increasing milk flow/amounts

[titmouse]

Hello,

I've been BF/expressing for 2.5 wks and have had all sorts of feeding probs - mastitis, bleeding nips, scabby bits, not enough milk - so at the moment I am mainly expressing but supplementing with formula for a couple of feeds a day. It seems odd as I have got really big boobs (big for me)and I don't understand how I can't seem to get enough out of them.

any tips for increasing production and flow? At the moment I am taking ibuprofen for the last bit of swelling from the mastitis and drinking as much fluids as I can. I don't want to have to stop expressing but it is taking me so long to produce even half the amount my MW and HV say I should be prodcing that I am hooked up to the pump for what seems like eternity and it's getting me down!

Little and often is the key - express every 2 hours for only 15 minutes, and unfortunately you'll need to express at night - 2am is the best time!

Ignore HV and MW there is no "set amount" you should produce. The amount you can get depends on the type of pump, how much hellp you have been given in using it and lots of other things. Pumps are a lousy guide to the amount you are making as no pump will ever be as good as a baby.

It sounds like you have had a lot of stress and pain over the past couple of weeks so well done with keeping going bf.

This sounds like the usual cop out but I think you need some help from a RL person who knows about breastfeeding (0300 330 0771). topping up with formula is going to have a negative impact on your supply so you might want to consider knocking that down and upping the amount of time the baby spends at your breast. BF will actually help get rid of the mastitis more quickly If the baby isn't emptying your breasts regularly they will get the message not to make so much milk - vicious cycle really. Mixed feeding does work for some people but you would need to talk to someone who knows about it (again, no so sure your MW and HV are the ones for that)

GL

Hi, would you be able to tell us us why you express the feeds rather than put your baby on your breast which would be easier and less time consuming, and wouldn't the baby be "better" than a pump at clearing blocked ducts. Sorry, am no expert at all!

I ask, because even if my breasts are engorged with milk, I can hardly express anything so I wouldnt take the amount you express as indicative of your supply. I personally hate expressing, it's so souless, boring and timeconsuming - really feel for you.

Hi Titmouse, there's a great american site of ladies that exclusively pump and lots of really useful advise on there for increasing supply, how often to pump etc. messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppexcluspump

One of my main tips is to make sure you get a good hospital grade pump which will help, what pump are you using at the moment?

My DS is now 11 weeks old, but 9 weeks ago I was in a similar position with poor supply and poor weight gain for DS.
I took fenugreek to increase supply and everyone I spoke to reccommended having a rest every day- I think this is essential, you need to look after yourself as much as possible.
Also, apparently lecithin can assist with milk duct drainage (according to Dr Sears), which may help your mastitis. You can buy it in granules and put it into a smoothie/ spinkle on yogurt or cereal.
Get someone to check your latch as well- I had a couple of sessions with a lactation consultant and that improved things dramatically... sorted out sore nipples and DS was able to get the milk much more efficently, so started putting on weight.
Hope that helps... breastfeeding can take a while to get going (in my experience anyway). This is my second time round and I still needed help. HTH

thanks for all the advice.
helenlouisey - I am using a Medela Swing, switched to it after I was using Avent manual but it was really hurting.

tryharder - I am expressing because I was finding with sore, bleeding nipples and mastitis at the same time I was too stressed and in too much pain to try to latch. I am healing and less swollen so I intend to try latching again. HV wanted me to try yesterday but I found the whole BF thing so painful and upsetting that I am basically stalling and trying to psyche myself up to try again. I don't think crying hysterically with a baby on your boob is any good for mother or baby and after 2 weeks of that I am (understandably, I think) very fearful of trying. At least now I am expressing I feel calmer and my baby seems much happier. But, I am going to try latching again, I'm going to a BF clinic early next week to get proper help. I am going to try on my own this weekend as well as MW thinks a break will have helped my daughter too.

BTW my output has increased since my first post, I think the tail end of the mastitis was hampering my expressing a bit.

titmouse i went through the exact same thing when my baby was that age. had mastitis, cracked bleeding nipples, the works. and my boy had such a strong latch combined with a massive appetite - he's currently 98th centile all round! i used to dread feeding time and actually shake with fear when it was time to latch him, and he picked up on my vibes of course. you're right - a crying, wincing, panicking mother does not a happily feeding baby make.
expressing and topping up with formula was the only way i could cope, and i'm glad you've found that too. whats the point in stressing out about feeding when it should be a calm bonding experience for you and the baby. there are some people on here who would criticise you for resorting to formula top ups, but i dont think that kind of guilt-trip is helpful. you're doing the best you can for your baby while not massacring yourself and your nipples in the process, and i think you should be praised for continuing to BF where others might just give up.

by the way, im happy to say that i BF quite comfortably now - when they get to 10ish weeks their mouths are bigger and can take in more breast tissue making it muuuch less painful! when this happens im sure you'll find the milk supply will increase naturally without you even thinking about it - mine certainly did!
just keep doing what you're doing - express what you can, top up when you need to, go to the BF clinics, and just enjoy your baby. i promise this stress and pain will be a distant memory before you know it

ps - also, my midwife said it was actually a very good thing to introduce him to bottles at 2/3 weeks, because he might not have taken it the older he got!

hi alannabanana

thanks so much your message has made me feel a lot more positive. I'm glad to hear of somebody else who has been through this entire same thing!!

I decided to bite the bullet and directly fed her earlier, she latched fine on one side and with a bit more effort on the other, buoyed by my success I tried again just now but it didn't work at all and we are back to crying and stress etc - but I'll give it another go later. We'll get there - and I'm glad to hear that you did too.

Brilliant that it worked - you can do it! The stress is awful but try to focus on that successful attempt! Bf is really hard work for some of us, don't let anyone tell you otherwise, and you are a star for still hangig in there! I am at 9 weeks and would say I struggled til about 6 - it does get easier and at your stage I was also crying all over her as she latched....it does get better, honest. Good luck.

you're very welcome
don't be put off by your earlier attempt ending in tears. remember theres no rush - take your time, and try again when you feel ready. also, i think its important to let any damage heal before you go for it too heroicly - you don't want to set yourself back after all this!
dan39 is right - some of us unlucky souls find BF so so hard. others think its a doddle - like a friend of mine who gave birth around the same time who i'm very jealous of! perhaps they just have hardier nipples?? who knows!