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D.C. Area Babies
BF supply issues
Backstory - Our pedi took LO off breastfeeding for 2 weeks while I start a dairy and soy elimination diet.
I've been pumping 7 times a day (LO feeds 7-8 x day) and notice that I'm getting less each day. What can I do? LO eats approx 30-36 oz of formula daily and I'm worried I won't have enough for him when he returns to breastfeeding ... not to mention trying to surplus for daycare in 6 weeks!
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Re: BF supply issues
Can you eat oatmeal on your diet? If so, I would start eating a huge bowlful every day. Also, skin to skin time with your baby will help. Try having pictures around of him while you pump, or have him in the room with you when you pump, that should help you express more each time. What kind of pump do you have? You may want to check into renting a hospital grade pump for a while. Talk to a lactation consultant and see if they have more tips. You may also want to investigate taking fenugeek (fenugreek? something like that!) to help increase supply as well. Or "disobey" your ped and continue breastfeeding a couple times a day...if your end goal is to go back to breastfeeding, and you are on the elimination diet, why not? If you need two weeks for the dairy and soy to clear your system, shouldn't baby need the same amount of time for him? So you guys can "diet" together. Babies are so much more efficient than pumps (at least, full term well-babies). Good luck!
have a glass of water each time you pump. Be sure you are getting enough rest (much easier said than done, I know)
I also heard beer can increase your supply, as can strawberries.
I'm really surprised that your doc told you to stop BF while you are doing an elimination diet. We have lots of food sensitivity issues with my LO, and she's got pretty bad eczema/spitting up because of it, and my pedi has never suggested stopping BFing. I have also heard/read that elimination diets are often not effective, so just beware. I am currently dairy, nut, citrus and wheat free... and it has helped, but we've still got issues. Hang in there!
That said, I EPed for 5 weeks (from the time my LO was 5-10 wks old) because we had major supply issues and my baby had a very ineffective suck which was actually hurting my supply. So, I EPed to build supply. Keep pumping 7-8 times per day, and be sure to pump for at least 15 minutes. I have found if I keep going to 20 min, I get an additional letdown. You can also power pump once a day -- I'd do it at night when I was watching TV. Pump 10 min on/10 min off for 70 min (so you end up with 4 pumps and 3 breaks). You won't necessarily get much more milk, but it will help your body think the baby needs more. Instead of fenugreek, take More Milk Plus. It's made by Motherlove, and you can get it at Whole Foods. It is a combo of Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle and a few other galactogogues. It's pretty expensive, but really worked for me. Also be sure to drink lots of water and eat plenty of calories. I used to eat oatmeal each morning.
Also keep in mind that the amount of formula that a baby will eat does not mean they necessarily eat that much BM -- formula fed babies tend to eat more ounces because the formula doesn't change. But, the BM changes to meet the baby's needs, so they tend to eat less because your body (amazingly) starts to produce more caloric milk. BF babies tend to eat somewhere around 25-30 oz per day -- but when you serve them a bottle (either of formula or BM), they will ALWAYS drink more if it is there for them. So, don't stress about it -- once you go back to BF, your LO should help to up your supply if you need it. Good luck!
This is what I was going to say. Don't stress too much about meeting 36 oz. Water, oatmeal (especially sprinkled with brewer's yeast and flaxseed meal) and fenugreek are all good ideas. I'm not sure if this is mentioned above, but you need to take a lot of fenugreek (like 6 capsules a day). Basically, until you start smelling like maple syrup.
Keep in mind, once you get back to BFing your supply will probably go back up. BFing stimulates your supply better than pumping so you make more.
When I was having supply issues, I was drinking mother's milk tea, had oatmeal for breakfast sprinkled with brewer's yeast, ate lactation cookies, and took 6 fenugreek capsules daily.
Other things that can affect your supply are stress and lack of sleep, so working on those can help (easier said than done, I know). Make sure to pump until you are completely empty, and maybe add another pumping session - I always got the most at the 3-4am session.
Good luck! This sucks, I know, but you'll be through it in no time.
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
More Milk Plus has been a lifesaver for me, I'm doing some of it this week because I've noticed a drop because DS is sick and not eating quite as much (or sleeping!). If you get the liquid form you can't drink 20 min. before or after and it doesn't taste great, but lots of people have good results with it.
Good Luck!