Questions & Answers

I applaud you for trying to breastfeed! I also wanted to encourage you to not beat yourself up if your supply simply won't increase. I breastfeed and pumped and still had to supplement with my first. Sometimes women just don't make enough and that's okay too. Baby will be fine and you are still a great mom.

Now to specifics that helped increase my supply (but never enough):
Domperidone will help the most if you can find someone to prescribe it to you and a compounding pharmacy to make it.
Oatmeal and other galactogogues (google them).
Mother's milk plus tea or tincture.
Squeeze the breast toward nipple while you are pumping.
Rent a hospital grade breast pump. Make sure the cones fit you.
I don't recommend the breast shield as it can decrease supply (according to my lactation consultant). If it helps the baby latch, then fine, but ween off as soon as you can, it won't help supply.

Good luck!! Keep trying, some of your milk is better than none.

I found a book that was extremely helpful. "Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk" by Stephanie Casemore.

Drinking a lot(and I mean a lot) will help with your supply but equally important is eating enough and getting enough calories. I also highly recommend speaking to a lactation consultant, you can probably find one through the hospital you delivered at, or contact the Le Leche League. It's not too late to start nursing, good luck!

Try a nipple shield & see if your baby will accept the breast that way. My oldest was born at 36 wks & couldn't latch either. I tried pumping every 2 hrs, everything. Worked with lactation & they told me some women's breast simply will not respond to a pump. By 6 wks, I was producing an ounce a day, so I threw in the towel & went straight to formula. If you can get him to latch on to a nipple shield, you may be able to stimulate your body into producing more milk. Also, if you have lactation consultants in your community, take advantage of them. They may be able to work with him & convince him to accept the breast.

Try to see a lactation consultant. My daughter was born at 35 weeks and wasn't strong enough to suck. I managed to get her to latch when she was 2 weeks old but it took another 2 weeks until she was on the breast. I needed to use nipple shields so that it felt more like the bottle. Good luck and congrats for persevering

My son was born at 34 weeks and also refused the boob. I tried once a day to get him to latch. Finally at 2 months, he did and I EBF and pumped. That seemed to boost my supply.