[DK615617]

My baby is 4 wks old today. I am trying to breastfeed. I had to start supplimenting with formula when she was 3 days old because of jaundice. And now I would like to get her off of the formula but I don't think I am making enough milk.
I have the Medela pump in style double pump, and when I pump with that I get about an ounce or 2 total. (not each side)
How long does it take for the breasts to start producing more milk? I don't want to stop breastfeeding, and I would love to get her off of the formula, but she cries and cries and cries.
Also, if she is latching on correctly, is it still supposed to hurt?? I am to the point when she cries cuz she is hungry I cry too cuz I know what is about to happen. It feels like Sharp stabbing pain in the nipples, sometimes going to my armpit. And when she is done it still hurts for about a half hour.
I thought it might be thrush, I got a Rx for Grifulvin, and she has Nystatin. (She had white on her tongue) but it has only been 2 days so I don't know if that will fix the problem or not.
Please if anyone has any advice for me I would love to hear it.

[mollymae]

If shes latched on correctly it shouldn't hurt and from the pains you have I would say you have thrush. Did you doctor prescribe what your taking? or did you buy it over the counter?

I read in your other post your baby is getting roughly 8 oz of formula a day so I would try something like fenugreek or raspberry leaf capsules. They will increase your milk supply but you need to feed her a lot to keep building up the supply, let her suck as much as she wants. Cut the formula down too 6oz 24 hour after starting the fenugreek then 4 oz, then 2 days later down too 2oz and so on. If you can get her off the formula you shouldn't have a problem with constipation either.

Good Luck.

[pattiewrites]

Mollymae gave you some really good advice. Blessed Thistle can also be good for building supply and Mother's Milk tea. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water. Keep in mind that you probably have more milk than you are able to pump. I have a really good supply and never get more than 3-4 oz total. That doesn't mean that you aren't making more than that. If you are unsure of latch, get help from a lactation consultant or join La Leche League. You will find great mamas that are very willing to help. Sore nipples can sometimes be helped by switching positions for nursing. I wrote a blog in this topic: Positions for Breastfeeding

[GraciesMommy]

The more you nurse the more milk you're going to make. And yuor body will make more milk at night so you might be able to pump at night and in the morning to help build up a stash to feed her and help build your supply.
The pain thing sucks. I'm sorry that it hurts and that can make you not want to nurse. Is it both breasts that hurt, or just one? If it's one, you can nurse on the other side and pump the painful one. I wish you luck and don't give up! I know you both can get to where you're nursing comfortably. *hugs*

[twinzplus3]

My first two questions are: Did you pump with a hospital grade pump while she was being given formula? And are you on any type of hormonal birth control?

The first thing you need to do is stop pumping for right now. By pumping you are likely sabotaging yourself on several fronts: Pumping is the least effective means of building supply. Your baby is much better at it. (One exception: If you supplement with a bottle instead of putting baby to the breast bc it is painful. . .you should pump.) Also, you very well may be passing thrush from the baby to you to the pump, to the bottle nipples. I always liken thrush to lice. . .it is super, super hard to get rid of. When your supply is established a little better and things are going better you can pump once a day; the mornings works best for most moms.

Secondly, are you sure she is crying because you don't have enough milk? You've weighed her after a feeding and she is definitively not taking enough? I highly suggest that you go see a IBCLC. (That's a board certified lactation consultant.) Don't wait!! However, if you can get your hands on a scale (or go to the pedi--they should be willing to do it for you) that measures ounces then you can weigh her before and after a feeding to see how much she's taking. If she's taking enough then you know that supply is not your problem. You can't look at the pump to determine whether or not you have supply issues. If she goes several hours on bm w/o formula you can check her diaper count. Generally, she should have a wet diaper about every 3 hours. So if you feed her let's say 3 times in a 6 hour period (no formula) and she has 2 wet diapers. . .then perhaps she's colicky and the amount of breastmilk isn't the issue at all!?
You also cannot look at whether or not she's happier after the bottle. Bottles give milk differently and it could just be that she doesn't like your let down! Also, if you find that she's not taking enough you can assume that there is something wrong with her latch which will also contribute to the pain you are feeling.

As far as the pain goes, you can take tylenol or ibufrofen. Unfortunately, the best remedie for breastfeeding problems is to keep breastfeeding. I like soothies to help with thrush pain afterwards. Buy two packs and keep the ones not in use, in the fridge. They're not a cure all but they help.

As far as increasing your supply the best way to do that is through baby. I would encourage you to nurse her as much as possible. (Again, you need to get yourself to an LC!) While you are getting things back on track don't feel badly about having to supplment with formula. But don't use a bottle. . .use a dropper, a cup whatever. It's messier but it will have the desired effect of not attracting her to another, easier nipple and if her latch is bad. . .it will help solve that problem.

I would recommend a prescription of Reglan or similar, if possible. Herbal remedies do work but take a little longer and you probably need a serious boost as opposed to a little help.

I have written oodles of blogs you might find helpful, however, I've already written a book here so I will come back and link them in another post.

[twinzplus3]

Here are some blogs I've written related to this topic. . .I hope you find them helpful. Feel free to PM me if you'd like. Another couple of things that I forgot to mention is that slinging the baby, kangaroo care and co-sleeping (even putting her crib near your bed if possible) all have incredibly positive effects on your supply.

Help! I Don't Have Enough Milk

Increasing Your Supply Through Galactagogues

Meghan the Vampire Baby

Nursing Nuisances: Thrush

The Who, What and Why of Lactation Consultants

[QueenAngie]

Every time you nurse, you need a big glass of something to sip and drink as baby does,
so you have plenty of fluid.

Twinzplus3 is one of our experts when it comes to mother's milk and she is very good to share her wisdom with other moms. So glad that our other friends are also helping with their good advise.

Keep trying with the BF.
Maybe you are overdoing at home.

When baby rests, you rest.

When baby is BF, you drink.

Forget about all that housework,
just focus on the baby for a few days to see if that helps.

You are a great Mom!

[DK615617]

Thank you everyone for all the help!
To answer some questions, I am not on any birth control.
And the pump I used was the Medela Pump in style, double.
For the thrush my doctor gave me a prescription for Dyflucan, and within 24 hours of the first dose I was able to feed her without crying! The breasts are still painful but it is getting better. So now that the thrush is less of an issue I am hoping to get the supply up.
I think the main problem is that I don't put her on the breast enough because up until now it has hurt so bad. So, she cries all the time and then we supplement with formula. She has terrible gas. (By terrible I mean she has a lot of gas) and she seems to have trouble pooping. She will get all red in the face and cry, then we hear gas come out, then she cries and she is straining.... I think that might be from all the formula. It was the Enfamil with Iron. Should I continue to suppliment with formula just cutting back on it and putting her on the breast more? She is getting about 16oz. a day in formula. But she is so miserable with the gas.
I am going to start taking Fenugreek to try to help in addition to just putting her on the breast as much as possible. How long should I take the Fenugreek for?
I am conserned, because next week I go back to work. And I am afraid if I don't get her off the formula this week that I never will.
I will be working 6 hours a day Monday through Thursday and then 2 hours on Friday.
On the four days that I work 6 hours I will only be able to pump once or twice. Is that going to cause a supply problem?

[DK615617]

Also, I am on the Dyflucan for 2 weeks. Plus I am giving her Gripe water from time to time to help with her tummy aches. She has Nystatin for her thrush.
Is it a good idea to take Fenugreek as well. I feel like I am putting to many "drugs" into her. I hate to take anything that I don't have to. I made it through the whole pregnancy without having to take any meds, not even tylenol.

[twinzplus3]

You know. . .the twins after they were born had one bottle a day bc I simply needed to recover from a very complicated c/s. Then one day my 3yo spilled the can of formula and when I went to buy more I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much money. So I stopped, took fenugreek and nursed non-stop for about 3 weeks (remember these are twins--it wouldn't take that long to build supply for a singleton) and then everything was fine. It can be done but you have to get rid of the bottles.

Can you delay going back to work? You might think you can't afford to but I would weigh the cost of taking a week off without pay vs. the cost of formula. I don't know what you do but I would be willing to bet it would be cheaper to take that extra week off then it would be to pay for formula for another 11 months or so! If you go back to work then yes, your supply will be affected. Moms who pump successfully already have an established pattern before they go back to work. Not that I want to be discouraging or say you can't do it--you can and the fenugreek might really help. But it's not easy.

OTOH, you should be careful about beating yourself up. Even some breastmilk is better than none. Perhaps after you go to work, she has to get a bottle or two during the day and then only nurses in the morning and at night. That's better than nothing. I know it wasn't the goal--but it's still better than nothing.

BTW I'm gald the pain is getting better.