Julie, I love what Kerri had to say. I just want to add my thoughts from a Mom of 4 kids. This baby is Your child. You do not have to give her a bottle if you do not want to. Yes you can feed her more often and yes you can wake her up to feed her. You don't need a doctors permission to do these things. It sounds to me like all of the things Kerri is saying are right, she is just a slow gainer. And you have a good point, she is not losing. If you start supplementing she is going to nurse even less so that defeats the purpose. How often are you taking her in for weight checks? Maybe you should tell the doctor you would like to bring her in less and just focus on nursing and see how things go. If I weigh myself everyday my weight flutuates too, even in the same day depending on what time of day it is if I have been sleeping, eating etc.... It is probably the same with babies too. Don't stress sweetie you are doing fine. Just follow Kerri's advice on the feedings and you will see a difference. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

OH thank you so much both of you. I do feel better now. I am not going to offer her a bottle. I am going to nurse her more often and see what happens. I wonder if I was a bio mom if this would even be an issue. Thank you both for you encouragment. I do feel better that Dr Newman says 4 oz a week. Not all babies are the same. And from Dr Newmans standards she is doing great. I'm not going to worry too much about it unless she starts to lose or gain very slowly. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!
Julie

a suggestion... when your nursing the baby.. undress her. This will help to keep her awake. My baby girl. When she slows down and tries to knod off I run my finger up and down her back. It makes her nurse some more. You want to keep her awake to get more milk in. I also would suggest offering her the breast every 2 hours. You may need to take a baby wipe and run it around her neck to get her awake. It may make her mad. But she should wake up and eat.

Julie it was the same way for me when I had my first born. He is a bio child but was small and a slow gainer so they told me I had to supplement. I didn't have any other support and so I did it. Pretty soon I was exhausted from trying to nurse and supplement and soon he was fighting me at the breast because the bottle was so much easier. So I stopped nursing him around 4.5 months. I still regret it. But since then all of my other children including my adopted daughter have been breastfed until they decided to stop on their own. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hang in there and keep up the good work, Jewel. I didn't quite understand why your baby won't take the LactAid. A friend of mine's baby only gain's a half ounce per day ... turns out the baby prefers the right side and Mommy didn't make her take the left side much. Is baby getting hind milk? Maybe you could pump a little before feeding her so she gets more of the hind milk?

Take care.

thank you so much all of you. i dont know if she is getting hind milk. how do you know? I havent tried the lact aid because i am making all her needs. how long should a baby nurse before they get the hind milk? i thought about that last night when I read that the hind milk is what makes poop. She hasnt pooped in a week. She does have wet diapers. I read that not to have a bowel movement in a while is normal for breast fed babies but with her slow weight gain and no poop I wonder if maybe she isnt getting the hind milk. I started last night nursing her longer by keeping her awake more. It seems to have worked. She nursed harder for quite a bit longer. Now I am just checking diapers and praying for poop.

The hind milk comes when they empty the breast. It is the fatty milk. Since she was falling asleep so much and not nursing long she probably wasn't getting too much of the hind milk. How long does she nurse on each side?

Hi Julie,

Actually your baby needs to poop everyday. This is one of the ways we can tell if she's getting enough milk. Sleeping a lot is another indication that baby may not be transfering milk efficiently. If weight gain is an issue, she needs to feed more often. A newborn's stomach empties in about 90 minutes. So feeding her every 1 1/2 or 2 hours would definitely help.

The best advice I can give you is to arrange for a home visit by a board certified lactation consultant to assess your baby's latch and position. Sometimes a minor adjustment makes all the difference in the world. You can find a board certified lactation consultant here www.iblce.org just click on the "about IBCLE" button and then on the US or International Registry depending on where you are located.

Don't worry honey. This is fixable.

Fondly,

Hello,

You seem to be on the right track and shouldn't have to supplement at all... if for whatever reason you do, then I definitely would try the lact-aid and not give her a bottle at this stage. It could do a lot of damage.

All the best,
Chris

I just went to the dr again today. She only gained 1 ounce in 4 days. Not good. The nurse practictioner is VERY supportive. She said she is last one to suggest supplementing. Is there any way it is possible that my milk is fat enough. Could it be more like skim milk then the whole milk she needs to gain weight. I figure that milk is milk no matter how it made through induction or pregnancy. Is that true? I really want this to work. I was making so much for her and now it seems hopeless. She has to gain weight soon. She is 3 weeks old and only 7lbs. She was born at 7lbs 6 oz. After she ate this afternoon I pumped and still pumped 4 ounces. Could that mean that she may not be getting the hind milk. Since I was still able to pump so much. At the dr the nurse PA looked at her latch and said it looked great. She heard her gulp and said ,"that is amazing." she said,"it all looks and sounds perfect." I am lost at what to do now. I dont know what a lact aid would do to help. I would think that would help a low supply but that isnt the problem. I will contact a lactation consutant and see what they have to say. Any other suggestions. I feel at a dead end. Yesterday at church EVERYONE kept saying how tiny she is. One lady said,"She just gets smaller and smaller everytime I see her." I thought I would cry right there. I dont have milk pride. I really do have the supply. I dont know what the problem is.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />Julie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Julie, what do they want you to supplement with? You seem to have plenty of milk and she is eating well. Are they wanting you to give formula? How is your diet? Maybe you need more calories per day. If you end up having to supplement and I am by no means saying you will have to, you definitely need to use the lactaid and not a bottle. Because that way she is still nursing and stimulating your supply. Are your breast feeling unusually full as if she weren't emptying them?

At this point they want me to supplement with breast milk ( I have 600 ounces frozen in my freezer!). My breast did feel very full right after she was born. But lately they have felt empty all the time. However, today they felt empty and I pumped 4 ounces. I havent pumped in 3 weeks and am wondering if my supply has drastically dropped. Everyone here said to pump to keep up my supply but I didnt. I was so tired of pumping and just wanted to focus on nursing her. I used the lact-aid this evening. I nursed her with it and she took about an ounce of the lact-aid (I think). I then put the rest of the milk in a bottle just to see if she would take any more. She didnt. She puckered her lips and wanted no more. She was full. I dont know how much she got from me though. I pumped right before I fed her and pumped about 2 ounces. I may just not worry about it and use the lact-aid if she needs it then it is there. The lact-aid intimidates me though. I dont know how to use it in public. How to keep it in a diaper bag and hook it up in public. I really dont want her to have a bottle. I know you ladies here understand me. Everyone else thinks Im crazy. But I feel like I am denying her if I dont breast feed her. Today when she was rooting on my check I just cried and cried because I cant imagine not giving her what she is looking for. I love nursing her and feeling that bond. The dr is wondering if my milk may be watery. In that case they will want me to use formula. My milk is white and creamy though. I am very confused about what to do and what is going on. Thank you for all your posts and support

You know what Julie, I am going to be bold here and say I think your doctor is full of crap. Sorry but if she is nursing well, and often, is only taking an ounce of the lactaid and has a good latch then I think you are doing fine. She still hasn't lost any weight right? You obviously have milk because you can pump it. They want you to supplement with your own milk which to me is senseless when she can get the milk straight out of your breasts. How many wet diapers does she have in a day? How aften are they weight checking her?

As for the lactaid and your insecurities.... I say use it when you are home and when you are out just give her your breast. When you use the lactaid more you will feel more confident in public. When you do use it make sure you raise it up as high as it wil go, that makes the milk flow slower out of it. If your milk is not fat enough maybe you need to eat different foods. I am hoping that a lactation consultant there can help you or maybe a local La Leche league group. Your milk should not be of a lesser quality because you induced, the only difference usually is quantity. Hang in there girl, you are doing great. Keep on nursing that little one and don't let anyone intimdate you. You are giving your daughter what is best. (((hugs)))

I am going to see if I can find some info on fattening up your milk. I will let you know what if anything I find.

It's understandable to be tired from both nursing and pumping ... believe me, I know tired. I agree with Lalle. Induction is a new concept for a lot of foks to grasp ... they seem to think the milk is not as good for some reason. Well, that's incorrect ... it is breastmilk from about day 10 postpartum of a woman who gave birth.


Gather your Ch`i and stay strong! You are doing great.

I went to the dr again today. I spoke to the PA which is also a lactation cons. She really has been great. She said that she spoke to someone else about me and they agreed that breastmilk is breast milk. It cant be bad. Today she weighted 4ounces more then she did yesterday. Isnt that crazy. 4 ounces in 1 day. I am going to nurse her with and without the lact-aid. I will use the lact-aid in the afternoon and nurse without early morning and and those late night feedings. I am not going to worry about using it in public and just nurse her without it. I am going to take her back in 1 week and see if she has continued to gain. If she has then thats it I will continue what I am doing. Thank you all so much. I knew I could count on you great ladies for such good support. The lact-aid is much easier to use then I thought it would be. Thank goodness.

Yay Julie! Four ounces??? Sounds like you're doing great!!!

Julie, I am so glad. You are doing terrific. Sorry if I sounded a little pushy in earlier posts. I just remember being a first time Mom with my now almost 19 year old and once they convinced me to give a bottle (after nursing) my breastfeeding days were quickly over. It still hurts and I didn't want to see you go through that.

dont appoigize. You have been great. And probably the one keeping me sane. I would horribly regret it if I stopped nursing her. I hope she continues to gain. I am taking her back on Thursday to see if she has continued to grow. The only problem now is that I second guess every cry. Maybe she is hungry or didnt get enough to eat. Now I feel more comfortable using the lact-aid. I start of without then add it middle of the feeding then slip the tube out when she seems done and let her just suckle. I hope that works. I do have a question though. If I use the lact-aid is she taking as much from me? Or less? It seems like she would take less because she is taking the lact-aid as well. Thanks again. And no apologies you have been WONDERFUL!
Julie

Hi Julie,

I'm pretty sure the baby will take less from you while using the Lact-Aid ... so your idea to start her off without it and slip the straw in is a good one. Maybe someone can second this.

Does she switch sides well and are you nursing her on both sides in one feeding?

One thing I read is to nurse baby on first side till they stop, burp, change, and then offer side two. That may help you to ensure that she is getting the hind milk. You can always pump second side if she doesn't take much from it.

I took her in today for a weight check. She is up to 7lbs 11 ounces. She gained 7 ounces in 4 days!!! I am nursing her then offering the lact-aid. She usually will only take an ounce or less. Its amazing what just one little once can do. I dont supplement at all during the night feedings. I am thrilled!!
Julie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 Keep up the good work! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Julie, that is fabulous. I don't think it is the one little ounce. I believe it is because you changed the way you were nursing and now she is getting the hind milk.

WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!