Re: question about nipple shields, milk supply/frequency of nursing

[Guest guest]

I'm a bit late in responding to this, as I've seen other responses already,

but I will add that your milk supply regulates to the amount of milk

demanded. If you are supplementing a lot one day and nursing a lot the next

day, your milk supply will regulate to either the low end or a middle point.

Especially with a three-week old baby, your body needs the consistent demand

of a sucking baby to regulate itself for the future so that you don't leak

constantly or battle with low-supply.

I can't help you with the nipple shields, but I will encourage you to learn

about nursing in public (if these are the times when the baby gets a formula

bottle currently) because it will make outings a lot easier. For when you

are home, experiment with different nursing positions. I do know women in

the breastfeeding support group that I attend who have used nipple shields

over the long term, and were successful.

Realistically it takes about 6-8 weeks to become comfortable nursing with

the first child. I am currently nursing my second, and it took me over 2

months the first time but only about 3 weeks time to be able to get her

nursing in public without feeling overwhelmed. Starting a nursing session

in the comfort of my home, though, came much easier both times.

> I am curious about how the milk production works...the pattern that it

> takes, because I don't really have one established.

There is no set pattern for milk production. It happens continuously, and

the breast is never empty at the end of a feeding.

> If I nurse like

> clockwork every 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours one day...then, the next day,

> supplement formula during the afternoon and only nurse about 2x in the

> morning and 4x at night...is this messing up my milk production the

> next day?

To use your terminology, yes this is messing up your production. To be

successful with this pattern, that is a pattern of nursing one day and

bottles the next, you would need to pump on the bottle day to maintain your

supply at the level your baby needs for the all nursing days. Also, you

should be giving bm in the bottle as much as possible to keep the supply

need (from your pumping) high. If you were to pump and give ebm in the

bottle instead of abm, you would be giving your baby a more constant diet,

and your supply would be higher.

>Will my missing those feedings cause my milk supply to go

> down in 24 hours?

Most likely yes, but every woman is different. The longer term you have

been nursing, the less variable your supply is.

>Will my nursing more make my milk supply greater in

> that short of a period of time too?

Yes, it should. Actually, the supply and demand of bm is generally referred

to in this analogy--what baby demands today will be tomorrow's supply. If

baby eats 4 times today but ate 8 times yesterday, you should be feeling

fuller today as the milk is collecting in your breasts for a longer time

between feedings. But tomorrow's supply will be less since the breast

received only 4 nursings of stimulation.

I am currently taking 2 620 mg

> capsules of fenugreek 3x every 24 hours...and I am renting a hospital

> grade pump (of which I can only get 1 oz. in 10-15 minutes, and on a

> good pumping, maybe 20 oz.)---so, I am taking some of the right steps

> to getting my baby bf'ing exclusively.----But, I am still worrying that

> I may not be doing enough. I give him about 4 oz. of formula at night

> so that I can get some sleep because I was not doing well while I was

> sleep deprived. I need rest...but, am I hindering my ability to get my

> baby off of the formula completely by doing this?

I would guess that you are fine with the fenugreek. The pumping should be

done at the same times of the day to help increase the quantity extracted

per session. You don't have a relationship with that pump--relax and see it

as your friend--but you have a relationship with your baby. The

relationship, and baby's natural sucking ability, enable him/her to get more

milk from your breast than the pump can.

If you get your baby to the breast 8-10 times per day--actively sucking and

nursing--plus that 4 oz bottle to enhance sleep at night--you will be able

to increase your supply and eventually eliminate the bottle of formula. Any

milk that you pump should be given to your baby before formula on the days

that you have to be separated. In addition to counting feedings, baby

should have 6 wet diapers and several bms every day.

A baby is considered to sleep through the night when he/she sleeps 5-6

hours. If your baby is sleeping this long w/o formula, you may have to

adjust your sleep times so that you sleep when baby does.

If your baby is having trouble with weight gain, you should consider nursing

every 2 hours (or less), from start of one feeding to start of next feeding,

around the clock, for a week to see what you can do.

Feel free to e-mail me privately if you would like.

HTH,

Amy Lynn

mother to 1-25-98 and 2-10-00

Want great toys? Non-violent, educational, fun! check out

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ps--Like others, I tend to the militant side of breastfeeding, but I also

recognize the need for baby to be healthy and gaining during the

establishment of the breastfeeding relationship.