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Attachment Parenting
XP from BF: Time to supplement?
So you regulars pretty much know how much stress I've been going through lately. Well, here's one more:
The last week or so, my supply has absolutely tanked. I've tried drinking gallons of water, pumping often to try and bump it back up, drinking that awful tea... But still I can barely pump an oz, if that. DS seems to be constantly wanting to nurse, but we're not getting any letdown, so he's not getting much as far as I can tell.
So I guess my question would be, is it time to start supplementing with formula? I really, really don't want to. I love BFing. I love doing it, period. But I'm worried that DS isn't getting enough. He already eats two pretty sizeable solids meals a day, but even at his last weigh in, he hadn't gained any weight in the last month or so. The pedi didn't seem too concerned, she said to bump up his solids intake, but he's already getting so much, that I'm thinking the problem is with me now.
What do I do? Supplement? Is there something else I could try first? Fenugreek maybe? TIA from a very stressed and worried mama.
Breastfeeding, Co-Sleeping, Babywearing, Animal Loving Family!
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Re: XP from BF: Time to supplement?
If LO has a normal number of wet/poopy diapers, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Supplementing won't help your supply; it will do the opposite.
Can you take a "nursing vacation"? As in, spend a day or two nursing constantly, whenever LO wants to be at the breast, encouraging him to nurse? You could probably use a day in bed, given what you've gone through.
Fenugreek is a good call, also oatmeal and beer, lol. If you're super-concerned, your OB may even be able to prescribe Reglan to help boost your supply.
If you have to supplement, don't beat yourself up. Do what you need to do to be happy. If supplementing does that, go for it. If it's going to be something else that upsets you though, don't do it. What will make you happier at this point?
((hugs))
I think you need some cookies.
Ever made oatmeal chocolate chip lactation cookies? They're yummy! Load up with the brewer's yeast and flax seed and counterbalance that bitterness with choc chips. 
I do cut the sugar in half, but basically use the whole bag of choc chips. Hehe.
And, I know this is hard, but try to relax. Take some time for yourself to clear your head, take a bath with DS, whatever you need to do. And when he's nursing, don't stress about "Is he getting anything?" Sometimes, I picture my milk busting out, like water from a dam.
And focus on how much you love DS and love BFing, and just enjoy watching him nurse.
Apart from that, are you eating okay? Some people don't eat when they're stressed. Try to eat lots of good fats (nuts, avocados, cook with coconut oil, etc). That will make sure you're getting the good calories you need to make good milk.
If nothing seems to work, don't give up. Call a LLL leader in your area. Ours has a hotline for emergencies even. Or a lactation consultant at a hospital. You can make this work, mama. Good luck!
If your not getting let down, it's probably due to the stress. I know it's very very hard, but when you nurse or pump try and clear your mind and take deep breaths. I have a let down issue sometimes, and what I do is close my eyes, take deep breaths and imagine a waterfall. I think to myself, that my milk flowing down, is like a waterfall. It also helps if I take several sips of cold water when I sit down to nurse.
You want to do the same ritual everytime you sit down to nurse or pump. This will train your body and mind to release the milk easier and faster. It could be breathing, a certain drink, imagery, whatever works for you.
If it really is a supply issue, which a let down issue can turn into a supply issue if your not emptying your breasts often enough, you can try fenugreek & blessed thistle, 3 pills 3 times a day. Drink to thirst but don't drown yourself, as too much water can have the opposite of desired results. Steel cut oats every morning help me. As a last ditch effort you can take domperidone. I just had to start taking it as my supply tanked more and more every month from getting AF. You can order it from www.inhousepharmacy.biz You don't need a script from there but it takes about 2 weeks to get.
How many wet diapers is he having a day?
He's definitely not having as many wets as usual. I'm trying so hard to relax and just let the milk flow whenever we nurse, but it just seems to not be happening. I'm so frustrated, and so is he. Is it worth it to buy some formula to have on hand while I'm trying to get my supply back up? I would still pump and nurse as often as possible, but I am just so worried about him not getting enough.
I guess maybe I will try the lactation cookies and fenugreek next.
It's just, ugh, like I need other things to worry about...
My supply has definetly dipped a few times due to stress or illness. Here's a list of what i've tried and what has helped
Fenugreek, Reglan ( I was leaking after my 2nd dose!), gallons of water, eating a TON, taking a hot shower/bath before nursing, lots of skin to skin contact (nurse topless), increase night time nursing sessions, and a glass of wine to clear my head
Hang in there!
As long as he is having atleast one wet diaper every 8 hours I would not worry about him getting dehydrated, you'll be surprised how quickly your supply will pick back up.
Could he also have hit his 6 month growth spurt?
Trying for #2 since July 2010
BFP 8/1/10, missed m/c, D&C 9/15/10.
BFP 1/8/11, chemical pregnancy.
BFP 3/4/11, measured behind all along, no more HB 4/18/11. D&C 4/29/11. HCG didn't drop, Repeat D&C 6/17/11; confirmed molar pregnancy 6/23/11.
Forced break, including two Hysteroscopies in October to remove retained tissue.
BFP 12/29/11! Betas @ 10 dpo = 85, 14 dpo= 498, 22 dpo = 7242
Heard HB 1/24/12. 144 bpm!
Luca Rose born 9/9/12! More than worth the wait!
I've had a few supply drops due to stress over the last several months, so I empathize. A few things that helped:
The lactation cookies & regular oatmeal. Not instant, the real deal. You have to eat it a few times a day though if you're in tanked mode. Have some in the a.m., before bed, & a few lactation cookies throughout the day. Through in some more for a snack if you can.
Get a little bit of a fatty food, like some ice cream or coconut milk.
More Milk Plus pills. It's Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, + a few other herbs all rolled in one.
Sleep. And more importantly, sleep topless next to your naked LO. Skin to skin = more milk. He will nurse more while sleeping too, & night nursing will help your supply. Take some baths or showers together too.
Yoga and yoga breathing throughout the day to combat stress. I just started yoga again & it really calms me. I forgot how much.
Start taking a double dose of B complex supplement, then cut to 1 dose in a few weeks. You're under high stress right now, which depletes your body of B's, which makes you more anxious, tense, depressed, & sleepless, which creates a vicious cycle.
Definitely start on fenugreek with blessed thistle. Domperidone did nothing for me, but it works for a lot of people. My health was too far gone to make milk any more. Try the dark beer, oats, lots of water, etc, too.
Also know when it's time to start supplementing. I think I waited too long. DD2 went from fat and rolly to really skinny. DD1 is skinny, so I didn't think much about it, but looking back, I should have. I finally gave up around 10 months and started giving her donor milk, and added in cows milk at 12 months. She gained a ton of weight.
It IS normal to slow down when they get active, but it's important to know your kid. DD2 wasn't meant to be skinny as a rail, and I should have seen what was happening.
Surprisingly, supplementing did help my supply. Not in a physical sense, but I was so stressed that I wasn't producing enough milk. Every pumping session would be stressful when I saw how little I was getting and I was constantly worried that I would run out of milk. We added one bottle of formula to his diet on daycare mornings (so 4 days a week). All of a sudden, I started to see the milk build back up in the fridge. I could give him an extra pumped bottle if needed. I was no longer stressed, and my supply went back up because I wasn't constantly worrying!!! However, I kept the same amount of pumping sessions as before supplementing (so I didn't replace a session with formula). The formula is on top of what he would already be getting. I also do every trick imaginable - fenugreek (although I always forget and only take about 2 pills a day), oatmeal, tons of water, and Guinness a few times a week at night
The combo of the guinness and the fenugreek seem to have made the most impact - I can get 10-12 oz in the morning sometimes now! I was barely getting anything before. Good luck!!
Also wanted to add - I eat A TON. Constantly. All day long. Ice cream, nuts, yogurt, 90% dark chocolate, anything I can get my hands on, really. Big lunch. Big dinner. Food all the time!!!