How long did you breastfeed??

[gwensmama9206]

I'm having some issues with breastfeeding. One day it'll be flowing great. The next barely anything is coming out. I feed him straight from the boob and pump atleast once a day. Sometimes it seems like DS isn't getting anything and I'm not sure what to do about it. Last night he was up every 40-60 mins wanting to eat and he would be eating for a good amount of time too. As much as I DON'T want too... I'm starting to think about starting him on formula. I just don't feel like he's getting filled up like he should be when he eats from me. Plus it can't be good for him or me to be constantly having to feed like I've been having too.

I feel horrible about thinking about not breastfeeding anymore and I'm going to talk to our doctor before I make any final decision but ugh... I don't know what else to do. He's only 2 weeks old so I haven't been feeding him for very long. I really wanted to breastfeed up until he was atleast 6 months.

Ugh... It's just so frustrating!

Any advice would be awesome Also, I was wondering, How long did you breastfeed for??

TIA ladies!

[sharon]

At 2 weeks your supply is not established yet I would think. Last I knew, the idea was to stay away from substituting artificial for breastmilk, so that you can establish your supply.

I haven't kept up on breastfeeding in the last few years though. La Leche League or a lactation consultant can be really helpful. Getting some support can be essential when you are frustrated. We saw an LC a couple of times early on and it was incredibly helpful.

Hang in there! You can totally do this and there is nothing wrong with getting some help!

[sharon]

Oh and to answer your question, I wasn't the "milk mommy" but my son nursed for almost 4 years. We were set on the AAP recommended year minimum but honestly I was hoping for at least 2 - the WHO recommendation.

[deannemdm]

I nursed DD about 5.5 months and DS for about 7.5 months-- I had a hard time keeping up my supply and I was pumping 2-3 times a day. The daycare was supplementing about half and half after about 2 months. I was told to take an herb called Fenugreek-- you need to take 3 caps three times a day, and it helped. I was even told that this has been used by new adoptive moms that adopt newborns. The lactation consultant at the hospital (nurse) suggested it.-- Side effect-- it may make you smell like maple syrup

[cwolbeck]

With my first baby I had a horrible time producing enough, I was attached to a rented breast pump practically all day. I gave up after a month. I am 2 weeks from my due date with #2 and am going to give it a better try. I have been reading up on it for months and getting advice from another mom. Supposedly pumping after every feeding helps you produce more. Also, watching your baby's hunger cues like smacking lips and sucking is better to start before he is famished.
These are things that I have read, so I hope they work for you and me.

[sharon]

I drank a lot of fenugreek tea back before our son was born, when I was working on inducing lactation. That's funny about smelling like maple syrup! I wonder if I did!

[slufoot]

I nursed DS for about 3.5 months. My supply was never great, even with pumping, so I had to supplement with formula (he kept losing weight). At 3 months we all got the flu and he didn't want to nurse, and honestly I was too tired to just pump, so we stopped. My sister tried the lactating tea, and it seemed to help her a little.

[merrr]

I tried my best to breastfeed but after what felt like forever (maybe it was just a few weeks?) I gave up and we switched to the bottle. Yes, I felt like a failure. No, it wasn't anybody's fault. It just is what it is. It was an emotional DRAIN on me and DD trying to do something that wasn't working.

My girlfriend just had her baby a year ago and she did all sorts of "natural" things like drinking specific teas to help her milk come in enough but her DS was never full. He ended up sleeping better and longer when they started to supplement with a bottle and after a month or so she too stopped breastfeeding. She also cried on the phone with me when she made that decision because she too felt like a failure regardless of what her logical brain said.

Bottom line - do what will be best for you and your baby. Everyone who disagrees with you that doesn't LIVE in your skin can bug off.

[cissy]

With the first child I BF for 12 months we then found out about the food allergies and stopped. With the second I was slowly cutting out feedings and was done at 18 months. Up until he was one it was every 2 hours through out the day and night and their was plenty of times when he was a baby that it was more then that.

I was told to make sure they stay awake while eating so they actually eat and then if they are trying to eat earlier then say 2 hours to try and push it a little further. Try the nuk, distraction, or just fuss it out a little bit. YES it is harder done then said but you can do it!

[ladyandrearose]

I breast feed for about four weeks. DD was a preemie. Once we came home from the hospital she wouldn't take the breast, so I exclusively pumped milk until she was ten months old. I had supply troubles, I tried fenugreek (yes, I smelled like maple syrup! Yuck!) It really helped. When I stopped my supply dropped. I was put on a drug called Reglan. It worked! I increased my pumping schedule. At about 6 months I cut back on the pumping and my supply stayed stable.

I agree with Merr, do what is best for you and your DS!

[betherin]

I breast fed my first DS until he was 13 months which just happened to be when I found out I was pregnant with DS2. I am currently breast feeding my 5.5 month old. It is definitely trying at times. He is going through a phase now of being too distracted (mostly by big brother) to eat during the day, so he is up every 2-3 hours all night long. I'm determined to stick it out, but it sure sucks right now. Do whatever is best for you and your DS. There is no right or wrong when it comes to this.

[lilmermaid]

Totally agree with Beth! Do what you feel is best for you and DS!

I BF DD1 about 3-4 months, DD2 about 6-7 months and now DD3 is 6 months next week and I'm still going strong! I am determined to make it to 8-9 months but hope to make it to 1 year. We can't afford to buy formula right now so I need to try and make it work!

With DD3 I have been feeling the same way you are for months now. I finally got her to take a bottle so I could pump and see how much she is actually taking. She only eats 3-4 ounces a feeding! That doesn't seem like enough to me. I do not feel full ever it seems. It's very frustrating!!! I feed her cereal twice a day and have already introduced solids too. She loves to eat!

Good Luck!

[angel22]

I breastfed my girls 14 months, 13 months and 12 months- in that order. I would have loved to nurse all of them longer but they all self weaned.

[ReneeW]

For your own peace of mind, I recommend visiting with a lactation consultant -- many women I know have really, really benefited from a visit. Like, they weigh the baby, have you nurse, weigh the baby again to see how much milk baby is getting, stuff like that. Then you'll know, whatever you decide, that you had all of the information necessary to make the best decision for you and Baby. Good luck and hang in there! And know you're a FABULOUS mother whether you end up breastfeeding or not.

I BF my DDs until they were about 15 or 16 months old. I had a goal of nursing them for a year, and then it took a few months to wean, so ... it was all good! But I was very lucky in that I somehow didn't have many issues with breastfeeding ... so it made my decision easy. Other moms face much bigger hurdles, so I am in the category of -- whatever works best for you and your family is the best choice, there's no judging here!!

[healerarina]

DD1 would not bf, she would fall asleep and wouldn't suck. Her jaundice was getting worse, and what she did eat, she puked up. We didn't make it a week with her. She ended up not puking as bad on formula, and she started gaining again. I do not regret switching at all, having my baby be healthy was more important than what she was eating.

DD2 lasted a month. She started spitting up at 3 weeks. DD1's behavior got out of hand so I started pumping. We introduced formula to see if that helped reduced spit up, and it did help. Then one day right around 1 month, she all out refused to drink breast milk, she drank formula fine, but wouldn't drink breast milk. I felt bad for quitting, but DD2 is much happier and MUCH less fussy on formula. Plus, it is better for DD1 and DH.