https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 28 May 2026 01:58:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-woes#post-2247073 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:21:37 +0000 tiramisu 2247073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Portboston: Congratulations on your little one! Sounds like you're doing a great job mama! My DD was also an extremely sleepy newborn. I tried everything to keep her up including the wet wash cloth but even that didn't work sometimes. But when we did end up giving her bottles she drank it quickly, so I think she was hungry. My milk supply was also very low in the beginning. I never got engorged. We supplemented with formula for about 6 weeks before my supply kicked in and we were able to wean off the formula entirely. I tried the Fenugreek and did lots of pumping and I pumped every time I gave her formula. I also tried this power pumping technique I googled. Eventually my supply picked up and I was able to breastfeed exclusively for over a year, pump at work and build up a decent freezer supply. Don't feel bummed about giving formula, although I admit I was a little sad too. But in the end I figured most importantly the baby needs to eat whether it's formula or breast milk. My DD was way happier and satisfied once we supplemented. Hang in there, it's still really early. I'm sure the lac consultant will have some good tips too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-woes#post-2246725 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 08:33:34 +0000 Portboston 2246725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boopers: he always seems hungry still after I nurse him. To the point of being pretty fussy and wanting to eat still. I'll feed until I notice him resting between sucks for 15 sec or more consistently. Then I'll take him off or switch sides. But even after that he is still fussy. At first we thought it was gas but after pumping and giving him the bottle, he gobbled it right up. So we think he's just still hungry! Maybe I need to do more to stimulate him during feeding so he isn't so lazy. I like the idea of weighing before and after. I'll have to ask them to do that today at my appointment. Thank you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-woes#post-2246646 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 06:32:31 +0000 Boopers 2246646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is there a reason why you feel you aren't meeting his needs? Pumping output doesn't correlate to how much your LO can transfer at the breast. I would ask your LC to do a weighted feeding so you have a good idea of how much your LO is transferring.</p> <p>I remember how hard it was to get LO to nurse as a sleepy newborn. Our LC suggested a diaper change before nursing, nursing LO in his diaper, and basically pestering him to keep him awake. We would rub his hands, feet, back, etc. to try to keep him awake. I've read some people use a wet wash cloth to keep their LO awake, but we never did that.</p> <p>We also had some latching problems and eventually needed a nipple shield. My LC suggested nursing, pumping, then supplementing 1-2 oz of pumped milk to help LO gain. I think getting hands on help with a LC will be helpful. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-woes#post-2246619 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 03:42:46 +0000 Ash 2246619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's still so early and you're doing great. My sweet girl was born extremely hungry so I supplemented with donor milk fit 24 hours until my milk came in (plus she was in the nicu &amp; had jaundice). I felt so much guilt but like it's been said, you have to feed your baby. Pumping after feeds and feeding on demand are the best things to be doing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-woes#post-2246615 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 03:20:44 +0000 Portboston 2246615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: yes you're absolutely right... Baby needs to eat! And I want to make sure he isn't loosing more weight. It's so frustrating to be in this position! :( thank you for the encouragement. It's so needed right now! </p> <p>@Kemma: we're feeding every two hours. So about 12 times a day. Nights are tougher though since he's so sleepy. I'm back to nursing him and then pumping so I get whatever he couldn't. I'm trying to pump as much as I can to get my supply up. Which is pretty much every time he eats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-woes#post-2246613 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 03:09:18 +0000 Kemma 2246613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How often are you nursing / pumping in a 24 hour period? KellyMom and LLL recommend 8-12 sessions in a 24 hour period for the first few weeks. I'd also recommend doing lots of skin to skin and holding your wee babe as much as possible.</p> <p>Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-woes#post-2246611 Mon, 27 Jul 2015 02:43:07 +0000 LindsayInNY 2246611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's me! My milk came in a bit later and LO wasn't gaining. In fact she didn't go above her birth weight until almost 6 weeks. I've been taking fenugreek and blessed thistle three times a day since she was 5 days old. We didn't supplement with formula in the beginning but really probably should have been. For the past week and a half, I've been BFing, feeding a bottle of pumped milk and then pumping. It seems to be helping, as annoying as the routine can be. I think my milk just came in later and slowly. I've been having nipple pain so it helps offset that too. I'm actually up pumping right now since I get a decent amount in the middle of the night! Hang in there though, it's still so early! I felt like I was doing something "wrong" by supplementing but if your LO needs it then so be it! If you were hungry, you'd eat, right? So treat LO the same. She's just hungry. It doesn't mean you're a bad mom and it may just be temporary! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-woes#post-2246576 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 23:25:42 +0000 Portboston 2246576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just had my first baby last Tuesday. He was an early term babe born at 37+6 weeks. He is an extremely sleepy nurser. He is down about 9% of his birth weight. Couple the sleepy nursing with a bad latch (I have a hard time getting him to open his sleepy mouth wide enough to latch!) and I'm resorting to pumping until his weight stabilizes. I'm going to see a lactation consultant tomorrow about the latch. Unfortunately, my supply is not meeting his needs at the moment. Im hoping it increases over the next few days since I'm only 5 days PP. I've started taking fenugreek and am going in a hunt for fennel essential oils tomorrow. Im drinking about 100oz of water a day. In the mean time I'm supplementing. I'm super bummed out about it though.... Can anyone give me some positive stories if you have had a similar situation? I need some motivation not to give up pumping the small amount that I'm getting. </p>