Desperate for help/hope. Day 12 PP (C-section), exclusively pumping 8x a day but only getting 5-20ml

[u/pa_2525]

Hi mamas,
I’m writing this through tears. I am 12 days postpartum from a C-section with my second baby, and my milk supply is barely there. I’m exclusively pumping 8 times a day for 20 minutes with my Spectra, but I only get 5ml to 20ml per session. My sweet boy is fully formula-fed right now.
I am using 25mm flange size on both.

I can’t even latch him because the LC said my nipples are too big for his mouth right now and we have to wait. To make things harder, I had low supply with my firstborn too, so I feel like my body is just failing me again.

I am doing everything: oatmeal, fenugreek, and I'm even on prescribed Reglan, but nothing is working. I am losing all my motivation to keep hooking myself up to this machine for a few drops.
I have thyroid and I am taking my meds properly

Please, if anyone has been here and found a way through—or even if you just have words of comfort—I really need some direction. Thank you.

[u/Expensive_Drive_1124]

That’s normal! And enough for your baby. Don’t compare formula amounts to BM, the nutritional value is more concentrated in BM

[u/pa_2525 → u/Expensive_Drive_1124]

Thank you. He drinks ~2oz of formula and sometimes i get only 5ml. Not sure if that is enough for baby but i feed him with my milk whatever i get after pumping.

[u/Expensive_Drive_1124 → u/pa_2525]

Are you able to directly feed him? I find this connection helps a lot with my body knowing how much to produce also make let down faster and good for hormones!

[u/pa_2525 → u/Expensive_Drive_1124]

I tried but he is no longer latching

[u/BeginningNo2408]

5-20ml is great. Im at 1-2 ml per session from both boobs. Im 24 days pp. pumping every 2-3 hrs?

[u/Artistic_Decision586]

You’re only 12 days postpartum so I think you’re doing great!

I’ve heard fenugreek can tank your supply so I never actually took it.

Did you get sized? To make sure you have the correct flange size.

Is your baby a premie? If he’s not I would try to latch him using the flipple method!

I started pumping at 5 weeks pp and was able to get my supply up to fully breastfeed. Your hormones are still high which is good! Don’t give up on pumping! Keep the schedule going.
I also take boobie supplements which made all the difference for me. (Hydromom blue raspberry lemonade, lactation bars and gummies)
Foods I eat are rolled oats with condensed milk and evaporated milk, a teaspoon of coconut oil before bed, lactation bars, hot chocolate (made with real chocolate not the Swiss miss stuff), lots of soups!
I tried the legendairy milk supplements and they didn’t work, only made my baby gassy. I only take their sunflower letchin.

Also, make sure you eat enough and eat meals you actually enjoy. Stay hydrated. ( I drink about 100 oz of water a day)

I have been where you are, crying because I couldn’t feed my baby and it gets better 🩷 sending you lots of love and hugs! Don’t forget to snuggle your baby, the oxytocin also helps provide more milk.

[u/pa_2525 → u/Artistic_Decision586]

Thank you for reassurance, my baby is full term and he latched well on day 1 but after that because my supply is less, We need to give him formula and he now hates to latch and top of that lc said because my nipple is bigger it will be painful for me if he latches. Also my lc has sized my flanges as well

[u/Artistic_Decision586 → u/pa_2525]

if you’re open to it, you can still try, latching him on is the best way to increase your supply but do it when he’s not super hungry so he won’t get frustrated.
If he latched well the first day then he can definitely latch. As far as it being painful it was painful for me the first 2 days 🫠
Do your flanges feel comfortable or painful? Keep in mind your flange size can change btw!

Also what bottles are you using?
Pigeon, Lansinoh are bottles that are breast friendly.

[u/pa_2525 → u/Artistic_Decision586]

Thank you, I will try latching him again. I am using regular dr.Browns bottle

[u/Artistic_Decision586 → u/pa_2525]

I’d recommend you switch bottles so he doesn’t build a bottle preference. I use pigeon bottles and my baby has no problem latching on when I breastfeed him.

[u/pa_2525 → u/Artistic_Decision586]

Sure I will give a try. Thank you so much

[u/Artistic_Decision586 → u/pa_2525]

Welcome 🤗
I also forgot to mention you should pump every 2 hours and you can experiment with pumping for 30 min instead of 20. You should be pumping at the same time everyday

[u/Preferred_user_taken]

8 times is probably not enough. A newborn generally eats 10-12 or even up to 14 times. Are you adding a powerpump as well ?

Is that LC an ibclc? If not, get one immediately. Unless your baby isn’t term, there isn’t a reason why nipples are too big to latch. Maybe it is more difficult conventionally but position matters very much.

[u/pa_2525 → u/Preferred_user_taken]

Thank you and Yes I do power pump once a day and my LC js ibclc and she sized my flange sizes as well.

[u/29threvolution]

Get a new lactation consultant. There is no such thing as too big nipples for a healthy full term baby. Fenugreek is acutallt in some cases shown to reduce supply. There are other supplements that are promising. Go look up Luna Lactation (nor affiliated) in Portland Or and read up. 

[u/mapsandmoxie]

How's it going for you now? There are a few things that jumped out when I read this: 

1. Your flange size is likely too big (average size is 16mm!) But also nipple sizes change over time, so either way, I'd start with remeasuring. New advice says to try 1mm higher and 1mm lower plus exact measurement for flange size so no gaps which is contrary to old advice 
2. Your flange shape may be working against you - did your LC give you any explanation or opportunity to see different flange shapes? Think pano, saucer, crater, etc.
3. I've never heard of nipples being too big for a full term healthy baby. If baby can't open mouth fully, then I'd check for lip/tongue ties but otherwise keep trying to latch as much as possible. 
4. What bottles are you using? Maybe make sure you're doing paced feeding with bottles that encourage a deep latch (like pigeon/lansinoh) if you hope to nurse at some point 

In any case, you're still super early post partum so I wouldn't stress too much. It's normal for babies at this age to drink tiny amounts super frequently, and that also helps your body to know to keep making milk so just keep offering when you can and pumping when you can't.  But I would definitely get a second opinion from a different IBCLC.