I need breastfeeding help!

Help a mama out and respond anonymously on our forum. I need breastfeeding help!

Genuinely i could not pump for my boy i tried so many times looking at him as i did it but barely anything would come out but my supply to feeding him off the breast was amazing my body knew what was baby and what wasn’t, its hard going but trust your body can provide for your baby and your doing great health visitors are amazingly supportive with this too and will reassure you on visits that your baby is getting what it needs and if not they will help you to get your supply up. My lo spend nearly all day everyday on the boob felt like i did nothing but get my boobs out for him :sweat_smile:

I was lucky if I got 4oz from both sides after pumping alone, I found the best results came after lots of fluids. Massage helped quite alot and also pumping on one side whilst feeding on the other then alternating worked well for me. I was advised pumping every 2-3 hours to keep the supply going aswel, works for some and helped me for awhile. Either way, as long as baby is fed you’re doing fine. Good luck xx

Your supply comes in properly after 2 weeks. Keep feeding and pumping to encourage the supply

Another good thing to remember, baby is only a week old. Your body is only trying to feed a week old baby. :slightly_smiling_face: your production will increase as fast as it thinks it needs to feed.

I would contact a lactating consultant and get checked for mastitis. I would recommend pumping since the baby may be too young to keep up with your milk supply.

Very rarely does a woman not produce enough to feed her baby. What you get pumping is not always a good indicator of your supply. Also, the not so full feeling doesn’t always mean you’re decreasing, just regulating to what he needs. However, things to try if you want to boost your supply : power pump (they have a good schedule on Pinterest), body armor fairly regularly, lactation cookies (I used the ones from Walmart and they worked just fine). Major key is to not stress! I know it’s hard and nerve wracking but your body knows what it’s doing! I breastfed both of my babies for almost two years each🥴 I’ve been through just about it all if you need to pm me. Best of luck and love on that baby♥️

2 Likes

Help a mama out and respond anonymously on our forum. I need breastfeeding help!

I was always told to avoid the pump at first so that baby can regulate what he/she needs. Some moms do not respond to pumping.
I breastfed my 2nd for 18months but couldn’t pump to save my life
With 3, 4 and now 5 I was finally able to pump but never got two bottles. I would always be happy with a few ounces

19 Likes

They don’t drink heaps when new born just often. Let baby do their thing, it’s called demand feeding, you can’t really have a schedule when bf. Your body will adjust and make the milk baby needs. Drink plenty of fluids.

3 Likes

It took about 2-3 weeks for my body to figure out what my baby needed and that’s totally normal! I would nurse and pump even if not much was coming out. Drink body armor and a lot of water! At a week I lived on ibuprofen because my breasts were so swollen.

8 Likes

I nursed my three babies. When nursing the first, experience I was have nerve problems,due to not supplying my body what the baby was taking out of me. Mom has to eat & drink to nourish her body. Good luck, I loved breastfeeding my children, what a better way to love you baby.

1 Like

Breast feed as much as possible to get your supply up, it’s a supply and demand relationship so the more your baby feeds the more milk you’ll make. Good luck! It can be challenging but hang in there! :heart:

17 Likes

I always liked the fact that I didn’t know how much my babies were getting. As long as they were getting enough to satisfy themselves, and the doctor was OK with their growth at their checkups, it was one less worry for me. Let the baby nurse all he wants. You’ll have plenty.

Why do you need to pump?

5 Likes

I couldn’t get a whole bottle off until my babies were at least 5 months and then only if they skipped a feed, but always had plenty of milk in the boobs. Like others have said, hold off the pumping til at least 6 weeks, baby is getting milk even if you can’t see it, look for the good latch position and the gulping! When you do need to pump, try on one boob whilst your baby is on the other, I always got twice as much like that!

I wouldn’t pump yet. Your body will produce more than needed to start as needs to work out babies needs. feed to babies cues and don’t wrap baby up too much, otherwise baby will fall asleep and comfort on you. I found sometimes on a warm day, I’d strip baby down to a nappy to feed.
I’ve got 3 children, each bf for 2.5 years each :heart: I found the best advice ever was to drink a pint of water with every feed. Worked a treat!
When you hit two weeks they will hurt, but you’ll get through it and baby and you will be pro feeders :heart:
P.s congratulations on your new tiny person :heart:

2 Likes

Nature/God is wonderful! Your body adjusts to the baby’s demands… With both my infants, I was active-duty USAF and got 3 weeks of leave after birth. I nursed and nursed those 3 weeks! Finally, the 3/4 days to wait for release arrived… Wonderful relief! I nursed morning, evening, nights and weekends - my body adjusted to the schedules! Took some time, but it works! Nursed 1st to 13 months, 2nd to 11.

2 Likes

Just let the baby drinking on demand , that’ll stimulate you to enough production of milk. Don’t worry it’s gonna be enough for the baby . And you can pump after the baby drinks enough with the pump, to get extra milk. I was doing that with my littlest . She’s 3 now and still get comfort breast milk when she needs it . I exclusively breast fed her. Good luck to you. You got this :+1:

3 Likes

The first thing you do is QUIT STRESSING over it! It’s only been a week and your milk isn’t even in yet! Keep feeding! No pumping! It’s gonna hurt and the nips will be sore but you have to preserve! You can do this!! Best wishes!

19 Likes

Every time I would sit down to nurse my baby I would make sure I had a 32 ounce cup of iced water to drink while I nursed. Make sure you are eating well too. Right now is not the time to start a weight loss diet. Give your body time to heal and adjust before you start that.

1 Like

Pump often ( the more you empty out your boobs the better about every 2 hrs or so) and eat healthy options ( I noticed if I ate a lot of sweets I pumped less milk) drinking lots of water and don’t try to starve your self ( crazy weight loss diets)… mother milk tea is good you could also try let there be milk drops, take care of your nipples ( don’t wear tight clothing or bra that will squeeze the boobs) and use nipple cream after each pump to protect the nipples from becoming chapped, try to get as much sleep as you can, don’t stress about how much milk you producing as long as it’s enough and your babies tummy is full you are doing good… you got this mama

2 Likes

Hey mama. Keep baby latched on, as much as you can. When my breast used to hurt, I’d jump in the shower and give my boots a massage under the warm running water. It would help loads. Also, I hand expressed too… just to get some out. It gets easier, won’t be sore soon. Keep at it but seek some help if it’s getting to you :heart:

6 Likes

Pretty much what everyone else has said so far is what I’d say also but I was told to steer clear of the teas and fenugreek cause you never know if your body will respond negatively to it and dry you up. I’d stick to the healthy diet water and add in coconut water too but that’s it. Latching baby is what will be the most effective thing to do

1 Like

Let the baby fed off your breast ! I stayed with lots of milk because that’s all I did but once I started back working after 6 months I was able to pump alot of milk. So just let her fed off your breast as much as possible . Hang in there. Don’t give up. It’s the best thing for the baby .and it’s alot cheaper than formula !

3 Likes

Feed on demand. Baby will regulate your supply. Try not to pump if at all possible.

5 Likes

Feed on demand keep your baby close when expressing offer both breast X

2 Likes

The more you nurse the more you produce. Emptying the breast at each nursing makes a difference.

3 Likes

Avoid the pump for the first 6 weeks if there’s no reason for it. And just feed feed feed. The more bubby drains the more u will make. Dont doubt yourself. Drink plenty of water and have support around. Watch bubbys nappy output and as long as he or she is having plenty of wet and dirty nappies alls well. X join Australian breastfeeding association group. They’re so helpful!

8 Likes

Hydrate! Meditate/relax! Homeade oatballs( 1 c oatmeal, 1/4 c honey, 1/4 c peanut butter, 1 tbsp flaxseed meal, 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast, chocolate chips to taste. Roll into balls, refrigerate, eat 2-4 a day, find a breastfeeding supplements you like I take fenugreek and a drink mix. You will make what your baby needs and that will change with time.

Pumping doesn’t always reflect supply. I gave up with my first child because he would cluster feed (totally normal, it turns out), and the pump got nearly nothing out. Second child, I just let her nurse nonstop. Ended up going for over 3 years (not my plan but apparently was hers lol). If baby is having plenty of wet and stinky diapers, not losing weight… you’re good. Its hard not to worry, I know. Pumping just doesn’t work for everyone. Babies are more efficient than a pump at getting milk. Let baby feed as often as for as long as they like the first few months, then a routine can be established.

I used the pump for all my babies. They would pour out as soon as I would hear a baby cry. They would start tingling, next thing I noticed is my shirt is soaked… but I have read that you can pump on one breast then breastfeed on the other then give baby the bottle if she/he is still hungry… then rotate breast each feeding.

I use to pump every 2-3 hours for 20-30 mins every breast. & Pump an extra 5 mins after the milk is done. I would get 5 oz each breast, sometimes more. I also used mothers milk for my 3rd child… days where I felt my milk was slowing I’d drink some & I’d have extra milk the next time I pumped.

It’s takes practice & patience & finding what works best for your body & babies eating schedule/habits :two_hearts:

Feeling engorged all of the time is not the normal way to feel. Don’t stress, drink lots of water and let baby eat as often as they want. Forget all the extra stuff…your body was meant for this and as long as baby is gaining, peeing and pooping he or she is eating enough. I wouldn’t start pumping until the 6 week mark. Allow the baby to adjust your milk supply accordingly.

1 Like

Hi, I pumped up to 6 times a day as I went back to work really early. I used a vacuum pump on the boob that I wasn’t pumping. And I would also use it when I fed my baby. She was BF till she weaned herself at 10 months old. I would drink a pint of water time I would pump and bf. I carried on producing milk 18 months later. I couldn’t bf my 1st daughter as I didn’t get any milk, but my second I had enough for 2 babies.

2 Likes

Drink lots of fluids yourself. Try not to stress, that’s will not help at all. It will take a bit for you and your baby to get into a routine and your body is still getting the supply necessary. But if you’re really concerned speak with your primary Dr. and or lactation specialist and your child’s dr to be sure baby us putting on weight as needed.

My doctor told me that your body produces based off of how much and how often you feed. Fennel tea i heard works well, but tastes terrible. Peanut butter, oatmeal, protein and plenty of water

Right now you’re producing as much as your baby needs. If you’re seeing all those tiktok videos of huge milk supplies in their freezer do not let that make you feel bad. You’re feeding the baby not the freezer.
Don’t stress. I’m sure you are doing just fine.

Try to feed baby and pump up it up if baby is not feeding much. I pumped my milk when my baby did not feed and helped me produce more. If the nipples are sore, try using nipple shield. It helped me alot to ease with the pain from sore nips and helped baby to feed more. And don’t stress. You will get through it. I was super stressed during first week for not being able to figure out all these. Keep feeding mamma!!

This is pretty normal. Initially you produce more and once it adapts to what bubs need your milk will decrease

This is very normal, you are going to be very engorged at the start and you might feel like you don’t have enough when that goes away but you probably don’t have an issue it’s just your body regulating which is natural and supposed to happen. You shouldn’t pump this early on just keep nursing baby as often as baby wants!

I had to exclusively express for the first 2 weeks for my son and I was worried about this so I had some breastfeeding cookies which helped up my supply. I used the boobbix ones they are pricey but well worth it x but they have a slightly cheaper option in asda x

When my daughter was in the hospital after giving birth several nurses whom have kids and pump said body armor drink promotes alot of breast milk… they were correct.!!

I pump the milk on schedule as if you are feeding the baby…Drink plenty of water and fluids limit caffeine.

Girl I ate so much I had milk for days. I also started pumping 2 weeks after giving birth. Make sure to drink a lot of water and feed on demand. I also want to mention I never pumped at work and sometimes pumped no more than 3 times a day. It took me a while to dry out. You will be successful.

I struggled at with my first 2… I have a 6 week old and it’s been pretty smooth, I pretty much just give her boob if changing diaper and burping doesn’t work :sweat_smile:

Keep nursing and pump after to empty. Call your local hospital for a lactation consultant for help. Usually covered by insurance.

Talk with your lactation consultant but also body armor drinks!

Breastfeeding is instinctive. Every mammal does it. Your body know what to do to keep the species alive in every mammal.

Mines just turned 3 weeks today. When he’s on one breast, I always use the pump on the other because he makes it swell up and leak. Then I freeze that and next time he eats I switch him to the other breast and do the same with the pump that way it evens out. The only thing I’ve been doing is making sure I’m drinking lots of water, or eating ice chips all day long

Stay hydrated, and I would sometimes nurse and pump at the same time. The more need, the more your body is suppose to produce. I drank a lot of mother’s milk tea, gaterade, body armor, lactation cookies at Walmart but you can also fine a lot of recipes online.

Water water water!!! Hydration is the best thing for milk supply!!!

Drink lots of body armor drinks , eat oatmeal , take prenatals , I also started taking supplements from legendairy milk and they work great and avoid stresss

Pump when your baby feeds always, stay totally hydrated, I find eating anything containing oatmeal like the cereal or oatmeal cookies anything like that works really good, eat more protein and don’t diet or exercise heavily your body needs the calories and the carbs to turn into milk, if you’re on something like keto or exercising heavily your milk would can dry up, also sometimes those supplements make you dry up fast and if you take medication you need to talk to a lactation consultant about the possibility of that drying up your milk things like Claritin and most other decongestant and cold medicines are not good for breastfeeding. And most forms of birth control are not good either they’ll dry you up because your hormones

At a week old they will be demand feeding,the more you feed the more you will make.rotate your breasts each time.be relaxed and in a calming invironment.
And dont stress if it doesnt work for you no matter how your baby gets feed the main thing is they are healthy.
I cldnt produce enough first time(i lasted 3 mths)nurses pushed to keep going,do whats best for you and bub.2nd time i was a cow breast feed for nearly 3 yrs.

Drink plenty water best time to feed is 12 midnight till 2am that help produce the supply for the next 24 hours night time I know but it is the best make sure baby is put on the breast correctly you should not have any pain otherwise baby is not attached properly watch babys sucking reflex and swallow so you now baby is feeding Ask your midwife or health visitor for support that’s what they are there for.when baby has fed one or two breasts the baby will have random sucking you can take your baby off wind and let sleep if you feel you have more milk Hand express enough to relieve the tension.savemilk and freeze.Drink a glass pof water and then rest till next feed.You are doing an amazing job both at feeding and being a mum it will get better honest
Call health visitor in the morning for a visit see if she can assist you tomorrow.
Great job love to you and baby xxxx

Just so you know, the feel and size of your boobs when milk comes in is not what happens during your feeding journey. Normally your boobs feel soft and like normal boobs yet they are full of milk. Sometimes they go hard if baby over sleeps ect . Don’t think that because your boobs don’t feel like they did when milk came in that there isn’t milk in them. Also pumping does not stimulate the same as breastfeeding so just leave them alone, listen for gulping when baby is feeding and stay fed and hydrated.

The more you pump the more you will fill,so if you do want to pump then I would suggest feed bubba off the other one whilst you pump off the other,it helped me a lot.

Drink LOTS of water and relax - the best way to breast feed.

1 Like

Do not base your supply on how much or little you are able to pump.

1 Like

Oatmeal and lots of water. That tea has made a lot of women dry up

Guinness! It’s so low in alcohol that it doesn’t transfer into your milk but it really helps boost the supply!

Pumping is an art and I hope you go to breastfeeding only.

Drink a beer…milk will be overflowing…my mom didn’t drink but she did it then I did it… only need a few sips

Breastfeeding usually stimulate the breast to continue producing milk. So just feed the baby :blush:

Don’t let it stress you.
Some moms just don’t produce as much. With both my babies I was a minimal producer. Maybe an Oz every couple days, and only if I pumped for prolonged periods.

After a chat with the pediatrician we moved to formulas and also found a donor- A mom who made way too much!! (Milk from donors IS tested before being delivered- for bacteria virus drugs and other ‘unhealth’ presences)

Didn’t affect growth or health at all. I was very thankful to have a donor mom help nourish my babies.

1 Like

Take alfalfa it will help bring in your milk supply also eat a well balanced diet and drink lots of fluids

It is normal for your breasts to engourge about 3 days after the birth.

They will go down but do Not worry you still have milk .

**Do NOT pump .

You must feed OFTEN / on demand of the baby . This will help establish you milk supply .

As long as you eat well and drink lots of water and milk your baby ( with often / on demand feedings ) will get the milk she / he needs .

Trust your body it grew a baby ,it gave birth , it will provide the perfect food in the perfect amount.

Baby’s do growth spurts and will act fussy every few weeks . Just nurse v
VERY often for 3 days this signals to the body increased milk production is needed . The body will respond with more milk .

Making contact with a local group of nursing moms is a wonderful support group… Google …La Leche League International website and find a local group by zip code / town.

I am a Gramma who breast fed 2 children and retired RN

1 Like

A nice warm shower made my milk flow. Try that.

I’ve heard the drink body armor works wonders !

Hydration is key! I’ve heard body armours, and pink drinks from Starbucks! You can easily make the pink drinks! Main hydrate is the coconut water and coconut milk.

I pumped exclusively with my second (got tired of thrush and not knowing my supply). I way over produced but then dried up at 6 months each time. So pumping was a great way to have milk after the 6 month mark. I have no idea what the tea is that you are talking about.

Call your labor and delivery department, they’ll connect you with the breast feeding people

Pump after every feeding just for 5 or so mins and eat oatmeal twice a day

Drink body armor drinks!! 3-4 daily!!

Practice skin to skin to stimulate milk

In my country we make a bush tea that speeds up milk production. Should try vervain tea

Drink sweetened milk on occasion .the older generation swore by that .

Drink alot of water and nurse often. You’ll do great.:purple_heart:

Hand express. Even to get it out. It’ll help mama :heart:

one of the biggest things you can do is relax. That helped me

I heard the body armor friut drinks help with it

Just nurse your baby on demand.That helps regulate your supply on its own. :blush:

I’m over 60 still lactating. I get in the shower and boom

talk to the baby’s doctor cuz they’ll know your situation and they’ll give you help they have nurses that coach you for that

Sooo go to your local wic or xall around for a consultant

1 Like

Ask a doctor or nurse

Try pure fennel and non alcoholic beer. I had to pump round the clock between feedings to try to keep my supply up. I also got a prescription from the doctor to increase my supply- I forgot what’s it called

I was known as a dairy cow in my breast feeding days:
Drink a minimum of 3.5 L of water a day
Oats for breakfast every morning
Oat cookies during the day (I ate boobie bikkie ones) and make sure you’re doing lots of skin to skin woth bub

You won’t be engorged after your supply is regulated. If baby is having the appropriate amount of wet diapers, they’re getting adequate milk.

It"s the law of supply and demand. The more babies nurse the more milk will be produced. There is, however, a lag time of usually up to a week. Don’t give up. The more tense you are the more harder it will be. Relax (pretend your bones are jello and relax) This will let your body release the milk.

I had so much milk I was overwhelmed.

Drink water. Hydrate

Drink plenty x enjoy your baby x

My 1st and 3rd (boys) I had hardly no milk, which I didn’t realise until I tried pumping and after half an hour it barely covered the bottom of the bottle. So I breast fed each side then gave a bottle. My daughter I was like a lactating cow!!! Had mastitis a few times and painful nipples. No idea why the only difference was she was a girl!

1 Like

The mill makers cookies I prefer the oatmeal choc chip lol otherwise vitamin water or body armor those helped keep my supply good

it takes time for your milk to really come in and regulate. took me like 8 weeks for my supply to really level out. just feed on demand, and dont pump if you dont have to. if you do, pump 10 on; 10 off for an hour to stimulate clusterfeeding. itll build your supply. i dont pump well myself, so power pumping never did anything for me.

There’s a lot of breastfeeding support groups! I’ve got a 6 month old that I breast feed. Im in Milk Hunters:Breastfeed help.

I suggest you stop with the mother’s milk. Ot has fenugreek and it often worsens your supply. You can pump at any point despite what many say. Latching baby and skin to skin will help the best. Be careful increasing your supply too much right now because it can cause an oversupply which can be hard to keep up with. You can message me and I can give you some advice. Share some recipes for stuff that’ll help

1 Like

Drink some body armor/coconut water to replenish electrolytes and hydrate yourself :slight_smile:

Just follow babies cues and feed on demand :slight_smile: also try to avoid pumping unless you’re engorged, if thays the case just pump out a minimum amount so you aren’t really uncomfortable and see if baby wants to drink any. As others have said, this will help your supply to level out :slight_smile: also be reassured that the first 2 weeks are really hard but it gets so much easier :blush: xx

2 Likes

Put the baby on the breast

Find the 800# for La Leche League! They are there to help with breastfeeding 24/7! A great free organization!