Why don't I have enough breast milk?

Question

I have a three week old baby and I have been breastfeeding and formula feeding. I breastfeed him about six times per day, but today I pumped my milk to see how much I would get and I only got about one ounce on each side for fifteen minutes. Why ain't I getting more milk? Any advice on what I should do? I have heard of a pill that I can take, should I? I am also taking flax seed tea so will this interfere with that pill?

Answer 1

you arent producing enough because you are formula feeding so your body doesnt think it needs to produce more. Because your baby isnt feeding enough. Feed him more often and you will produce more. That is what I did.

Answer 2

Continue to pump in between feedings as much as you can and your milk supply will increase.  

Answer 3

Take a few Fenugreek capsules every day and eat oatmeal 3 times a day. Not instant oatmeal, but the kind you make from milk and oats. When I was breastfeeding, I did this and my supply boosted itself within 2 days. Also, after the baby has drained each side, pump for about 15 minutes to stimulate the production of more milk.

Good luck and I hope this helps.  

Answer 4

once once on each side in 15 minutes is plenty for a 3 week old!  their bellies are TINY!

toss the formula.  you have plenty of milk.  the more formula you give, the less milk you will make.  it's supply and demand... if you reduce the demand by replacing feeds with formula, your supply will drop.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index....

Answer 5

drink more fluids and stimulate your b*****s more often to increase your milk supply. and eat healthy food full of calories. eat 500 more calories than what u normally would. And remember to relax when feeding so your milk will let down.these techniques should help.

Answer 6

he is only 3 weeks old and you should just breastfeed him no formula at all...Him nursing all the time is how he tells your body to make more milk...DUMP THE FORMULA....and you should wait a couple more weeks to even be giving a bottle and pumping...your milk should be well established before doing either of these....

Answer 7

Pumping is not a good indication of how much milk you're making - the baby can get a lot more milk out nursing than you can by pumping.

"Any advice on what I should do?"

If you do have milk supply issues, the best thing for you to do is to drop the formula altogether, and nurse your baby on demand.

"If mom is using formula to supplement breastfeeding, she is telling her body, with every ounce of formula, to make less milk. Her body is not receiving all the signals it needs to make the perfect quantity for her baby, if she is interfering with those signals."

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/b...

The more you nurse, the more milk you make.

Answer 8

Are you pumping until you feel the "let down" reflex?  If you are an constant suction with the breast pump it does not mimic your baby's suckling pattern, your breast milk will not fully release.  When you "let down" you will know by the milk gushing out.

You body will only produce more milk if you nurse and pump more.  Smoking can also decrease the amount of milk produced, as will illness & lack of proper hydration & nutrition. Drink plenty of water, eat 3-5 meals a day, and nurse your baby as much as you can.  Your baby will know when he is full.