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Breastfeeding
katieln
member
Is it too late to try and get my supply up?
katieln
member
Since the very beginning I've never been able to pump more than an ounce after feedings. I would bf every three hours and then pump 20 minutes. I did this for the first 2-3 weeks with no increase in the amount I got at pumping.
I've tried Fenugreek for several weeks and that did not nothing, so
I started taking More Milk Plus (fenugreek and blessed thistle). I've been taking that for about two weeks and it hasn't helped.
My breasts never really got any larger during or after pregnancy. I'm still a large A/small B. I've heard there is a medication one can take to help with supply, some adoptive moms even take it to bf their new babies?? Anyone think it's worth a shot or am I wasting my time. I'm tired of pumping and getting nothing. My DS is pretty much just getting formula at this point because of my very low supply. Thoughts?
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Re: Is it too late to try and get my supply up?
Are you pumping after nursing? When DS was at your LO's age I would be lucky to get 1/2 - 1 oz pumped after a feeding. If I pumped instead of nursing I would get 1-2oz per breast. Now at 6mo I get 2 oz (maybe 3) per breast when I pump. I only nurse 2x day now (morning & night), and only pump if I am traveling for work and away from DS.
Is your LO continueing to gain weight? My pedi's office will let us come in for free weight checks, I just have to call ahead to ask for a nurse to be available - does your's offer this? It was so reasuring to know DS was gaining (he lost a lot when he first came home).
I never tried the medication, so can't help there. Hopefully the other ladies can help.
Good luck!
OMG! ?I'm so sorry you're having that problem, but so happy to know it's not just me. ?My breasts did not grow or change hardly at all with the pregnancy and my milk never "came in"--no engorgement, no swelling, no tingling--nothing. ?I did produce milk, but never more than 2-3 ounces in a 24 hr period! ?Ridiculous. ?
By day 4, he had lost almost a pound ,was jaundice, and screaming all the time (starving to death).... I tried supplemental nursers & fenugreek + blessed thistle, it didn't help me either--never more than a 1/2 ounce when pumping and DS had to be basically exclusively formula fed. ?I had heard the drug can cause depression in people so was a bit afraid to take it as I was already SUPER depressed from breast feeding not working. ?I called the OB's office & she was out on an emergency, so the nurse practitioner called back and said she did NOT recommend the drug. ?Unfortunately, I wish I would have actually spoken to OB--at my 6 week check she said she wished I would have talked to her because she prescribes it frequently and would have monitored me.
?With this next one, if BFing doesn't work again, I will DEFINITELY try the drug. ?I would definitely talk with your Dr. about it--can't hurt to ask!
Sounds like my story...
The drug is Reglan and you can't get it anymore (not for BFing at least). Only people with stomach issues can take it, because the FDA has a "black label" warning on it.
Try Domperidone instead. You can buy it online, and don't need an Rx for it.
My LC said that she can't "tell me about it, but it works"
My story exactly. But now my supply is up. (Not as much as I'd like it to be though) but, I'm not supplementing.
I maybe crazy, but this is what I did... I BF DS, and when he's done I squeeze my boob to see if anything squirts out, if it does then I decide to pump, otherwise I know I'll get nothing so don't waste my time. Also, my LC told me about beer. I have one bottle a night (after feeding and pumping) and this seemed to help. It's hard but you'll figure out what works best for you; just play around with it. The meds didn't do a thing for me, I swear it seemed that the meds made my supply drop more.
Also, I'd have DS nurse in the AM laying down and he'd nurse for an hour or so on each side, think this helped it also. Now I can pump 8 minutes and get enough for 1 feeding when at work.
Are you pumping to get bottles because you are going back to work? Your breasts do not necessarily need to increase in size. How do you know that your supply is low? It is very normal not to be able to pump much in the beginning. Have you talked to an LC or your dr? Has your LO been losing weight?
You really should be fine as long as your BFing every 3 hours. Unless you have a legitimate problem there is no need for meds.