some questions

[jralex]

ok... i have a six week old little boy born 6 13 just weighed him at the local wic office today and he's 7 3..... we have been supplementing with formula.. but only if he's not satisfied after he's had both my breasts twice... he's eating every 2 hours except when he has a 2oz bottle... i think my supply is low.. and i've been taking 3caps 3times a day of fenugreek... when i pump only lucky if i get 10-15cc from both breasts together... i go back to work on the 8th of november and really want to have a better stock pile before that... what can i do to increase it... and to top it all off my right side has really been bothering me.. the nipple is cracked and turns white sometimes after he nurses.. and sometimes i get a sharp pain deep inside the breast... should i call the doc??? the type of pump i use is a medela pump in style... TIA!!!!!!!

amy

[DHo]

Hi Amy,

Congrats!

Rest assured these signs do not necessarily mean your supply is low, you'll find a newborn most often than not will fall asleep at the breast once the milk flow has slowed down, as he/she gets older they seldom do so but instead may pull away at the breast or fuss, so not necessarily a milk supply issue. You could try breast compressions simply to increase the milk flow, if you are not familiar with breast compressions, send me an e.mail and I can forward a handout explaining it in more detail to dale@learning4lyf.ca

Concerning the pumping, as efficient as any pump may be, they aren't as good as the 'real deal' ;) So don't let this influence you. What may be well happening here is that the little one might not be getting enough milk from the breast, either of two reasons or both, the latch is not efficient or his suckle is poor. This can also lead to the cracked nipples. PLay around with different nursing positions as well, this might help.

The white nipples you described along with some pain sounds like nipple blanching (turning white), this typically occurs after a feeding, the blood flow to the nipple is limited or cut off, if you have an LC in your area, or your hospital may provide a breastfeeding clinic, pay them a visit because this is most often than not a latch issue. Applying warmth may also help.

Dale