Category: Parent Talk
Hi all. So I don't know out of all the people here with babies who has breast fed or is breastfeeding but I have a breastfeeding question that I would like help on. So I was exclusively breastfeeding my baby but he lost a little bit of weight so the doctor recommended that I supplement him with formula. The problem however is now he has gotten used to the bottle and sometimes it's hard for him to remember he's latching to my nipple and not the bottle's nipple. He's sort of developed kind of a lazy suck if you will. I'm trying to get him to nurse more so that I can produce more milk for him since I don't want to put him onformula if I can help it. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do to not only boost my milk supply but get him to take the breast again? Keep in mind it's not that he doesn't want the milk, he definitely puts his head toward the breast but sometimes his latch is too loose and his suck is lazy due to bottlefeeding.
I'd appreciate any help.
Jess
hello
One of the biggest mistakes that medical practicioners make is to advise supplementing with formula, because if there is already a supply issue then supplementing is only going to make that worse.
The best way to increase your supply is to increase the amount of time your baby spends at the breast. One of the best ways to do this is to essentially have a feeding marathon. That is to say what you do is take yourself off to bed for a couple of days with your baby, take lots of dvd's/books/other things to keep you occupied and get your partner to wait on you hand and foot while you spend this time with your baby. Lots of skin to skin contact, and constantly putting him to the breast, (the skin-skin contact is a trigger for babies to want to feed so this will help). You can also have a bath with your baby and this will also help.
The more your baby feeds, the more you will build supply, and the less need there will be for formula.
Also it is crucial that you don't supplement one of the feeds for a bottle but rather that you always put the baby to the breast first and foremost and then top up with formula/ebm if needed.
But having a marathon session with your baby should help to boost your supply which in turn should help with his weight gain and thus reduce the need for formula.
hth.
WISH I WOULD HAV THOUGHT BOUT THAT...YOU COULD TALK TO A LACTITIONIST (THINK THATS HOW U SPELL IT). KEEP TRYIN & HAV PATIENT WIT HIM. GOOD LUCK.
When my daughter was a new born, I had problems breast feeding her. I couldn't get her to latch right, but I would pump milk to help keep up the supply. Another thing you can do is get mother's milk tea. And there are also some herbs that you can get at a health food store that might help. I used to also try laying on my side and lay Chloe next to me, that helped and we were both relaxed. Hope this helps.
agree with post two.
I believe the herbal tea Sage Rose is talking about, called "Mother's Milk" is made by a company called Traditional Medicinals. I don't know about this specific tea, obviously, but I do know that every Traditional Medicinals product I have tried for other things in the past has been wonderful stuff.
that herb tea is excellent. there are also others awhich are good. if interested i will have to look these up as my resources are at home.
breast milk is the best example of supply and demand in the world. the more it is requested, the more there is. putting a baby on supplementation will only cause it to dry up. doctors need to remember that breast fed babies don't weigh as much usually as their bottle fed counterparts. as long as the curve is going upwards, the baby is producing plenty of wet/poopy diapers, and he/she doesn't appear dehydrated, that is how progress ought to be measured. no formula can legitimately claim to be "just like" mom's milk. each mom makes a product that is unique for her little one's unique needs. the first part of every feeding is the foremilk which is mostly water. the last part is the hind milk which is full of nutrients which are tailored for each individual. you all probably know all this, but I just get so frosted with all these commercials on the tv.
I agree with post 2 and those that talked about supply and demand. Pumping milk for more production should help significantly. You can get those teas at www.swansonvitamins.com
I believe Yogi makes one for nursing mothers. Good luck and I agree with those who are not big on the idea of supplementing with formula.
also earth mama angel makes a tea for lactation.
this site has allot of articals and hand outs about nursing and I've heard it mentioned in the community for breast feeding several times for issues such as this. good luck to you and deffinatly offer baby breast first.
http://kellymom.com/
There is also drinking more water. I know a lactation specialist recommended it for another who was having problems, (not like she listened), but water, water, water. :) Also, like has been said, if you cannot do the marithon, pump, whether baby wants to suckle or not, you can pump, and, one more idea, if you cannot get him to latch, what about pumping and simply giving him the milk from the bottle. I know from what my sister has experienced that after a baby quits nursing direct sometimes it is damn near impossible to get them to latch correctly again. good luck.
Like I had previously said I don't pump very much milk when I actually try to pump. When the baby does nurse I do a lot better than if I try to pump and give him in a bottle. I'm lucky I can pump out 2 ounces for 15 minutes if I'm lucky. I sincerely hope I don't have to stop breastfeeding but if I have to in order to make sure baby is eating and gaining weight like he's supposed to I understand it as hard as it is for me to accept it.
I didn't produce as much milk when I pumped after I had noah. But I wasn't able to directly feed him becasue he was in the hospital for a month after he was born. But I wanted to give him breast milk because his doctor said it was best for him, especially because he was premature. But as jess said, it's hard to accept the fact that you have to stop breast feeding. It's like someone offends you, or something. Like it hurts your feelings really deeply. LOL. It's pretty emotional I guess is what i'm trying to say. Hard to explain.
Jess, I hope you don't have to stop breast feeding, and I hope baby Michael gets well with his eating habbits.
I like Post two's idea of a nursing marathon...and I too agree with switching him back to breast full time. I didn't pump out as much either, (except for when my milk came in with a vengence). Lol. But keep trying. Don't worry about suplementing and weight gain as much as whether or not he's eliminating 6 to 8 wet and soiled diapers in a 24-hour period. Make sure that he spends 20 to 30 minutes on each side so that he gets all the foremilk (the good rich stuff). And remember that he's suposed to be nursing a minimum of 8 times a day. Good luck with your baby boy and listen to your instincts. I've dealt with a good and a not-so-good breastfeeding experience, so I know how frustrating it can be. My son wanted to nurse nurse nurse and I found out it was because he wasn't getting enough due to gal-bladder disease AND a serious infection in my incission after my cesarean. Plus, with him, I didn't get good instruction and got impatient and frustrated with nursing. My daughter was a natural and nursing her was very easy because I had some previous experience and because I had good instruction from the LC'S.
I'm not a mother but I was adopted and wish that I could have received breast milk because it's a truly wonderful start to a baby's life. I hope that you don't have to stop, and if herbs can help you produce more milk safely, I'd say go for it.
http://www.iherb.com
has alot of good things and may even have what you need or something else that you haven't thought of yet. Best of luck to you and I'm really sorry that this doctor put you through this instead of giving you more sound advice/knowing better.
HAVE U TRIED CHANGING HIS POSITION WHEN FEEDING HIM? I WAS TOLD THAT COULD HELP. I TRIED WIT MY SON PLUS KINDA HAD TO BECAUSE HE WAS FALLIN ASLEEP ON THE BREAST. WHEN HE DIDNT WANT TO LATCH ON NO MORE I PUMPED. IT SUCKED NOT BEIN ABLE TO BREASTFEED HIM. PUMPING WAS WAY LESS FRUSTRATIN & CALMING TO ME. I'D USE THE "MOMMY'S MILK" BAGS. IN A DAY I WOULD PUMP 7-9 BAGS OF BREAST MILK & STILL HAD MILK TO PUMP OUT. I WAS PRODUCING LOTS OF BREASTMILK BUT WAS GLAD HE WAS TAKIN IT IN BOTTLE.. HE HAS NOW BEEN ON POWER MILK FOR 3MTHS. BUT ANYWAYS HOPE UR STILL ABLE TO BREASTFEED. GOOD LUCK ONCE AGAIN.
I love the nursing marathon idea too if he'd actually stay latched on the breast Lol. I'm hoping I can speak to the lactation consultant before it's too late and he takes bottle and never goes back to breast again. I've been giving him bottle right now and pumping since they're really concerned about his weight gain but we shall see.
Another in favor with the nursing vacation. I did this with Solomon Bruce waited on me hand and foot and we all camped on the couch. Doctors aren't trained in nutrition get a good lc and take her advice.If he's pooping and peeing don't worry about his weight. The docs did this to us too and really slowed the process down. Pump take herbs give it to him via bottle if you have to. Don't give up. Solomon is happy and healthy and was breastfed till he was a year old. He's transitioning to regular food, it's so much fun watching him feed himself. Hang on it gets better. Find a supportive community that will back you up. Tiffany
I ALSO THINK U SHOULDN'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE WEIGH GAIN..AS LONG AS HE IS POOPING & PEEING LIKE HE SHOULD THEN HE IS DOING GOOD. MY SON WAS 7LBS 5OZ WEN HE WAS BORN & WASN'T GAINING WEIGH. EVEN NOW PPL THINK HE'S YOUNGER OR UNDERWEIGHT. ALL BABIES GAIN WEIGHT DIFFER SUM GET CHUNKY THAN OTHERS & OTHER STAY SKINNY ..