Not Enough Fat In Milk.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thank you for the suggestions.

Feeding: He seems much more content with the formula. We also fed him pumped milk twice, and that worked. I am really starting to think it's had less to I with my diet, and more to do with his latch. I am going to make an appointment with a LC. If he doesn't latch, I don't mind pumping. I find it easier and I can be done in 20-30 minutes. He takes up to an hour to eat.

Eating: I am looking up recipes I can try. I am going to start adding more calories into my diet, along with healthy fats, quinoa, brown rice, non-dairy yogurts, etc. I think I have been drinking so much water, I get too full for food. I am going to cut that back a little.

[Anonymous]

OP I'm going to give you a big tip here:

If you drop breastfeeding and go straight to formula everyone might be happier and it doesn't make you a bad mom and your baby will thrive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I will address everything one large post again.

Feeding: He eats around the clock every 2-3 hours. We let him wake up to eat. We have been using a European formula which he seems to like. The pediatrian said feed every 3 hours by breast, and then offer 2 ounces of milk. His poop is yellow which I read means he is getting a good amount of fat.
He doesn't have jaundice, and doesn't have a tongue tie. He does have a weak suck and always pops off the breast while eating. I am seriously considering just eping if it's his latching that's the problem. It's easier and he seems to take the bottle better.

Eating: I will try to increase my calories. I eat a blend diet because I have severe acid reflux that acts up badly when I eat anything too acidic, spicy, or with caffine. I can't eat the things suggested like curry. My acid reflux is so severe it's called Gerd. I have achy chest pains and my chest feels like a weight is weighing me down when it gets very bad. I can't risk trying new things.

PP - I had GERD during pregnancy so I understand eating bland. At one point I couldn't eat bread. I'm the one who suggested sweet potatoes. My concern about your calories is less for the baby (because your body will take your nutrients for the baby), it's for you. At 1700 calories while breastfeeding you are effectively only eating 1200 (or less depending on your supply). Before I was pregnant, I ate about 1600 calories to not gain. I make at least twice the average supply and and eat closer to 3000 calories. I still lost over 60 pounds from my highest pregnancy weight and over 30 from my pre-pregnancy weight.

EPing is certainly a valid option. You can also ask about an SNS which allows you to supplement at the breast and/or suck training with an OT to address the underlying cause of his weak suck.

I know it probably feels like you have received a lot of criticism, I want to say well done for working to figure out how to help you baby thrive.

1700 is right about where she should be. 1200 calories is the recommended intake these days an additional 500 for nursing moms. Three issue is OP needs better calorie sources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I will address everything one large post again.

Feeding: He eats around the clock every 2-3 hours. We let him wake up to eat. We have been using a European formula which he seems to like. The pediatrian said feed every 3 hours by breast, and then offer 2 ounces of milk. His poop is yellow which I read means he is getting a good amount of fat.
He doesn't have jaundice, and doesn't have a tongue tie. He does have a weak suck and always pops off the breast while eating. I am seriously considering just eping if it's his latching that's the problem. It's easier and he seems to take the bottle better.

Eating: I will try to increase my calories. I eat a blend diet because I have severe acid reflux that acts up badly when I eat anything too acidic, spicy, or with caffine. I can't eat the things suggested like curry. My acid reflux is so severe it's called Gerd. I have achy chest pains and my chest feels like a weight is weighing me down when it gets very bad. I can't risk trying new things.

PP - I had GERD during pregnancy so I understand eating bland. At one point I couldn't eat bread. I'm the one who suggested sweet potatoes. My concern about your calories is less for the baby (because your body will take your nutrients for the baby), it's for you. At 1700 calories while breastfeeding you are effectively only eating 1200 (or less depending on your supply). Before I was pregnant, I ate about 1600 calories to not gain. I make at least twice the average supply and and eat closer to 3000 calories. I still lost over 60 pounds from my highest pregnancy weight and over 30 from my pre-pregnancy weight.

EPing is certainly a valid option. You can also ask about an SNS which allows you to supplement at the breast and/or suck training with an OT to address the underlying cause of his weak suck.

I know it probably feels like you have received a lot of criticism, I want to say well done for working to figure out how to help you baby thrive.

1700 is right about where she should be. 1200 calories is the recommended intake these days an additional 500 for nursing moms. Three issue is OP needs better calorie sources.

wtf? no. 1200 calories is dieting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you for the suggestions.

Feeding: He seems much more content with the formula. We also fed him pumped milk twice, and that worked. I am really starting to think it's had less to I with my diet, and more to do with his latch. I am going to make an appointment with a LC. If he doesn't latch, I don't mind pumping. I find it easier and I can be done in 20-30 minutes. He takes up to an hour to eat.

Eating: I am looking up recipes I can try. I am going to start adding more calories into my diet, along with healthy fats, quinoa, brown rice, non-dairy yogurts, etc. I think I have been drinking so much water, I get too full for food. I am going to cut that back a little.

Does he spit up a lot? I think you're probably on the right track to assume that he's just not getting enough volume. Keep supplementing and get to a LC to do a weighted feed if you want to figure it out for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you for the suggestions.

Feeding: He seems much more content with the formula. We also fed him pumped milk twice, and that worked. I am really starting to think it's had less to I with my diet, and more to do with his latch. I am going to make an appointment with a LC. If he doesn't latch, I don't mind pumping. I find it easier and I can be done in 20-30 minutes. He takes up to an hour to eat.

Eating: I am looking up recipes I can try. I am going to start adding more calories into my diet, along with healthy fats, quinoa, brown rice, non-dairy yogurts, etc. I think I have been drinking so much water, I get too full for food. I am going to cut that back a little.

Does he spit up a lot? I think you're probably on the right track to assume that he's just not getting enough volume. Keep supplementing and get to a LC to do a weighted feed if you want to figure it out for sure.

Op here. No he doesn't spit up but the milk will drip from the sides of his mouth while he's nursing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I'm going to give you a big tip here:

If you drop breastfeeding and go straight to formula everyone might be happier and it doesn't make you a bad mom and your baby will thrive.

Op here. Not really a big tip because I don't want to do that. I've seen other threads, and it a shame that posters like you keep telling nursing moms to just go for formula when things are tough. Breastfeeding doesn't come easy for everyone, but I want to feed him breast milk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I'm going to give you a big tip here:

If you drop breastfeeding and go straight to formula everyone might be happier and it doesn't make you a bad mom and your baby will thrive.

Op here. Not really a big tip because I don't want to do that. I've seen other threads, and it a shame that posters like you keep telling nursing moms to just go for formula when things are tough. Breastfeeding doesn't come easy for everyone, but I want to feed him breast milk.

Fine, then you need to be responsible and keep close tabs on his weight and supplement as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I'm going to give you a big tip here:

If you drop breastfeeding and go straight to formula everyone might be happier and it doesn't make you a bad mom and your baby will thrive.

Op here. Not really a big tip because I don't want to do that. I've seen other threads, and it a shame that posters like you keep telling nursing moms to just go for formula when things are tough. Breastfeeding doesn't come easy for everyone, but I want to feed him breast milk.

Fine, then you need to be responsible and keep close tabs on his weight and supplement as needed.

That's exactly what OP is going. Stop trying to make her look like she isn't a good mom. I am a little tired of you formula people. Sorry if you couldn't back it at breastfeeding. Not everyone is a quitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I'm going to give you a big tip here:

If you drop breastfeeding and go straight to formula everyone might be happier and it doesn't make you a bad mom and your baby will thrive.

Op here. Not really a big tip because I don't want to do that. I've seen other threads, and it a shame that posters like you keep telling nursing moms to just go for formula when things are tough. Breastfeeding doesn't come easy for everyone, but I want to feed him breast milk.

Fine, then you need to be responsible and keep close tabs on his weight and supplement as needed.

That's exactly what OP is going. Stop trying to make her look like she isn't a good mom. I am a little tired of you formula people. Sorry if you couldn't back it at breastfeeding. Not everyone is a quitter.

lol! the only way to fail at feeding an infant is to not feed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

PP from 17:56 again.
I just saw this. Listen, latch is super important. Did your LC do a weighted feed to determine he is getting the 2-3 ounces? I'd call your ped and just ask about following up with 1 ounce of your own pumped milk after every feed instead of formula if that makes you more comforable. You are not using nipple shields by any chance are you to help with the latch? They are important if there is no other way to get him on, but eventually they become a handicap. Once your guy gets stronger and fuller (from the bottle follow up), he will become a stronger nurser.

NP here but this is great advice and EXACTLY what I did when I had a baby who wasn't gaining weight. Also had latch issues, had to use a nipple shield, was advised by the pediatrician to give 1 ounce of pumped milk or formula after every feeding. It sounds like you have a ton of pumped milk, so USE IT.

[Anonymous]

OP - I know you said he doesn't like the nipple shield, but you were probably only given the Medela ones which are awful. If you work with a good LC, she should have a variety of nipple shields for you to try -- I used the NUK ones with my older child and a fancy German bell or cherry shaped one with my younger child. They both also hated the Medela. I have flat nipples just like you and very similar sounding problems. I'm the person who posted above that I gave 1 oz of pumped milk after every feeding. Try a different nipple shield - there are several options on Amazon if you don't have an LC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I will address everything one large post again.

Feeding: He eats around the clock every 2-3 hours. We let him wake up to eat. We have been using a European formula which he seems to like. The pediatrian said feed every 3 hours by breast, and then offer 2 ounces of milk. His poop is yellow which I read means he is getting a good amount of fat.
He doesn't have jaundice, and doesn't have a tongue tie. He does have a weak suck and always pops off the breast while eating. I am seriously considering just eping if it's his latching that's the problem. It's easier and he seems to take the bottle better.

Eating: I will try to increase my calories. I eat a blend diet because I have severe acid reflux that acts up badly when I eat anything too acidic, spicy, or with caffine. I can't eat the things suggested like curry. My acid reflux is so severe it's called Gerd. I have achy chest pains and my chest feels like a weight is weighing me down when it gets very bad. I can't risk trying new things.

Given all your difficulties and allergies, have you seen a nutritionist? Like someone else said, you need like 500 extra calories when EBF. Would you normally really only be eating 1200 calories a day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I'm going to give you a big tip here:

If you drop breastfeeding and go straight to formula everyone might be happier and it doesn't make you a bad mom and your baby will thrive.

Op here. Not really a big tip because I don't want to do that. I've seen other threads, and it a shame that posters like you keep telling nursing moms to just go for formula when things are tough. Breastfeeding doesn't come easy for everyone, but I want to feed him breast milk.

Fine, then you need to be responsible and keep close tabs on his weight and supplement as needed.

What? Have you even read OP's posts? So sick of you sanctimommys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop pumping
so your body slows production a bit
so that your baby will get more hind milk when he nurses
which is full of fat.
problem solved

THIS!