Drastic Dip in supply vent/help?

financialdiva

I EBF DS1 for 14 months and pumped the first year. DS2 is 8 months. and is also EBF. After my period return with DS1 around 8 months, my supply was never the same. To get to a year with DS1, I pumped 5 times a day to get the two 4oz bottles he needed at daycare, plus pumped on the weekends.

My first PP was last month. My supply dipped for about a week, but sort of came back. I got my 2nd period one week ago. My supply dipped a week before it came, and it has yet to come back. DS2 takes 3- 5oz bottles at daycare, and for the past two weeks I have only been pumping 10 oz (after being able to pump 15-17 oz per day for a long time). I have been dipping into my freezer stash to supplement, but my stash isn't going to make it to a year at this rate.

I started taking Fenugreek about 2 weeks ago, and added blessed Thistle this past Friday. When I took Fenugreek alone with DS1, I used to take 3 pills three times day, would start smelling like maple syrup, and would see an increase. I'm currently taking 4 of each (total of 8!) pills three times a day and STILL don't smell like maple syrup. Plus, there has been no increase in supply!!

I'm not sure what to do at this point. Pumping around the clock isn't an option with two kids. I still have 200 oz in the freezer, so I have some time. At this age, DS1 was only taking two bottles at DC, but DC teachers insist DS2 can't go longer between bottles (which, I sort of agree with), so I would hate to push him to only take two bottles at DC, so serving what I pump isn't an option, especially since the dip is due to hormone and not DS2 demanding less.  

So what do I do to increase my supply? Any other suggestions? 

Karla CS

Depending on your doctor, you may be able to get a prescription for domperidone, which is supposed to work really well.  

Iblamethebeer

Could you get him to eat more food so he's less reliant on the milk?  Like try replacing one feeding with applesauce or mashed banana?  (I say this having completely forgotten the rules for introducing solids, so if that's a really unhealthy idea feel free to ignore me).

I'm so impressed by your dedication - 200 oz in your freezer stash with two kids is no joke!

jnnfrrose6

What is the reasoning that DS2 is ready to cut back to 2 bottles while you're not with him?  Also, how much solid food is he getting (if any) yet?  

I agree with wearing him whenever you can and perhaps try some power pumping sessions.  Fenugreek never helped me, so I just had to add extra pumping sessions at night once LO was down.

financialdiva

Mmmmm beer. I'll try that too.

@Karla CS - who do i call? OB? PCP? Not the pedi right? I wonder if they will even perscribe it to me this "late". Worth a call though.

financialdiva

He is on baby food three times a day already. So his schedule looks like this:

6:30- nurse
8:30- baby food
9:30- bottle
11:30- baby food
12:30- bottle
3:30pm- bottle

Sometimes he nurses with me after pickup around 5:15, sometimes he doesn't. Solids 6:30, nurse to bed at around 7pm. So in the evenings with me, he can go almost 4 hours, but not at daycare for some reason? Anyway, it would be great if he went 4 hours btw bottles like DS1 did, but teachers don't feel like he can. So I don't push it.


Maybe I can start sending in a larger lunch?

ETA: baby food is about 4oz per "meal"

financialdiva

milkergirl1 said:

Have you tried lactation cookies? 

I have been eating two or three a day

financialdiva

Ohhhh, I forgot about the magnesium supplements, but I guess that would just be during AF, I will look into that. Thx!

Smaller bottle in the afternoons might be a good idea too. I will also bring up just moving back the morning feeding by 30 mins too.

michaelaskedlauren

Mother's Milk tea and lots and lots AND LOTS of water helped me. Good luck!

jnnfrrose6

Could you swap the 3:30 bottle with more food?  And then, if still hungry, offer a bottle, or nurse when you pick up at 5:15 instead of a bottle after the 3:30 solids?  

NicoleWI

I am guessing you don't want to do formula. But, I would say you are already going well beyond what most people would do to give this a super good shot, so I'm just throwing this out there. When I started to supplement with DD one at around 9 months old, it lifted a ton of stress. I continued to pump and to feed when with her, but I didn't worry any more about keeping up, which had been getting difficult and making me really tense. It made a huge difference for me and I was able to enjoy BF again instead of feeling stressed. Your LO would still be getting lots of breast milk; just a little formula, too. 

I don't have any real ideas to increase supply beyond what you are already doing. I have also had a HUGE supply drop lately again with my 9 month old. Seems to be when my body just starts making less. I am doing a mix of BF and formula, and started to pump (just one time--I had quit pumping) again at work to try to get a little more production going. I'd just like to be able to BF at least somewhat until close to a year. 

financialdiva

I am not against formula. In fact, my original goal was to only EBF DS2 for 6 months, then supplement bc I remember how crazy and stressed out I was with DS1 at this 8-9 mark when my supply never recovered after my period returned.

If I am short 5oz every workday, and have 200 oz in my stash, that will last 8 weeks. That will take me to 10.5 months. Then maybe he won't need three bottles at that point? Probably be eating more table food?

And this is why I am so glad I had a ginormous freezer stash.

I am really holding out hope my supply bounces back I'll give it the weekend and if its still low on Monday, I may call the dr to get me an Rx to get me through.

Thanks for all your responses.