BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Breast Feeding => Topic started by: AJs Mom on June 21, 2006, 19:07:17 pm
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Hi there,
My DS is a little over 3 months. I breastfeed him. I do a bottle of formula every second night, so that I can pump during that feed. about 3-4 weeks ago, my son became a more and more efficient eater goig from 40 min feeds to about 10 min. Don't get me wrong, it's really nice,.. but at first I worried he wasn't getting enough. I'd try to pump after and nothing would come out, so I was convinced he was okay.
Slowly though, I've been able to pump less and less at night. My DH does the dream feed, and DS has been taking more and more. Now he takes about 7 oz of breastmilk at that feed, but I can only pump about 3.5 oz. So I am doing formula every second night to get the rest of the breastmilk needed for the next night's feed. I don't have a problem giving him formula.
Today, at our second feed at 11:00am, he was sucking his hands like crazy after the feed. Now since he discovered his hands he's been drooling like crazy and sucking his hands like crazy which I know is normal, but I worried he was still hungry, and with him feeding so fast it got me worried again. So I offered him a couple oz of formula after the feed and he took about 1.5 oz quite excitedly.
Am I drying up? He's content between feeds. He's never screaming/crying/etc. I thought he was going through a growth purt last week and was doing some cluster feeding in the evening when he was a bit fussy, but that appears to be over now.
I have mixed feelings about stopping breast feeding. On one hand, it makes me a little weepy, and I'd really like to keep feeding in the morning. On the other hand, I have HUGE breasts and breastfeeding in public (in front of strangers) makes me very uncomfortable and it isn't convenient at all. I like to pack a bottle of expressed when I go out, but then I get worried if I don't pump and just completely miss the feed.
What do you think is going on?
Sonja
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Wow -- I would love to pump 3.5 oz at night -- that right there is indicative of having milk! I am able to pump only 2 oz. Also, you can never pump out as much as your son will be able to get. My son will also drink 7 oz when my DH feeds him @ night. I know at night that we don't produce as much, but it's higher in fat content. I would find a good lactation consultant if you're concerned to the point of not breastfeeding anymore. I've also read some good info on http://www.kellymom.com
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Thanks, I'll check that site out. I actually pump a little less than three, but I add about a half an oz in the morning when I 'pump off the top' so I don't choke him! That makes up the 3.5 oz. I'll go check out the site.
Sonja
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Hi Sonja,
I think it is really unlikely that your milk is drying up. I would hang on in there for a while and like the previous poster said have a chat with a breastfeeding counsellor. They can put your mind at rest on so many things.
Also babies often drink from bottles readily as it is so much easier than the breast.
Good luck, I'm sure you have nothing to worry about
Claire
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First, how much you pump is NOT an indicator of supply. Some moms have a more than adequate supply but just don't respond well to a pump and can't pump anything. Your baby will always get more than a pump.
As long as he's having 6+ wet diapers a day, he's doing fine. You know if it's coming out in his diapers, it must be going in!
If you're still concerned about your supply, the best way to increase it is to keep nursing! The more often, the better.
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Thanks to all, keep it coming! I'm taking him to the doctor tomorrow to address his recent lack of weight gain. I'm sure everything's fine.
Sonja
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Sonja,
Have you seen the new growth curves produced by the WHO as these have been based on bf babies. The ones in current circulation are based on formula fed babies.
Here's the link which explains all.
Claire
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Hi, Sonja--
Just wanted to reiterate that the amount you pump is not an indicator of how much your ds can take from you. Also, you're right... sucking his hands is completely normal & doesn't necessarily mean he's hungry. And babies will generally take from a bottle even if they're not hungry because it's so easy for them. Hang in there. Let us know how your weight check at the doctor's goes.
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Woops, I forgot the link
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=59355.0
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Thanks ladies. His visit to the doctor was just fine. I was worried because he had only gained 17 oz since his 9 week shots and 6 weeks had passed when he was weighed. The doctor said that as long as he stays within the curve boundaries and doesn't start to flatten out and off of it, I shouldn't be worried. He's healthy. Phew! I'll check out that link!
Sonja
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Glad to hear things went well at the doctor's office!
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I was having the same issue with my son (now 4 months). Have you tried Fenugreek? You can get it at any healthfood store. It works great for me. Just take it several times a day if you are wanting to produce a little more at night. ;)
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Sleepless in Chicago,
Thanks for the reminder about Fenugreek. Yes, I do have some. My midwife recommended it after my c-section when I was worried about my milk having not come in yet. I'll give that a try.
Sonja
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Hi Sonja
If you want to keep giving the bottle of EBM for the dreamfeed, have you tried expressing first thing in the morning? Zander was only feeding from one side in the morning so I was able to feed him and express from the other side and get a full bottle in a matter of minutes. Any other time of day I was lucky to get half an ounce! It had to be the first feed so I was really full, which sometimes meant sitting up in bed with a pump on one side and a baby on the other at 5am!!
Just to reiterate what the others have said though, I'm still feeding at almost 10 months and was able to express only very small amounts (except as I've described above). It really can bear no relevance!
Kelly x
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Another good natural supplement is Blessed Thistle, although it can be difficult to find.
Also, you can buy all kinds of natural teas from health food stores to help increase your supply. I liked "Clef Des Champs", but there are many other brands available on the market.
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Julian and Zanders mom,
Thanks for your replies. I'll check out the teas. I'll try expressing in the morning. The only problem is that I feed from both breasts, ... well, feed from one and offer dessert on the other. Maybe I'll wake up at 5:00 and try doing a pump then.
Sonja