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Did you/would you get booster during pregnancy?
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Supplement with formula. Can’t let new borns go hungry.
This is the only answer
Power pumping worked for me!
Supply and demand - the more you stimulate - whether through pumping or nursing), the more your body gets the message that milk needs to be made. Lactation cookies, etc probably won’t hurt, but they also really won’t help if you’re not also increasing “demand”
How do you know you are only producing 80% of their needs. The biggest lie said to new mums is that babies feed every 2-3 hours. Cluster feeding / constant feeding is very normal, so you may be giving baby everything they need
Agree, I'd try to space out my first baby but he was miserable. Second baby I feed on demand and he's happy as a clam usually
Definitely eating enough is super important! The only real way to increase supply is to increase calories and more frequent nursing. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and have snacks handy. Good luck!! I just got done weaning 🥹
Rest! Resting is very very important. Then eating more calories, power pumping (make sure to use a hospital grade pump, I use the spectra s1) and latching baby as often as I could worked for me.
Honorable mentions to oatmeal crème pie snacks and this non-alcoholic beverage called vita malt. I noticed that every time I drank it, my supply would almost double. Probably because more calories but I’ve done it a few times and noticed increase in pump supply/quantity.
You can nurse until they've had all they'll have. Then let someone else feed them while you pump another 10 or so minutes to make sure you fully empty. That helps to stimulate for more. Plus anything you pump can be used for the next bottle feed for baby. Sometimes newborns aren't efficient eaters yet and don't empty you all the way.
But also - if that's too much work (because let's face it, adding pumping and cleaning pump parts can be a lot when you're already so tired) just do formula. If baby is emptying you, your demand will catch up.
Ahhh pumping and cleaning parts is the bane of my existence. 😩😭😭
But something I did to help myself - I bought the mom cozy bottle washer/sterilizer/dryer, and I bought two sets of pump parts for my spectra pump.
These two things made a hugeee difference. Is it still time consuming? Yes! But it’s a small sacrifice for my sanity as I truly don’t want to formula feed until baby is maybe 7 or 8 months.
Stay so hydrated — like way more than you think is needed, Theralogix Lactation Support vitamins really helped me, and I do breastfeeding smoothies like these: https://sollybaby.com/blogs/news/five-delicious-postpartum-smoothie-recipes
And then consider increasing the frequency of your pumping sessions (especially including overnight). My sessions also became more productive when I stimulated milk production by massaging my breasts before pumping and when I started lubricating my flanges with nipple cream.
And of course, supplement with formula until your milk supply catches up. Pump when you supplement to let your body know more milk is needed, and know that your baby still gets the benefits of breastfeeding even if you’re supplementing.
Good luck! 🫶
And agree with hydrating, at least a gallon a day.
Atole, sake and beer. Helped soooo much!