Re: difficulty establishing milk supply

August 3, 2000

does she have a breastpump that she can use for stimulating the nipples?

Praying for her,

Mindy

August 3, 2000

Hi Mindy

Yes she does have a pump. I don't think she has used it to help things along. I've actually been using it to get some milk to freeze for her. My little one just turned one and I'm still nursing anywhere from 4-7 times per day. So this has been a bit reassuring to her to know that she doesn't necessarily have to give him formula, that she can get milk from me if it gets to the point where she'll have to supplement a bit.

Thanks for your suggestion

Re: difficulty establishing milk supply

does she have a breastpump that she can use for stimulating the nipples?

Praying for her,

MindyGive the Gift of Life Breastfeed!http://www.lactivist.com

August 3, 2000

Hi Mindy

Yes she does have a pump. I don't think she has used it to help things along. I've actually been using it to get some milk to freeze for her. My little one just turned one and I'm still nursing anywhere from 4-7 times per day. So this has been a bit reassuring to her to know that she doesn't necessarily have to give him formula, that she can get milk from me if it gets to the point where she'll have to supplement a bit.

Thanks for your suggestion

Re: difficulty establishing milk supply

does she have a breastpump that she can use for stimulating the nipples?

Praying for her,

MindyGive the Gift of Life Breastfeed!http://www.lactivist.com

August 3, 2000

Hi Mindy

Yes she does have a pump. I don't think she has used it to help things along. I've actually been using it to get some milk to freeze for her. My little one just turned one and I'm still nursing anywhere from 4-7 times per day. So this has been a bit reassuring to her to know that she doesn't necessarily have to give him formula, that she can get milk from me if it gets to the point where she'll have to supplement a bit.

Thanks for your suggestion

Re: difficulty establishing milk supply

does she have a breastpump that she can use for stimulating the nipples?

Praying for her,

MindyGive the Gift of Life Breastfeed!http://www.lactivist.com

August 3, 2000

,

Try directing her to her local LLL chapter. They will have great support there. Sometimes you don't feel the let down. Is babe getting 6 or more wet diapers a day and at least 1 or 2 poops a day? If so Ds is getting plenty. Have her try to nurse in a warm bath. Sometimes that encourages let down. Sometimes it is stress that can cause the problem. I don't know about the herbs because I have never had the problem my self. I hope all goes well for her and I am sure La Leche league can help her further.

Laurie

difficulty establishing milk supply

Hi everyone,I will apologize in advance if this email is long but I want to give you some history. I'm looking for advice for my sister who gavebirth to a beautiful baby boy on July 21.She had a planned c-section and after Trevor was only about 5 or 6 hours old he was sent to another hospital 50 minutes away becausethey wanted him to see a pediatrician as they were concerned that he was breathing too rapidly and not getting the oxygen he needed. Hewasn't supposed to stay the night there but the doctors at the otherhospital wanted to observe him over night. My sister only nursed him once before he left and he latched on well and nurse well. She was hoping to be able to go out to this other hospital but with cutbacks there were no beds available for her - SO - mother and babe were separated for about 24 hours. During his time in the other hospital he wasonly spoon fed. When he arrived back she immediately began nursing. She's an old pro at nursing as well. She nursed her first son til he was15 months old - 4 months before she gave birth to Trevor.Feeding seemed to be going well and she stayed in the hospital for 3 days. When she got home her nipples became sore and cracked and her breasts began to get very tender. She was in alot of pain when nursing (she had the cracked nipples and was engorged with her first son). She went to the Dr. and he gave her antibiotics for mastitis. Now here we are almost 2 weeks have gone by since Trevor was born and the mastitis is gone. She has not had a letdown yet. She isn't leaking and doesn't feel "heavy" like she did with her first son. Trevor isn't gaining enough weight. I've actually pumped milk forher just in case she has to give him some from a spoon. Her doctor told her to nurse him and then give him a bottle right after. She's not happy with this suggestion since she really wants to nurse him. My question is - does anyone have suggestions on what she should do to increase her milk supply and help her have a letdown? I've read in previous posts about mother's milk tea, fenugreek and milk thistle. What do these herbs do to help and how much does she need? Are they very successful?Thanks for listeningAny suggestions would be very helpful Give the Gift of Life Breastfeed!http://www.lactivist.com

August 3, 2000

what an awsome thing you are doing for your sister. I was an only child and I always knew that I would have more than one baby for exact reasons like this. siblings help each other in so many ways. I am sure your sister is very grateful, and I just wanted to say I think it is wonderful thing too. I have heard the herbs work in wonderful ways, I am not sure about how much you take but I am sure you could do a search for them and gain some knowledge or even ask the person at the heath food store about the herb they are usually very knowledgeable. Good luck and I will be praying for your sister. She has already made it thru the painful parts I am sure something will work out for her, until then keep up your hard work too

HUGS

Nicki

Thornton wrote:

Hi Mindy

Yes she does have a pump. I don't think she has used it to help things along. I've actually been using it to get some milk to freeze for her. My little one just turned one and I'm still nursing anywhere from 4-7 times per day. So this has been a bit reassuring to her to know that she doesn't necessarily have to give him formula, that she can get milk from me if it gets to the point where she'll have to supplement a bit.

Thanks for your suggestion

Re: difficulty establishing milk supply

does she have a breastpump that she can use for stimulating the nipples?

Praying for her,

MindyGive the Gift of Life Breastfeed!http://www.lactivist.com Give the Gift of Life Breastfeed!http://www.lactivist.com

August 3, 2000

what an awsome thing you are doing for your sister. I was an only child and I always knew that I would have more than one baby for exact reasons like this. siblings help each other in so many ways. I am sure your sister is very grateful, and I just wanted to say I think it is wonderful thing too. I have heard the herbs work in wonderful ways, I am not sure about how much you take but I am sure you could do a search for them and gain some knowledge or even ask the person at the heath food store about the herb they are usually very knowledgeable. Good luck and I will be praying for your sister. She has already made it thru the painful parts I am sure something will work out for her, until then keep up your hard work too

HUGS

Nicki

Thornton wrote:

Hi Mindy

Yes she does have a pump. I don't think she has used it to help things along. I've actually been using it to get some milk to freeze for her. My little one just turned one and I'm still nursing anywhere from 4-7 times per day. So this has been a bit reassuring to her to know that she doesn't necessarily have to give him formula, that she can get milk from me if it gets to the point where she'll have to supplement a bit.

Thanks for your suggestion

Re: difficulty establishing milk supply

does she have a breastpump that she can use for stimulating the nipples?

Praying for her,

MindyGive the Gift of Life Breastfeed!http://www.lactivist.com Give the Gift of Life Breastfeed!http://www.lactivist.com

August 3, 2000

what an awsome thing you are doing for your sister. I was an only child and I always knew that I would have more than one baby for exact reasons like this. siblings help each other in so many ways. I am sure your sister is very grateful, and I just wanted to say I think it is wonderful thing too. I have heard the herbs work in wonderful ways, I am not sure about how much you take but I am sure you could do a search for them and gain some knowledge or even ask the person at the heath food store about the herb they are usually very knowledgeable. Good luck and I will be praying for your sister. She has already made it thru the painful parts I am sure something will work out for her, until then keep up your hard work too

HUGS

Nicki

Thornton wrote:

Hi Mindy

Yes she does have a pump. I don't think she has used it to help things along. I've actually been using it to get some milk to freeze for her. My little one just turned one and I'm still nursing anywhere from 4-7 times per day. So this has been a bit reassuring to her to know that she doesn't necessarily have to give him formula, that she can get milk from me if it gets to the point where she'll have to supplement a bit.

Thanks for your suggestion

Re: difficulty establishing milk supply

does she have a breastpump that she can use for stimulating the nipples?

Praying for her,

MindyGive the Gift of Life Breastfeed!http://www.lactivist.com Give the Gift of Life Breastfeed!http://www.lactivist.com

August 7, 2000

Hi Joan,

It got pretty bad on Friday night. She wasn't sure if she was producing

enough milk - but he did gain an ounce overnight from Thurs - Fri - but the

main problem she was having was excrutiating pain when she nursed him. She

would have her toes curled and would be almost in tears - and my sister is

quite tough. She went through pain nursing her first son but not for as

long and not as bad and then she went on to nurse him for 15 mos. Anyways,

I had been pumping throughout the past week just in case she needed to give

him something extra - she didn't want to use formula. She arrived at my

door around 12:30am and said she couldn't do it anymore it was just too

painful. She would dread each next feeding and be so tense that every

muscle in her body ached. Anyways she came to my place while her husband

gave Trevor a little bit of the milk I had given them earlier and she came

to pick up some more. The next morning my mom called a LC in a town about

35 miles away (the LC we have in town is unreliable and not very supportive)

They made the trip and spent an hour and a half with her. She was

WONDERFUL. Low and behold the girl that nursed for 15 months didn't have

him latched on right. She was positive he was because it was the way her

older one nursed. The LC got him bang on on the first try and my sister had

absolutely no pain. She's been nursing him like this for about 2 days now

and it's going well. He's eating like he's never eaten before. And she's

feeling alot more relaxed. I'm so glad that she didn't give up - she would

have regretted it later.

Anyways, sorry so long

Thanks for thinking about my sis and Trevor,

Take care

Re: difficulty establishing milk supply

> Dear ,

> How are your sister and Trevor doing?

>

> > She has not had a letdown yet. She isn't

> > leaking and doesn't feel " heavy " like she did with her first son.

> > Trevor isn't gaining enough weight.

> >

> This happened with me with my most recent baby - and this was also the

> only time that I nursed thru a whole pregnancy. My breasts did feel a

> bit heavier than normal, but I did not experience any engorgement,

> leaking, or that strong tingling letdown feeling. My son was also slow

> to gain. How much weight did your nephew gain, that they are concerned

> enough to supplement? I had a hard time trying to keep Sam awake long

> enough for a good feeding, I think he was a bit jaundiced in the

> beginning. From 2 weeks to 2 mos. he seemed to gain pretty good, then

> it went down again from 3 to 4 mos. Now he is just about 6 mos. and

> seems to be gaining ok again, but not alot. He seems to go through days

> where he will not stay at the breast long enough for a good feed - he

> likes to be at the breast, and I can try feeding him for a good half

> hour or so, spending most of my time trying to just get him to stay on!

> I just had my wic appt. and he weighed 14-4. He was 7-2 at birth. So

> he has doubled his birthweight by 6 mos. But he is low on the chart.

> But he always has the wet diapers and bms (which range from every other

> day to 1-3 x a day) so I am assuming he is getting what he wants/needs.

> Let us know how your sister is making out - I hope things are going

> better now.

> Joan

>

> Give the Gift of Life Breastfeed!

> http://www.lactivist.com

>

August 7, 2000

,

That is such a common problem. Women who have recently nursed toddlers will

allow a newborn to latch in the same way and it causes incredible pain.

Toddlers seem to be able to correct their latch or compensate but if you

latch a newborn on wrong they just go to town causing nipple pain. I am so

glad that she got the help she needed. Hooray to you for being so

supportive!

Wendi

http://www.lactivist.com

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