HELP - Pumping regularly but not enough milk!

[startingagainafter14years]

Hi all.

I have been having problems with breast feeding as 4 wk old DS has been fussing and pulling at breast, is still hungry after feeds and hadn't been putting on mini mum weight required. So, I have introduced formula top ups and have been pumping with an electric pump to maintain and hopefully build up supply.
But it's just not happening!
I have tried pumping after he has fed but nothing comes out. Even between feeds when i pump I just get about 5mls from each breast then the breast just runs dry.
Whether after or between feeds, I still leave the pump on my breasts running for about 10mins to see if this causes them to produce more - BUT NOTHING!!!!
The only time I get at least 30mls is in the morning - but if I express then, I just end up having to give it to him afterwards because he's still hungry! I can't build up any storage.
I'm desperate. I don't want to stop breast feeding.
Any suggestions...!?

if he's still hungry after feeds are you offering the other breast?

Sounds difficult, OP

I think it would help you to talk this through with someone on one of the bf helplines.

They'll ask you about (as norah says) if you are offering two (or more) breasts each time.

Pumping is such a bind, and it's not always clear if it is technique, rather than anything else, that effects 'performance'.

Formula top ups fill the baby up in the short term, but in the medium and long term the effect on your milk supply is to reduce it.

At the moment, you've got the most complicated way of feeding - breast, topping up with formula, and expressing...eeek! No wonder you want to make it better for you and your baby.

Ruddynorah:
Yes, I offer both breasts several times. I just move him from left to right, right to left until he seriously starts crying out and begins to get really worked up - this way I know I've offered as much as possible and need to turn to formula.

Tiktoc:
Yes it is VERY binding....At the moment I don't leave the house. I live in my pijamas so that I can either give breast or pump! The only time he really feeds well and gets satisfied is the night feed when my breasts (more the right than the left) are really full.

Surely if he keeps taking that night feed, the breast will keep making milk?? If only for that specific time????

I think you need to speak to someone...it's not clear what's happening really, sorry. Except it is concerning, I agree.The other things that would be relevant include what happened at the birth, how feeding got underway, what the whole history is. Hope you can get to the bottom of it, and then work out how to change things.

When you say 'minimum weight required' - what's that mean?

Hi, startingover, my dd had dropped below her birth weight at 4 weeks, and so I was advised to supplement her with formula. If your ds is putting on weight, even if it is only a small amount then I am sure he will be fine. He may be going through a growth spurt.
My dd stayed the same weight at 3 weeks, and then went 330 grams below her birth weight by 4 weeks. I then started supplementing her feeds with formula, aswell as expressing after feeds. Now at nearly 6 weeks she is finally at her birth weight again.
It is absolutely shattering, and I totally am there with you on that one, and living in pj's, well, you are describing me!Today I managed to get my maternity jeans on, feel all glam!
I always find that whatever I pump, I give it to her at the next feed. So I have two bottles now, and it goes like this: breastfeed, expressed breastfeed bottle, formula feed. Then hand to dh to wind, and I express for 20 minutes with my lactaline(my new fave toy). Somewhere in that I have to pay attention to my other dc, and I am shattered. I never leave the house either, got the neighbour to fit the carseat in my car yesterday, haven't driven for nearly two months
I am taking fenugreek capsules, and will ask gp at my 6 week check for domperidone. Also I think my dd has a tongue tie. Have you had the latch checked, etc, or for any physiological reason. Because if your ds feed so avidly that shoudl be enough to increase your supply. My dd can not latch on, or suckle effectively, and that is what finally almost killed off my supply. But I am pleased to still be breastfeeding at 6 weeks, and you should be pleased to have got so far too.
Sorry for the essay, but dd is actually sleeping, so am even drinking a hot cup of tea . Having a party!

Just wondering who is advising you to weigh your DC weekly? DC3 is 5 months now and I was told to get him weighed about once a month for the first three months or so. Then less after that.

I think you need to see someone is there a drop in clinic anywhere near you? It all sounds very complicated!

Cece, the hv comes to my house to weigh my dd, although next week will hopefully be the last time, as long as she has not lost weight again. I thought all babies were weighed weekly for the first few weeks. All my other dc were aswell. I am hoping to end all this complex business soon. I am getting more efficient at it, but I mau just feed her the expressed milk, I can express a little more between feeds now, and I can see that she is taking less and less formula. She much prefers breast milk to yucky formula, but finds breastfeeding exhausting. She is alot calmer, more alert, etc. It is difficult, but it won't be for long.

starting again, I was where you are. You can build a supply but you'll need to take domperidone to get it going. You can buy domperidone in bulk from www.inhousepharmacy.co.uk, and the GP may prescribe it but he/she may also prescribe. It's available over the counter but impossible to get enough to make a difference, you'll need at least 80mg a day to see an effect. To get your GP to prescribe it suggest you visit Jack Newman and print out the domperidone info sheets.

The other thing is you can cut down your routing by getting a hands free pumping bra and using it so that you can give your ds a bottle while you're pumping, which will make the whole routine a lot more manageable. Although you're not getting anything right now, the pumping will help to tell the boobs they need to make more than they are doing right now.

Before the dom arrives you can try things like fenugreek, alfalfa, and oatmeal which are all supposed to be lactogenic. More info here. Never had much impact for me but worth a try.

It is soul destroying, being where you are, but you are doing amazing things. HOpe you can find a local advisor to help you as tiktok suggests. It will get better, this is probably the worst bit. I bf my dd for 7 months and am currently bfeeding ds, 4.5 months. I never got dd completely off formula, but ds is completely breastmilk fed, although some of it comes through an SNS. hang in there.

squashimodo

• I am just going to faint that a HV visits you in your own home, and weekly! We get one visit here (after the MW discharges you from their care to the HV) and then you have to trek along to their weekly baby clinic if you want them weighed!