hELP MY MILK IS DRYING UP?

Brandy - posted on 11/03/2009

Pump and take milk thistle and fenagreek. It took about 2 wks before I had enough milk to start freezing some. I pumped for fifteen minutes every 2 hours on full suction and speed on my double electric pump. Try not to stress over it. Stress can decrease supply. Just enjoy your new little one.

Cherelle - posted on 11/02/2009

As long as you are pumping your milk supply should be okay. Pump your breasts regularly and store excess milk in freezer. Continue to drink plenty of fluids, EAT and make sure you get your rest. All of these factors can affect your supply. But to be on the safe side, consult with the lactation nurse at your hospital.

Amy - posted on 11/02/2009

Thank you everyone for the comments one thing I have learned is that I think its wrong of my dr to have me stop feeding just because of thrush but I am going to keep at and I will post how things are doing. One question can the natural supplements that were mentioned can they bring your milk back in if its basically gone?

Amy - posted on 11/02/2009

Thanks Mona!

Mona - posted on 11/02/2009

I had a friend who just got her breast pump and would pump for another 20 mins after each pump. My client had twins and she sat in front of the TV and pumped and stopped on during the commercials.

But look for a lactation consultant that helped me. Good Luck!

Tessaract - posted on 11/02/2009

I'm so sorry you were given a wrong advice. You can still BF when you or LO (or both) have thrush, you just need to treat both of you for it. You can check www.kellymom.com for more advice on treating yeast infection and also on supply increase. Meanwhile, start on oatmeal, fenugreek/fennel. Some say thistle helps. Good luck!

Rebecca - posted on 10/31/2009

Breast feeding is a supply and demand reaction...when there's a demand your body supplies. I have had 4 children. I breast fed them all. I had a ton of trouble with my first baby. He had trouble latching on. You may experience some trouble with your child in this area. My first suggestion to you is that when ever your baby wants to be pacified skip the pacifier and give him the breast. It will take some work to teach him to latch on properly and the more practice you get the better for both of you. Giving him your breast a bit before he gets hungry, while he's still content will help alleviate his frustration. (and yours!) The more relaxed you are the better your milk will let down. When you are tense your body responds to that. Before sitting down to feed him make sure you have a glass of water and maybe a snack. Get pillows set up if you wish. Then purposely relax your body starting with your jaw, then your shoulders and (silly as it sounds) your butt. When we are tense those are the spots that tighten up.
My son also had thrush and their is no reason for you not to breast feed during that. Insist that they allow you to breast feed him FIRST and then they can give him milk you have previously expressed. The concern is that yeast grows on your skin as well and might reinfect him. After each feeding make sure you let your nipples air dry. This is best. Never re-dress until your breasts are dry. Wash with warm soapy water to kill yeast. That is it. You can also eat yogurt with live active cultures to help. Your breast milk has the antibodies his little body needs to fight any infection.
Remember the Dr.s and the nurses want whats best for you and your baby. They have been trained to do things a bit differnt though. What they want to do might not always be the best. Trust your insticts. Be insistent. Don't back down. They will come around when they see that you are getting the same results with a better method.

Gemma - posted on 10/31/2009

my milk did dry up cause i had 2 stop breast feeding because i was on medication 4 swine flu. Take Fenigreek and milk thistle. Their all natural vitamens so u dont ahve 2 worry about any chemicasl or anything. Their great, they bring back ur milk with the week.

Alarna - posted on 10/31/2009

When my son was 5days old he was admitted back to hospital, it was there that they assumed that he wasnt getting enough of my milk. they didn't want to take the chance so they formula fed him for a few days. in the mean time i kept on pumping and they made me dump. It was the worst mistake.. it wasn't till after they had been feeding him formula that they told me that he might not accept the breast again.. lucky for me he did. Even if they want ur son to b fed through a bottle you should always try to offer him the breast aswell. he also had thrush very early on too but it was due to the medication he was put on. never once did his doctor discourage me from breastfeeding. he was put on oral medication which is suitable from birth and that cleared it up within 48hrs. just make sure to add some to ur nippple so he doesnt give u thrush.

Amy - posted on 10/31/2009

when i had that i was told thrush is due to increased yeast in the body. i stopped eating my sugary stuff, drank lots of water and was told to swipe baby's mouth with chlorophyll [sp?] it cleared it up in a couple days. i'd check with your doc, but yes, a lactation consultant would be good, but i would never stop feeding from the breast. the baby is getting thrush from the yeast in momma. if you take care of yours, you'll see a quick change in baby's thrush.

Sarah - posted on 10/31/2009

my daughter got thrush really bad also, her doctor gave her some meds for it yet that didn't resolve my infection with the thrush, MY doctor told me to go to the pharmacy and purchase (it wasn't even three dollars) Gentian Violet. You use a cotton ball or etc to apply it to your breast and when the baby feeds they will get it in their mouth. For me, this worked better than anything! Her thrush was gone as was mine, in a little less than a week, yet I used it for a little longer to make sure all of the infection was gone. The only issue with this was that this makes your nipples purple, and when the baby feeds their mouth will be purple, and it stains very bad. It took about two days to wear off my daughter's mouth, yet I swear by it! Good luck!

Nikki - posted on 10/31/2009

fenugreek is a natural suppliment that you can buy at the supermarket or health food shop it helps to produce more breast milk. i used it with my son and was given this advice by a naturopath. it works wonders. you can still breastfeed whilst the baby has thrush in there mouth as long as your treating both your breasts and his mouth at the same time. also stress will dry up your milk.

Brittany - posted on 10/31/2009

Sorry to hear that. Good for you on not giving up on breastfeeding. Wow, I don't think I've ever heard not breast feeding due to Thrush. Is it a chronic problem? My baby had Thrush once and I continued to nurse her. Maybe you should get a second opinion on that. I don't think that breastfeeding should have ever been discouraged. You can tell if the baby is getting enough by it's "output." Getting a baby to latch can be very difficult and is best attempted from the start. My best advice for you is to pump every time you feed him and drink a LOT of fluids. Keep your baby close and look at him while you pump. Make sure you are relaxed. The more you pump, the more you will make. Your milk is on a supply and demand kinda thing. I think that Nyki down there has great advice.

Elizabeth - posted on 10/31/2009

I agree with the need to get a lactation consultant.



There are some suppliments - Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle - that are supposed to help. I used Blessed Thistle. Also, the doctor can proscribe some medication if necesary: Domperidone (Motilium®) or Metoclopramide (Maxolon®, Pramin®).



Breast feeding is by demand, so if you just keep expressing like another mom said, you will continue to produce - even if it's just a little, once you put the baby on and keep doing it (it takes a bit of time to readjust), your milk will come back into full swing.



Good luck!

Tori - posted on 10/31/2009

First of all kudos to you for continuing to feed him breastmilk. That's the best thing you can do. Don't worry bout your milk drying up as long as you continue to pump regularly and drink plenty of water your milk will stay. When I wanted to produce enough to freeZe I would pump well my daughter was breastfeeding. I would either pump one side while she ate on the other or pump after she ate. Also I would and still do get up at night and pump. If your little one Gets up at night then you can pump while he eats or after. It definitley takes dedication to continue to only pump. Trust me I know it's hard but my hats off to you for doing it. Breastmilk is the best thing you can do for your baby boy.

Nyki - posted on 10/31/2009

I would get in touch with a breast feeding consultant in your area as soon as possible. The La Leche League is one source you can start with http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html

Or contact your OB/GYN to see if the have any resources to offer or the hospital where you delivered.



You should do all you feedings with skin to skin contact even if using the bottle - that helps stimulate milk production. You can find other great advice and resources in The Breast Feeding Book by Dr.William and Martha Sears http://www.askdrsears.com/store/detail.a...



Good luck to you and I hope your Little One recovers quickly.