Not Enough Fat In Milk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop obsessing about what you are eating and if there is enough "fat in the milk". Stressing less is going to help the most when breastfeeding. Honestly. So the pediatrician said to supplement. You need to listen to him or her. Since you are also pumping, why not ask if you can supplement with more breastmilk with lipids in there? We used olive oil for our NICU baby. Maybe they can help you with a "recipe" based on what you are comfortable with, like a bit of formula (it's not the end of the world) and lipids in breastmilk?

It's not as convenient, it's just as nutritious, and it is certainly more scientific than screwing around with your diet and wondering what is passing through (which in my experience is never the right answer).

Good luck!

I've never heard of adding olive oil to breast milk. Is it safe?

That's a question for the pediatrician, but I would not give oil to a newborn baby.

How about to a 4lb baby? Even scarier? That's what NICU doctors advised. But I'm sure you're right.

I'm sure you understand that what was advised for your baby isn't best practice for all babies, right? I'm sure you understand that having a child in the NICU does not make you a pediatrician, right?

If you can read, I said that OP should work with her pediatrician and this is what we did. You followed up with 'I WOULD NEVER give oil to a newborn baby." Do you see how judgmental that is of what we did? So I was responding as to why we gave oil to our baby, though I don't know why I need to defend myself to you. And no, I'm not the pediatrician; my husband is!

I found the annoying doctor's wife!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best indication of whether he's getting enough to eat is his output - how many wet/dirty diapers are you changing every day, and are they really wet? For wet, it should be 6-7 heavy diapers (like, the weight should be enough to know that it's wet), and dirty varies a bit.

There's nothing wrong with supplementing, but some babies do gain a bit slower than others and it can be normal and perfectly OK.

OP here. He has a wet and dirty diaper ( blue line on diaper) at every feed.

I didn't have diapers with lines on them, so I have no idea how they work.

The important thing I see HOW MUCH pee is in the diaper? Can you feel, with your hand, the difference between the wet diaper weight and a clean one?

I read some of your other replies, and I wonder if you should feed only one breast each feeding? And if he doesn't empty it all the way, start on that one at the next feeding.

Have you checked Kelly Mom for breastfeeding advice?

A lactation consultant is a great resource - please don't take breastfeeding advice from your ped (although they will be able to tell you if baby I see gaining enough they probably don't know as much about YOUR side of the breastfeeding as a lactation consultant would).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop obsessing about what you are eating and if there is enough "fat in the milk". Stressing less is going to help the most when breastfeeding. Honestly. So the pediatrician said to supplement. You need to listen to him or her. Since you are also pumping, why not ask if you can supplement with more breastmilk with lipids in there? We used olive oil for our NICU baby. Maybe they can help you with a "recipe" based on what you are comfortable with, like a bit of formula (it's not the end of the world) and lipids in breastmilk?

It's not as convenient, it's just as nutritious, and it is certainly more scientific than screwing around with your diet and wondering what is passing through (which in my experience is never the right answer).

Good luck!

I've never heard of adding olive oil to breast milk. Is it safe?

That's a question for the pediatrician, but I would not give oil to a newborn baby.

How about to a 4lb baby? Even scarier? That's what NICU doctors advised. But I'm sure you're right.

I'm sure you understand that what was advised for your baby isn't best practice for all babies, right? I'm sure you understand that having a child in the NICU does not make you a pediatrician, right?

If you can read, I said that OP should work with her pediatrician and this is what we did. You followed up with 'I WOULD NEVER give oil to a newborn baby." Do you see how judgmental that is of what we did? So I was responding as to why we gave oil to our baby, though I don't know why I need to defend myself to you. And no, I'm not the pediatrician; my husband is!

1. I gave my opinion on your advice which is what people do on a message board. I did not type in caps. Your responses are overly dramatic and defensive. You might need to find a new hobby if you expect everyone on a message board to agree with you.

2. Having a baby in the NICU and a pediatrician for a husband doesn't qualify you to give medical advice to play with the infant's diet because you don't know OP's baby and the possible dozen other things that might be causing him not to be gaining weight.

3. Have a nice evening.

[Anonymous]

You don't seem to be eating enough. I reduced carbs and brought my diet under control much less severely than you are doing when DS was 3 mos, and his poops immediately turned green indicating he wasn't getting enough fat. And while I didn't pump much, what I did pump looked waterier. Changed my diet back, and his poops went back to normal also. (I know people say green poop is normal, but the changes were within a day of my diet changes.)

Also, don't stress about supplementing with formula right now. Your milk will continue to change, your supply will regulate, and you might just be able to give up the formula in a few weeks. And if not, there is absolutely nothing wrong with combo-feeding.

If a 4 week old isn't gaining weight, it's a big problem. Take it seriously. FWIW, my first did not gain weight either, despite my having tons of milk. I really do believe it wasn't fatty enough...because when I replaced one feed of pumped milk with formula she started gaining.

[Anonymous]

OP. Add carbs. That's what made a difference in my milk fat.

[Anonymous]

See a registered dietician. You look like you're not eating enough. What's your BMI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should also wean from the pumping. You don’t necessarily have an oversupply, your body is just responding to the pumping.

Op here. My baby wouldn't latch until week 2 so I had to pump. I got way more than normal. I have to pump because he doesn't empty the breasts when he eats. I heard that not draining the breasts can lead to mastitis.

But it’s a cycle where you are producing more milk than he’s drinking bc you’re pumping, so slowly decrease the pumping time each time until no pumping. You will adjust to produce less milk. You also need a lot more calories in your diet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, when you nurse, are you letting the baby have just one breast each feeding?

If not try that. And stop pumping.

You need to get out more of the high fat hindmilk.

Also you need to be eating more carbs.

I agree with all of this.

[Anonymous]

Ebf for 11 months now (Obviously we started supplementing solids around 9 months). I craved so much dairy fat when I started bf I can't imagine going without it. I eat a lot of whole Greek yogurt, whole milk, Irish butter, & eggs.

If you can't have any of those I would add in a lot of almond butter/peanut butter, almonds, almond milk or some other dairy milk substitute that has high fat. If cow milk is the problem can you have goat cheese?

I usually have egg rich pancakes for breakfast with Greek yogurt on top. If I have oatmeal I supplement it with milk and have apples with almond butter for a snack before lunch. For lunch I often have scrambled eggs, for dinner I often have white pizza. I also usually eat brownies for dessert. As you can see I crave so much dairy! More so than meat, really, but when they checked ds's iron at 9 mos it was fine (didn't require supplement as is common in ebf.)

I agree with the pp's that pumping isn't helping unless you are trying to build up a stash.

I also tend to crave rich, yeasty doughs (like pizza dough.). But in general I don't eat too many bread carbs and prefer rice as a carb. Also I like to eat salmon for dinner a few times a week. Hope this helps, good luck.

[Anonymous]

If I were you I would pump before he eats so he gets more of the hind milk. Nursing that many times a day at this age, he may just be getting the fore milk which is watery.

I eat a ton more than that (I'm not very big, 105 lbs) so I don't know what to tell you. I'd be very hungry on that diet. Normal day is two eggs for breakfast plus oatmeal, lunch with protein, carb, and vegetables, snack, dinner (again, a meat or fish, veggies, grains), then usually fruit plus a snack at night -- yogurt with toast.

[Anonymous]

19:50 here -- for fat, try coconut oil, olive oil, more avocado, nuts, fatty fish like salmon, sardines, etc. If you don't eat enough omegas your body will liquidate your stores to give to the baby since they are literally building a brain and nervous system.

[Anonymous]

I've lost track of what you can't eat/don't like but agree you probably need to add some more protein/carbs. I was starving all the time when nursing and never could have subsisted on a lunch of salad with 1/4 avocado. Can you eat beans? Add a cup of chili for lunch. I used to make homemade granola bars/energy balls for snacks- with oats, coconut, nuts, dried fruit, even a little chocolate.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions. I am going to comment on one post instead of commenting individually.

For the pp who commented on the LC. We have not had a weighted feed. When we had a babysitter, I set-up a phone appointment to ask how much to put in bottle for him. The LC said he is likely getting 2-3 ounces each feed.

Diapers - He is having mostly wet diapers. Sometimes it isn't that wet, but sometimes it's very full.

Pumping - I didn't realize you were not supposed to pump. Almost everything I read said to pump after each feed to increase supply. I will stop or try to decrease to maybe one pump. I feel too engorged if I don't.

Feeding: I have been offering both breasts. Is offering one breast called block feeding? I read that it's used to decrease supply. We don't use nipple shields because he hates them. He is doing well with latching but does take about 45 minutes to eat. He will often latch and relatch multiple times. I have flat nipples which I think makes it more difficult.

BMI - I am just under 5'2 and my current weight is 132lbs. My pre-baby weight is 120. That's a BMI of 21/22 which is normal.

Eating: I feel like I eat a lot. I eat large amounts of the food I listed. I will start swapping out and eating more carbs, but fruit is carbs, so that doesn't make much sense to me. I never track food but I did to see what it will say. With what I eat, I am getting 1700 calories, 43g of fat, and 58g of protein. I've read that's a good amount. I do eat large amounts of my food - oatmeal is 2 cups, large bowls for fruits and salad, 1.5 - cups of veggies and potatoes ( made with olive oil) at dinner. I also am always thirsty and drink about 100oz a day.

I will try some of the suggest for feeding and start adding in more fats like more avocado, coconut yogurt, cashew milk, etc. I do want to point out I eat fruit because I need the potassium. I have a medical condition which causes low potassium, so I need to eat a good amount of bananas, kiwi, berries, etc., to keep my potassium at a normal level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions. I am going to comment on one post instead of commenting individually.

For the pp who commented on the LC. We have not had a weighted feed. When we had a babysitter, I set-up a phone appointment to ask how much to put in bottle for him. The LC said he is likely getting 2-3 ounces each feed.

Diapers - He is having mostly wet diapers. Sometimes it isn't that wet, but sometimes it's very full.

Pumping - I didn't realize you were not supposed to pump. Almost everything I read said to pump after each feed to increase supply. I will stop or try to decrease to maybe one pump. I feel too engorged if I don't.

Feeding: I have been offering both breasts. Is offering one breast called block feeding? I read that it's used to decrease supply. We don't use nipple shields because he hates them. He is doing well with latching but does take about 45 minutes to eat. He will often latch and relatch multiple times. I have flat nipples which I think makes it more difficult.

BMI - I am just under 5'2 and my current weight is 132lbs. My pre-baby weight is 120. That's a BMI of 21/22 which is normal.

Eating: I feel like I eat a lot. I eat large amounts of the food I listed. I will start swapping out and eating more carbs, but fruit is carbs, so that doesn't make much sense to me. I never track food but I did to see what it will say. With what I eat, I am getting 1700 calories, 43g of fat, and 58g of protein. I've read that's a good amount. I do eat large amounts of my food - oatmeal is 2 cups, large bowls for fruits and salad, 1.5 - cups of veggies and potatoes ( made with olive oil) at dinner. I also am always thirsty and drink about 100oz a day.

I will try some of the suggest for feeding and start adding in more fats like more avocado, coconut yogurt, cashew milk, etc. I do want to point out I eat fruit because I need the potassium. I have a medical condition which causes low potassium, so I need to eat a good amount of bananas, kiwi, berries, etc., to keep my potassium at a normal level.

OP here. I forgot to add that I am starting to think it has more to do with his not getting enough, and less about what I am eating. He sleeps almost all of the time expect for waking to eat. I noticed he was sucking and sucking his hands while sleeping every time. I thought that meant he wanted a pacifier. I thought he just wanted the comfort of sucking. I noticed since feeding him formula at almost every feed, he doesn't do it. He will only do it after I don't feed him formula. I am starting to think he is getting enough just nursing. He is fussy in his sleep, but I chalked that up to wanting to be held or comforted.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you feeding the baby frequently? Every 2-3 hours? If he's super sleepy you may have to wake him to eat.

Have you tried eating other things, like different cuisines, different preparations of your favorite foods? I agree your diet isn't varied enough. There is so much good food in the world -- try branching out for a week.