Upping supply.

[Gillyboos]

O is 5 days old today and we had been doing really well until yesterday. My milk came in Monday and he was feeding regularly and seemed content. Yesterday my boobs felt less firm and when he was on he was getting frustrated, shaking his head back and forth. I tried hand expressing and got very little. I've been eating and drinking as I know that helps. I've also bought a pump and tried expressing but very little came out.

Is there anything I can do to up my supply? I'm feeding on demand and it's pretty constant at the moment.

 

[Maud]

Keep feeding. The more baby feeds, the more milk you will produce and baby knows when they need more milk so will nurse more often - it's a very clever system! Get yourself comfy on the sofa with drinks, snacks and entertainment; you will be spending a lot of time there in the upcoming weeks as your supply regulates.

 

[T84]

same as maud. I know it's hard but I had the same thing and pumped in between S feeding and stored it (she was drinking this out a bottle as top ups) it feels like your a constant milk machine but it works x x

 

[Sophie_P]

Keep feeding.

The lazy way is to take domperidone & Fenugreek, although doesn't work for everybody x

 

[Gillyboos]

Thanks ladies! I've pumped and pumped in between feeds, so hopefully things perk up soon. X

 

[nic2013]

There are some foods you can eat to increase supply as well - millet and fennel are some of them, or you can try getting a nursing tea (has things like fennel and aniseed in it) Other than that - yep just keep feeding like the others said

 

[dingdongbaby]

Same as above...within a week or 2 your little one will nurse less and less often but for longer as you milk's there in plentiful supply. xx

 

[Natalilly1288]

I can't wait for the nursing less bit my little babe been on me constant since birth really she's 12 days old today really want to persevere with the feeding but it's starting to make me miserable I can't get anything done all I do is sit and feed her xxxxx

 

[dizzybaby]

I can't wait for the nursing less bit my little babe been on me constant since birth really she's 12 days old today really want to persevere with the feeding but it's starting to make me miserable I can't get anything done all I do is sit and feed her xxxxx

Have you thought about expressing nat? I'm the opposite problem in that I want her to take the breAst more because she's so used to bottles from being in the NICU but I am finding expressing does suit me, just need my supply to catch up with her as she was on increased feeds in there but expressing means I get a break cos hubby can feed her etc?

 

[Natalilly1288]

I've been expressing too dizzy but finding it hard cus there's barely a spare moment she's not on my boob I'm not sure if she's just using it for comfort sometimes but Hv says not to give a dummy until 6 weeks such hard work I feel trapped all I do is sit feeding she won't even go to oh or on Moses basket today just wants me she can be fast on n as soon as I move she's off screaming then sucking her fists for more milk xxxx

 

[dizzybaby]

I give Maddie a dummy, not often maybe once/twice a day as she had it for comfort in the NICU when she was away from me and it doesn't hinder her latching or taking a bottle but if I didn't give her it she would use either me or a bottle as comfort xx

 

[Natalilly1288]

I'm unsure what to do Hun I can't speak to Hv as they will tell me no! I'm starting to really dislike bf which is a shame! Everyone says its going to get easier I just wish I knew when lol! My oh goes back to work next week n I'm dreading it cus feel like I'm just going to be sat in all day feeding on my tod xxx

 

[dizzybaby]

Well in my whole 9 days of experience haha I am all for trusting your gut and if you think a dummy would help then there's no harm in trying? Worst ways she won't take it and then you know? The nurses in the NICU said some babies just find comfort in them and some don't but they weren't concerned at all about it causing her confusion and they were totally right she just finds comfort in it.

I'm on the fence now about bf tbh as I'm loving being a mummy and I don't feel stressed about feeding her at the minute, expressing is working for us, I'd like her to take the breast for ease of life but I'm not going to stress us both out over it because she's in such a good routine right now and I'm loathed to burst the bubble if that makes sense as we seem to be coping well? It's so hard once they're actually here don't you think? All my ideas of how I thought I'd be and what I'd do don't seen to matter all that much now!

 

[Natalilly1288]

Yes Hun I no exactly how U feel its just the constant feeding that's getting me down today I've fed from 7-12 2-4 slept on me from 4-6 then from 6 and still on me now latching on n off cat napping! She was brill in her Moses basket but now won't go down I've got a 4 oz expressed bottle in the fridge I'm going to get oh to try her with that soon give me a rest my boobs feel Empty! Such hard work good job she's so beautiful!! Xxxx

 

[T84]

Aw nat, you sound so much like me. Please don't worry what the hv says, I know I'm now expressing but a dummy was my lifesaver. She literally has it maybe twice a day when I feel like she is rooting cos she is smelling my milk rather than hungry. Bf made me miserable too and it's just not worth it if your unhappy. You don't wanna look back at your time and feel like you have missed out from persevering. There's no harm in trying dummy and see what happens. It broke my heart the first time, seeing my wee bubs with a big dummy in her mouth but she was so happy. She will now put it in to sooth occasionally and then spit it out 2 mins later x x

 

[dizzybaby]

Aw nat, you sound so much like me. Please don't worry what the hv says, I know I'm now expressing but a dummy was my lifesaver. She literally has it maybe twice a day when I feel like she is rooting cos she is smelling my milk rather than hungry. Bf made me miserable too and it's just not worth it if your unhappy. You don't wanna look back at your time and feel like you have missed out from persevering. There's no harm in trying dummy and see what happens. It broke my heart the first time, seeing my wee bubs with a big dummy in her mouth but she was so happy. She will now put it in to sooth occasionally and then spit it out 2 mins later x x

Echo this exactly - Maddie does the same, she'll have it for a few minutes then spits it out and doesn't want it anymore, the only time she keeps at it is if she's actually hungry.

Happy baby = happy mummy and you should be enjoying your beautiful baby xx

 

[Natalilly1288]

I've given her one cus she was just sucking really lightly on me for comfort it's not going to be the end of the world she had it in then spat it out it seemed to help just sooth her a little I feel exhausted today I think everything seems worse when your tired just keep thinking I've gone this far n want to prove everyone wrong I can do this!! Think I need to rage just one day at a time! Tried expresding again got about 2oz off so not alot but tbh not had time to sit propley today Xxxx

 

[T84]

2 oz is good when you feeding too! It does get quicker the more you do it too. You defo have up and down days. I always say to myself with feeding, if I'm having a bad day, give myself to the next day and if I still feel as bad about it give up, the next day is always better. And when the day comes that it's not, I will stop. I'm like you tho nat, it's a labour of love now and the more people say 'oh just give her formula, the more it makes me determined! Glad the dummy worked babe x x