I am having a REALLY TOUGH time breastfeeding this time around. Hubby is out getting a bottle of fenugreek, the confinement lady is making the green papaya soup again and I’m pumping every 2 hours in the hope of catching up with the baby.
And I’m ordering the milkmaid tea online and searching for recipes to increase the milk supply!
Breastfeeding with the boy was easy because:
- he was put to my breast immediately after birth;
- he latched on fast and sucked voraciously on colostrum for 5 days;
- he would just scream loudly until you pop the nipple in, suck like a barracuda and scream again once he emptied the breast and waited for you to switch sides;
- he was a textbook baby i.e. feeds on the dot every 2 hours (1st and 2nd month), 3 hours (3rd month) and 4 hours (4th month onwards)
Ironically, I faced many breastfeeding challenges then:
- My milk came in late on Day 5 (we were worried until one day Hubby noticed liquid gold dripping from the other breast as the boy fed on one);
- My mother and the confinement lady would repeat their,
“You don’t have enough milk, you don’t have enough milk. Give him formula. Give him formula”
mantra EVERY time they see me breastfeed or pumping;
- I was really, really tired from a heavy lochia and fever (due to imbibing brandy and DOM before the 12th day and really heaty confinement food and drink);
- I didn’t have any nursing bra or nursing tops and
- I was struggling with the Medela Mini Electric Pump.
With the girl, I’ve got my nursing bras, nursing tops and nursing accessories (e.g. AVENT Breast Shells you should get them because they
a. ease engorgement and
b. save every precious drop leaking from the breast
The confinement lady is familiar with breastfeeding and can even help assemble my AVENT Manual Isis Pump.
But the problem is that baby is not co-operating!!!
- She was whisked away to NICU for 24 hours – I was stuck in the ward sleeping off the sedative alone and couldn’t get up to walk;
- She was fed Similac both from a spoon and a bottle (not a very baby-friendly hospital);
- When she was finallybrought to me, she is a poor suckler (she’s full-term at 38 weeks but she’s tiny and underweight at 2.3 kg) and sleeps at the breast;
- My milk came in early on Day 3 and I was seriously engorged but I couldn’t use the Medela industrial breast pump at the hospital. I could only start pumping the next day after Hubby brought me my pump (pack the pump in your hospital bag!!!)
- She sleeps during the day and wakes up every 1-2 hours during the night. I could breastfeed her during the day which is every 3-4 hours but my milk supply runs low at night that she’s too impatient to wait.
- I’ve been pumping out almost every night feed (pathetic 1 oz or less each time) but I’m seriously exhausted by her night wakings.
I can rest during the day(after breastfeeding, feeding, cleaning myself up, eating, drinking and spending some time with the big brother) but the nights really make me worn out.
Imagine this:
We try to go to bed at 9.30 pm but she’ll wake at 10 pm to feed. If she breastfeeds, I try to give both breasts so she’ll be satisfied. The tot will get all excited and refuse to sleep because he wants to:
a) soothe the baby: “Please don’t cry, it’s ok, it’s ok”
b) help wake the baby: “Wake up! Please wake up! Time to drink susu!!!”
c) help me lift up my blouse, fetch my pump accessories box, handkerchief etc
If the breastmilk isn’t enough, we’ll make up a 2 oz bottle, which she will S-L-O-W-L-Y drink (I’ve ditched the MAM anti-colic because the flow is too fast and gone back to AVENT). By the time she finishes 1 oz, it’s already 11 pm.
Then, she wakes at 12 midnight and we repeat the same drama.
Last night, she kept me awake from 3 – 5 am because it was F-E-E-D, then poop! and then F-E-E-D again. I was sooooo sleepy I nodded off holding her and the bottle (bleagh).
When she woke at 6 am, I had to call Hubby for rescue (I want him to sleep so he can manage the boy during the day) and didn’t even lift her up this time. I fed her on her pillow and I just fell asleep!
This morning, the half-finished bottle is on the side and the poor little mite slid off her pillow 
HELP!!! If you know of any way I can increase my milk supply, please contact me immediately!
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Seems miserable doesn’t it? pumping so much, but only 1-2 oz.
I was like that for all three babies. Just keep at it, drink lots of water. Keep a litre bottle next to u and drink before and after the entire bottle.
Continue what you’re doing..coz babies will change their schedules somehow. As long as the confinement lady is still with you, sleep when baby sleeps, I’m sure everyone will understand… I sure as hell would ‘order’ u to sleep if I was your confinement lady!
Can certainly understand the tiring nights. These are what I’ve learnt over the past 9 mths of breastfeeding:
- feed baby more frequently in the day even if it means waking her up every 2-3 hrs. This helps tank the tummy up to reduce night feedings and help adjust the biological clock.
- letting baby suck on the breast seems to produce more stimulation for milk production. I’ve a baby with huge appetite while my milk supply is just enough to meet his needs. As long as he still sucks, the milk appears after a while. After the baby is satisfied, then pump another 5-10min for further stimulation.
- I persisted with letting the baby suck, without supplementing so the the body will make more milk.
- giving the baby a ‘dream feed’ before going to bed, which means putting the baby to breast to feed without waking her up. Stimulate her lips with breast until she starts feeding. This gave me more rest at night.
- engaging help from Jenlia Maternal Services, their post-natal visits solved early problem & I still get the nurse to visit my boy monthly for advice
- engaging help from lactation consultant, Ms Christine Choong, from Mamalink
- referring to kellymom.com
Hope the above helps… The days will get better, all the best!
dont listen to ‘ you got no milk’,etc because u have! my gynae once asked me, ‘how did the mothers feed their babies hundred years ago when there were no formula?’
first 2-3 weeks is really tough, if u can go thru that phase, then you will be able to enjoy breastfeeding like an expert mom!
drink more liquid, eat healthily. u need protein for ur bb too right?
bb usually will keep on wanting to breastfeed al the time, probably like every 10min or so, but dont worry, sometimes they want comfort and sometimes they r hungry since they dont feed much initially.
night time feeding is the most important and try feeding lying sideways so that u can sleep too. i did that, and just let my bb sucked while i slept.
happy breastfeeding and take good care and rest.
KittyCat: Bless you, my dear, for reminding me about the side-lying position! I was really struggling with latching her on using the cradle hold, clutch hold and football hold -_-
I just started yesterday evening, she latched on well and I managed to feed her from both sides. We did it again last night and early this morning. Need to supplement 1 oz of formula only!
i would recommend to use Medela Swing breastpump as it mimics baby’s sucking action. You can read more on medela website. I used cheap RM99 battery operated pump, Avent ISIS manual pump but failed till i switched to medela swing,, my milk amount better and helps a lot. Also pump other side breast while breastfeeding your little one as though breastfeeding twins. It will help stimulate better like using a double breastpump.
For increasing milk, drinks plenty of liquid (water, soup, milo, horlicks ….) I m drinking almost 4 litre during my office hours.
Mott is right, sleep awhen baby sleeps. No choice. Remember, stress / tiring will only reduce the milk amount. So, be happy !
For the pump, I already recommended to 4 new-mommies and they are very satisfied with the pump.
I also ‘suffering’ taking care and sparing time with my elder kid (2 years old) while my younger one is 8 mths + now. My elder just loves to jealous & make all sorts of naughty acts to attract attentions. Sometimes is fun but sometimes just drive you crazy…. haha
well, i am exhausted but enjoy also ..
I believe that most breastfeeding mommas can identify with what you said about collecting only 1-2 oz liquid gold when we use the breastpump. I was also a momma with not much breastmilk to boast about, but still managed to breastfeed (although not exclusively till both babies reach 1 year old ++).
Rest-assured, when you keep breastfeeding her, you would be sendng signal to your body to automatically increase its milk production, and it will! Trust me on this! The more you breastfeed, the more milk you’ll have, but keep yourself hydrated and drink lotsa chicken soup and eat anchovies, or whatever you feel helps with milk “factory” production!
I don’t breastfeed exclusively for both babies, especially during confinement period, when my body is aching and crying for much needed rest. I understand your dilemma..spending what seems like eternity breastfeeding the baby, only to have her poop and then, she cries again for milk milk. My solution?? Heehee…I’m not encouraging you to use bottle, but I happily alternate between breast and bottle, eg. breast first, and then next feeding, bottle. When I’m up to it, I breastfeed as much as possible. It really saves my sanity that way…I’m not too exhausted and have the motivation to keep breastfeeding.
Listen to your body and baby–you’re in the best position to decide what’s best. Enjoy the journey!
P/s Check out some really useful breastfeeding material here.
I gained a lot of bf info there!Definitely a must-read!
KittyCat: Ya, I’m not going for exclusive breastfeeding this time. Nearly dropped dead from exhaustion the first few nights she was back.
Hubby told me to give myself a break and not kill myself trying to achieve perfection.
Since I allowed myself the option of supplementing with formula, I’ve actually been breastfeeding her more
Aiyo… you’re scaring me now…. what is more I am stuck in a house with 2 noisy toddlers. Darrius is definitely not as helpful as your boy and I can foresee he will be a nuisance rather than giving me any helps.
I better get my pump ready too just in case I am experiencing what you went/going through. Just got back from the ob/gyn and he told me baby is down but still not ‘locked’ so we are patiently waiting…
Did you try eating oats cookies/ oat milk?
Sadly enough, one of the best way of increasing milk supply is to have enough rest. But we all know that it’s not possible with 2 in tow, isn’t it??! I found that drinking massive (and I really mean, MASSIVE) amounts of fluids really helped. My measure is that I have to pee every 20-30mins else I wasn’t drinking enough. In my case, my CL gave Brad formula at night while I woke up to pump every 3 hours during the first 10 days. This gave me some rest and Brad, enough milk. Before the end of 2nd week, I built up enough supply to fully breasfeed even at nights. So perhaps you could try this method?
hey, u seem to know what to do to increase your milk supply. u shld just let her suckle to her content if she doesnt scream that is as the suckling will help increase your supply eventually. i know it is taxing having ur baby suckle at ur breasts 24/7 but this actually helps.
not sure where ur buying ur fenugreek seeds from but the supermarket ones works just as well as the pills from GNC and it’s so much cheaper! read from Chin Nee to just swallow half a teaspoon in the mornings.
also, not sure if u have a lactation consultant there? coz dr. koe here also provide some pills to increase supply. i have not taken them but some of my friends did. it helps for some of them.
good luck with ur supply and yes, sleeps when baby sleeps if u can (i know i couldn’t!). tk care!
like mott wrote, sleep when baby is sleeping. And drink lots of liquids. And wake her up more during the day for feeding. I know I am repeating what others had written. But it worked for me.
All the best in breastfeeding. Keep us updated.
hey, congratulations on the arrival of yr new baby. take care ya
and rest more
As for the fenugreek, we bought a bag of fenugreek seeds (biji halba) from the supermarket and made tea out of it
). At night, are you feeding her sitting up or lying on your side?
The first month is the toughest, when you have to live with very little sleep at night but things can only get easier once you get past that. At least this time round you have a supportive CL
Bf lying down and sleeping when she sleeps would be best to help you get more rest.
One more thing, try to get the two of them to nap and sleep roughly at the same time, then you too can nap and sleep, and dont need to worry about nobody takes care of him.
Every afternoon, all of us nap together.
sorry that i can’t offer u any advice, no experience…. i’m here more to absorb all the advices for my coming battle….hopefully it won’t be too challenging!
sincerelly extending u best of luck & moral support….keep up yr good work & trust that u can do it !!
oh dear, you must be very tired to take care of her. I can imagine because my Jem was about like your girl during my confinement, i was so stressed and so exhausted to take care of her. But things got better once she was about 3 months old..
personally herbal soup works best for me, just boil the chicken soup with the red dates, kei-ji, dong sum, but keit and dried longan, drink the soup twice a day and you will have creamy milk!
take care dear.
KittyCat: Thanks, dear – so glad to hear someone else with a baby like mine! Pretty tiring as my night is now day and day is night
I have started to take chicken now with dong guai and am hoping to get both the “bou” and breastmilk LOL
Boy, am I glad I’m done with the baby phase. I remembered when Ryan was like your girl…feeds so slowly, when finished, time to poop, then time to feed and the cycle is non stop.
I too pumped 2oz only regardless what I take, so sorry no advice to help but just persevere and things will improve soon. I know it’s easier said than done but trust us, we’ve all been there. Take care ya. Hugs.
Kittycat, just try your best. Don’t give yourself too much pressure. It doesn’t make us any worse as a mommy just because we feed our baby formula. I was like you, not having enough milk last time and discouraging comments from certain people made me felt even more incompetent as a mommy. I preservered and managed to bf Ryan for 2 mths + and I’m proud of myself eventhough the duration was really nothing to shout about.
I gained a lot of info from your post and the comments here. Hopefully I’ll do better with BB2.
Btw.. they say drinking soup with raw papaya / squid helps. Worth a try, afterall Im sure the soup taste yummy.
Good luck dear. If you come up with any great success, please share with us ya.
My experience tells me that enough rest and lots of soup & fluid will definitely increase the milk supply. Now the problem is we are constantly lack of rest during the first few weeks hence the low supply. Chew Lee is right, rest while the baby sleep (side -lying positionis the best!). Whenever I wake up from a short 30 mins of rest, my breasts usually are engorged with milk.
P/S: the ang mo here adviced me to drink lots of malt drink like non-alcholic beer. It works perfectly for me
drink more fluid (milo, milk, warm water, red dates beverage), soups (boiled fish and papaya) and rest/sleep when baby sleeps… mind you I even did a log record on my fluid intake and baby’s milk intake from which side of breast, the time and how many times for poo and pee… I was so so determined last time to bf sucessfully…
In order to increase milk is let baby sucks as much as possible… I did and besides going to loo, eating and clean myself you can find me lying with baby during my last confinement. The first 3 months will be difficult but just think that later on it will be a bliss…
hi, how’s it going? good to know you’re continuing to breastfeed. i fully agree with the suggestions above, i.e. to drink PLENTY of fluids. my experience with ryan is he’s a good drinker and my first few days were a nightmare, with him screaming for milk (mine came on day 6) and i honestly imagined my nipples were going to drop dead any second. thank goodness for medela’s PureLan, which helped to “repair” my nipples a bit. but perseverance will pay off, and now i have accumulated a good backup milk supply.
i did give in twice though, once when i was in the hospital and the nurses brought him to me like, every hour and i had absolutely no rest, and another time when MIL was at home with us (it pleased her very much to feed him formula, for some reason).
KittyCat: Hi there! Thanks for the moral support. I have been drinking *more* fluids but I think the problems lie in not having enough rest due to a) work and b) managing the household. Just imagine our weekends when the crazy toddler’s at home…
Things are not running smoothly yet and I’m looking for a daytime auntie to help with cooking and caring for the kids. Know anyone???
Plus, this CL is strange as she loves to stare at me breastfeed AND exclaim, “She’s not full!” or pick her up and tell her repeatedly, “You’re not full, aren’t you?”. I guess she feels helpless since she can’t help much with the girl stuck at my boobs every 2 hours.
Once I find the daytime auntie, I’m hoping that I’ll get enough rest and the supply will go up so I can cut out the formula completely…