I think my supply is low =[

Sorta long but if you know anything about BFing PLEASE read.


My DD is 10 days old. I mainly BF and supplement on occasion (like when I am busy and dont have any pumped milk and my DH has to feed her) anyways. I think my supply is low but IDK how to tell really and if it is I want it back. I dont want to supplement anymore! Ok heres some info:

This morning my boobs were full. I tried to wake her to eat but she wasnt having it. So I just pumped. I got almost 2 oz. After that she "ate" on each side for a while but wasnt acting satisfied. So I made her a 2 oz bottle and she ate it all. Then a few hours later she was hungry so I fed her and she probably ate straight for 1 hour. She would eat then go to sleep. I would unlatch her burp her and she would wake up crying. I tried to just let her continue sucking but she would fall asleep and then cry. So I gave her an ounce of formula and now shes content. I am really obsessing over my supply because I want to quit supplements (Im almost out of the can of formula I was using and really didnt want to buy anymore) but I cant if shes not getting anything. Also after she was asleep. I used the pump and only got like 3 drops, then right as I was getting ready to stop at the 10 minute mark I had a small let down so I kept going until 15 minutes and ended up with almost .5 an ounce.

So my questions are.

Do you think my supply is low?
How can I get it up?

Thanks for the help. I greatly appreciate it!

Quoting Expecting our third!:“ Sorta long but if you know anything about BFing PLEASE read. My DD is 10 days old. I mainly BF and ... [snip!] ... So my questions are. Do you think my supply is low? How can I get it up? Thanks for the help. I greatly appreciate it!”

Sometimes breasts don't like pumps. If she's having normal amounts of wet and poopy diapers then she should be fine. Let her tell you she's hungry and watch for proper waste production!   Sorry I can't be more help!

fenugreek supplements help, also drink tons of fluids

If you supplement with anything at all your breastmilk supply will decrease. When you're baby nurses it signals your body to produce milk. If she receives formula, even once, your body will not receive the signal that time & will decrease production. You can give her a bottle of breastmilk & your supply will not be affected, though. Discontinue supplementing with formula & nurse every time she is hungry..your supply will come back

Also, Happy2BAMom is right..sometimes breasts don't like pumps..there's hormonal communication between your body & your baby..so your body will 'let down' milk quite readily for your baby & may not for a pump. Can you feel your milk 'coming in' when you nurse? Most feel it as a 'pins & needles' or tingling sensation..don't worry if you don't feel this, though..that does not mean it's not coming in..& it may take up to 5 minutes of your baby nursing before it does. Just keep an eye on those wet & dirty diapers & don't supplement with formula!

Quoting MeghaNewman:“ Also, Happy2BAMom is right..sometimes breasts don't like pumps..there's hormonal communication between ... [snip!] ... of your baby nursing before it does. Just keep an eye on those wet & dirty diapers & don't supplement with formula!”

yeah I can feel that. I havent felt it as much today but I do feel it and have felt it today. and I feel it a few times a day even when she isnt nursing. and she is having really wet diapers. Her dirty diapers arent really "full" but I saw on a site that a quarter size stool is all that she has to have but IDK how true that is.

Then you're a-ok! Just stop supplementing with formula & your milk supply will pick right up!

Quoting MeghaNewman:“ Then you're a-ok! Just stop supplementing with formula & your milk supply will pick right up!”

I hope you are right  

thanks for the help ladies.

Shes probably going through a growth spurt if shes eating all the time. My daughter did the same at that age.And now at the 5week mark shes going through another. Plus any supplementing will decrease your supply. As long as shes peeing and pooping regularly you'll be fine... But if it is decreased you can go to a vitamin store and get fenugreek and take 2 tablets 3 times a day and your supply will increase.

Quoting JenniferSue-HadaGIRL:“ Shes probably going through a growth spurt if shes eating all the time. My daughter did the same at that ... [snip!] ... it is decreased you can go to a vitamin store and get fenugreek and take 2 tablets 3 times a day and your supply will increase.”

thanks. and OMG at your avi. I could just sit and stare at her. Shes beautiful!

Quoting Us+3=complete:“ thanks. and OMG at your avi. I could just sit and stare at her. Shes beautiful!”

lol thanks  

What you want to do is completely stop supplementing even if you think she's not getting enough. Let her nurse as long and as often as she wants. Milk production is a supply and demand process, so if you supplement then it will lower your supply. Even if you don't get anything out while you pump, it's best to do it for even 5 minutes after milk stops coming out. Your supply should pick up in about a week or so.

Oh and it's best to pump while she's nursing if you don't get anything otherwise, you let down easier.

You are never completely out of milk either. You're always making milk, so you have some left even if your baby is acting like it's empty.

Stop supplementing immediately and just keep offering the boob, even if she isn't acting hungry or acting like she isn't getting enough. Your body will quickly make more.

Lay down with her and nurse in bed. I find that my LO will suckle the longest in this position and it works the most effectively when I'm trying to boost my supply because he'll keep sucking even when he's asleep, whereas he normally falls off the boob when I'm holding him.

Babies normally have a growth spurt around 7-10 days so it's important you don't supplement with formula and get your LO to breastfeed to establish an adequate supply.

Growth spurts aren't fun but you need to persist. So she'll pull off the boob, fuss, act hungry all the time ... It's completely normal. When she pulls off put her back on.

Also, if she falls asleep and you feel she hasn't eaten enough keep a cool, damp washcloth and wipe it across her forehead to wake her up. Or burp and change her diaper.