Milk Production Problem???

I had a gastric bypass 8/4/2004 and we waited to get pregnant until last year.  I just had our son 1/24/2010.  I have been having problems with making enough milk for him to get ALL his nourishment from me alone.  I have had to supplement with formula after every single feeding.  They weren't sure if it was due to my being post gastric bypass and neither am I.  I lost 230 lbs in 16 months...I am not sure if that affected my mammary tissue or not.  I am currently pumping every 2-3 hours for 15-20 minutes at a time as well as taking an organic herbal supplement called "More Milk Plus" with fennugreek and other herbs to increase breast tissue and milk production.  It doesn't seem to be working.  For either aspect.  "More Milk Plus" is supposedly rather potent.  Its a supplement they give to ADOPTIVE mothers when they are getting infants that they would want to breast feed.  It says on the bottle it begins to work in 24-48 hours.  

I am just wondering if there are any other women out there that had a gastric bypass, had a baby and ended up not being able to physically breast feed.  Either because of a lack of extra caloric intake to burn off thus, not being able to produce enough milk.  My theory is that my body just won't expend the energy to make it in lieu of taking care of MY body first.  I can't be certain though, I am not a physician.  

I feel pretty useless and guilty.  I wasn't feeding our son enough after I brought him home and I had NO idea until we went to a lactation counselor this past Tuesday.  In the hour and a half we were there he only nursed 10 mL from me....1/6 of 2 oz.  He is supposed to get 2 oz or MORE every time he feeds.  I feel incredibly UNfemale at this point.  Breast feeding is the best start you can give your infant and I seem to be able to NOT do it.  

Someone else going through this would help me feel less like an anomaly, though it won't take away my sadness at the situation.  Just wonder if I am all alone with this situation.  Postpartum depression is setting in...its been 13 days since I delivered our son....and this weighing on me is making me a complete basketcase.

Thanks for any responses in advance...

ok, I think I read your post wrong so I edited out my response.

IF you have been feeding him on demand, and your supply is not adaquate then it could possibly be insufficiant brest tissue formation. BUT this would have happend while you where going though puberty and has NOTHING to do with your GB. Your body will take everything YOU have to make your baby healthy, even at its own expense (trust me, I know, my gums are still shot from when I was pregnant with the trips and they sucked me dry of every important nutrient LOL). There are women in 3rd world countries that successfully feed their babies, and while its better for mama and baby if the calories and fluid intake are good, it will generally have little bearing on how much milk you have.

At this point you are doing everything you can, pumping, feeding on demand and taking your supplements. You CAN add oatmeal, blessed thistle and breweres yeast to your supplements, as they are all really good prolactin stimulators. If you want to talk, or have any other questions, please don't hesitate to PM me. It does take two weeks to increase a diminished supply, so at this point you need to just keep doing what you are doing to see if it gets better.

HUGS, BFing is HARD. Everyone wants us to think its this beautiful, natural thing, but the truth is its hard work and it can be heart breaking at times.

How much water do you drink a day?  I needed to drink 100oz to produce enough milk.

I drink "too much" water.  I am drinking so much right now that my legs are swollen to the point of "pitting edema".  I thought it was not enough water, then I was told by a LC that maybe it wasn't enough calories...but I haven't lost a SINGLE pound other than my son's birth weight since I delivered him.  I fill my red water bottle (32 oz) about 5 times a day.  Sometimes more.  Everywhere I go I bring a 20 oz water bottle (or two) with me.  And I try to consume the whole thing on purpose while I am out and about because if I was home I would be drinking more.  I am not diabetic either.  

I read last night on a scholarly website from a university hospital study that most GB recoverees won't even try to BF and if they do they don't make it to the "important markers" of 3 months, then 6 and NEVER to a year.  It said that there are HUGE deficiencies in our milk too.  Particularly B-12 (which i still get a shot of every month) and other trace minerals like calcium, magnesium and copper.  They named other things but basically broke it down to the fact that in a whole "normal" feeding time with a GB mother an infant will only get 39% of what they SHOULD in fats, calories and vitamins.  So...if that's true, what I am doing now doesn't bother me nearly as much.  I give him all the milk I can, then give him some Earth's Best organic soy formula to fill him the rest of the way.  If I am not giving him enough nourishment vitamin wise...this eases my mind a bit.  But getting even a LITTLE of my BMilk makes me hope he's still getting some immunity help and building up good intestinal defenses.  Those are two HUGE reasons to keep up with the pumping for me.

And yes...to the first person that posted a response.  BFing is HARD work.  I don't know a single woman that hasn't complained of milk blisters, friction blisters, pain from fullness, embarassment at dripping through onto clothes...etc, etc.  Its emotionally and physically draining at times.  I am just lucky to be blessed with a husband that is SO reponsive to my needs and to the needs of our son.  I wouldn't have made it through these first two weeks without him.

Wow that is an unbelieveable amount of water a day.  Maybe you have water poisoning. 

What's the website link to the study?  We'd find it very informative here.

There are plenty who BF more than a year here so we can learn em a thing or two.

Were you ever diagnosed with PCOS? Some women who have dealt with that , me included, have difficulty with milk supply. During puberty, some of us lucky girls don't form enough milk-producing breast tissue. It really bites. When my son was born, before WLS surgery, I tried for a month to lactate. Drank the tea, took all the supplements, pumped every 2 hours, etc... I never made more than 2 tsp when I pumped. It broke my heart to admit that my body had failed me yet again after fighting infertility for almost 6 years. If I had taken better care of myself at the time, I would have realized that I was clinically depressed and probably needed medication. Some days I still feel guilty. I have decided that for this baby, I most likely will not even try. I just can't set myself up for failure again. I have had NO breast changes at all, and don't anticipate the dairy fairy visiting me and growing more boobies in the next month.

Be kind to yourself. Breastfeeding or not breastfeeding does NOT define your strength and value as a mother. The love and care you give your sweet boy is evidence enough that you are a good mom. I learned that lesson the rough way almost five years ago, and I'm reminding myself daily as I get ready for baby girl to arrive next month...

nope...never had polycystic ovaries.  People ask me that all the time.  But never did.

I agree with the previous poster.  I have PCOS and have always had difficulty with my milk supply.  I was never able to successfully breastfeed because I just didn't produce enough (less than an ounce every three hours).  

All you can do is try your best, supplement if needed and realize that it's NOT your fault and a very common issue...like a previous poster said..breastfeeding is HARD!

-Jennifer

Breastfeeding can be so difficult.  I understand that feeling of failure as I had a couple of my babies who just would not latch on at the breast.  I had very large breasts, and so I had to use this nipple sheild thing, witch would help them latch on as it had a very large nipple, and separated my breast tissue from my nipple.  It was a pain in the butt to put that thing on and sterilize it and what not.  Sometimes babies just refuse and you cannot help it.  Milk production can be an issue as well, and that absolutely is not your fault.  From what you are describing it looks like you are doing EVERYTHING you possibly can.  I would give it another week, as maybe your milk is just slow coming in, but if you are not getting more than what you are getting at this point in time, I certainly would not blame you for throwing in the towel.  I mean, you CAN continue feeding him what milk you have, but that is kind of a pain nursing for all that time, and then finishing up with a bottle.  I know I would not do that, as I didn't have that kind of spare time to spend an hour feeding baby every couple of hours.  

Good luck, and please remember you are NOT a failure, your body just will not cooperate, and there is NOTHING you can do about that!!  Keep us informed as to how you are doing with this. 

Laura