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PCOS question/Supply help

GopherBaby13GopherBaby13 member
edited February 2014 in Breastfeeding
A little bit of a background:

I have PCOS and when I was pregnant, my breasts never got bigger. Then my daughter was born (a pretty traumatic birth: over 24 hours in labor, almost 5 hours of pushing and than an emergency section. I also had a placental abruption that they found out about when they cut into me) with left aortic stenosis and was transferred to Children's hospital, where she stayed for 11 days. They wouldn't let her bf when she could finally eat after her surgery, as it would be to strenuous on her heart, so she has never latched longer then 2 minutes because the bottle is easier. My supply sucks. I pump only an ounce a day.

My question is: those of you that have PCOS and your supply was affected, did it get better or worse for your next baby?

ETA: I'm open to suggestions to boost supply. I laid out my pumping schedule a few posts down.
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Re: PCOS question/Supply help

  • fusionbridefusionbride member
    I have PCOS and trended towards oversupply, but had a great breastfeeding experience-- just stopping now.  I only have the one kid, so don't know how different it will be between pregnancies.

    How many times a day are you pumping now?  If you want to continue to give BM, you might want to post with a different title telling your current pumping routine and you will likely get a lot of suggestions on how to boost your supply.

    GL.  

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  • GopherBaby13GopherBaby13 member
    edited February 2014
    @fusionbride

    I pump every three hours for 20-25 minutes during the day. My last pumping session is around 11pm and my first session for the day is usually around 8, before my baby wakes up. I tried fenugreek for 3 weeks and Mothers Milk Tea and didn't notice a difference in supply.

    The first real latch she got was right after Christmas (she got frustrated because not much came out then she got thrush, which we think we just got rid of. I'm nervous to try again because what if its not gone?
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  • lesliehoyle1lesliehoyle1 member
    You need an overnight pumping session if baby isn't feeding this is when you make the most milk and hormones are highest.
    I have pcos and have a severe oversupply really could pump like a dairy cow with my last two kiddos and have had mastitis and abscesses with both kids
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  • JackieP1023JackieP1023 member
    I have PCOS, and haven't had an issue with BF (yet). I'm constantly worried about my supply dropping, but as long as she is eating regularly and seeming to get full, I try not to worry!

    This is my first, so I'm not sure how supply would be affected for a second child. My first pregnancy (loss @20 weeks), my milk did come in, and my cup size went from DD to F. It never went back down. This pregnancy, I stayed at an F cup the whole time-they never got any bigger. I haven't been measured lately (nursing tanks are what I live in!) but hopefully they haven't gotten any bigger with BF this time!


    dx PCOS 2007

    BFP #1 (natural) 12/23/2010. Stillbirth due to IC 4/2/2011

    TTC #2 starting 03/2012

    RE starting 07/2012

    05/2013 BFP on a Letrozole (Femara)/trigger!

    Cerclage, Procardia, Makena, GD (with insulin), MBR, and we made it!  


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  • fusionbridefusionbride member
    GopherBaby13 said:
    @fusionbride I pump every three hours for 20-25 minutes during the day. My last pumping session is around 11pm and my first session for the day is usually around 8, before my baby wakes up. I tried fenugreek for 3 weeks and Mothers Milk Tea and didn't notice a difference in supply. The first real latch she got was right after Christmas (she got frustrated because not much came out then she got thrush, which we think we just got rid of. I'm nervous to try again because what if its not gone?
    This is what is killing your supply.  I understand the temptation to sleep all the night through, but if you want your supply to pick up, you will need to add a middle of the night session since that is when you produce the most milk.

    I'd also try and meet with a lactation consultant to see if your pump is fitted right and working properly etc.  Maybe consider a hospital-grade pump.  And try hand compressions to get out more milk.

    ANd how much fenugreek did you take?  i think you are supposed to take 2-3 capsules 3 times a day-- you need enough so that you smell like maple syrup.  If you didn't have the syrup smell, it's worth trying it again.



    Good luck!  

    (FWIW, I think your issues stem much more from your inability to establish BF early due to the birth complications rather than PCOS.  I think next time around it should be easier, but probably good to work with a lactation consultant from the very beginning just in case)

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  • mrsbamtasticmrsbamtastic member
    edited February 2014
    I added three pumping sessions that really helped my supply get where it needed to be: 1) after he was asleep at night for his long stretch/before I went to bed, around 11pm 2) middle of the night. I had to set the alarm and wake up while LO and DH snored. It sucks, but just think about why you're doing it and turn on netflix and get a snack. 3) in the morning pump one side while feeding LO from the other (if he doesn't take both breasts) I kept this up as best I could for 2 weeks or so. Don't beat yourself up if you miss one, but more stimulation is what you need, especially at night.
    Eta: we also did not establish early breast feeding due to some issues, and it took about 2 months of hard work for it all to click. It IS possible!
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