Not enough milk supply?

[ys1970]

Hello All! I have a 3weeks old baby and she was only breastfeeded until a day ago. She is more active at night, btw 6pm and 10-11 pm. But that day and now she can eat non-stop from 6 to 10 and then, only calms down after a formula, 50ml. What i'm doing wrong?

[tbeards]

I really wished that I had bf'd longer with my dd. I made it to three weeks and most other women I know said the magic number is one month and then the milk supply seems to get much more established. One day I gave her a bottle of formula and she guzzled it down. I was sobbing that I was starving her. I don't think there is anything wrong with supplementing a little especially when they are really small but if you are concerned, call a lactation consultant. They do it in the NICU and plenty of women successfully bfeed preemies. You need to go by her weight. My dd was 5 lbs 10 oz. at birth and was 5 lbs 3 oz. when we brought her home and was gaining hardly an ounce a week during my first three weeks. I guess my best advice, although I wasn't that successful but what I will make sure to do this round, is Pump, Eat, Rest and Hydrate. I started pumping during my second week and didn't get enough sleep. I also don't think I was eating enough but I did hydrate myself appropriately. I am also going to set up a lactation consultant to come to my house after I bring the babies home to make sure we are doing all we can. I have also heard that Fenugreek (sp?) helps milk supply but I don't know much about it. I did see it at the pharmacy counter though so I think it is pretty well known by pharmacists and lactation consultants. Good luck and if you have any tips, please post them!

~t

[Bean_Bran]

I agree with SoCalTricia.  I was not as successful in breastfeeding my 1st child because everyone kept telling me that I needed to supplement because she was not getting enough.  Well I did undermine myself and after just 12 weeks she was on formula and had several issues.  Long story short we ended up on Soy.  With my 2nd I attended a La Leche class and had a support group with great interaction with one of the La Leche mothers.  I ended up breastfeeding my son until he was 16-17 months old.  It was the best experience I ever had.  If you want to breastfeed then you should not give her nipples because she will not want to work as hard for her milk when you put her to the breast and she will get frustrated as well as you and the next thing you know you will give her a bottle.  The more you offer her the breast the more your body is going to prepare itself to increase your milk supply and before long it will be the most natural and easiest thing you have ever done.  My pediatrician instructed me to offer my son the breast frequently and let him nurse until he was satisfied.  He was strictly breastfeed for the 1st 8 months of his life.

What ever your choice you will provide nutrition to your baby and congratulations.  Just hang in there and don't get discouraged.

[SoCalTricia]

If you *really* want to breastfeed, I totally recommend *against* supplementing - especially at just three weeks. At that point, your supply hasn't even truly come in. And you are setting yourself up for failure/a poor milk supply if you begin to supplement now. If you are truly worried your baby isn't getting enough milk, I would recommend pumping and bottle-feeding your breastmilk. That way you can monitor how much she is getting, while still keeping up your supply. The only danger is that the baby will have nipple confusion. So many women do little things to undermine their success at breasfeeding without even realizing they're doing it! But, if you aren't adamant about exclusive breastfeeding, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with formula. I would still pump to make sure your milk supply comes in good, though. If you later decide not to breastfeed, you can let the supply dry up. But if you don't get it started in the first place, you won't have that option, you know?

Either way, good luck - and congrats on the baby!

Tricia

[PamelaBee]

I'm not certain what you are asking.  Are you talking about food and vegetables you are eating while breastfeeding, that may cause her to not take your breastmilk?  I would suggest you call your pediatrition, he/she will be the best person to ask about your baby's nutritional intake and the amount of milk/formula she should have.  Good luck!

[ys1970]

i have to post another question: is there certain food, maybe vegetables that may cause baby's broblems?

[PamelaBee]

Hello, and congratulations on the birth of your daughter!  So have you stopped breastfeeding altogether, or are you supplementing with formula?  At 3wks your baby should be fed on demand, meaning whenever she is hungry feed her by breastmilk or formula.  Your milk supply should flourish very soon.  In the beginning it takes a while for your supply to build up.  The more you breastfeed, the quicker your milk supply will start.  Best of luck to you!