Reglan or Fenugreek?

rachthebaj

All of you breastfeeding mama's get your best advice handy, especially if you've had supply issues.

Elliott is 11 weeks today, and the past 3 weeks or so we have had weight gain issues. I'm a ftm, so some of the signs I was getting were unclear to me, but to make a long story short he was not getting enough to eat due to the use of nipple shields. (Cue feeling like the shittiest parent imaginable) Since this discovery I have nearly eradicated the use of the shields (it puts him to sleep at night, and thats the only time I use the awful thing). However, in doing so I am discovering some supply issues. He is doing great weaning from the shield itself, but at the end of the feeding he gets very frustrated I don't have more to offer. I was a bit slow to pumping, but I did have a small stash built up in the freezer that is slowly dwindling now, as he usually takes about 3oz at each feeding. I am doing my best to pump every night, but only getting about 5oz from both breasts at best.

My question is this - I have fenugreek, and reglan, so which should I take? Time is of the essence before my supply runs out and I'll have to start giving him formula if I can't fix this supply issue. Ideally I'd love to go the natural route, but I'm aware fenugreek doesn't work for everyone. On the other hand, the possible side effects from the reglan are pretty terrifying.

Any advice is appreciated! TIA!!

Mafernj

This is my daily battle. I am sorry you are going thru it and I'll share what I have done and the advise I have received from the ladies here.
I take fenugreek, mother milk capsules, non alcoholic beer like twice or three 12oz a day, Malta Goya 4 times a day, oatmeal in the am. Lots of water ... Lots!! Massage breast while feeding, pump at least 3 times a day after she finishes feeding. Put baby to breast all the time .. Really all the time. And when she wasn't gaining I gave a bottle of formula and pumped for that feeding. This has all worked for me, it's a lot of work but becomes second nature to the point that if I don't do my "ritual" I become uneasy. Baby bf I would say 99 percent of the time, if for some reason my supply drops( I didn't do all of it the day before) I give her formula. Hang in there and remember that your breast are never empty you will produce if you keep stimulating. But nothing wrong w supplementing if you need it. I came to terms w it. It was hard at first but now if I don't have enough and she is not satisfied I mix formula and we are both happy. We will see pedi next week for her 2 month check up but she was gaining 10 oz a week and I haven't changed a thing since then so I'm hoping she has gained as she is supposed to. Oh I also change her diaper before every feeding that way she is clean and I can see how much she pees after the feeding ... Yea I go thru diapers like crazy but it gives me peace of mind .If you have any questions you can ask me I will help you as much as I can and pass the knowledge I got from the ladies here .

novelblessings

I am taking a lactation blend with fenugreek in it and I eat oatmeal every day. I had issues early on with my supply.

I'm only get 3 oz when I pump after a feeding, (sometimes less in the evening) I wish I got 5. My LC says my supply is good.

I'm wondering what kind of signs he is showing when he is frustrated and wanting more? I had some issues with DD recently and the pedi thought it was a supply issue. She was always hungry and would start pulling and screaming at me. Ends up she is just a lazy eater, was going through a growth spurt, and she realized she likes the fast flow. So when the flow slowed she would get pissed.

Pankers

Mafernj said:

This is my daily battle. I am sorry you are going thru it and I'll share what I have done and the advise I have received from the ladies here.
I take fenugreek, mother milk capsules, non alcoholic beer like twice or three 12oz a day, Malta Goya 4 times a day, oatmeal in the am. Lots of water ... Lots!! Massage breast while feeding, pump at least 3 times a day after she finishes feeding. Put baby to breast all the time .. Really all the time. And when she wasn't gaining I gave a bottle of formula and pumped for that feeding. This has all worked for me, it's a lot of work but becomes second nature to the point that if I don't do my "ritual" I become uneasy. Baby bf I would say 99 percent of the time, if for some reason my supply drops( I didn't do all of it the day before) I give her formula. Hang in there and remember that your breast are never empty you will produce if you keep stimulating. But nothing wrong w supplementing if you need it. I came to terms w it. It was hard at first but now if I don't have enough and she is not satisfied I mix formula and we are both happy. We will see pedi next week for her 2 month check up but she was gaining 10 oz a week and I haven't changed a thing since then so I'm hoping she has gained as she is supposed to. Oh I also change her diaper before every feeding that way she is clean and I can see how much she pees after the feeding ... Yea I go thru diapers like crazy but it gives me peace of mind .If you have any questions you can ask me I will help you as much as I can and pass the knowledge I got from the ladies here .

This! I have supply issues too. I take fenugreek although it doesn't make me smell. I can't tell if it works but I'm too afraid to stop. I take 4x4 a day, mothers milk tea, mother love more milk plus, lactation cookies, oatmeal And now Domperidone. I pump nearly after every feed and get maybe 3oz a day in total. I'm afraid to stop any of them!!!!

Like other PPs has said, it's not a crime to supplement with formula. I'm 12 weeks pp and have been formula free for 2 but I'll go back to it if LO needs it.

Good luck.

MeggsM

I'm on fenugreek and blessed thistle. Blessed thistle increases appetite and thirst thus drinking more water. I usually drink a glass Everytime she feeds, I eat and overnight. Seems to work for me.

We have been formula free since Fiona was 3 weeks old. When I pump ( usually in the mornings ) I get 3oz to 5 oz in 20 mins.

I should start pumping again more regularly.

Gl!

Mafernj

I am gonna add the blessed thisle to my routine. I have to work on building my stach for when I go back to work.

babylimas

Fenugreek didn't do anything for me. I'm taking reglan now but haven't seen an increase yet. I take it 3 times a day for 3 weeks.

rachthebaj

Well, the 5oz occasion was after about 3 hours of no feeding or pumping (I fell asleep after E did). Each time I pump now I get about 2oz total.
Lately I am seeing a huge decrease in supply, I think due to stress.

When E gets frustrated he unlatches over and over, flails around, and cries pretty hard. It's heartbreaking. I want so desperately to make this work for us! I've started the fenugreek, I'm eating tons of oatmeal, drinking plenty of water, making lactation smoothies, drinking mothers milk tea, trying to pump after each feed as well. I feel like all his waking time is spent feeding him and troubleshooting this supply issue.

Mafernj

Stress will do that. I know how stressful and overwhelming it is but hopefully you start seeing an increase. Are you against supplementing? It's such a personal decision but in my experience I was against it, I cried for days, every feeding I cried. I felt really bad and I felt I failed my kid. My husband supported the ff while my supply went up so that made it a little bit easier. Trust me I worry about every day all day but somehow I don't feel as if that's all I do all day. It became kind of second nature and if I don't "have enough" I give her a bottle of formula and knowing she is fed and satisfied makes me happy. I nurse after the ff for her comfort and to help me w my supply and bond. I found a lot of support here , many of the ladies have or are struggling w the same thing . All I can tell you is don't stress because it will affect you and whatever you decide to do will be the best for your LO

Pankers

@rachthebaj‌ I'm in a similar situation. I give her back what I've pumped if she still seems like she needs more but we've only supplemented 3 times in 2 weeks with BM and haven't used formula for 3 weeks now. Some days I will just sit and nurse when she needs it, other days we go out, she'll go 3 hours and we just nurse a lot when we get back. I'm also taking everything under the sun to get my supply up. I have a whopping 14 oz in the fridge that I've pumped in the last 5 days, so I'm going to freeze my first lot of BM today!!!!!!

Good luck and don't stress out, keep positive, that has also worked wonders for me. There is nothing wrong with supplementing when needed.