Breastfeeding (pumping) help!

I have a one week old and I need help with my supply!

Back story: Baby was born and was put directly into the NICU. He wouldn't latch, and still wont. We tried and tried. So I immediately started pumping but wasn't getting enough to feed him, so the nurses in the NICU put him on formula (with whatever colostrum/breast milk I was getting). He wasn't handling the formula well at all, but it turns out he has pretty bad reflux. So, they put him on thickened Nutramigen and that helped he reflux a little. Once my milk came in, I was giving him breast milk, which helped his reflux A LOT.


Now, I am not getting enough to feed him. I'm down to the wire with the frozen milk I do have (enough to last maybe 1-2 days with the little bit of pumped milk I do get). I am drinking plenty of water and pumping every two hours, but I'm lucky to get an ounce from both breasts.

What can I do to up my supply? I REALLY don't want to have to put him on formula when he's doing so much better with breast milk.

Fenugreek can help.

I would work on getting him to latch though, maybe try a nipple shield. Baby stimulates breast way better then a pump does and can get more out. Have you talked to the hospital about renting a medical grade pump?

I pump while I sit and watch TV. I do one boob at a time(just so I can relax a little more) and pump for as long as I can, until my nipples hurt. In the beginning, I had a low supply too. Now, I have an OVER supply and I love it. Pumping until after you stop getting milk helps stimulate you to make more.

Have you tried pumping more than you then you need to? Like try closer together even if noting comes out just pump away for a bit and trick your body into thinking baby needs more so boobs make more?

What kind of pump are you using? A good, double electric pump is a plus. Drink lots of water, and you can try Mother's Milk or Fenugreek. I started eating oatmeal every morning, and I noticed an improvement in about a week.

I didn't get much when I first started pumping. But after a few weeks, I started producing more. I always pumped every 3 to 4 hours, and always at least once between midnight and 5 AM. I did have to use formula for a couple days until I was able to maintain a supply.

Keep it up, mama!