Is it possible to just loose your brest milk?

Jessica - posted on 02/21/2010

you can also "dry up" from certain kinds of birth controls so becareful there as well.

Ink - posted on 01/19/2010

Christmas, this year, my milk depleted to NOTHING. I was just as scared as you are now!
My midwife suggests that it could be all the peppermint candy I had been scarfing down the whole holiday. I'm a total junkie!
I quit the peppermint (KILLING ME) started fenugreek and upped my water intake. She had me attempt to feed him even if I didn't expect much. The constant feeding stimulated my supply.
We are back to b-feeding full time again :) I sure do hope this helps!

Katherine - posted on 01/19/2010

It sounds like a growth spurt to me too, but if you're worried, check in with your doctor. If your supply is genuinely low, in addition to Fenugreek, there's a prescription medication called Motillium that can help boost supply, but it's not something you should take unless you're really having supply problems. If it's just a growth spurt, your supply will come up naturally.



Oh, and my doctor recommended that, rather than weigh after a feeding, weigh several days apart...typical weight gain for a breastfed baby is 4 to 7 ounces a week at that age, so if kiddo's still gaining, and not showing any signs of dehydration, all is probably well.

Emma - posted on 01/18/2010

First of all, try and relax. If you are over anxious at the feeding time then you can pass that on to the baby. I've thought many times that I've "run low" especially when I haven't been able to pump. I've now been nursing for almost 7 months and have gone through this. Take your son into a quiet room and listen to him when he feeds. You can hear swallowing going on, and can feel the difference between the suckling for milk and suckling for comfort. Your son might be trying to increase your supply right now, so he is going to want to nurse frequently and will get a little frusturated at a slow let down. One way you can help is by using "block feedings", where you have your baby on one breast for 3 hours, then switch to the other breast. Unless your son generally empties both breasts, this works well as your son will be getting more hindmilk and less foremilk so the calories will sustain him with growth. Check his output, lots of wet diapers means you are producing enough milk.



I don't really trust weighing after a feed, but I do know some women who have done this. The reason why I don't is my son used to cluster feed alot, so one feed he would take 1-2 ounces and the next he would take more and in the beginning I was worried I wasn't producing enough milk until I took him into my bedroom and nursed him there. I was able to hear him swallowing milk and began to understand his feeding.



You can also get in contact with your local lactation office and have them watch you nurse, explain to them what is going on with your general feedings. That way they can accurately assist you in what you can do to help. In the meantime, you can try lying down to feed him, it can be more relaxing for you and your son. Let him nurse as often as he likes and make yourself a cup of tea.

Dawn - posted on 01/18/2010

It's probably a growth spurt and pumping is NO indicator of how much milk you are actually producing - babies are much more efficient than pumps. It does pass.

dxx

Lise - posted on 01/18/2010

You can do it! :) I'm sure things are fine. Just watch his output. Keep in mind with the weighing that ONE meal is not indicative of all meals. My LO might eat 1 oz one feeding and 4 the next (I bought a scale). Don't worry about the pumping output.

There's a thread here about how to increase your supply, and check out kellymom.com for advice too.

Justine - posted on 01/18/2010

at that age your baby is probably going through a growth spurt. also, if the let-down is too fast it can make them fussy at the breast, and many women mistake this for not producing enough milk. try lying on your side or back to nurse and see if the baby is any more contented while nursing. there are very few women who actually have low milk and need to suppliment but many suppliment anyway thinking they do. also, i cnat pump at all but have enough milk for 2 or 3 babies lol. pumps will never compare to a real baby for efficiancy in emptying the breast.

Stephanie - posted on 01/18/2010

I agree with Lisa on most things. Some women can't pump at all, but can breast feed just fine.

I've also heard of some babies who just can't be kept full on breast milk and need to breast feed then bottle feed formula. Your Pediatrition will be able to help you determine this.

Hopefully your able to find something that works for you!

Heather - posted on 01/18/2010

and you can also "power pump" which i found helpful. pump 10 off 10 for an hour. it simulates a baby during a growth spurt. i know firsthand how frustrating and upsetting it can be to have your supply drop off. especially when you know what you are doing. i have almost gotten back to normal so it is possible to remedy. if you have any questions let me know. keep us posted!

Heather - posted on 01/18/2010

if you have been nursing for a couple months i'm sure you know how to latch and all. this happened to me almost exactly (my son is 10 weeks) after i started Zoloft and birth control pill. did you start any medication? also, i am on 3 pills 3 x day of Fenugreek. It was told to me by lactation and it works! no supply problems anymore and you dont have to try and pump to build it back up. you can take it for the duration of bf or until you get your supply back to where you want it. I am continuing it to help me keep it up since i pump at work.

Tarah - posted on 01/18/2010

you could try weighing him before a feed then feed him and weigh him again then compait the 2 weights and see if he gotten anything.

Raven - posted on 01/18/2010

I would contact your pedi office. Most will allow 'weigh ins', where you weigh baby, nurse baby, then weigh baby again. This will let you know exactly the amount baby is consuming.

Minnie - posted on 01/18/2010

You sound really worried! If your baby isn't losing weight and is not dehydrated you are producing enough for him.



Don't use what you can pump as an indication of your supply. Pumps are inefficient at draining and stimulating your breast.



Babies go through periods of growth spurt in which they will want to nurse very frequently. This will stimulate your breasts to increase production. Establishing and maintaining a sufficient milk supply is dependent on maintaining high prolactin levels and adequately draining your breasts. This is achieved through frequent on-demand nursing.



To ensure a good milk supply:



-Make sure baby is latching correctly



-Allow baby to nurse to satisfaction on the first breast (until he unlatches after some time) before switching to the other



-Pay attention to your baby's early cues that he wants to nurse- do not wait for crying



Try offering your breast before he becomes too hungry. He'll nurse for comfort and won't be so frustrated waiting for your letdown.