Milk gone... Forever?

Question

I guess I went too long between feedings during my baby's first week (she'll be two weeks on Tuesday). My milk came in about 4 days post partum, and now it seems to be gone. My breasts don't feel like they did when the milk came in. My lactation consultant has me feeding every two hours and pumping in between. With each feeding taking 40 minutes, I have no time for pretty much anything else. Plus, I get nothing on the pumps (less than half an ounce between both breasts). Could my supply be gone forever? Is there any getting it back?

I started fenugreek yesterday.

Answer

No if the baby is on the breast for that long your supply is still good... U should never use a pump to estimate how much milk u have .. Your baby pumps out more milk from ur breast than any machine... You'll know u don't have enough milk when baby is fussy while ur giving her the breast ... Fenugreek is good

Answer

I guess another question is, if I can't pump, how am I supposed to go back to write and continue with breast milk?

Answer

Some women don't respond well at all to pumps. It's nothing like a baby. You can get completely nothing out with a pump and still be making enough for a baby. Plus, she's only a week old so she's not eating much anyway. And improper fits can play a big part in the pump not getting much out. You shouldn't really be pumping at all in the first month anyway. Let baby establish how much milk you need or you'll end up with a huge oversupply and you'll never get to stop pumping all day. The engorgement doesn't last. I'm only feeling full when he goes through a growth spurt and I make more milk. After a few days I feel normal again even though he's 4 months old and eats a ton. Judge your milk supply by how many wet diapers she has in a day. 6-8 is well hydrated. Fenugreek helped me relactated when we had latch issues and I dried up but it has been known to make lots of foremilk and not much hind milk. Idk if it's true but I make mostly foremilk now which can just be a coincidence. Just let your baby determine your supply for the first month and feed her on demand after her dr says she doesn't have to eat every two hours which I think was at the 2 week appointment after they get back to the birth weight. I could only get 2oz out with a pump even though measuring him right before and right after a feed told us that he's actually eating 6

Milk gone... Forever?

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