I need Help BF questions!!! wheres the milk???

[azqtpies]

Okay, so I dont think I am good at the bf thing.. I had a great milk supply that came in on day 3 now Tyler is 17 days old and I swear my supply is drained! I dont hear  him swallow when he is nursing? I feel like I am starving him... does anyone have any advice on how to increase my milk supply??? I have saline implants and maybe that is interfering with my supply? I am taking Tyler in tomorrow to have a weight check! I need help!!!!! anyone else haviing this problem and anxiety? I want so much to be able to continue to nurse him mainly for keeping him healthy , this bf is so stressful =(
any advice would help! thanks ladies !

Kelly

[Tanker Chic]

Hey Kelly,

i'm actually trying to wean right now since I have to go back to work in three weeks. It isn't going well at all.  Yesterday I thought we had a break through but now today I'm not sure.  maybe the earlier feedings are typically smaller.  We'll see.. hopefully the ones later on today will go better.  They better before I have to cut him off completely.  Poor little guy just wants what he wants.

[tahariel]

Stress can delay or slow let-down. If you have lots of family around while trying to breastfeed, you may not be relaxing enough to encourage your milk flow. Can you go into the nursery or your bedroom and close the door? Maybe turn on some relaxing music to help creating a soothing environment. You should be able to tell your family to give you some peace during the nursing sessions. My parents would come and visit the baby occasionally during those first few weeks. I would nurse then hand baby over to my parents, go into my room, close the door and sleep, I would tell them to wake me up if they needed anything or if baby needed to eat again. They could see I was exhausted and they wanted to help, so it was great. Plus, they got some alone time with the baby, so I don't think they minded at all. Good luck.

[dainsey]

Hey there,
I just got back from my appointment with a lactation specialist and even though I don't have a milk supply problem, she said that she works with women everyday who do and she seems really good.  Are you in Arizona?  If so I can give you her website and info.  I also drink this tea called "Mothers Milk" and it's supposed to help increase milk supply and the lady told me I have a great supply.  I also have saline implants, behind the muscle.

[azqtpies]

Thanks everyone, I did talk with a lactation specialist and t here is a support group meeting this wednesday. I am gonna try and make that meeting. Resting is so hard the past few days I have trying to nap when baby naps, but I have family in town that insist on spending all day at the house, I know they mean well but it is way too much, cant nap with everyone here and bf with so may people is challanging as well. Thanks you all for some great advice .. I knew I can always count of you all!
Tanker how is your bf coming along???

[Tanker Chic]

Hey Kelly,

I don't know about the saline but one thing you can try is after each feeding pump for 10 minutes.  It is supposed to work on supply on demand so if you increase the demand you milk supply should increase.  

[tahariel]

Make sure you are drinking plenty of water during the day. Try drinking something warm too before or during nursing sessions, like mild tea or cocoa. (just keep away from baby to avoid spills) The warmth can aid with let-down too. Continue a healthy diet and snack while nursing too. And, even though this is difficult with a newborn, try to get enough rest. Nap while baby naps and forget the housework for now until you and baby are both established. The first several weeks of breastfeeding are the most challenging, afterwards you and baby both become pros. Does your hospital or local La Leche League have newborn or breastfeeding support groups where you can weigh baby at every meeting? You can also weigh baby (no clothes or diaper) before and after a nursing session to see how much baby is drinking at a session.

I have heard that implants might cause some challenges, so you may want to consult with your plastic surgeon, pediatrician and a lactation consultant to rule out any conflicts. Best wishes and hang in there!!!

[pertykitty]

you said he is fine in the early parts of the day but then it starts in the afternoon?  it sounds as though he could have started a fussy time.  most babies go through a time when they are crabby.  if he is doing fine early on then i would guess its not your milk, but maybe he is colicky later on.  also if he is eating and eating like every hour or 45 min maybe he is starting to cluster feed.  addison did this for quite some time, the good thing is she then started to sleep longer at night.  

burp him often, watch your intake of caffiene, what for certain foods that might make him gassy.  addison went through this exact same thing, the chunker is now 5 months and has gained almost 8 pounds since birth ;)    go talk to your ped to get that checked first, then see if he/she agrees maybe its a fussy time.  

try this   before he gets fussy and super hungry (i dont let addy get too hungry or she fights it) give him a bath.  sing or play relaxing music.  before that you can take a hot shower it lets your milk down . than after he is all dressed and cuddly get a comfy chair without the news on or anything and see if he will relax more and nurse more productively.  im not a pro, but i did go through this and god i remember id try anything to get her to relax and eat.  do you have mylecon drops for gas?  alright i hope you can find some peace today and he can get his grub on!! lol

[azqtpies]

sometimes I see a little milk in the mouth but not like before.. and yes he seems so agitated when he is latched on he pulls off like he did early on when I had just the colostrum? he just seems unsatisfied, just the last day half ? I will try the warm cloths and pump after I feed  him. I dont want to give up!  His doc had said  that breast milk is better than any medicine they could ever give him and it will keep him from getting sick or be much less afffected, and with my 9 yr old who seem sto catch every bug in school just worries me sick specially cause he was born so early!

So any health food store should carry those herbs? I was not good last time I nursed my last baby, and ending up switching him to formula... I dont want to do that this time. I never reached out for support with my last baby. so I appreciate all  the advice and help I can get. Thank you =)

[pertykitty]

can you manually express milk? i know i felt i didnt have milk with addy either but then she gained a pound so i knew  i did.  is he fussy and hungry after or content and full?
there are herbs to increase milk.  fenugreek along with i think milk thistle.  there are some nursing specfic also you should find at a health food store.  dont be so sure he isnt getting enough, maybe he is just getting better at nursing and isnt as loud.  havibg him weighed is a good idea, but feeding right before or using a different scale can change an oz or so.

do you see milk in his mouth if you break his latch?

[Oly1970]

Kelly,
Sorry to hear that your having problems with BF. Stick with it. I am no Dr. I have BF 3 kids. If the baby is not complaining / crying the baby is getting enough. If you think your not producing enough milk try pumping after each feeding. With my daughter I use to put hot washcloths around my breast (away from babies face) while I was feeding. This always helped with the flow. Best of luck.