Supplemental Nursing System

Your baby may have turned into a lazy sucker from when you supplemented him with a bottle. The bottle is so much easier to get milk out of that it can confuse newborns when its time to suck on you. Try to not give the bottle and see what happens. If he isn't getting enough he'll want to keep nursing, and that is what will increase you're supply. Also I heard nursing in between the hours of 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. can increase you're supply, because you're body is realeasing the most prolactin at this time. Check with a lactation consultant, you can talk to them for free if you call them. Contact you're hospital Labor and Delivery floor to get the lactation consultants phone number. Good luck.

I haven't read the other responses but here are few suggestions...my milk supply was dwindling and this is what I did...Mother's Milk Plus (supplement - you can get it cheaper on Lucky Vitamin than anywhere else I've seen), eating oatmeal, avoiding peppermint, coping with stress better (this was tough...looking back i was probably experiencing PPD as well...I do know for certain that stress will decrease your milk supply and that the cortisol passes from your breastmilk to your baby), getting enough sleep (also very important), and of course eating well and eating enough. I also pumped when he wasn't eating (i.e. after he went to bed, but before I did). I wish you luck - I'm sure this is a frustrating time since you want to do what's best for your baby. I can assure you that as long as you are happy, what ever he is getting for food will be fine, and he will thrive!

Sounds like you have done a great job so far in keeping him on breastmilk, yours or otherwise. Contacting a Le Leche League group leader would be an excellent idea. The best remedy for building milk supply is eating well, plenty of rest, (let the housework go) plenty of water, limit coffee and lots of nursing time with your baby. You will be surprised how quickly you can re-establish your milk supply...relax, it will happen. Congrats on your baby!

Great for you!!! That's so awesome that you've stuck it out. I had some challenges at first as well... I'd say wear a sling as much as possible and nurse very often to get your supply up. Also go to La Leche League meetings for support and to find some supportive friends if you can. I always found it helpful to have friends that I could nurse openly and comfortably with.

I should add that I had these same types of struggles.. son wouldn't nurse, just screamed and I was able to pump and feed him. We only used an eye dropper through so it was a lot of work for him to eat. We went to an amazing ped that gave us a cheap version of the supplimental feeding system and she said to make sure that I didn't use a bottle and got him nursing as much as possible before he got lazy... however at the time he'd lost too much weight so we met with a lact. consultant and she urged us to feed him exclusively with the eye dropper my pumped milk (I pumped every 2 hours and my husband fed my son). Eventually he latched on and has been nursing every since (yes he's almost 2! ).

Keep it up though!! I remember thinking someday I'll look back and laugh and how hard this is.. and I do now.. : )

Congrats!!!

Don't know where you live, but contacting a lactation consultant to see about the supplemental system and other help she could give you (if you meet with her, there's a charge unless she'll do it because she's on the staff of the hospital where you delivered). Rest, fluids, and patience will help but the most important thing, besides being sure he's getting enough milk daily, is for you to try to get him latched on and nursing from you as often as possible around the clock. It takes a bit for your milk supply to catch up, but it doesn't sound like there's any reason you won't be able to pull this off. His sucking is the best pump there is! He's young enough that you should be able to coax him into a full nursing experience. When he's drowsy is a good time to try if he's reluctant. They find the artificial nipples easier so have to get used to working a little harder to get the milk from you.

Good luck!

Hi, when I had my son who is now 10, I wanted to breast feed immediately except my milk had not come in. When my mother called me in the haspital to see how I was doing I explained this to her and she was surprised that the nurses had not brought me some hot tea to drink, so I asked for the tea and within a very short time my milk came, and I continue to drink tea to this day.

The Supplemental system is a Great idea! Your baby will get milk and stimulate you at the same time! Contact a LLL Group they will be able to help you find one!
Blessings K.