when to give up on milk coming in?

Question

Hi moms - I gave birth on May 5th and my milk has yet to come in (I had a c section). I met with a lactation consultant my second week and she said baby wasn't getting enough so to start supplementing. My current feeding schedule is getting baby to latch (she often doesn't), then giving her some pumped milk (I'm only pumping 0.5 oz every 3 hours), then giving her formula, and finally pumping again. I'm also taking literally every supplement (fenugreek, blessed thistle, goats rue) plus eating oatmeal.

At what point should I give up on milk coming in fully? I've been trying so hard and nothing is changing :( the whole process is very stressful and is contributing to my depression

Answer

Stop stressing I know easier said then done .. a fed baby is best enjoy your little one as long as baby is healthy and gaining and growing that's all that matters 😂

Answer

First, kudos to you for working so hard for your baby! What a great and loving thing you can do! You can ask your on for bloodworj to get to the root cause of low supply.  It's often Insulin Resistance (so have your A1c tested), low prolactin, low vitamin D, anemia, or another hormone issue.  It's also possible there was retained placenta so that can cause delayed milk and a less than full supply even when doing the (exhausting and so difficult)  triple feeding schedule you're on. I do t have a solution but hopefully this can help steer you in a positive direction. You're doing great and every drop count!

Answer

Maybe try pumping more often and offering the breast more often. 
My milk came in 3 days after labor, but I think my son definitely had something to do with it coming in pretty quickly. I would offer the breast every hour, and pump every 2 hours. Finally my milk came in and now I am producing 1.5 oz every 2 hours. I worried a lot in the first few days but worrying and stressing can mess with it too. As long as your baby is being fed it doesn't matter whether it's breast or formula. But keep trying and don't give up, my lactation consultant told me you get out what you put in with breast feeding. It's probably one of the toughest things you will have to do mentally and physically. Good luck.

Answer

Did the lactation work with you on getting baby to latch? I would go back , have them work with you, your body will react much better if you can get baby on the boob. You have to train baby and yourself. 
If your committed to bf you have to keep trying, i know first hand how hard it is but the end results were way worth it.  Good luck

Answer

Lots of skin to skin with baby against your chest!

Answer

Instead of pumping every few hours, have you tried "power pumping"? I know a few people who said it really worked for them to boost supply.

Answer

Also Black Seed Oil can be helpful for low supply and also Goat's Rue. If you have thyroid issues don't takeFenugreek, it can hurt your supply if you do have thyroid issues.  Some women benefit from high carb but a lot of low supply moms benefit more from low carb (since insulin resistance can be he root cause of the low supply).

Answer

I had low supply so no matter how much I pumped/ baby latched I topped out at about 16-18 oz per day. My peak was at about 4.5 months. In the beginning I was pumping only an 0.5 to 1 ounce per session. I just took it week by week and then month by month. I made it 9 months and felt good about making it that long knowing I had to work extra hard.

Answer

Milk supply is demand based. When my son was that age, I pumped every 2 hours around the clock, since my son won't latch.  I also empty both breasts completely by hand expressing after I pump. The rule was if he ate, I pumped, and if it 2 hrs rolls around and he doesn't eat, I still pumped. Also try oatmeal, lactation cookies and Mother's Milk tea.

when to give up on milk coming in?

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