This isnt working.....

Sooo- it takes me 1 hr to feed DS- then I get DS settled so I can pump for 15 min...then he decides he wants to eat early and there is no milk left because I just finished pumping...

Im so overwhelmed by this...I dont want to give up- but the crying, the pumping, the exhaustion is consuming me....

What else could be wrong... why else after 4 days of feeding every 2 hrs and pumping after each feeding (and taking mother milk stuff) WHY is there no change in my supply?

Re: This isnt working.....

probably stress

and I know there are many BF moms that will diasagree with me.

But I really believe that if it consumes you and you wind up resenting it, for me its just not worth it. Your DC got the benefit so far (and thats alot), maybe you should consider switching.

Re: This isnt working.....

ya know what- everytime I think about giving up it upsets me even more because I know I dont want too..

I know how upset I was after giving up with DS #1- I dont wanna do that again...

but seriously at one point do I say- my milk isnt coming back???

Re: This isnt working.....

Do you need to pump right after? I know how hard it is. We supplemented with 1-2 bottles with both boys, right at the beginning. That way I just nursed for the time home, and a week or two before going back to work started giving another bottle so I can pump. Don't know how you feel about the bottle though...

Good luck!

Re: This isnt working.....

Re: This isnt working.....

Message edited 7/24/2009 10:17:55 AM.

Re: This isnt working.....

Posted by NW2006

Do you need to pump right after? I know how hard it is. We supplemented with 1-2 bottles with both boys, right at the beginning. That way I just nursed for the time home, and a week or two before going back to work started giving another bottle so I can pump. Don't know how you feel about the bottle though...

Good luck!

Re: This isnt working.....

What about increasing your calories? I lost about 4 pounds this week and my supply took a huge dip! So, I started eating more, pumping some and drinking the mother's milk tea.. it seems to be on it's way back up.. Of course.. I gained two pounds back.. instantly!

Re: This isnt working.....

Posted by 05mommy09

Posted by pharmcat2000

Posted by 05mommy09

but seriously at one point do I say- my milk isnt coming back???

What does the LC say?

I havent spoke to her today....but she is the one having me pump 6xs/day

Re: This isnt working.....

Make sure you are eating enough calories. I lost too much weight in the beginning and my supply dipped. Are you drinking enough water?

Also, you need to try and relax because stress will KILL your supply.

I made myself stop thinking of my supply and later feedings. My goal was just to get through the current feeding. DOn't think of my supply and just trust my body knows what it is doing. Once I started doing this I had no issues.

I know its soooo hard to stress.

Call you LC today and ask about using this
Supplemental Nursing System

It may help

Re: This isnt working.....

Posted by pharmcat2000

Posted by 05mommy09

Posted by pharmcat2000

Posted by 05mommy09

but seriously at one point do I say- my milk isnt coming back???

What does the LC say?

I havent spoke to her today....but she is the one having me pump 6xs/day

I understand your frustration -- you're pumping out all your milk and then the baby is hungry so you have nothing for him, but you don't really want to keep giving him a bottle -- you want him back at the breast to eat. I had seen at BBB this contraption made by Medela that is basically a small tube that you attach to a bottle of BM and put the tube into the baby's mouth while they are drinking from your breast. This way, he is still svcking from you to stimulate your milk but he is getting the milk out of bottle without having to take it from the bottle. So, he thinks he is still BFing and eventually when your supply comes back he should be able to eat like before. Would you consider this? Maybe the LC has some experience with it? Let me see if I can find it online so you can learn a bit about it.

Re: This isnt working.....

OK. Here's the starter system
Starter package

And here's, I guess, a more permanent package.
Supplement system

Apparently even adoptive moms can develop a BM supply by having the baby suckle long enough. If you really want to continue, I say keep trying. If women who weren't PG and had zero supply can get enough milk to feed a baby, I believe you can get your supply back.

Re: This isnt working.....

Oh, and I just re-read your post. I don't think 15mins of pumping is enough. When I was trying to build my supply, I pumped for about 30mins. I was told to continue pumping for 3-5mins after you see the last drop of milk come out and this will trigger the breast to make more milk. HTH.

Sorry if I seem over the top with trying to help you, but I know how disappointed I was that I had to stop giving DD my milk.

Re: This isnt working.....

I really think teh nursing aid will help you. A baby BFing is WAY MORE EFFECTIVE at increasing your supply then pumping.

Here is a video on how the supplemental nursing system works.

click here

Re: This isnt working.....

If baby is taking 1hour to nurse, chance are the baby isn't eating the last hour but using you as a pacifier. DS did this for a few weeks. It takes on average a baby 12-20 minutes to empty your breast so a newborn might take a little longer. What I would do is while DC is BF I would pump the other breast for 1/2 hour. After the 1/2 hour if you DC still wants to nurse, then fine. But in about an hour, the breast you pumped will have milk if you DC wants to nurse shortly after they finished.

Re: This isnt working.....

Not much to say but I love you and you are a great mom and so strong and you will get through this...you always do!

Re: This isnt working.....

I think Im going to put away the pump for a few feedings...I just can't anymore !!!


I haven't lost any weight and my food intake has been about the same (maybe more- since family was here and we dining out a bit)

The LC told me to pump for 15 min- and that is about 3-5 min after the last drop of milk... My let down happens immediately...

I never said my feedings take an hr... he eats 10-15min on each side, with a diaper change and burping in between- so the whole process.. lasts about 40-60min.

Im going to look into the nursing system...I do always put him to the breast FIRST get him to eat as LONG as possible. and if he is still hungry then I give the expressed milk...

Re: This isnt working.....

Posted by pharmcat2000

Posted by 05mommy09

Posted by pharmcat2000

Posted by 05mommy09

but seriously at one point do I say- my milk isnt coming back???

What does the LC say?

I havent spoke to her today....but she is the one having me pump 6xs/day

I understand your frustration -- you're pumping out all your milk and then the baby is hungry so you have nothing for him, but you don't really want to keep giving him a bottle -- you want him back at the breast to eat. I had seen at BBB this contraption made by Medela that is basically a small tube that you attach to a bottle of BM and put the tube into the baby's mouth while they are drinking from your breast. This way, he is still svcking from you to stimulate your milk but he is getting the milk out of bottle without having to take it from the bottle. So, he thinks he is still BFing and eventually when your supply comes back he should be able to eat like before. Would you consider this? Maybe the LC has some experience with it? Let me see if I can find it online so you can learn a bit about it.

Re: This isnt working.....

I think LCs like Drs give us info to use and we have to take it from there.

If you feel like putting the pump down, do it.

try and get a nap in today while he naps.

Sleeping always boosts my supply.

Re: This isnt working.....

You have time...relax.

Drink lots of water.

ALWAYS pump after your first morning feeding.

My supply was full until about 8-9 weeks.

When he is close to 12 weeks you will have BM pouring out of your ears, trust me.

Are you worried you won't have enough to go back to work? Honestly I didn't have that much saved up. I pumped during the day (at work) during her normal feeding times and that kept us going for a while.

Try exclusively BF for a little while to build it up more.

Re: This isnt working.....

I feel your pain...I am struggling at almost six weeks to do this myself...with my 2 1/2 yr old around too....stress contributes....try to wait it out and if you can't, you can't! You are a great mom regardless.....try to relax and enjoy and if its too much, then odn't worry - plenty of people use formula and their kids are just as happy, healthy, etc....it seems funny i can write this to you and have yet to listen to myself...lol...but truly, its not worth the stress....i have begun to accept its not worth getting stressed and dd and i are starting to make it work better now - and i think its b/c i am not stressing myself out and pyshing myself out....

lots of hugs and if you want to fm me (since I am with you!) feel free

Re: This isnt working.....

Re: This isnt working.....

Posted by pharmcat2000

Posted by 05mommy09

Posted by pharmcat2000

Posted by 05mommy09

but seriously at one point do I say- my milk isnt coming back???

What does the LC say?

I havent spoke to her today....but she is the one having me pump 6xs/day

I understand your frustration -- you're pumping out all your milk and then the baby is hungry so you have nothing for him, but you don't really want to keep giving him a bottle -- you want him back at the breast to eat. I had seen at BBB this contraption made by Medela that is basically a small tube that you attach to a bottle of BM and put the tube into the baby's mouth while they are drinking from your breast. This way, he is still svcking from you to stimulate your milk but he is getting the milk out of bottle without having to take it from the bottle. So, he thinks he is still BFing and eventually when your supply comes back he should be able to eat like before. Would you consider this? Maybe the LC has some experience with it? Let me see if I can find it online so you can learn a bit about it.

Re: This isnt working.....

can i just ask a question? is your DC satisfied after a feeding? is so, then why do you think your supply is low? is it b/c you are not pumping a lot? after a feeding you shouldn't have that much to pump....just curious as to why you think it's low

Re: This isnt working.....

Posted by 05mommy09

Posted by babybug631

You have time...relax.

Drink lots of water.

ALWAYS pump after your first morning feeding.

My supply was full until about 8-9 weeks.

When he is close to 12 weeks you will have BM pouring out of your ears, trust me.

Are you worried you won't have enough to go back to work? Honestly I didn't have that much saved up. I pumped during the day (at work) during her normal feeding times and that kept us going for a while.

Try exclusively BF for a little while to build it up more.

Im worried because he is starving and not gaining weight

I think Im done pumping/done with the herbal supplementing...Im going to continue to nurse on demand and when he is hungry give him milk from my frozen stash...

If the milk doesnt come back naturally, then once the freezer supply is done, we will switch to formula...

I cant go on like this... my poor 4 yr old has had zero of my attention these past 4 days, and when he does sit with me, Im an emotional stressed out mess...