Judy’s Advice: Nurse On Demand For Best Milk Supply

Hi all, I have to supplement when feeding my 4 week old. I have been using the Playtex slow flow nipple and it takes him an hour to drink 3 ounces. Sometimes he can’t even get any out. Is it too soon to switch to the medium flow nipple?

(posted on MamaSource message board)

Congratulations on your new baby! If you are supplementing in addition to breastfeeding, then you will want to stick with the slow flow nipple. If you switch to a faster flow, then your baby will be more likely to get nipple confusion and will start to prefer the bottle over the breast.

If you don’t mind my asking, why do you need to supplement? I would be happy to help you get to the point where you no longer need to supplement and can breastfeed exclusively. I have written two articles to help breastfeeding moms which you can see at http://breastfeedingtips.net and http://pumpingtips.com.

Judy,
I have been trying everything with a lactation specialist. I had a good supply, but a latch problem caused it to deplete. I have tried the supplement device around the neck, but saw no results. I am now pump exclusively, taking fenugreek and reglen. I am getting 8 oz. a day and having to supplement the rest.

Any advice?

Did you try using a nipple shield with your baby? Your baby is always going to be more efficient at getting your milk out than the pump is. Since your baby is so little, my best advice would be to get him to nurse directly on your breast as often as possible.

I had problems with latch with my son when he was born and the nipple shield saved us. I only recommend them as a last resort, but it may be something you will want to try with your baby. If you can get him back on your breast it will make everything easier.

Pumping and feeding is a lot of work – if you take some steps now to get him latched back on, you will have a much easier time in the long run. It may be a difficult few weeks to do it, but it will be so worth it! I went through this with my son too. My milk hadn’t come in, he was dehydrated, I tried the supplemental feeder. What we ended up doing was using the nipple shield (he wouldn’t latch without it) and then I fed him as often as he wanted to at the breast, but I never let him go more than 2 hours without eating (during the day – 3 hours at night) for about a week I would wake him to feed if he was sleeping and it had been more than 2 or 3 hours since his last feed.

This got my milk supply up and got him nursing successfully. We then kept nursing on demand and didn’t start trying to wean off of using the nipple shield until he was nursing regularly.. I also pumped after each nursing session for a week. I got almost nothing out, but the added stimulation was good for helping to build my supply. You can also go to Dr. Newman’s website and tell him you are having supply problems. He can write you a prescription for Domperidone. It is a prescription drug that increases milk supply. You can’t buy it in this country, but you can order it online from Canada. As long as you have a doctors prescription, they will send it to you. You can get a prescription from your own OB or from Dr. Newman online.

How much fenugreek are you taking? Where are you buying it? I found that the one at GNC isn’t very good, but if you buy the kind that they sell at Whole Foods (fenugreek and blessed thistle mixture) that works better. You will need to take about 3 to 4 pills 3-4 times per day. You will know you are taking enough when your skin smells like maple syrup.

My pumping tips article, that I mentioned before, is written for moms who are going back to work – but it has lots of great pumping tips – even if you aren’t worried about going back to work.

My biggest piece of advice is to stop the bottles as quickly as possible- they are hurting your supply. Read this blog post about a client of mine who had supply issues. Her Dr and pediatrician gave her bad advice and were hurting her supply.

Let me know if I can help in any other way.

Judy

Help For Breastfeeding A Premature Baby

As a expecting mother one of our many fears we have is going into labor too soon. It’s on your mind, it’s something you are thinking about especially as those long ending months start showing the light at the end of the tunnel.

What do you do when you have your baby early? Of course you are going to want to feed your beautiful bundle of joy- but what if the stress, tubes, and total mental being prevents you from getting your milk flowing. Where are some places you can turn- who can you ask for help?

Request a Lactation Consultant – Yes, you do have the rights to request a visit from the hospital lactation consultant. Many have them on staff and ready to visit new moms on a daily basis. They will even show you how to use the monster of breastpump that they will provide you at the hospital. The breastpump is really not that hard to use- or scary- although hospitals tend to put them on big stands with lots of protective casing around it so it just seems so crazy and overwhelming to even look at.

Should the hospital not have a lactation consultant on staff, then have your hubby hit the net for a local La Leche League leader in your area. Better yet, find a LLL group in your area early in your pregnancy. It’s a great time for bonding, meeting other mom’s, and you’ll already be comfortable with the leaders.

Rent a Breastpump - As I stated earlier many hospitals will give you a pump to use while you are at the hospital. The hospital grade pumps are great as their suction and power is great for mimicking the natural actions of your baby and allow you to pump milk that can be feed to your baby. If you are leaving the hospital, ask about pump rentals. Should they not have a program within the hospital they will be able to connect you with a local company that offers rentals. A great place to check is your local WIC office or consignment shops.

Buy a Breastpump – Many premature babies do not have the strength needed to nurse enough to keep your milk flowing at a good level. While many others dow wonderfully at the breast, some mothers like to add in a few extra sessions with the pump. Not only is it great to keep yourself stimulated it’s also nice to have that extra milk on hand for when you may want to take a extra long bubble bath. Make sure that when you are looking at breastpumps you pick one out that is recommended for frequent use – no hand pumps please! Hand pumps are great for occasional use or for relieving engorgement but not for daily, frequent use.

Breastmilk Banks – Donation banks are a wonderful place to get breastmilk for your baby if for some reason you are not able to nurse. Even if your baby is not premature and you want to give her the best possible food you can contact a bank near you. To locate a bank near you try doing a GoodSearch.org search for “breastmilk bank, your city, your state” this is the best way to narrow down banks closest to you. One bank that has some wonderful information about donated breastmilk is Milkin’ Mamas

I would love to hear from my readers on this topic- Was your baby premature? Where you able to breastfeed your baby either at the breast or through pumping? This is such a wonderful topic to be talking about as hopefully we can take some fear away from mom’s and let them know there IS a place to turn!

Earth Mama Angel Baby – We Have Our Winners!

Okay, I made you wait – but it’s worth it! Below is an oh-so-cute video of my son picking our winners. Yes, he is the official name picker for Mommy News Blog! Congratulations to our winners and I can’t wait to hear what you ladies get with your gift certificates!

Be on the look out for more video on our new YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/MommyNews

Do You Know Your Rights?

Picture this:

You are at the mall with your family and your baby is hungry. So you find the closest bench to sit down and feed her. Your husband and older child keep walking around. While you are sitting there an older woman walks by and smiles, a group of teenagers take a second glance, and the next passerby, a young security officer, comes up to you and says “Ma’am, you are going to have to go to the family restroom on the other side of the mall, it’s next to the food court”.

Shocked you look at him and you… [fill in the end of this story in the comments section.]

Many states across The United States have put into place legislation that protect the nursing mother’s right to nurse anywhere and anytime she wants. If you as a person are allowed to be in the area then you are allowed to nurse. Sounds simple right?

Many mothers have found that if you use a nursing cover, most people do not even take a second glance. Well, perhaps they are taking a second look because they like your nursing cover. For the most part however, people just carry on as if you are not there. Other moms are comfortable in their own skin and nursing their little one in public with no cover- just their normal clothing. This is when you will have second and third glances from passerbys. This is also when you will most likely be asked to leave the area- or cover up.

It’s important to know your rights not only to know what to do in a situation like the above, but it’s empowering and gives you strength knowing that it’s not just you! So go out- nurse in public!

Check out La Leche League International for current legislation in your area- The United States or Internationally

Breastfeeding Is NOT Obscene

So there is a Facebook movement, now there is a blog that’s all about the beautiful bond between mother and child. Breastfeeding Is Not Obscene.

This blog posts and accepts all types of breastfeeding photos. I had a lot of fun browsing through all the photos. Here are my favorite three:

Togetherness While Feeding

Which ones are your favorite? Are any of yours on this blog? Let us know in the comments section.

Also, if you have great, high resolution photos that you’d like to share with us for our blog- please let us know!

Wondering Little Hands

One of our readers has a question- and I’d LOVE to hear the tips and advice from you! I’ve always said that when breastfeeding you should follow (within reason) advice and tips from a variety of moms. What worked for your best friend, Sally, may not work for you- but a tip you caught in the latest issue of Mothering did the trick!

Hey Judy! I’m loving the new blog- you have some really great tips! I do have a question for you. I’m still nursing my 14 month and it’s really annoying as while I’m feeding him he’s always wanting to “play” with the other side. To me it just feels weird and I don’t want him doing that. What are some things I can do? I usually just hold his hand but many time he’ll fight me and squirm and it makes for a frustrating nursing session.
Thanks for any help you can provide me!

So ladies- I’m certain you have had this happen to you. Did it not bother you or did you try things like nursing necklaces to keep wondering little hands busy?

Earth Mama Angel Baby – Bring On The Comfort!

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to test out the Breastfeeding Support Kit by Earth Mama Angel Baby®. As many of you know I’m coming to the end of my breastfeeding days with my son, so I asked a local mom with a little one to try out the products and let me know what she thought. It actually worked out wonderful as she needed the added support and I didn’t want to be leaking all over the place!

Thanks to a wonderful mom, Judy Masucci of A Mother’s Boutique & Mommy News and Views, I was able to test out the Breastfeeding Support Kit from Earth Mama Angel Baby. First, of all I just have to say that the packaging is awesome! It’s perfect as is to give as a gift – so if you are heading off to the hospital to visit a new mom or to a baby shower this is seriously the best gift ever and better then a little clothing outfit set.
My hopes were that I would receive some pampering for myself as well as increase my milk supply as I’ve been very stressed lately and I feel that my milk production has decreased. So I’ll let you know about each product included in the kit one-by-one as they each deserve their own spotlight!

Bosom Buddies – Herbal Breast Compresses for Nursing Mamas – this one I almost used wrong so I am so glad that there is a big ole “Don’t Drink Me” label on the top of the jar. I’m assuming that since there is this label that I’m not the only one that almost made a hot tea drink out of it! Basically the concept of this compress, made from organic ingredients, is that instead of just slapping a cabbage leaf or two all over your breasts- you get to do it with style and with some added herbal benefits. It includes two small muslim bags that you fill up with the herbal mixture, then prepare similar to a cup of tea [boiling water, steep for 5 minutes, drain and let cool slightly] then you place the “tea bag” onto your breasts and let the warm herbal mixture do it’s magic.

Now, I don’t know if this is too much information or not but since this is a breastfeeding blog and we are all adults I don’t mind sharing with you. I very rarely nurse from the right breast and because of that my right is much smaller then the left and it gets sore quickly. My son has always preferred the left breast and I got to the point a while ago that I just stopped putting him to that side. So when I do I notice that later that day- oh goodness I am so sore! It’s similar to what I felt those first few days after having the baby and oh I wished I had this kit back then. The compresses really do relax and soothe. I did look weird sitting on the couch with my parts hanging all out with “tea bags” on me- but hey comfort before beauty!

So all in all except for the slight mess that you make filling the bags and the length of time required to prepare, heat, and cool the bags- I really loved Natural Nipple Butter – this lanolin-free, certified vegan, cream-like balm is what is recommended on the Bossum Buddies as a follow up to the compress therapy so it was the next thing that I tried out. Yum- I LOVE the smell. It’s not strong at all and really not overpowering at all, but since I was testing this all out for a review I was really sniffing at the little jar. It does have some cocoa butter in it so I’m 100% sure that’s what smells so yummy. This butter is very soothing and wonderful to put on. I’ve tried other nipple ‘creams, butters, etc’ and one thing that I really dislike is the oily and sticky feeling. I did not have either with this product. It does say that it’s a nipple butter but, um, I put it all over my breasts as it was just so moisturizing and soothing. I tend not to put any moisturizer anywhere near my breasts, so with this dry weather they really needed the comforting mango and cocoa butters.

A great benefit is that you do not have to wash this off before feeding baby. It’s all natural and will not hurt baby- bonus cause when my baby is ready to eat – he’s ready! A big complaint of mine is that the jar is only 1 fl oz and it’s not meant to slather your body with cause – AHH that would be so awesome!

Milkmaid Tea – Organic Herbal Tea for Breastfeeding Mamas- this caffeine free tea is a great soothing tea that ‘encourages’ your milk production. Okay so the caffeine free is perfect for night time, but sometimes in the morning I wish it did have some caffeine in it to give me that extra boost to get going but that’s okay. I really shouldn’t be consuming caffeine anyway!

One of the main ingredients in this tasty tea is fennel – long been used to help increase breast milk supply. So I was really excited to try something that would actually boost my production as stress, exhaustion, and a baby that is sick and not nursing as often as normal can really cause havoc with your supply. It can be prepared as a hot or an iced tea. I personally had to had a little squirt of honey to my hot tea- don’t know if it was just out of habit or I needed that extra touch of sweetness. I loved this blend as an iced tea drink though – like really loved it as it’s now gone!

As I mentioned before, I always tend to nurse my son on the left side and very rarely on the right – I noticed when drinking this product, in combination with the others listed here, that my right side started leaking all the time. So I know that it’s not broken, I can still make milk on that side!

So, what was one down side? The prepackaged tea bags are just bags, no handy sting with a tag attached to it. So in order to get the bag out of your drink you need to use a spoon. Not really a big deal, unless you have gotten comfy on the couch, covered up and into the book you are reading and realize that you have no spoon and there is a bag floating around in your drink.

Booby Tubes – gel-free, microwavable and freezable breast packs to help ease symptoms of breast engorgement and mastitis – last but certainly not least! I saved this one for last as this is by far my FAVORITE breastfeeding support product yet! When I first came home with my son, I was a milk making machine and boy was I sore. You know what I did- run washcloths under hot water and laid them on myself. While it seemed to do the job- it was messy!

The booby tubes are SO much easier- just pop them in the microwave for a few seconds then they just coil so nicely right around your nipple or place right over the sore engorged spot. As a experienced breastfeeding mom, I can tell that if I were just getting started and needed something to help me with getting the let down going then this would be perfect. Heat the booby tubes up, place on the breast about 5 minutes before feeding or pumping and seriously I know it would really help- at the least the mental and comforting aspect would do wonders.

After feeding and pumping one awesome thing you can do is let the tubes cool and whoo! it’s such a rush and feels so wonderful. What’s great about the tubes is they don’t get “too” cold as you would find if you were putting ice or and ice pack on your breasts- ouch! Plus, these are soft 100% organic fabric and can bend and twist in all different ways to really fit each and every breast size and shape. Not breastfeeding anymore, chill the tubes in the freezer then place on the back of your neck it’s just enough to give you a chill!

~ Alaina Frederick, mother to three boys – Hunter, 5; Karter, 3; Parker, 1 – each with their own breastfeeding success story of different lengths and experiences. You can keep up with her and her bunch at Life With 3 Boys.

Earth Mama Angel Baby is one of the few companies that really strives to exceed your expectations with everything they do- from attractive and minimalist packaging, to organic and natural ingredients- they have got it covered! Recently they were even in the news as being the product used by Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital and given to new moms. Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital understands the importance of using natural, organic products especially for little babies that shouldn’t be washed and cared for with products containing formaldehyde!

Earth Mama Angel Baby also keeps in mind mom and her needs- even when the unexpected happens. This is one thing that I love about this company as it doesn’t shy away from keeping in mind those that have had their world come crashing down upon them with the loss of an angel.

Win It!
Earth Mama Angel Baby® has offered to two of our lucky readers $25 Gift Certificates that you will be able to use on anything of your choosing! So how do you become one of our lucky winners? Do item number 1 below. You can get extra entries by doing items 2-4, but be sure to leave a comment for each thing that you do!

1) Visit Earth Mama Angel Baby® and check out their wide variety of products. Comment here on what your favorite product is [besides the ones mentioned in the quoted review].

2) Follow us on Twitter @MommyNews and tweet about this contest. Don’t forget to leave a comment here with the url of your tweet! You can tweet once per day for extra entries! Below is just an example of something you may feel like tweeting:

I just entered to win one of two gift certificates from @MommyNews at http://tinyurl.com/d4sv6f and you can too!

3) Email your friends about this contest and CC contest@mommynewsblog.com. Don’t worry we will not spam your friends or add them to any mailing list.

4) Blog about this on your blog and leave a link here in the comments to your posting – you can also add us to your blogroll!

Good luck- don’t forget there are TWO winners and this contest ends April 7th at 5 pm EST, and in Mommy News and Views style we will have a unique way of selecting our winners for sure!

Our winners have been announced – find out who they are in this post with video!!

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