Increase supply while dealing with tongue tie?

LnR70707

I emailed my LC but just figured I'd get some feedback here too.  DD will be 5 months on the 13th and at 4 months we discovered she dropped off the growth chart.  Lots of extra nursing, weighted feeds, and pumping (side she doesn't nurse first thing in morning plus adding in a session after she is down for the night) and giving a bottle or two a day after nursing got her a gain of 3oz in a week.  Not great, but okay and pedi said she was just growing on her own curve.  At the suggestion of an LLL leader, I googled tongue tie and discovered that not only does DD have it, so do I, which is why I thought her tongue was normal.  A visit from an IBCLC yesterday confirmed this, and a weighted feed showed she was transferring milk, just not as much as she should for the amount of time and effort she makes nursing.  Pre-feed weight showed only a 2oz gain in 9 days.  We have an appointment with an oral surgeon on the 16th and the plan for now was too keep doing what I'm doing and switch her between sides multiple times to keep her from getting too frustrated when she has trouble getting a letdown.  

So my question is, while we wait to get her tongue problem fixed, is it logical to assume increasing my supply with domperidone (fenugreek makes her gassy and I've got Dom leftover from low supply issues with DS) would make it easier for her to get more milk per nursing session?

LnR70707

If your supply is low because of low demand due to her tongue tie, I would think it would make sense to increase the demand by pumping more often before taking meds.

For the moment my supply is still okay somehow...corrected an oversupply around 1-2 months, after which her weight gain slowed, so I was just wondering if bringing back an oversupply temporarily would help her get more milk without resorting to EPing or formula. I nurse every 1.5-2hrs during the day and have little luck letting down for the pump if I'm switching back and forth, but I guess if it is just for added stimulation its worth a shot.

hilsy85

What about just continuing to pump and offering milk in a bottle after nursing? 

latteluver

Sorry I never really post but really wanted to answer this question!

 

Yes, I would take the Dom to increase your supply.  At the lactation clinic I train at we will always prescribe Dom in cases of later onset slow weight gain.  Due to her tongue tie she was likely not able to stimulate your breasts enough to keep your supply up. So I would use the Dom to boost your supply. I wouldn't use fenugreek at 4 months, Dom is much more effective.

 

 

LnR70707

Thanks ladies!

@latteluver that is what my LC said as well so I started the Dom last night.