For those with low supply

jewels1273 · November 2010

Why are those of us with low supply so hard on ourselves - or is it just me?

I just have to vent because it is so frustrating not being able to produce enough BM for my LO. I can?t tell you how much money I have spent trying to find the one thing that will boost my supply. From herbs, to tinctures, to herbal teas and even Domperidone that just are not helping but I keep taking them anyway.

I thought that I had that one moment this morning when I thought that finally, everything that I?m doing is working. LO finally slept more than 4 hours last night - she made it to 6 hours. I woke up so engorged it hurt. She nursed and I was go happy that she was satisfied and didn?t need a bottle of formula afterwards. However, lo and behold, my pumping amount at work decreased during all pumping times by ? and ounce (when you?re only pumping a total of 2 ounces, ? an ounce is a lot). Now I?m worried that if she is in fact sleeping through the night that by her doing so will really hurt my supply and I will have to set my alarm for 3 am and pump in order to keep what supply I have going.

I know that I shouldn?t feel like a failure - the same thing happened with my first DD 12 years ago and I only pumped until she was 3 months and was supplemented with formula throughout infancy and turned out ok, so why is it such a hard thing to deal with that I can?t BF this one. I know she will turn out ok if she gets only 2 ounces at a time from me. Maybe it is the thought that LO may be the last baby I have (fianc? is 40 and I?m 36 and we already have a DD from a previous marriage and now LO make 3 kids in the house). Maybe it is because I?ve heard that the more kids you have the more easier it is to BF and you would have ample supply, but if we don?t have another LO then I won?t know if that is true or not.

Sorry to vent but I'm feeling a little down.

Tricia879 · November 2010

I give you credit my supply is nil, pumping I dont even get enough to coat the bottom of bottle.. Its depressing. I cried so hard when I had to give him a bottle bc I FF my DD, so with DS I was bound and determined to EBF. Yeah its not happening. I have tried Mother Milk tea and it makes him fussy, but I may try it again and see if it helps. I tried Fenugreek, I also am seeing my dr about possible retained placenta but she said its not that. she told me instead of making myself insane just give up. My LO pretty much gets all formula and very little from me, I nurse him only during the day since I dont see a point in losing sleep doing both. During the day he will nurse and still need a bottle of formula of 2oz or more. So I can totally relate. I am hoping WIC will give me a hospital grade pump and hopefully some pumping sessions for a few weeks will kick my supply into gear otherwise I am throwing in the towel.

Allie30 · November 2010

I feel for you hon. Do not let yourself feel guilty. I am where you are -- only two ounces at a time, and I am coming to grips with the idea taht whatever I can give her is awesome and not to beat myself up over it, and instead be thankful that I live in a world where my baby does not have to starve because my body can't accomodate her.

Breastfeeding is better, but breastfeeding DOESN'T make you a better mother. This is my new mantra.

Matthan2b · November 2010

Allie30:

Breastfeeding is better, but breastfeeding DOESN'T make you a better mother. This is my new mantra.

THIS!!! I think the reason we freak about it is b/c it is something we feel our bodies should be able to do. Thank God for formula, I cannot imagine how many babies in the past have starved due to a mother with low supply.
I nurse part time and have always had a lower supply. I get 6oz first thing in the morning and 4 oz regularly. This might sound like a lot to some but for a 3 month old it isn't enough and I have to supplement. I took everything I could to boost it, and power pumping is the best but nearly impossible with 2 other kids, a small business, and household to run. I obsessed about it for weeks and my poor sitter listened to my rants about my disfunctional boobies! (God bless her!) I nurse every other feeding and once I resigned to the fact that I HAD to supplement I relaxed alot. And I like the fact I have my boobs to myself for a while : )
Give your baby what you can, some milk is better than none! Good luck and keep trying, and if your baby has to have formula that is OKAY!!!
After all a baby's gotta eat!
And as for Trisha, your LO is only 2 weeks, you have a little while till your milk will really come in. Pumping a drip or two happened to me till 4 weeks, so keep your chin up!

bethCT · November 2010

I can't offer a solution because nothing helped me. I would get ridiculous happy to pump 2 ounces in 5!! sessions - COMBINED! But even with my low supply, DD still nurses at bedtime. Just relax and enjoy the nursing, I really think it is less about the milk and more about the time that matters. DD had to have some formula and I hated that, but it is what she needed and she still got everything i could give her.

I wouldn't bother setting the alarm for 3am. Your supply really is what it is. it will take a few days, but it will regulate so that you have all your milk while she is awake.

hang in there!

tSquared1987 · November 2010

I get where you are coming from girl. What I make in 4 days, one kid eats in less than 24 hours. I was so exhausted that I stopped after 3 1/2 weeks of EP. The dr's and I already knew I would probably not make a whole lot because of my history, but it still just really....pissed me off. lol I do give myself credit for lasting as long as I did. My boys got it when they needed it the most. I just wish I could've gotten a better suply because I KNOW I would last if I was producing more. It's just so frustrating. I was really hard on myself while I was pumping, but now that I've stopped, I give myself credit.

It's just so hard. But you definately shouldn't feel like a failure, because you are not Smile

cg0112358 · November 2010

I could have written this post. I initially had a pretty decent supply and was able to pump anywhere form 4-9 oz at a time. Slowly my supply dropped and now I'm excited if I get 2.5 oz combined after pumping for 1/2 hour. I've tried everything (Reglan, Domperidone, mother's milk tea, more milk plus, fenugreek, oatmeal, brewer's yeast) and nothing seems to help. I still pump every 2-3 hours during the day and every 3-4 hours at night and usually get about 12-15 oz a day. The other night I was so excited, I pumped 3.5 oz at one time!!! I have no idea why I was able to get so much and have not been able to repeat it. I went on Monday to get my thyroid and prolactin levels tested and they were normal... I wish I had an OB who was BF supportive I could talk to...I found out mine was a staunch formula feeder after DS was born. I called him b/c of my low milk supply and he told me that formula was just as good as BM and I should just give up. I was definitely very disappointed but managed to force the issue and he gave me a script for Reglan, didn't work anyway... I just get so upset I can't do this one little thing that our bodies were made to do...

abear2 · November 2010

It is hard not being able to pump enough. I was able to EBF DD until she hit four months. It was easy when I was at home with her and BF'ing on demand, but when I went back to work I found that my body doesn't really respond well to the pump. I pump three times a day at work and usually get about 8 ounces total and DD takes 12 ounces while she is away from me. I used to work in extra pumping sessions after DD went to sleep at night, plus a session in the morning before work. I found that to be so draining, and with two little ones, it just couldn't continue that way. I tried More Milk Plus, which helped only minimally. I finally just started giving her the extra 4 ounces in formula. At first, I felt guilty about it and kind of like a failure, but now, I don't sweat it. She gets much more breastmilk than formula and I had to stop and give myself credit for not throwing in the towel. I only breastfed my son until four months, and now my daughter is 8 months and we are still going strong. You are doing a great job, keep up the good work mama! It is so very hard to be a breastfeeding working mom and the fact that you are doing it...give yourself a pat on the back!

calico39 · November 2010

I could have written this post. I've had to supplement most days with formula. If I do everything precisely right -- water consumption, tea, herbs, ?-- I maybe get 3 oz every 3 hours. Oh how I searched for that magic pill or herb that would get us off formula, but it never happened.?

Low supply, at least for me, was a very emotional issue. I think I teetered on the border of PPD over it. Be gentle with yourself. You are grieving a loss. You hoped for an exclusive breastfeeding relationship, but that didn't happen.

??But I think you are doing an AMAZING think for your daughter. Think how many women would have just given up. (which is absolutely fine to do. Breastmilk may be the best food, but I firmly believe its not always the best choice, particularly if its making you crazy)

?You've worked very hard. You should be proud.?

?

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