Hi all,

I recently delivered a healthy baby boy.Its been 2 weeks yet i don't have sufficient breast milk to give my boy. So i have put him on the formula. I am using the breast pump to pump my milk and the max i can get for 24 hours is only 50-60ml of my milk.

I am really concerned regarding this matter. Will the baby grow with good health without sufficient breast milk.I am taking all types of lactogenic foods to up my breast milk supply but no change as yet.

I am a 27 yr old healthy woman. Initially during my pregnancy there was little of family trouble and i was stressed out. Is this the reason for no breast milk.

So my doubt is till my milk supply reaches a steady flow is the formula good for the baby's overall health.

Any advice is welcome.

With Regards
Priyank

The best way to increase your supply is to let your baby nurse on demand. Feeding formula will only gradually decrease your supply. Take a couple days, tuck yourself and your baby into bed, and do nothing but nurse anytime she wants to, and rest. Make sure you're drinking tons of water. She may fuss for a few days if there isn't much for her to eat, but she won't starve, and it's the quickest way to get your supply up. The fussing will encourage her to suck more, which is what makes your body make more milk-- the more she sucks, the more milk you will make. It should only take a couple days, and the rest is good for you both anyway.

I would call your local hospital or le leche league and talk to a lactation consultant. They know all kids of ways to increase production of breast milk. There are suppliments you can take called galactagogues that can increase supply such as funugreek, blessed thistle and alfalfa, but I would recommend talking to your doctor or midwife before trying those.

Hi Priyank,
with my first son I had the same issue. I was a little dehydrated and when I upped my beverage consumption (as much as I disliked drinking 8X a day), it seemed to help. Okay let me specify: 8 healthy drinks a day. Not soda pops. Go for low-fat milk if you can tolerate it, juices, or just water. Also, do you stimulate the glands prior to feeding/pumping? Get comfortable in your chair and massage/ press gently from the external areas of the breast, towards the nipple, all around the areola.

It's hard at first to know your child could be getting nothing from sucking in the beginning but this is what will initially begin your real milk flow. My youngest son lost weight the first 4-5 days he was born and it actually took a couple weeks until my breasts felt full and released with proper milk. He never wanted a bottle or any other kind of milk, so he just had to keep persistant at breastfeeding and eventually when it began he was on me...a lot. Best wishes.

I second the le leche league...they saved me SO much frustration and pain with my first one!