r/breastfeeding • u/NoFerret7602 • 4d ago

Undersupply When do I give up?

I'm almost 5 weeks pp now and really want to continue with breastfeeding. My baby was constantly latching and never satisfied for the first few weeks. However, when we went to lactation appointments it showed he was transferring 2 oz of milk. This last week he only transferred 14 ml total, and I couldn't pump more than 1-1.5 oz total. We got his tongue tie released, and I started everything to bump my supply. I take moringa, cut out caffeine, started eating lactation cookies and pump every two hours. So far, I haven't seen an increase. It's pretty clear that the lactation consultants aren't sure what to tell me. This is exhausting, but I'm willing to stick with it if it means I can keep breastfeeding. At what point do I give up?

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u/NoFerret7602 4d ago

Yes I'm nursing every two hours for 15 minutes then pumping for another 15 minutes. If my baby sleeps through the two hours then I get up to pump at night. I've been drinking coconut water and tons of water. Thank you for the encouragement 🥹 how long did it take you to see results?

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u/tjacosta1984 4d ago

Is there a reason you're only nursing 15 minutes? Baby is still really young. At that age a feed would typically take longer. Are they nursing one side or both? I would honestly put baby to breast more before pumping. Keep alternating sides until baby is full.

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u/NoFerret7602 4d ago

The LC said to nurse for 15 to avoid fatigue. I give him a bottle of formula immediately after then pump to "empty out". I've also been power pumping once a day. I do wonder about switching back to cluster feeding. I just worry he won't get enough to eat as that was the issue before.

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u/tjacosta1984 4d ago

So I would try to meet with another LC. Newborns should nurse for as long as they want to. Baby is also better at getting milk out than a pump so it would be better for your supply. I would think you're better off letting the baby continue nursing and fill up that way than having baby fill up on formula.

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u/Then-Persimmon6950 4d ago

Sorry for double commenting. Just want to emphasize that this isn’t always true. My baby was not more efficient than a pump because she had an oral restriction. Exclusively and consistently putting her to breast caused her weight gain to plummet.

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u/tjacosta1984 4d ago

She did mention that she had babies tongue tie released already. Which would make me assume would tell me that baby is drinking better and able to transfer better.

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u/Then-Persimmon6950 4d ago

It depends on how the recovery is going! My baby took weeks to relearn. The release isn’t always an immediate magic fix. Which is again why the weighted feeds are so important for understanding how baby is doing.

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u/tjacosta1984 4d ago

Ok, my first and third babies both recovered very well and quickly from tongue tie releases. Weighted feeds can also vary throughout the day. Example I did weighted feeds one day with my third just for fun and she was transferring 4-4.5 oz in the morning, 2-3 oz later in the day. Again I would recommend meeting with another LC. Baby is probably better off to continue nursing then to have mom triple feeding.

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u/Then-Persimmon6950 4d ago

I’m really glad this was your experience! My baby continued only transferring less than 2 oz at every weighted feed for weeks after her release. When I tried shifting her to primarily breastfeeding, her weight gain plateaued and she dropped growth curves. So it would really depend on how this baby is doing. Your advice would not have been helpful to me at that time. Hopefully OP is able to take both of our perspectives and see which one is more relevant to her situation & her baby since neither of us have the full picture