Slow Lactation

I read all the material I could find on breastfeeding, attended lactation classes and had three lactation specialists in my room after giving birth to my son. What no one prepared me for was the fact that I may not be able to actually produce milk at all. I pumped at the hospital, but had to immediately begin supplimenting with formula because I wasn't producing anything. It took more than a week after my delivery to experience the breast fullness and that only lasted a day or so. From the day my son was born, I tried pumping every two to three hours, but it would sometimes take an entire day's worth of pumping to produce even three ounces of breast milk.

My menstral cycle came only three weeks after delivery and what little milk production I had stopped. I recieved a multitude of advice from well intentioned people all encouraging me to keep trying, even after the well ran dry. No one seemed able to accept that my body couldn't actually produce milk.

There are a number of products on the market claiming to encourage lacation and they might help. What's most important, however, is that your baby is getting the calories and nutrition needed to survive. Check with your pediatrician - they may suggest supplimenting with formula at this time. But don't beat yourself up if you have to do so. You're already giving your baby your best effort.

My name is K. and my 4th baby Olivia is just 9 weeks old. For some reason this time I had a low milk supply (which I found out from a consultation with the lactation consultant at my hospital.) There are many things you can do. At your local health food store you can get fenugreek or more milk plus supplements. (More Milk Plus has better results) Which ever you choose tke 3 pills 3xs daily untill you notice an increase in your supply. Then stop. You can take them again whenever you notice a drop in your supply. The fenugreek gives your sweat and urine a sweet maple syrup like smell. Pumping 10 minutes after baby nurses should also help, but don't become a slave to the pump or worry if you get nothing out. If worst comes to worse and you find out that your supply really is low and nothing is working there's still hope. Let me know how it goes or if nothing seems to be working.
K.

If the baby's gaining and happy, you're OK. Around this time, your breasts adjust to the demand so they don't get so bloated. Little ones often nurse for lots of short periods. Getting them to suckle for longer and fewer periods is a whole other ball of worms. I just continued to nurse on demand and eventually my son took more at a time. My sister preferred to time the periods before nursing to stretch them out.

If your baby seems pleased most of the time, I wouldn't start to worry yet. I have an extremely slow let down, and after a few sessions with a lactation consultant (including me pumping for three hours and getting not even 2 ozs) and my son losing weight at a rapid rate, I decided to switch to formula. It was an extremely difficult decision. I wanted to supplement, but my supply dried up after three days, I realized that the formula was truly best for him.
If your daughter is gaining weight and doesn't cry after feedings, you're probably ok. But, if you do have to supplement, don't feel bad about it.
Good luck!!

I very recently (a couple weeks ago) struggled with the same thing, and I have had some good results using More Milk Plus (the drops, not the pills), pumping after feedings for 5-15 minutes depending on the time I have, and making sure to get enough rest and fluids. All of this is advice from a hospital lactation consultant who works with mothers of preemie babies (like my daughter and I), so, if we can do it, full term babies and moms can, too! I have a good supply now, though not oversupply, and that's what I wanted. Remember to check the number of wet and poopy diapers to track that she's getting enough from day to day, and as long as she's gaining weight at a good rate, that's what's important. Good luck!

Hi M.,

While it's been awhile since I was in your position (my daughter is 9), I nursed for about 20 months and learned a lot from my mom who was a La Leche League leader.

The more you nurse, the more you will produce. Your body will produce as much as your daughter needs. My body was so in tune with my daughter that I was never able to pump any extra because I didn't make any extra. On the flip side of that, though, I never leaked or had painful engorgement.

My daughter was a snacker - she wanted to nurse several times a day and at least once per night. She is still like that and would rather eat six times a day than three or four.

AS long as your baby is happy and gaining, don't worry. Check out La Leche League books or website, too, for 'expert' advice :)

It may sound bad, but when I feel like I am not making enough milk, I drink a beer. My doctor told me it is perfectly safe to have one a day (which I don't). But I know it works to increase my milk supply (not to mention also makes me feel like a grown-up again!). I was also told that if you drink too much water that can actually deplete your milk supply, so don't bloat yourself! (However, I don't recommend NOT drinking plenty of water!)

I had the same problem when nursing my daughter. She would go about 3 to 3 1/2 hours between meals and I felt the same way. I am not sure if you SAH or are working out of the home but I am a SAHM and I actually had bought a pump by Medela and would pump for 5 to 10 min inbetween her feedings so that I was increasing my milk supply when I felt like I had none. Also drink alot of water and eat right. Congrats on your new little bundle

My son got sick with broncihitis for 2 weeks and had trouble sucking and caused my supply to dwindle. My doctor prescriped Domperidone 30mg 126 capsules, 6 weeks supply...I saw an increase in 1 day! its a compound and most insurnace companies don't cover it so you'd have to pay out of pocket $130. Only sold at MD Custom Rx ###-###-#### in Glendale,WI

Hi! Breast milk is mostly a supply and demand thing. If the baby nurses more then you will produce more. That way you produce the right amount for a newborn as well as for a 10 month old as they grow. The baby will nurse more during a growth spurt and this produces more milk. Now there are exceptions to the rule and some mother will never produce enough despite all efforts, but you can help to optimize your production by increasing your water intake, I think sombody else went into the herbal supplements and you can also try and pump after each feeding to help increase the "demand". If you have any questions you can always call the Methodist hospital lactation center and talk to one of the lactation consultants. You can even go in and have them evaluate what is going on for you and your baby. They are great over there! Call ###-###-#### and ask for the breastfeeding center and they will transfer you over there. Good luck!

I think your milk supply is fine. 2 months is usually when it regulates and you don't have that constant full feeling. And she is also becoming quite efficient at nursing and sounds like she isn't a comfort nurser. Neither of my boys were. My youngest would be on and off the breast in under 10 minutes since birth, he was and still is quite efficient, the only time he lingers now is at bedtime, he is 14 months and will nurse for 10-15 minutes to sleep at bedtime. Breastfed babies are experts at knowing when they are full, and they stop when full, so its best to follow her lead.

Drinking plenty of fluids is good for your body, but only drink to thirst. Drinking too much can actually hurt your supply, so don't overdo it, just drink to thirst, keep a water bottle on your counter and one in each room so its always handy. Eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep, and always nursing on demand will keep your supply in check.

Always nurse her from one breast, and when she has emptied that breast (I judged an empty breast by squeezing to see what came out, if it was only drops, then I considered it empty), when she has emptied one breast, offer the other, but don't switch hit, she needs that fatty hindmilk. Her diapers should be yellow and seedy looking. If they are green and stringy/mucousy, its too much foremilk os keep her on one breast until its empty.

But I think everything sounds fine, this is the time when your breasts regulate more, slow down to your babys needs and don't overproduce as much. What you pump isn't at all an indication of your supply, your baby is much more efficient at extracting milk than any pump and will be able to get out way more milk.

Relax, eat healthy, drink to your thirst, nurse on demand, and your baby will do great!

I nursed my daughter for 15 months and am still nursing my 20 month old son. I felt the same way as you with my first baby and I stressed out more than ever (but she also refused the breast for awhile).
The milk production regulates after a few months and your breasts don't feel as full. It's completely normal. If your daughter seems satisfied, she is producing the same amount of wet diapers, is gaining weight and healthy, you are very likely doing just fine.
If you are still worried, try going to a La Leche (sp?) meeting. A lot of times they have scales to see how many ounces baby is drinking at a feeding and the women have been there. You could also go to your pediatrician and have your daughter weighed to put your mind at ease. Or talk to an LC, like others have said. I talked to an LC over the phone and it was a free service at the hospital I delivered at.
You can try methods to increase your milk supply...and a lot of them do help, but most women do fine with letting baby regulate milk supply. The best way to increase milk supply is to have baby nurse a lot. If she's not wanting to nurse more, then she's probably getting plenty. Whatever you do, try not to stress so much. Your baby will be fine. Even if you go completely dry, which I doubt will happen, there is always formula, which is not a sin!

Oooo...one of my favorite topics. I was going to become a lactation specialist because I really like this topic.

The same thing happened to me. Then,..after I did a few things, my milk flow was indredible...I had created a monster...but, more is better so here's what I did.

I started by making sure I drank enough liquids. Then, after everytime I nursed, EVERYTIME, I pumped out what was left on both breasts. Even though my daughter was drinking everything I had...and, nothing was coming out when I pumped, I still pumped after.

Your boobs will (and should) supply the exact amount of milk that the baby needs, but it worried me too so I took drastic measures to make sure. (And, I wanted to start getting a milk supply before I went to work.) When the baby needs more, (and sucks more) the boobs will make more. If you pump after each time you nurse, your boobs will "think" that it's the baby wanting more and will start to produce more milk, but you have to be emptying your boobs fully. Sometimes, just let your baby suck for a long time...that could do it too if you don't have a pump, and as long as your baby is still sucking vigorously. If the baby falls asleep, you should pump. You can't make more milk if your milk ducts aren't emptying fully and sometimes, we know that the baby just wants to lay there and suck when they want to. So, make sure that during this time, there is no lagging around with the baby...either the baby has to drink, or be done. So...pump away...you'll soon create your own monster and you'll be a milk making machine! But, make sure it's after your baby has had its fill. The pump can't repulicate the massaging technique that your baby's mouth does, especially during your let down stage, and if you do it before the baby has nursed, the baby may not be fully satisfied because you'll have emptied your ducts before he/she is full. And even more importantly, your breasts could start to reduce the amount of milk because the pump will not be able to stimulate the nurve in your nipple that makes you lactate. Good luck.

If your baby is gaining weight and is satisfied, I'm sure you are producing enough millk. Most new moms tend to stress out too much and that is not good for your millk supply. Your body has probably regulated it's milk production and that is why you no longer feel the fullness in your breasts like you did at the beginning. Consult a lactation consultant before doing anything but It sounds like you are doing great!!

I think breastfeeding for the first time is frustrating in its self. I am doing it for the third time(3rd boy). I always felt like this at the begining too. It is hard to say what they are getting because you can't see. I would just try to promote eating for as long as they will...wake her if she falls asleep and offer more. Also the laction nurse said that if she eats one side, pump the other out, it helps produce more milk. Plus you'll have some handy for if you go out shopping or something. Trust yourself that you provide enough right now....she is content and is gaining wieght. If you would like her to space out how often she is eating, day by day let her wait just alittle longer to feed, you'll notice she'll eat alittle longer each time too. Also sometimes if she eats for 2 min. and falls asleep, its because she is what I call "comfort sucking" so she can go to sleep.I hope this helped. Good luck! I am really proud of you for breastfeeding and making it thus far.....My family and husbands family didn't even try.

The only thing that I can suggest is to up your fluids. Drink lots of water and hopefully that will help.
Good luck,
J.