Is my milk drying up??

Question

My daughter is 1 month old. She never really latched on to. She just was fussy all got irritated with it. come to find out i was leaking more than she could take in a swallow. So to avoid her getting mad I just pump it out and feed it to her through a bottle.

I was getting 8-9oz per breast every 4 hours a day. But the last couple of days I have only been getting 3-4oz per breast. Is this normal? my mother said she did 4 a couple days then it came back.

Answer 1

Overactive letdown is not such a big deal, you nurse in positions that reduce the flow and if necessary use block nursing, herbs, or medication to help reduce your supply.

Exclusive pumping is a lot of work, it is about three times the work of breastfeeding. If you aren't truly committed it probably won't work out, even if you are there is a chance that even with the best pump, and prescription medication you won't make enough milk.

When a baby can not nurse directly exclusive pumping is an entirely selfless act on moms' part because it is so much work. And for those moms who pump and donate large amounts of milk to charity there are no words for their sacrifice and hard work.

However exclusive pumping denies your baby some of the benefits of breastfeeding. Direct breastfeeding is needed for optimal jaw and tongue development. Bottle fed babies have higher rates of speech problems, and a higher rate of needed orthodontia. Breastfeeding directly also allows your baby to pass microbes (disease causing bacteria, viruses, etc) to you so you can make antibodies IMMEDIATELY regardless of whether or not you are exposed to the microbes directly. Exclusive pumpers also often have to get up at scheduled times throughout the night to pump even if their baby sleeps through.

Exclusive pumping is also probably not as good at signalling the body to produce the right fat to water ratio, etc for your baby. Because you are generally keeping the breastmilk production at an artificially steady level it can't adjust to growth spurts or illness.

I've worked through oversupply problems with both of my babies.  With the first it was a matter of latch and position.  With my second because I was nursing a toddler and a baby whenever the toddler wouldn't drink enough my poor baby would drown.  So I'd pump past the first letdown because I knew that it wasn't a real problem.  Once or twiceI wasn't paying attention and my baby would drink until he projective vomited and then go back to the breast and get the fatty hindmilk he wanted.

Its so much easier to just fix the problem, then to pump and bottle feed which isn't optimal for either mom or baby

I'm not pumping enough milk. What can I do?

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumpi...

What is normal when it comes to pumping output and changes in pumping output?

Most moms who are nursing full-time are able to pump around 1/2 to 2 ounces total (for both b*****s) per pumping session. Moms who pump more milk per session may have an oversupply of milk, or may respond better than average to the pump, or may have been able to increase pump output with practice. Many moms think that they should be able to pump 4-8 ounces per pumping session, but even 4 ounces is an unusually large pumping output.

It is quite normal to need to pump 2-3 times to get enough milk for one feeding for baby (remember that the pump cannot get as much milk as a baby who nurses effectively).

Many moms are able to pump more milk per session when they are separated from baby. Milk pumped when you are nursing full-time is "extra" milk -- over and beyond what baby needs. Don't get discouraged if you are trying to build up a freezer stash when nursing full time and don't get much milk per pumping session -- this is perfectly normal and expected.

It is very common to have more milk than baby needs in the early weeks, which regulates down to baby's needs over the first few weeks or months. When your milk supply regulates (this change may occur either gradually or rather suddenly), it is normal for pumping output to decrease. For moms who have oversupply, this change often occurs later (6-9+ months postpartum rather than 6-12 weeks).

It is normal for pumping output to vary from session to session and day to day. Having an occasional low volume day is not unusual.

Forceful Let-down (Milk Ejection Reflex) & Oversupply

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-l...

http://www.normalfed.com/Help/babyget.ht...

There are lots of reasons why a baby can't seem to get the hang of latching on and nursing well at first. While your baby learns how, you need to: 1) keep him fed, 2) keep your milk supply going, 3) keep in touch with breastfeeding specialists... and 4) keep the faith! Your baby will learn how. These babies did.  

Timothy just didn't get it. His mother had "easy" nipples and plenty of milk, but Timothy couldn't stay latched on at first.  Even though she could sometimes pump 10 oz at a sitting, once Timothy learned to latch he could suck and suck, and not swallow a drop!  Over the first month, Timothy's nursing skills kept improving, and he began swallowing sometimes.  By 7 weeks, Timothy was pretty competent most of the time.  His mother pumped for an evening bottle for a few weeks, but then Timothy started refusing it.  The boy who started out not knowing how to nurse ended up not liking bottles!

Lisa just didn't get it.  Her mom kept her well-fed by using a rental pump and cup-feeding.  It was a discouraging first week, with lots of spilled milk and the tedium of pumping, but by the end of the week, Lisa was an accomplished nursing baby.

Answer 2

i had the same problem and i ended up putting my son on formula and it was the best choice he is 7 months now and is heavy as a 1yr old child. he thrived and even started solids early. he couldn't latch and i was making so much milk they were pouring out and then one day there was not even enough milk to feed him.

its your choice in the end and your choice will be the best choice in the end

Answer 3

Keep up the good work.  I've had three children and breast fed them all.  Believe me I know what you're going through.  You might just need to pump more frequently. That was what solved the problem with my third child.   With my first child my milk started to dry up at about the first month. The problem was my birth control pills.  I found out some birth control will dry out your milk supply.  Check with your doctor make sure that's not the case.  Good luck.

Answer 4

Have you tried latching her on now. Some babies will latch on around 4-6 weeks even if they hadn't been latching on before. Have you been doing anything differently when you are pumping. You need to be relaxed so that oxytocin can flow through your body to have a let down.  

Answer 5

good for you for maintaining your milk supply and giving your baby the best!!!!  Chances are you might need to just pump extra for the next couple of days to increase your milk supply.  Its all about supply and demand, so the more you pump, the more milk you will have.  Keep it up and just do double to pumping, even in the night.