EBF + 3 Month growthspurt + AF=

knelli · June 2010

HELL!

Ladies, I know I have been gone for a while but I need some serious help. I am so ready to throw in the breastfeeding towel and I feel terrible about it. I started the mini pill PP and my supply tanked so I stopped it, I have tried EVERYTHING to build it back up and then AF hit, along with her growth spurt and having family stay with us for 2 weeks! I feel so overwhelmed and more than anything I feel terrible not knowing if DD is getting enough to eat.

Her sleeping and eating habits have changed, some probably due to whatever spurt she is going through and a LOT has to do with her home being invaded by a whole crazy family I'm sure. She is eating every 2 hours again but the thing that concerns me is this has been going on for a couple of weeks now... that cant be from a growth spurt can it (it wouldnt last that long) and she constantly has her hands in her mouth, is this a sign of hunger or just exploring?

My SIL left a brand new can of formula here.... I am MORE than tempted to open it and feed LO more but I feel so ashamed!

ETA: NOT that people that use formula have anything to be ashamed of, I was just hoping that I could go much longer EBF, especially since I SAH and can BF.

lkstor · June 2010

Hands in mouth all the time is totally normal at this age. And frankly feeding every two hours can be normal as well. DS still has days like that! Can you go in for a quick weight check with your Pedi or LC to make sure LO is growing well? Mommy needs to relax and eat and drink well in order to BF. Can you send the relatives out for a day with hubby as tour guide and snuggle up with LO in bed? Lots of nursing, lots of cuddling, lots of skin-to-skin time... This does wonders for supply. And I would get that formula out of your house ASAP!

knelli · June 2010

Thank you, I was REALLY hoping you would reply! The family left last night and since then we have been snuggled up and almost constantly nursing... I dont know if I feel overwhelmed with all of this because of AF and the stress of having people here or if I am just panicing. I have an appointment on Fri to meet a new pedi (we aren't happy with our current one) do you think I should at least stop by and weigh in with our current pedi sooner?

lkstor · June 2010

knelli:
Thank you, I was REALLY hoping you would reply! The family left last night and since then we have been snuggled up and almost constantly nursing... I dont know if I feel overwhelmed with all of this because of AF and the stress of having people here or if I am just panicing. I have an appointment on Fri to meet a new pedi (we aren't happy with our current one) do you think I should at least stop by and weigh in with our current pedi sooner?

Friday sounds fine - unless it would help you relax to do it sooner? Also find some mommy time to do something relaxing just for you. Go out for coffee with a girlfriend, go get a pedicure, do some yoga... We all need a break from our husbands (and even from our babies) sometimes! Hugs!

Vandy05 · June 2010

I agree with lkstor... everything you have described seems normal. I bbattled low supply issues and still do and have managed to go this long... I hope you can continue fi that is what makes you happy. It sounds like a rough patch and with some rest, and lo time I am sure your supply will come back as will your enjoyment with bfing. Dont feel ashamed if you have to use formula, but if you really want to avoid it...get it out of the house!

Good luck and hopefully once los growth spurt is over you will feel better. You are doing and have done a great job! Keep it up!

lovesinthehouse · June 2010

I'm sorry that you're overwhelmed, Knelli! DS sucks on his hands ALL THE TIME, so I know it's not a hunger thing. It's a getting-to-know-my-hands-and-how-to-use-them- and sometimes a I'm-getting-tired-thing. And as for BFing, just keep nursing! That will keep your supply up and I'm sure she'll get what she needs. Relaxing and doing things for you will help too, I'm sure. Good luck!

jen-dale · June 2010

AF always messes me up sO bad-and I do supplement since I working again and can't always pump as often as I should. I always think I'm going to have to quit BF all the way when aF comes. Once she goes away things get better, but it takes a little while. Don't give up yet-like pp said, rest, don't stress, take extra care of you :-) hang in there!

labbie1821 · June 2010

lkstor:
Hands in mouth all the time is totally normal at this age. And frankly feeding every two hours can be normal as well. DS still has days like that! Can you go in for a quick weight check with your Pedi or LC to make sure LO is growing well? Mommy needs to relax and eat and drink well in order to BF. Can you send the relatives out for a day with hubby as tour guide and snuggle up with LO in bed? Lots of nursing, lots of cuddling, lots of skin-to-skin time... This does wonders for supply. And I would get that formula out of your house ASAP!

THIS exactly! When I feel like my supply is tanking or am really worried I curl up in bed for as long as I can and do a ton of skin to skin and nursing. If you want to look it up it's called the 24 hour cure by Peggy Simkin. Please do not throw in the towel, you are doing awesome! Matthew started teething at 3 months, now has 6 teeth and is eating every 2 hours around the clock (due to teething right now). Don't give up!!!!!!! We are here for you

Much Love~

katenaustin · June 2010

Oh that really does sound like hell, I'm sorry. My milk supply tanked and I felt horrid about it, but then it just completely dried up a week before LO left the NICU. So I had to start formula feeding which made me feel like a bad mom, but he's getting what he needs so I'm over that part of the transition.

The hand in the mouth doesn't really mean that she's hungry, Austin has just recently started that and it's typically just to sooth himself. And because I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I think he likes his hand better then his paci =| that should be a fun one to break. But he's gotten better at not sticking it in his mouth when he's eating solids.

Maybe after the family leave and you and LO one some time to relax and get back to regular habits it will level out again and get better. Have you tried fenugreek (I think is how you spell it..) or maybe talking to your OB or regular doctor about your loss of breast milk? They can prescribe something to help with it also. If you had a good supply to begin with. I unfortunately didn't so none of this helped me so I can't talk from experience with the herb and medication. I just know their out there if you can.

I wish you the best of luck with continuing feeding LO BM and that things level out soon for the both of you!

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EBF + 3 Month growthspurt + AF=

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