Help please - did you increase your low supply?

Question

My LO is a week old and I found out I’m not producing enough milk for him so he was losing too much weight. His pediatrician has me nursing every 2 hours and after each feed I have to give him a bottle of formula. I am also pumping after every feed but I’m only getting about 1 oz total and I do each breast for 15 mins. I am devastated and can’t stop crying, he’s such a good eater I figured it was going well. 
Anyone else have a low supply that they were able to increase? My LO was born at 10 lbs so he needs more. I just feel so defeated already and that I’m never going to make enough for him.

Answer

Pumping 1 oz after each feed is great!!  If there is a weight concern, I’d offer the milk you’re pumping rather than formula as baby really not eating too much more than that at this stage.  But nurse nurse nurse!  You need baby to tell your body to bring in more milk.  It may end up that you nurse twice an hour at some points during the day.  Let baby be your guide.  For every formula feed though you should definitely pump at least twice (once to mimic a feed and once to increase your supply). 
Drink lots of water, eat lots of nutritious foods.  That will help you better than any supplement.
I’d avoid anything with fenugreek at this stage as it hurts some mamas milk supplies or upsets some baby’s tummies.  Which is not what you want to deal with right now.

Answer

Check out Milkymama on Instagram, she has a ton of tips on there that are super helpful for so many women. There could be a number of reasons that you’re not producing a lot, for mine it was an undiagnosed tongue and lip tie. Good luck mama!

Answer

It sounds like you are doing everything I was told to do from my LC. I’m at 4 weeks out now but my baby has a latch that could be improved and she falls asleep in like 1 minute. I think it’s important to stay hydrated and while this is stressful, know that you are doing everything humanly and reasonably possible (because all the supplements and natural breast milk improving snacks/teas aren’t 100% proven and everyone responds differently). At 4 weeks, I get about 70 ml in the morning and anywhere from 30-50ml other times when pumping and I supplement with formula, outside of breastfeeding to the point where she just won’t stay awake (hence the pumping). I feel ok about this routine and hope that as she gets a little older, she will become a bit more alert so that this routine can be simplified (she was born at 37 weeks and was 7lb). Best wishes.

Answer

Don’t worry this happen to me too. I only produce 2 oz of breast milk (1 on each). What is recommended to increase your milk supply is to drink a bottle of water every hour, have skin to skin with your baby, before pumping think of your baby or look at a photo to increase supply. What I do is drinking tea that boost supplies (Mother Milk) or lactation milk.

Answer

Hang in there Momma! I know it seems like it’s never going to get better but i promise you it will. Please make sure you are eating and drinking enough! I can’t stress how important hydration is!! You will notice an immediate difference by the end of the day if you uptake your fluid levels. Body Armor drinks are awesome, super hydrating, taste yummy and aren’t as boring as water 😊 I drink 2-3 of those a day along with a constantly full 32oz Yeti of cold water. You’re gonna feel like a fish but you’ll get used to it 😊

Answer

Your baby is a week old, you’re doing fine. What you pump is not indicator of what baby gets. Just keep nursing and nursing. I’d try not to do anything with fenugreek. Mothers milk, munchkin, a lot of supplements have it and there’s a 50/50 chance it can dry you up. I would do oatmeal, drink plenty of water. and also make sure you’re eating good too. You can eat whatever you want as long as baby doesn’t show problems, but eat enough in the day.

Answer

Go topless often, latch often, lots of skin to skin. I understand you're so upset so are you still eating and drinking plenty of water? Pumping can cause unnecessary stress too because you're watching it. Just relax, stay hydrated and smell babys head often

Answer

Thank you everyone for the advice and encouraging words - I really appreciate it and feeling more hopeful now

Help please - did you increase your low supply?

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