Breastfeeding help!

My daughter will be 1 month old tomorrow. We've been supplementing since birth because of me not starting out with a big supply, the antibiotics she was on in the NICU, etc. At one point I could pump up to an ounce combined.



This is what my supply looks like now, combined.
 

Any suggestions on getting the supply back up (other than not using formula because that isn't an option) would be appreciated. I've been using fenugreek the past 2 weeks but it hasn't been consistently with 6 pills a day, give or take. I'm trying to up my water/juice intake because I think the pop I've been drinking has been a big part of why it's dropped.

Thanks

Oh & I'm also seeing my daughters pediatrician on Weds. Hoping maybe he can write a prescription to help as well.

Quit pop if you can :-( I know thats hard and bump up the water. Chances are the baby is in a growth spurt too right now and that appeared to lower my pumping amounts

Quoting Chloe's mommy*:" Quit pop if you can :-( I know thats hard and bump up the water. Chances are the baby is in a growth spurt too right now and that appeared to lower my pumping amounts"

That's what I'm going to *try* to do. Yes, very hard lol But I really want breastfeeding to work out. I'm proud of myself for not giving up completely yet. I go back to work on the 28th & ideally if I could pump around 2-3 oz every 3 hrs that would be ideal so that we don't have to use as much formula to supplement with feedings & I can take all the BM with me to work for her feedings.

Try a supplemental nursing system with the formula, her latching to drink the formula will help stimulate your breasts more than a pump.

Quoting Mðmmå Çhï¢lꆆê~ 11wks:" Try a supplemental nursing system with the formula, her latching to drink the formula will help stimulate your breasts more than a pump."

What do you mean?

Breastfeed more often. Also, try hand expressing after you pump. I could always get out a little more that way, and it will stimulate you to make more. ALWAYS nurse her BEFORE giving her a bottle.

Quoting Chloe's mommy*:" Quit pop if you can :-( I know thats hard and bump up the water. Chances are the baby is in a growth spurt too right now and that appeared to lower my pumping amounts"

This. You need to drink a TON of water. A good general rule is to drink 16 oz every time you nurse (or give her a bottle of formula, since you would be nursing at that time). Then try to drink more in between. When you think you've drank enough, drink more.
Try to take the fenugreek regularly, 2 pills 3x per day. I always take it with meals as an easy way to remember. You should also eat oatmeal.

Take 3 fenugreek pills 3-4 times a day. Drink 5-6 quarts of water. Eat 2500-3000 calories. Feed baby every 2 hours and pump each boob for 15 minutes after each feed.

Quoting Faith1LovesMLP:" Breastfeed more often. Also, try hand expressing after you pump. I could always get out a little more that way, and it will stimulate you to make more. ALWAYS nurse her BEFORE giving her a bottle. "

Oh no I def. do. They said that in the hospital, that if you do the bottle first she will eventually not take to BF'ing.

The thing is she WANTS to BF & gets so frustrated when she's sucking & not getting much out. So it's frustrating for me because my supply sucks & I want it to be upped as much as I can. Like I said at least 2-3oz. If possible. More would be fab too!

Quoting Landon's Mommy *+1*:" Oh no I def. do. They said that in the hospital, that if you do the bottle first she will eventually ... [snip!] ... my supply sucks & I want it to be upped as much as I can. Like I said at least 2-3oz. If possible. More would be fab too!"

Have you tried breast compression while nursing/pumping? IF you haven't, you basically just gently squeeze your breast while nursing/pumping and it helps to push the milk from the ducts. It helps me a LOT

<blockquote><b>Quoting Landon's Mommy *+1*:</b>" What do you mean?"</blockquote>




Google it, I'm mobile so I can't link. Basically it's a tube that attaches to a bottle and you place it on your breast and nurse her. She'll be suckling on your breast but the tube will be in her mouth so she'll get the formula while simulating your breast to produce more milk. Some women don't respond well to pumps. Babies stimulate your breast better than pumps.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Landon's Mommy *+1*:</b>" Oh no I def. do. They said that in the hospital, that if you do the bottle first she will eventually ... [snip!] ... my supply sucks & I want it to be upped as much as I can. Like I said at least 2-3oz. If possible. More would be fab too!"</blockquote>



Have you tried mothers milk tea? Lactation cookies? Dark beer? Blessed thistle? Do you feel your let down?

Quoting Faith1LovesMLP:" Have you tried breast compression while nursing/pumping? IF you haven't, you basically just gently squeeze ... [snip!] ... basically just gently squeeze your breast while nursing/pumping and it helps to push the milk from the ducts. It helps me a LOT"

No I haven't but I'm going to try.
Another friend just suggested pumping 1 boob while nursing on the other. She said her LC said this really helps. ??

Quoting Amberchik78:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Landon's Mommy *+1*:</b>" Oh no I def. do. They said that in ... [snip!] ... Have you tried mothers milk tea? Lactation cookies? Dark beer? Blessed thistle? Do you feel your let down?"

I haven't tried Mothers Milk but I heard Target has it so I'm thinking of running up & getting some. Where do you get lactation cookies, dark beer & blessed thistle? (and what are they?)

No I haven't felt a let down in like 2.5 weeks.