My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

My friend had her baby on Sunday and is attempting breastfeeding. She has called me crying today and I told her I'd post here and see the responses as eveyone is always so helpful! She lives in MD and doesn't have a computer right now so i'm her link for now!

Her problem is that she doesn't think she's producing enough at this point. Baby is 6 days old and she said that when she pumps she is producing an ounce and a half TOTAL. She had to pump because her nipples are so cracked and bleeding that it was killing her to nurse.

She is at her wits end as the baby is hungry and wants to eat every hour at night and he has lost quite a bit of weight (born at 7 pounds, is now 6 pounds 4 ounces). I told her that seemed normal but she is upset.

She wants to know if her supply will increase if she continues to pump or do some people just never produce enough?? Right now she is supplementing with formula..

Thanks in advance ladies!!

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

Can she see a lactation specialist?

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

It should increase if she continues to pump, but everyone is different so you never know...if she is supplementing w/formula the baby should be fine and she can continue to pump in the meantime and save whatever she gets. The best way of course to establish her supply so early is going to be actualyl nursing. My pediatrician gave me an ointment for sore nipples, the pharmacist had to mix it together it was bacitracin and a steroid (sounds scary but it worked) she may want to ask about that.

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

I'd would guess that her supply WILL increase. When I first starting pumping, an ounce or two is all I would get.

She should continue pumping, and also try to nurse through the pain. It will get better.

Since she's supplementing, she shouldn't worry about the baby being hungry.

Message edited 10/27/2006 12:57:50 PM.

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

also I can't do the math right now but a 10% decrease in birth weight is normal but they should start to gain it back. Her ped. will most likely be monitoring this and advise her?

xxxxxxx

Message edited 2/9/2007 5:16:22 PM.

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

Bf'ing works on supply and demand. I had the same prob in the beginning, dd beat me up and i had to pump. an ounce and 1/2 seems right to me for 6 days PP. That's how much i was getting out. The baby sucks is so much better at draining the boob than a pump is.

if her nips are hurting alot, she prob had an infection too and as much as it hurts she should either keep pumping or bf'ing and get treatment. I had bactroban, the baby can even nurse while treating yourself. it made a world of difference!

CAn her PED help her with the BF'ing issues? My PED is totally pro bf'ing, and if it wasn't for the LC and DD's ped i wouldn't have made it through those first couple weeks.


I feel her pain Tell her it's okay too if she wants to go totally FF too.

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

my milk took like 5 days to come in, that might be happening to her too. she should keep pumping every 2-3 hours and she should be okay. Is she using an electric pump?

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

Ok here it goes...

Tell your friend that unless she actually nurses, her supply is not going to increase. Also tell her that what she can pump is NO indication whatsoever as to what her actual supply is (I have EBF 2 kids, and barely get anything when I pump). It is perfectly normal for a baby who is only a few days old to want to nurse every hour. When babies are that little, mommies should pretty much expect to just be milk machines... the baby is learning to nurse just as mommy is learning as well.

Also, if her nipples are cracked and bleeding the baby may not have a good latch. The best way to tell this is to have someone (ped, LC, or even have her go to a La Leche League person & they will tell her) watch the baby nurse. I have never heard of putting a steroid cream on nipples... doesn't the baby get it in their system? I know the usual thing for cracked nipples is plain Lanolin, which you can glob on and then the baby can nurse... it's all natural.

Above all, tell her to keep on nursing. The soreness will go away and she will become more sure of herself as time wears on. Tell her to go out and buy "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding," because it is the best book on the subject, and maybe try to find a La Leche League meeting in her area. They are even more hardcore than I am (hard to imagine, I know) but they are helpful. I hope I could help.

--Meaghan

PS- Also tell her that if she keeps just pumping and not actually nursing, her body is not going to "learn" how to breastfeed. The baby is also going to start to prefer a bottle because it is easier to get the milk out of a bottle than out of a breast.

Message edited 10/27/2006 6:35:41 PM.

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

I agree with this, but I do want to add that if she still feels like she isn't producing enough, fenugreek tea can help with milk production.

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

I also had the cracked & bleeding nipples. It was definitely painful. I was told to nurse through it - and did. I put lanolin cream - which worked wonders.

Please tell her not to give up. The beginning is always hard -- it was with each of my children.

and if you can send her this - here is mine:

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

Wow!! Thank you all SO MUCH For the information!!! I have relayed all of it just now to my friend...she sends a huge thank you as well...it is all so helpful..

The only thing, it was mentioned not to supplement with formula...but that was per advice of her pediatrican as he felt the baby was slightly dehydrated due to weight drop and a little fever.

She is in better spirits and doing everything she can per your advice on here. Thanks a million.

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

Re: My friend is in desperate need of advice regarding breastfeeding and milk supply..

Everyone has already given really good advice. I would only add that you should tell her that there are free BF support groups run by the local hospitals that she should go to. They will help her tremendously. Also, kellymom.com is loaded with information and support. I have the name of a phenomenol LC if she needs a referral FM me.