Hi mommas!
So I just had a quick question, being that I'm a FTM. Prior to giving birth to my baby my plan was to breastfeed. For his first feeding I got him latched almost immediately and was shocked at well he did, and how strong his latch was. However by day two in the hospital that strong latch started making me sore. I had two different lactation consultants confirm his latch looked good though. By day three when we went home my nipples were bleeding and it was just overly painful to get him on.
Therefore I started pumping earlier then I had planned, but I wanted to make sure he was getting stuff. Thankfully my milk came in pretty early though so I had no issue in pumping and giving him the bottle.
Although now my nipples aren't as sore I've kept to pumping and bottle feeding so I have an idea how much he gets with each feeding.
He is now about 2.5 weeks and is eating more per feeding, which I expected to happen. However I feel like my supply has drastically decreased. It takes me almost 2-3x as long to get what I used to,if that. I use to be able to pump and get almost two feedings worth. Now I'm luckily at times if I get enough for one whole feeding. I pump approx every 3 hours or so
Questions are: is it normal for supply to decrease? What can I do to increase it again?
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Skin to skin, drink more water than you think you need, pump every 2-3 hours, power pump if you can (pump 20 min, rest 10, pump 10 min, rest ten, pump 10 min, rest 10)

@Ciara I've been doing skin to skin, and drinking a ton of water, and pumping frequently... but my supply still is drastically decreased compared to what it was just a week ago š

There are private practice lactation consultants, independent from the hospital. I would recommend finding someone else. They can better help with your latch or how to increase with pumping.
From what I understand the lactation consultants at the hospital have one goal⦠to send you home breast feeding. The hospitals rank their success by the % of women breastfeeding when they leave. Theyāre not concerned with the sustainability of your feeding.

my best friend told me recently that when you pair with bottle feeding your body adjusts and your milk supply decreases.

Lanolin was my best friend to help with those first weeks of soreness and cracking and let them air dry girl!
More water
Skin to skin
I gotta refresh my memory on pumping and supply change. Good luck! ā¤ļø