Is my milk suppy enough?

[cbell]

Since my LO was born I have questioned my milk supply. I am sure most new moms do and it wasn't till I spoke to a friend of mine that I felt more at ease. My 4 month old is a very slow nurser and I have never experienced her to let me know when she was full. I have always detemined when she was done which has ended up about 1-1.5 hrs in duration. The little munchkin like to doze sometimes which also doesn't help. The other thing is, I have always nursed her on both sides and she seems to drain both. The last couple of weeks I have noticed a difference in her demeanor which made me think she wasn't getting enough to satisfy her. I have used a shield since she was born as we had some latching problem. I have always had lots of milk for her but now I am assuming that because she is getting bigger, she needs more. She still doesn't have the perfect latch but what I have been doing to try and increase what she is getting is pumping after each feed to ensure both sides were drained as much as possible, pumping two extra times in the evening after she has gone to sleep and using the shield until let down occurs (because she seems to be more effective in the begiining of the feed with it rather than without... weird I know), and then removing the shield halfway through which has sped up the feeds and she seems to be getting it quicker now. Anyways after being fed on both sides she still seems to be completely satisfied. I have experimented with giving her two extra ounces of breast milk that I have pumped and I swear she would take more if offered. I am also wondering if she is going through a growth spurt perhaps. If so this growth spurt is entirely differnt than her 6 week one. That one nearly killed us both, feeding every 2 hours, lack of sleep... So if this is a growth spurt I don't notice much difference as she is still sleeping through the night for the most part (7-4 ish, feed and then sleep till 6ish)

I guess my concern is that she is already feeding on both sides, emptying them as far as I can tell, will that promote more milk production? And when does it start as it seems to be the same? And if she doesn't get every last drop does that mean you produce slightly less the next time? The reason I ask that is because she gets frustrated when I am almost empty and stops feeding. If I pump I can get a little bit more out. Sigh.... am I just being a worry wart?

[jbepko]

First- is your LO gaining weight? Having wet/dirty diapers? If yes, then she is getting enough milk.

I have always detemined when she was done which has ended up about 1-1.5 hrs in duration. The little munchkin like to doze sometimes which also doesn't help.

Getting her to stay "on task" may be helpful. Try gently waking her rather than letting her fall asleep while nursing. Plus you don't want to her to start associating getting to sleep with breastfeeding.

I have always had lots of milk for her but now I am assuming that because she is getting bigger, she needs more.

Your body will adjust- as she needs more, as she needs different nutrients, etc.

Anyways after being fed on both sides she still seems to be completely satisfied. I have experimented with giving her two extra ounces of breast milk that I have pumped and I swear she would take more if offered.

Bottlefeeding is easier for babies. So most babies will "drink/eat" whenever a bottle is offered b/c of the nipple in the mouth. I would recommend going back to the first breast for a second offering if she still seems hungry. That will boost any supply issues faster than supplementing by bottle- even if it is EBM. A baby nursing is a much stronger message to your body to produce more than the pump.

If so this growth spurt is entirely differnt than her 6 week one. That one nearly killed us both, feeding every 2 hours, lack of sleep... So if this is a growth spurt I don't notice much difference as she is still sleeping through the night for the most part (7-4 ish, feed and then sleep till 6ish)

I agree....most GS also interrupt sleep.

Sigh.... am I just being a worry wart?

No you are just being a Mom! Good luck and we are HTH.

[Samuel's mum]

I would recommend going back to the first breast for a second offering if she still seems hungry. That will boost any supply issues faster than supplementing by bottle- even if it is EBM. A baby nursing is a much stronger message to your body to produce more than the pump.

I'd definitely agree with this suggestion. It's amazing what you can get on the second attempt.

and then removing the shield halfway through which has sped up the feeds and she seems to be getting it quicker now.

This is a good idea because the more stimulation your breasts get directly the better the chance you are sending signals to make more milk. The older style shields were very problematic with breasts getting sufficient stimulation - the newer thinner one much less so but we still don't know exactly how baby's 'milking' action works - it could make a slight difference.
The pumping is also a sensible idea too - although not as effective as the baby's stimulation - it will certainly help. Good plan.

You sound like you have a sensible approach and what you are doing should have an effect combined with the going back to first boob suggestion. Good Luck.

[beccarman]

my dd has fed on both boobs at a sitting since she was 3 weeks old, my boobs kept up with her demands and shes always been fine after 2 full boobs, hopefully yours will be doing the same too...the 1st boob again thing is defo a good idea and worth a try though, especailly if shes fed for quite a while on the 2nd boob as then the first one will have had all that time to make more and will also have been stimulated all the time she was feeding on the other one too...phew! thats a long sentence! sorry!
hope things go ok.
 

[cbell]

Thanks so much for the suggestions and the comforting words. I really don't want to throw in the towel yet as I do enjoy the closeness with her. It really is the best gift you can provide. I'm just a bit of a worrier... that is putting it mildly.  I think I have determined for sure that she is going through a growth spurt too. It just doesn't seem like the same as the 6 week one, that was hectic. I guess I will know if she wakes up again tonight.

Glad to hear there are other moms out there wondering the same things I am.

[beccarman]

whether you carry on bfing or decide to ff you can still cuddle and be close and enjoy feed times together.

Glad to hear there are other moms out there wondering the same things I am.

thats the beauty of this site, it makes you realise you are not alone!

hope tonights better