Getting frustrated not making enough milk=o(

[nickilubs]

Today Ivy's been so hungry and because I express I know why shes hungry its because I'm not making near enough milk to keep her full. I can only do about 3oz every 3hours and thats if I express from both. I'm getting really annoyed with myself because shes getting hungry because of me and I'm too damb stubborn to go and buy her formula, but I think I'm going to have to shes not settled once today because shes so hungry all I can do is keep cuddling her to keep her comforted whilst I wait to make more milk. Shes led on my lap now and she keeps sucking the air because shes hungry. grrrrrrr I hate my body sometimes It cant even seem to do what its meant too.

 

[Mildly]

Hi Nicki

I read somewhere (possibly in the expressing thread) that expressing won't get as much milk out as a baby will because the boob isn't massaged in the right way. Perhaps it would help to try and express every two hours to try and increase supply. I know they say that supply will increase the more your LO is on the breast so I reckon it will work thae same way with the pump.

The other thing maybe is to feed her a bit of formula a day to supplement the expressed milk. We feed Oscar a before bed formula feed as it was helping get him to sleep. Ivy will still be getting all the good of your milk but she won't be so hungry.

Good luck hun

 

[keli]

Pop that baby back on the breast! She needs to be sucking to get your supply going! Babies so young are on the boob ALL the time. Can i ask why are you expessing? Is there a need? Really you should wait till 8wks or so and BTW babies are much better at getting milk expressing is no way to guage how much milk your making.. i TRIED to express the other night and i got nothing out yep thats right nothing!.. and i've been BF for 4 mths! Plus if you are expressing you really need to be doing it more than 3 hrs LOs so young are on the breast every hr/hr an half..BM goes through them a lot faster than formula plus their bellies are so small little and often is the way. Do not disppear your body is doing its job i know its hard not to worry. Is LO having wet/dirty nappies? Have you had LO weighted? If LO is still sucking after you've taken her off the boob she needs to be back on it. lol.

 

[x Naomi x]

Hi hun i had exactly the same problem, Macey has just over 4 oz a feed and i was having to express over an hour a time so was struggling to find the time needed, i ended up giving her EBM in the day and two formula feeds at night but even then i got abit relaxed with the expressing and now i get nearly nothing so gave up,

I am gutted about it so if you can get her on the breast then that will help your supply, if not then try not to beat yourself up about it at least you have given LO your milk for nearly 3 weeks rather than none at all x

 

[dannii87]

Breastfeeding is supposed to be the most natural thing a woman can do - but it doesn't bloody feel like that at times does it!

In an ideal world (but try to be a BIT realistic), what would you do? Would you breastfeed? Feed expressed milk? Bottlefeed? YOU tell US what you'd prefer to do and then we can try and help you!?

Keep posting though, don't suffer in silence and if you are REALLY getting down, come on here and vent so we can support you.

You're doing SUCH an amazing job though hun, you're really doing soooo well.

(Sorry if I've missed something, but is it not worth trying Ivy on your boob again and seeing how she gets on this time?) xxx

 

[purple13]

hi hon

i know you tried shields, but did you try different brands? only i found that the avent and medela ones didn't really stick to my boobs so more often than not, connor would end up with a shield in his mouth without a boob to go with it! i only use the mam ones now and i lick the back of them and they stay put really well - it means that once connor starts sucking, the shield becomes a vacuum and my nipple gets sucked right up into it.

i did really worry about my supply at first - have you tried fenugreek, oats, fennel tea and blackthorn juice? keep with the skin to skin, see if you can express more often to stimulate your supply and go to a breastfeeding cafe/support group if there's one near you? failing that, if you really think that your supply is low, there is medication that your doctor can prescribe to help.

you've done really well getting this far; perseverance is more than half the battle!!

 

[Fluffy Bunny]

I've not seen your other posts so not sure why your only giving booby milk via expressing?

Its definately that you just aren't at good at it compared to Ivy. Its suggested that you don't try and express until at least 6wks so your milk supply is up and running, so to speak.
Ivy needs to be fussing and sucking at your boob to stimulate your supply, and she'll be far better at getting milk than you are at expressing so she will be getting what she needs.

Throughout my year of breastfeeding the amount I could express varied every time I tried, sometimes I'd get oz and oz out in one go and other times I'd struggle to get even a few oz (this was normally when I'd planned to go out and leave OH with a bottle )

I hope things work out for you

 

[Geordie&Bairn]

My supply didnt fully come in till Collier was 6 weeks and he also used to get very hungry in the afternoons and hed cry and get frustrated with me and hit me which was very upsetting
i just kept putting him as often as i could and started taking the fengreek tablets drinking more liquids as i found id foget to drink enough the more you drink and eat dont skip a meal and god knows i know its hard to not do this with a baby needing attention
let her be on your breast as much as possibleCollier used to just wiggle his mouth around on my nipple not even sucking as he was stimulatinmg the breast to get the milk flowing
and also 3 oz from expessing sounds good as you dont get out as much s a baby dose
keep at it hun your supply with even out

 

[Redshoes]

Wanted to send some hugs nickilubs, very best wishes to you and Ivy