One step forward 2 steps back...frustrated (a bit long)

jigglyjelloo · March 2011

My LO is almost 15 wks old and since about 5 weeks I have been having to suppliment 2-6oz per day. At the end of Feb I had finally got to the point that I wasn't needing to suppliment and was even starting to be able to stash a little bit.

I went on a trip to Canada to visit my family and the 2nd day I was there my pump died, so I was unable to do the 2-3 pumping sessions that were helping to build my supply and to have a little bit of fresh milk to bottle feed when my family members wanted to feed her, so she started getting about 4oz of formula a day (and I didn't have my pump to replace those feedings). LO started her 3 month growth spurt at this time as well.

Then the stress hit about 3 days before I returned home. My DH made a very, very poor decision that resulted in him being arrested and subsquently losing his job. He was in the middle of moving us to a new place, and the day he was arrested was the day we were supposed to be out of our old place (thankfully the manager at the old place was very good. She really liked us so gave us an extra day.

I get some matenity benefits for income, but it is not enough to cover all our bills and put food on the table and gas in the car, we no longer have any health insurance and I am having some medical issues.....thrush being one of them.

My supply is getting lower and lower every day. LO is getting very frustrated when I try to feed her because she has to work so hard to get anything. Tonight she was absolutely screaming, arching her back her little face was beat red. She wouldn't even let me get my breast anywhere near her mouth. As soon as I got a bottle and touched her lips to it she started at it like she had never eaten before.

It is breaking my heart that as each day goes by I get further and further away from being able to provide the nutrition that my DD needs. I have tried fenugreek, blessed thistle, and mothers milk tea, and I didn't see an improvement with that. I finally ordered some dom last night so I am praying that this will help me. I really wanted to BF her for the first year.

I don't really have any family or friends here so it is tough to get support. My DH is great in most ways and I could not ask for a better father for our DD, but when it comes to the bfing issues he is content with just giving formula instead.

Sorry it is so long, but if you made it this far...thanks for reading.

Aviee · March 2011

Hang in there!

We all have problems and frustrating times, and I think that you can overcome the difficulties and BF her still if you keep at it. I've been having to supplement a couple of oz a day now for the past week, but I'm hoping that I can overcome my supply lack, live through growth spurts and work enough to build up supply, and BF a year as well.

Remember that any breast milk is better than none, so don't feel down if you have a drawback for a little while. Your heart's in the right place for LO.

smj2301 · March 2011

Wow sounds like you're going through a lot right now. Stress can lower your supply so you need to try to relax as much as possible. Also make sure that you're drinking tons of water.

I would try nursing your LO when she's not really hungry, that way she's not so frantic and frustrated. Do lots of skin to skin time with her. The hormones that our bodies release when our LOs nurse or are skin to skin with us help increase our milk supply.

GL to you and I hope things start going better for you soon.

shotzie · March 2011

I'm sorry you're going through such a rough time. Have you looked into the WIC program? They have a program for bf'ing mothers which might provide some additional support. https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Breastfeeding/mainpage.HTM

Also, most hospitals have free bf'ing support groups. They are led by lactation consultants and they are great resources.

Back arching can be a symptom of acid reflux, so I'd keep an eye on that. DD had to go on Zantac at 4 months due to reflux. Her other symptoms were frequent hiccups, frequent spit ups, crying at the breast, refusing to nurse. Make sure you burp her really well and try keeping her upright for 20 min after feedings.

However, her frustration at the breast may be caused by bottle preference. Sometimes babies grow to prefer bottles because they do not take as much work as bf'ing does. When you do have to give a bottle, make sure you're using slow flow nipples so she doesn't get used to the milk/formula coming out too fast. Hopefully that'll help so she doesn't get frustrated at the breast.

Thrush can be hard to beat, but there are some home treatments for it. You can mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar in 1 cup of water and dab some on your nipples after each feeding. Check out www.kellymom.com for more info:

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/thrush/thrush-resources.html

To increase your supply, you can try eating oatmeal. I eat oatmeal for breakfast every day. When I get a dip in supply that seems problematic, I make a batch of oatmeal cookies and eat several a day and that helps greatly. There are recipes for "lactation cookies" online, but regular oatmeal cookies do the trick for me. Hang in there!

jigglyjelloo · March 2011

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and suggestions, I really appreciate it.

I usually eat oatmeal ~3X per week, but will start everyday, I have also started with the MMT and fenugreek again. Although I didn't notice a difference when I took it before, maybe this time my body will react differently. I have it here so it won't hurt to try. I also spent a good part of the day in bed skin to skin with LO letting her nurse/pacify herself at the breast to help stimulate. We had a better day today and supplimented ~2oz less than yesterday....so it is a start.

I don't think the back arching is due to reflux because she stops as soon as she gets a bottle (of either formula or BM) and she doesn't do it during her morning feed (or other feeds) when my breasts are 'full'. I think she is just impatient and gets frustrated when she has to work for the milk. I have a pretty heavy let down and fast flow when I am full, so I think she doesn't like to wait when I am emptier. I will speak to her pedi at her next appt.

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One step forward 2 steps back...frustrated (a bit long)

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