute to low milk supply, so the more you're able to rest, the more you'll produce.

My daugther is 3 now, and still nurses (although not as often). I still drink Mother's Milk tea every day, and have found over the years that it really makes a difference. Both Whole Foods and the Granary offer at least two brands (I prever Yogi Tea).

Anyway -- good luck with it. I'm rooting for you!

Oh, and one last thing, you asked about bottle feeding vs. breast. We fed breastmilk to my son with a bottle, and that caused him to get so lazy that he would refuse the breast after a few months. The whole pumping experience became such a drag for me that I eventually dried up when he was 9 months. It broke my heart, and I don't recommend it.

Take care,

G.

I was very much in the same boat 17 months ago when my daughter was born 6 weeks early. Some mothers find learning to nurse challenging (something not many people are aware of), but nursing a preemie is that much more challenging. I could not nurse my daughter right away either. Bottle feeding was tough because she kept falling asleep. Then trying to switch to the breast was another challenge. I know how discouraging it can be, but it sounds like you are doing a good job. You will likely obsess with how much she eats for years to come. I agree with April in that counting diapers daily is a much better measure of your baby receiving adequate nutrition. I too had to nurse my daughter every 2 hours; it can be a little frustrating cause that's all it seems like you do all day. But it is the best thing you can do for your baby & some day you will miss it. If you still have concerns a lactation consultant or pediatrician is a good source of advice, but you sound like you're doing it right. Good luck!

I have had problems with pumping as well but I will tell you my baby is going to be 5 weeks tomorrow and in the beginning she was eating every 2-3 hours. I too could not produce milk when pumping but today a girl that works with me (who had a baby 4 months ago) gave me some tricks and I believe they actually work as I was able to get 5 1/2 oz out at one sitting out of one breast as opposed to getting 3 oz total at a time out of both... while you are pumping drink water or a hot beverage or look at a picture of the baby.. I looked at a picture - well several of my baby - and I was amazed at how I was able to pump so much. A friend of mine also told me that in Italy after you have a baby the doctor tells you to drink a beer every day and it helps produce milk. I have checked with a nurse on this and was told that is true... so one time I did half a beer and noticed it does work as well.

I think you shouldn't give up b/c its too soon and if you are having to express milk and give it to her in a bottle I think that's ok b/c she's still getting the breastmilk.

Good luck and update us on how it works.

You may already know this...have you tried applying a warm washcloth to your breast (it use to work for me) also if you try massaging your breast, this will help you produce. I am not really sure if switching back and forth from breastfeeeding and bottle is healthy for the baby. I do know that their is a vitamin that you should give to your daughter. You would have to forgive me I dont remember the name (my youngest is three!)It is called poly something,it is in a white box with purple lettering. I hope this helps.

M. M.

J., Is there a nursing moms care and share group at your local hospital? Morton Plant is downtown Clearwater has an excellent one that meets the 1st and 3rd fridays of each month from 10-12. Welcome to motherhood and congrats on your new baby. Everything sounds normal. I use to spend 45 minutes with a manual pump to get 3 oz. My daughter also ate frequently, every 1/2-2 hours as a newborn. It increases with time but some babies are just snackers. Remember her belly is the size of a walnut. I found it easiest to just avail myself to frequent nursing and only pumped as needed (to supply a bottle if I would be away for a few hours). Hang in there, you are doing great. This is the best nutrition for your baby and has health benefits for you as well. It'll get easier.
S.

Congratulations on Emma! (I have an Emma too :) I haven't read the other responses, so I may be duplicating other advice...

First, you shoud do what will best nourish your baby. If Emma is showing signs that she is still hungry, it is OK to supplement with formula. People will tell you not to, but you are her mother and MUST do what feels right.

I had the same sort of thing happen when I was breastfeeding my Emma, only it didn't happen till she was 6 months old. I tried drinking Mother's Milk Tea and taking an herb called Fenugreek (which is the active ingredient in the tea, but sometimes it's too darn hot for hot tea!). Both of these you can get at the health food store. They helped me some, but ultimately, I ended up weaning her a couple weeks later anyway because I was working and it's a pain to pump there and blah blah blah.

Most hospitals also have a lactation consultant on staff. In the bazillion papers you got at your discharge, you may find a card for one. If not, call the hospital and ask. They are an invaluable resource and usually their services are not any extra cost so since you and your insurance paid boukoodles of money to have your baby you should take all the free stuff you can get!

And lastly, the problems may be due to Emma's prematurity. It's typical (as I understand it, I'm not a health care professional) for preemies to not take to breast feeding like full term babies do.

All in all, what you are doing and have done is wonderful for your baby. She has already gained so much not just nutritionally from your breastfeeding, but also psychologically. There's a certain closeness you just don't get with a bottle. I am by no means a breast feeding nazi, but I do think everyone should at least give it a try...that's what those girls are there for!!!

Hi J.,
For my second child he lost alot of weight in the hospital so they recommened subsituting with a bottle, My son from there would not nurse , but I was determined so I kept pumping and would give it to him in a bottle. I soon got sick after my milk started coming in and took tylonol cold, which slowed my production alot. Again I just kept pumping as much as I could even if only a ounce would come out at a time. When he was a month old he finally took to my breast, and since I was persistant with pumping the milk did come back in full force. Keep at it. Milk production is supply and demand. Drink alot of water and take keep taking your prenatals and if will flow back up.
Good Luck
E.

Hi J.,

Relax! You are doing fine. From the sound of things, your baby is eating normally. The amount of milk is proportional to your baby's needs, so don't worry about how much you're pumping, it's probably fine. There is one "trick" that helped me and it was to take a warm shower right before either feeding or pumping to stimulate "let down". Sometimes I'd get a fountain going, LOL! Make sure you are eating enough. While breasfeeding, your caloric intake is just as much as when you were pregnant. This keeps your milk supply up. Just eat right; healthy foods. Your baby knows how much she needs. As long as she's making dirty diapers, she's getting enough! Try to breastfeed more and less of the bottle, which is more effective than any amount of pumping. You are on target, and she'll be healthier for it.

I breastfed my, now 6 year old, son for 26 months. He loved to nurse. He would nurse for hours on one side then switch to the other side and do it some more. I was never a very good pumper. I rarely got more than an ounce or two.
Here is my advice try not to get frutrated. The more frustrated you become the less you will produce. As natural as breastfeeding is- it is very difficult! Keep trying. Also, go to Florida Hospital South's Breastfeeding luncheon. You will find all the support you need plus the ladies who run it are registered nurses with many years of breastfeeding experience behind them. My favorite nurse's name was Nancy Sargent. She is wonderful! She is also an internationally certified lactation specialist.
Some helpful milk increasers are Mother Milk Tea, drink plenty of water and eat as often as possible, stay relaxed, you could pump more often- like every one and half hours, the last one that I have heard is a little unorthodox, but to help stay relaxed you can drink a beer or have a glass of wine. It will not get to the baby and it may help with your milk let downs.
Good luck! I know you can do it. Remember she is learning right along with you. Keep it up.
L.

J., first of you, be proud of yourself!! You are doing a great job for little Emma! Breastfeeding is hard and you are doing a great job working at this!

Next, is your daughter having 6 wet diapers a day? Is she gaining weight? If so, you don't need to worry about whether you are producing enough - you are. If you are concerned about her weight, call your pediatrician and ask if you can come in and get her weighed. Make sure they use the same scale every time because individual scales can be off by as much as a pound!

You should try to breastfeed as much as possible, as opposed to pump, because the baby is much more efficient at getting milk out. My right breast never produces more than 2 oz when I pump, but my baby can nurse on that breast for 20 minutes and be completely satisfied - I know she gets more than 2 oz!

Pumping is good also - and please don't throw your breastmilk away like someone recommended. If you want to use bottles occasionally, that's OK. I had to supplement with formula right after I got out of the hospital because my daughter had lost more than 10% of her weight. Then she wouldn't breastfeed! That's because the bottle delivered milk much more quickly than my breast did. So I did a ton of research and realized that I needed a good "slow flow" nipple, and in addition the nipple had to force the baby's mouth open wide (like they need to do on a breast). The best two bottles for me are the Playtex Natural Latch and the Gerber triangle shaped bottle (I only find these at Walmart). Make sure you get the slow flow nipples for both. These days, I breastfeed several times a day and at night, and my daughter also gets 1-2 bottles a day. It's working out very well now that we've got these bottles.

To increase supply, drink a lot and eat oatmeal at least once a day. The herbs that people mentioned are also good. You can also ask your doctor for a prescription - there's a drug that is proven to increase milk supply.

I would also strongly recommend that you see a lactation consultant. It may cost $100 but think of the cost of formula over a year! Or, go to a local La Leche League meeting. Here's a list of local groups: http://www.lllflorida.com/groups/sw/index.html Getting support from a knowledgeable, supportive professional can make all the difference!

Most of all, don't feel discouraged. Keep going! I was completely depressed when my baby wouldn't breastfeed. I was pumping and had managed to work up enough of a supply by pumping so that I didn't need to give her formula. But she would only take the bottle. I was completely crushed. But I got help from a lactation consultant and over the course of a few weeks, she went back to the breast. The first few months are the hardest. But it is SO worth it. You are improving your baby's health for the REST of her life! You are protecting her against allergies, multiple sclerosis, certain types of cancers, ear infections, and more. So be encouraged and know that it may take a little while, but you can do it!!!

Hi there! Don't be discouraged! I had problems breastfeeding too. My production was not great either and I decided to pump and bottle feed my baby girl (who is now almost 2!). So in the end I was feeding whatever breastmilk I could give her and supplement with formula. She would never wake up before 4 hours hungry and she was a happy and full baby. She was getting the nutrients from the breastmilk and at the same time her tummy was filling up. Find what's going to work for you and your baby, but make sure she is drinking enough to fill her up for at least 3 to 4 hours. That will keep baby and mommy happy. Remember to get lots of rest and try not to be stressed, they both decrease milk production. Well, good luck and happy mothering!

Hi I'm not an expert by any means but I can share a little. My little Jaiden is 12 weeks and we have had our ups and downs with breastfeeding.

If you pumped 3 - 4 ounces, that is actually a decent amount. Doctors have told me that he should get somewhere between 2 ounces every 2 hours to 2 ounces every three hours. I've read that if they get between 20 - 30 ounces a day for the first 6 months of their lives, then that is adequate. Keep researching online.

Also, try oatmeal for breakfast every day and fennel greek in herbal pills or mother's milk tea. That works for me. Also, I learned that I need to drink almost a gallon of water a day to produce a lot of milk.

Try keeping a log of how often your baby eats and how much (if it doesn't drive you crazy). It helped me to feel like I knew what was going on.

At first Jaiden wasn't getting enough milk and was constantly loosing weight for his first 2 weeks and he ended up dehydrated and in the hospital. I had to supplement with formula and was very depressed, but to my dismay, he is on 100% breastmilk. What I do now is nurse him when I am home from work and then pump 3X at work...throughout the night while I am nursing him (he is sleeping on it now) I get up to pump once or twice.

it's a lot of work, but hang in there, your milk WILL increase!

J.,

My son was an 8 wk preemie who is now 21 months old...my first. He spent 22 days in NICU and I traveled back and forth (45 minutes ea way) with the breast milk I had pumped and had to freeze and then tried to breast feed there and also pumped while there. I did not have much luck with breast feeding. In all honesty it was easier for me to pump the breast milk and use a bottle to feed him - then my husband and my parents could also participate. For each mother it will be different.

Although it has been 31 years ago that I breastfed my son I understand your concerns. The best thing to do is to breastfeed your baby and that does not mean pumping. Having your baby on the breast is the best stimulation for you to make more milk. You need to be checking the baby diapers to make sure she is getting enough milk because you can tell how often you are changing the wet diapers. I know that you are worried about how much milk you are making but stress can certainly make you make less milk. Try and relax and don't supplement with formula because that will definetely make your milk production go down. The best thing to do to make more milk is to breastfeed. You can go the pediatrician to check the baby's weight and ease your mind but remember there is absolutely better for you and baby than breastfeeding. Congratulations on doing it. I breastfed my son and finally stopped just stop of 4 years; but not to worry he didn't nurse every 4 hours all that time. When he got older it was mostly in the AM & PM and that was it. I got so much help from La Leche League (look up in phone book or on computer) on breastfeeding because I had so many questions. Take care and good luck. Don't give up.
Barbara

I am sorry to hear of your troubles. Have you tried a hot shower before breastfeeding? Sometimes that helps the milk to drop, plus it will help you relax. Relaxing is the most important thing because if you arent relaxed your milk wont come as easily and also the baby feels that so she might not end up feeding right. Also make sure she is on your breast correctly, if she isnt she might not be able to make the milk come. And keep her awake while feeding, she just might be getting tired of trying and then goes to sleep. Also, if you havent already contact the La Leche league. It is a breast feeding organization and can give you some more hints. And I have heard that in some areas they come to you and at least when I was breastfeeding many yrs ago they would come out at no charge. Remember, relax, relax, relax and use the shower, it helps in many ways.

J.,

Congratulations! My birthday is 12/17. I have a 21 month old little girl and I really wanted to breastfeed her, but I also had problems producing a lot of milk. The pumps were not working for me as well and my daughter wanted to eat about every hour. This was making my time as a first time mom extremely stressful and making us both unhappy. I did not take any pills or herbs to make my milk increase because I did not want to pass anything to my daughter. I did however drink lots of water. My advice to you is to relax. I think that you need to find what works best for you and your family. My doctor told me that it is not the end of the world if you can not breastfeed, and now after putting my daughter on formula at about 12 weeks I found out that she was right. My daughter is very healthly and very happy. I wasted so much precious bonding time with my daughter because I was so stressed out about breastfeeding. Relax and enjoy your daughter because they grow up so fast! Good Luck with whatever decision that you make whether it be breastfeeding or formula or both. Every child is different and who knows maybe my next child will be able to breastfeed for longer than 12 weeks, but if not I will not beat myself up over having to use formula.

The more you breast feed the more mil will come in. Babies do tend to wake up every couple of hours to eat. Breast milk babies usually eat more often as it is not a filling as formula. With my youngest I felt like she was permanently attached. Another way to help you milk produce more, you can pump between feedings. It stimulates the glands to make more milk, after a while of this, you will be producing enough milk to feed your baby and some. Its not suggested to switch back and forth. Someone did that with my older one. They gave her a bottle of the breast milk I had pumped because they were trying to be helpful and let me sleep. Then she didn't want the real thing anymore. She knew she could get it out of the other nipple easier.

Hi J.,

I'm not an expert and I only have one child (7 yrs old), but I almost feel like I've finally figured out where I was going wrong. First off, think "Happy Thoughts" (tell yourself, it's for the good of the baby)...happy thoughts make your body do some wonderful things...excitement. Then try pumping every 2-3 hours just to see if anything changes, along with consuming lottttssss of beverages (water/milk) just before and while pumping. If you let your baby take a bottle in btwn, you want to get nipples that emulate your breast...NUK nipples by Gerber are the best. This will help with the way your baby receives your breast. And my final suggestion is to go online and find a La Leche League (www.llli.org) in your area to help with this process. They were my last resort and I'll tell you, I wish they had been my first help....they surely subsided my stress level and worries.
Good Luck

J.,
My son is now 8 years old. I breastfed him from the beginning and found that there were some days that I didn't produce as much milk as others. I would suggest drinking plenty of water and NOT necessarily having a HIGH fat diet which resuslts in weight gain for you. You need to talk with your peditrician to get their recommendations as each mom/baby are different. I do wish that I would have put my son on my schedule opposed to feeding on his schedule(he controlled me). It ended up being more nurturing opposed to hunger for him. I too, was awakened every hour as I was on his terms instead of putting him on my schedule. Don't give up...I nursed until my son was 53 weeks old. Breaking was easy as I forgot and used soap on my breasts one night, he cried when I nursed him him, spit the nipple out...I wondered what was wrong and even shed some tears before realizing what I had mistakenly done. The next night was NO mistake; once again he whimperedd a little, looked up at me, spit the nipple out and that was the end of that. I do have to admit that I had been telling him for a couple of months that one day "ninny" was going bye-bye and there would not be anymore. To my dismay, we went to my in-laws, went to the mall and he was pushing the stroller saying,"no more ninny"! I wasn't sure what to think when other women were looking at me! Was I a terrible mom to have done this? Well, I soon realized it didn't really matter what they thought, I had done all that I could do to give my precious little one a good start in life!!! I wish you the best!!

I had the same problem with my son and his pediatrician said it was ok to alternate every other time. One breast milk then the other formula. That way if my milk production did not increase in which I was only able to do so for 1 month and 1/2. It helps the baby get used to how formula tastes without pushing the baby into straight formula. They will always prefer mama but mama may not be able to help the way her body is. Also, continue to take pre-natal vitamins it helps increase milk. I hope this will help you and your baby. Congratulations on your sweet baby Emma. Ps: My birthday is the 27th of Dec lol!!

Lots of normal questions, and so sorry you had to get off to such a rocky start! I'm a mother of two (a 20 month old who I breastfeed for one year and a 9 week old who I'm BF as well). First of all you're doing great and go you for even attempting the BF so many people don't even try. It's such a bonding experience and I enjoy it so much, after the first three weeks of hell of course ;)

I'd pump more often than 3-4 hours since the little ones usually come after you every 2-3 hours. Drink lots and lots of fluids this will help you boost your milk supply as well. Make sure you're bra isn't too tight which would decrease milk supply and that you're not taking any medications that would decrease it either such as cold meds etc.

Bottle feeding is so much easier for baby that I don't really recommend it so early. Baby has to use more muscles and work harder actually to BF so if you start giving them the option of breast vs bottle they're like hey this bottle is easier forget the boob stuff even if it's breastmilk in the bottle. Although you do have to introduce the bottle before 6 weeks if you expect them to ever take the bottle.

The going to sleep at the breast is so common because it's so comforting and warm. When they're so young it's always a struggle to keep them awake long enough for them to get a really full feeding. I've stuck to 15min a side at least and keep them awake! Use a damp washcloth on their foot, don't let them be too cozy and want to sleep. Make sure they're good and hungry (even let her cry a bit) to make sure when she's on the boob it's all work going on there. I usually hold off on diaper changes from naps till after the first side so I can use it as a help to wake her up. If she gets a really good feed you'll see that the time span between feedings will start to get longer. She's still young so 2 hours isn't terrible but push her a little to 2 1/2 hours.

I never really agree with waking a baby after feeding just so they don't nurse to sleep. If you've ever tried to wake a sleeping baby it's not really easy either. But don't think they have to have the breast to get to sleep. I had a hard time with this with my first. A good pattern to follow is sleep, eat, play time/wake time, and then sleep.

I'm of course no professional just speaking from my own experience and what I've learned along the way. Don't be discouraged! I would also highly recommend calling your nearby hospital lactation consultant, I was at Morton Plant and they're great, also heard good things about St. Pete General if you're in either of these areas. They usually offer classes and pumping sessions and stuff that could give you some great help in working on that milk supply and getting baby on an easier schedule. Also a great book that I found helpful was The Nursing Mother's Problem Solver by Claire Martin. I love it bc it's set up in question answer format in alphabetical order of the subject or question so you don't have to read the whole book to find the answers you're looking for. Good luck and let me know if I can help in anyway or just if you want to talk again. I'm Jennifer W.

There is a lot of good advice here. I breastfed all three of my children exclusively without formula for the first year. I never owned a breast pump either. The funny thing is that I never checked to see how many ounces my children were getting. To this day I have no clue about how much a newborn is supposed to get per feeding. I fed my kids on demand which is pretty often the first few months. Every two hours is about what it turned out to be or maybe even more the first month. I was given the advice to watch for the wet diapers. If the baby had wet diapers pretty often then they were getting enough to eat. Hang in there. It can be difficult to get started, but it is the best thing for you and your baby. Pediatricians are too quick to advise that formula and breastfeeding can work together. I was told that formula is usually the beginning of the end for breastfeeding.

Hang in there,J.! When I breast fed my first, they told me that I shouldn't have to breast feed him more ofter than 3 hours apart. However, he drank well and then was hungry within 2 hours. I just went with what he needed and we were fine. He was much happier when fed within two hours.

I have heard that switch between the bottle and the breast isn't good because the bottle is so much easier and it will make them not want to take the breast.

Even if your baby wasn't premie...she may still wake up OFTEN at night as young as she is. Try putting a hot compress on your breast or taking a hot shower before you breast feed and see if that helps with the production of milk. Try to calm down, too. Do whatever it takes to relax while you both are feeding. Nervousness and stress reduces your production. RELAX. Read a good book or the Bible while you are feeding or listen to some nice music.