Having issues keeping up

[danesmommy]

I am a 1st time mom to a 7 week old and he is going through a growth spert. I am currently doing a baby moon with him and also trying to pump more. HE is requiring 4 or more ounces about every two hours and I can only pump 1 ounce every hour or so. Does anyone have any advice on what to try. I cant stand the fact that I am having to hear him cry and then suppliment. I want to exclusively breastfeed. Makes me jealous that my sister just had a baby girl 4 weeks ago and she has more then enough milk. Please help me.....

Brittnee and hungry Baby Dane

[maabell]

Welcome to the boards.

If you are home with him. Feed him as often as he asks. Your supply will catch up. Try not to give any bottles, just feed him when he asks. Maybe don't pump, just feed the baby. Take a breath drink some water and you will be okay.

Also, I found oatmeal helps my supply.

Good luck. I am sure you will get some more help from other posters.

[madelsmama]

Welcome to the boards.

If you are home with him. Feed him as often as he asks. Your supply will catch up. Try not to give any bottles, just feed him when he asks. Maybe don't pump, just feed the baby. Take a breath drink some water and you will be okay.

Also, I found oatmeal helps my supply.

Good luck. I am sure you will get some more help from other posters.

Yup. His frequent nursing is telling your body to make more milk. If you're supplimenting (even with BM), you may not ever catch up. Drink your water, eat oats, and nurse that baby! Your body will adjust in a couple of days.

[EzrasMom]

Your baby can get a lot more milk from you than a pump can, so the amount of milk you are getting when you pump is not representative of how much your body is able to produce. In fact, your breasts actively make milk while baby is sucking.

So, put away the bottles, put away the pump, climb in bed with baby and nurse, nurse, nurse as often as he will let you.

Good luck!

[danesmommy]

thanks to all and I am trying to eat oatmeal and rice. I think its helping but we will see....

[maabell]

Good luck... Keep us posted. Trust that your baby was made for your milk and it will work out.

[Nipple_nectar]

thanks to all and I am trying to eat oatmeal and rice. I think its helping but we will see....

Rice is not included, just the oatmeal, love!http://www.breastfeeding.com/forums/images/smilies/welcome.gif You haven't really talked about anything that would concern me enough to be supplementing with formula.

Why do you think your supply is low? Baby crying is not a reliable indicator. Some newborns will suck constantly, they have an insatiable appetite for sucking, its actually a reflex. You could place an artificial nipple in the mouth of a perfectly content, full baby and he will suck on the nipple out of instinct.

Input equeals output and vice versa, you can count how many wet diapers to confirm a good supply. I would try and go 24 hours with exclusively nursing, with no supplementing: count every wet diaper, change as soon as the first wet as disposables can hold 2-3 "pees" from a newborn, check on the hour while your awake. If you see a minimum of six wet in a 24 hour period, you are doing fine. Chances are, your baby is just enjoying nursing and objects to losing what comfrts him.

Next thing, why are you pumping?

[danesmommy]

i am trying to go back to work and I will need a supply stocked up for that. Daddy is gonna have to feed somehow. I know that when dogs are nursing you give them rice to help with the milk production. It seems to be going better. We will see though. Been doing a baby moon for 6 days now.

[danesmommy]

Seem to have uped my milk but still cant pump much so trying Fenugreek now. Must be doing well because at 2 month check up today he gained another pound. Now at 10.7 lbs and 22.5 inches long. Dr. said devolpmentally at almost 4 months. So might be intersting as he gets older to see how he does in school.

[sferguson17]

Glad to hear things are improving, albeit slowly. Make sure you are taking enough Fenugreek as the recommened dose is quite high. By the way, what is a baby moon?