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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Poor supply

36 replies

anne74 · 06/02/2011 21:04

I have been struggling with breastfeeding for ages but think I may have made a breakthrough tonight which is quite exciting as I was just coming to terms with the idea that I might have to give up. However I think I am just not producing enough to meet his demands. When I have expressed today having not breastfed very much today I have only got 20-30mls in total each time. I used to be able to get 60-70 mls. I don't eat much as I'm on my own most of the time with DS and I find it hard to find the chance to eat (he's 6 weeks) and Im pretty sure I am not drinking enough.

What can I do to boost my supply and how long will it take before I could expect to see a difference?

OP posts:

SwearyMary · 06/02/2011 21:07

Eat more, drink more, feed more. IMO thats what you need to be doing. Every time you offer boob have a drink and a snack. I did this religiously and never had a problem, a friend was having supply issues and took my advise and presto her supply upped.

You should notice a change quickly. Good luck and keep going, its early days still and you seem to be doing a great job!

japhrimel · 06/02/2011 21:14

Yup. Eat, drink and feed the baby.

For example, why didn't you breastfeed much today? If supply might be low, you need to feed alot.

Bert2e · 06/02/2011 21:14

Why didn't you bf much today? Breastmilk supply is governed by demand so a Sweary says you need to feed lots to keep your supply up. A 6 week old baby will need between 8 and 12 feeds in a 24 hour period. Disregard how much you can pump as it really isn't a good quantifier of supply. Is your ds totally bf or are you giving formula as well?

Ivette · 06/02/2011 21:16

eat,drink,relax and keep feeding!

chickinlickin · 06/02/2011 21:38

If you want to increase your supply and are giving formula too, stop and ONLY breastfeed.

I don't think diet affects supply, but fluid intake definitely does - so as well as breastfeeding more, drink A LOT more water.

crikeybadger · 06/02/2011 21:49

You'd have to be seriously malnourished and dehydrated for it to affect your supply.

You obviously need to eat enough to keep your strength up but you just need to drink to thirst.

6 weeks is a classic growth spurt time so why not get yourself comfy on that sofa, lots of skin to skin and just feed whenever he needs it. You'll notice the difference in a couple of days.

PacificDogwood · 06/02/2011 21:52

I don't disagree with any of the above advice, but would turn it round: feed, feed, frequent feeds, always offer both sides, lots of skin to skin contact and rest for both of you. And eat. And drink to thirst.

The key thing is feeding frequently - the more milk gets removed, the more you make.

PacificDogwood · 06/02/2011 21:54

Font of all Bfing wisom kellymom - increasing low milk supply

HTH

Original poster

anne74 · 06/02/2011 22:04

Problem is that I've been struggling to breastfeed due to seriously painful nipples. I have to take him off all the time as it's too sore and so he hasn't been able to finish feeds. He screams for more but usually I can't bear to put him back on so have reluctantly been topping up with formula.

I haven't fed much today as I've been trying to avoid it due to the pain. It has been agony :-( That's why I'm just praying that this new technique I discovered tonight might actually improve the situation.

With regards eating and drinking while I'm feeding, I haven't got good enough at it to have a free hand. I always imagined I would drink while feeding but the reality is very different.

I am hoping to do lots of skin to skin this week as I'm on my own at home.

OP posts:

japhrimel · 06/02/2011 22:07

Could you have thrush? That can make feeding agonising. Or poor latch causes pain.

If you can't feed more often, you'll need to express or your supply will drop.

Maybe try having a bottle of water or juice where you usually feed and have some before and after feeds?

fishie · 06/02/2011 22:15

anne can you tell us more re painful nipples? it can be fixed usually but you might need treatment for thrush or help with latch.

Bert2e · 06/02/2011 22:16

OK, if you are sore then ds isn't latched on properly and you need to find some professional help to get it sorted. You need to find your local bf drop in and go asap. All the time you are giving formula your ds is taking less milk from you and yes your supply will drop but it isn't irretrievable. Do you have a breast pump? If so you can increase and maintain your supply by pumping at least 8 times in 24 hours and one of those at night. Any milk you express can be given to your ds while you work on getting his latch sorted.

Bert2e · 06/02/2011 22:20

Where are your nipples most sore? Ends? Areola?
Are your nipples the same shape after a feed as they were before it?
What shape are they after a feed? Pinched? Lipstick shaped?
What sort of a pain is it? Burning? Shooting? Grating?
Does your ds have a white coating to the inside of his mouth?
Has anyone looked inside his mouth and mentioned anything? Tongue Tie? High Palette?

crikeybadger · 06/02/2011 22:23

It might help to link to your other thread for background anne74....

here it is

OP has had lots of probs with tongue tie.

HHT

crikeybadger · 06/02/2011 22:24

erm, well her DS has had tongue tie I mean.

Time for bed I think.

PacificDogwood · 06/02/2011 22:26

Sorry, I am going to be brief as off to bed (as long as DS4 will let me ):

I found these videos really helpful as they show good drinking and latch and less good examples.

Also, do get some RL support: an experienced BFing supporter should observe a feed or several feeds and help you. BFing can be uncomfortable, but if there is agonising pain then there is something not right. Please, do get RL help, NCT, LLL or the BFing support nurse from the hospital (HV should be able to at least point you in the right direction).

PacificDogwood · 06/02/2011 22:27

X-post with crideybadger, sorry.

japhrimel · 06/02/2011 22:29

That explains it.

I had issues with supply when my DD was 2 weeks old and we were struggling with feeding and I was trying to express enough for top-ups (and not looking after myself well enough). 2 days of resting, eating, drinking and pumping more helped my supply significantly. A sensible bfc pointed out that as my dd was already used to bottles, going to all bottle feeds for a day or 2 would have little negative effect whilst giving me the break I needed to boost my supply through pumping and tlc (as DD was then a very poor bfeeder she couldn't do it).

Original poster

anne74 · 06/02/2011 22:33

Thanks crikeybadger That's really helpful :-) I'm just getting used to just how amazingly helpful mumsnet is but wasn't quite sure how to ask different questions without repeating myself.

Just with regards thrush, the consultant who snipped the Tongue tie on thursday did check him for thrush and felt there were no signs of it.

This is definitely a latch issue and I've been trying to push on through so have probably made the situation worse for myself.

I'm just beginning to wonder if the latch won't improve til he gets a bit bigger. He was 6lbs 2oz when he was born at 34+5 and is now 7lbs 3oz.

I probably need to express more often but I'm a bit nervous about overstimulating and getting engorged. He hasn't had a full feed from me for some time as I've had to take him off early for, well, probably several weeks. Guess I've got some work to do...

OP posts:

Bert2e · 06/02/2011 22:38

OK have had a read - poor you, sounds like you've had a really rough ride. WRT the lactation consultant, what exactly are her qualifications? Is she an IBCLC? Beware as "Lactation Consultant" is not a registered term so anyone can call themselves one. A high palette needs a very deep latch which a LC will be able to help you with and the good news is that babies normally grow into their palette. On the TT front have you felt under the tongue? Can you feel a "speed bump"? Who cut the original TT? Pead or TT specialist?

Original poster

anne74 · 06/02/2011 22:39

I will try and take the next couple of days and really concentrate on looking after myself and doing exactly what you all suggest. I do have to keep breastfeeding though to make sure the tongue tie doesn't reattach for the 3rd time. I will just make sure I'm pumping more than I have been.

I don't know what I would do without mumsnet :-)

OP posts:

japhrimel · 06/02/2011 22:42

I saw it that if I pumped to much, I could store milk and gradually settle my supply later, which is what we're now doing. But regular pumping got/kept my supply up so that I could eventually go to ebf with no top-ups at all.

Original poster

anne74 · 06/02/2011 22:50

The LC is IBCLC and she's been so encouraging and supportive. The first tongue tie was done by a paediatric surgeon I think. It was his last day at the hospital and didn't have any kind of discussion with me beforehand and I was given no advice for aftercare.

bert2e I'm not sure what you mean by speed bump. There is the diamond patch where they snipped which is where I have to keep massaging. In terms of having to get a deep latch due to the high palate, that's where we struggle. Mostly he just rubs my nipple with his tongue and causes serious friction. I don't know how to get a deeper latch but will talk to the LC about it tomorrow. I had to go private for the LC as I lost faith in the local bf clinics as they washed their hands of me not knowing what else to suggest.

This morning I just started to think that maybe I am being selfish by trying to continue breastfeeding. I'm clearly not providing enough for him as he is so much more settled after I have topped him up. I don't want to give up but I know I must do what is best for him, hard though it would be to give up. I just don't know how much more my nipples can take.

OP posts:

Original poster

anne74 · 07/02/2011 03:53

One step forward, 2 steps back it seems. My miracle new technique isn't so miraculous. It had worked so well I think i pushed it too far at the next feed and fed for the whole feed. I now can't even manage 5 mins and have to give the whole feed by bottle. My nipples are in a worse state than they were at the start of the day and are now raw and stinging like crazy. I think I may have just taken another step towards giving up :-(

OP posts:

SwearyMary · 07/02/2011 07:41

You could try some nipple shields as a temp measure. I used them in the early days so that I could carry on ebf. This was a long time ago though as DD is almost 12yrs!

You have had some great advice here but do ask your LC for help, latch issues do cause all sorts of problems.

You need baby to have a good wide open mouth and try to ensure that baby has more of the lower part of the nipple in his mouth, its really hard to explain a good latch on 'paper' imo.

Squeeze some bm onto your nipples and let it dry, its a wonder worker. Keep doing it inbetween feeds as much as possible.

Keep the positive attitude up, you are doing fab, its early days yet

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