Milk supply gone down?

Lydia - posted on 01/12/2012

i think at 1-2 months age i lived on the couch with my baby latched... i don't know how i did it, but after that it became a lot easier. the more you nurse the more you'll build your supply... but giving bottles will not help your nursing situation.

make sure you eat well, drink plenty water, oats are supposed to help make more milk, as well as fennel tea. make sure you get enough rest too. if you're stressed out about something that could have a negative effect too.



other than if you didn't change anything that could influence your milk supply (like using some medication, contraception) than you should be fine in a while as long as you nurse on demand.

Sara - posted on 01/11/2012

not sure if ur willing to do this but killians red beer its not a good tatste at all but i was only getting 2 oz out at a time and i drank one and the next day i was engourged u may have to drink more than one but just ne in the eve will help ur suply and help hiim sleep better the beer has hops in it and thats what helps ur milk i hope this helps

Celeste - posted on 01/09/2012

You're doing great! I know it's overwhelming but hang in there. It does get better!

As far as ensuring the hidnmilk, that link about foremilk/hindmilk explains it pretty well. Basically, the more often you nurse the fattier your milk will be..

Christy - posted on 01/09/2012

you are welcome Emily! :):)

Emily - posted on 01/09/2012

thats helpful too. I do try to nurse upwards because he does seem to get more comfortable. Ive tried all sorts of different positions to hold him he does like the laying down position best but I cant lay down all day I need to get up and move haha but Ive done block feeding actually. and it does seem to work better actually im pretty sure thats what ive always done. I just want to make sure hes getting foremilk and hindmilk so ive always kept him on the one side long and then to the other. sometimes its just overwhelming but im sticking to it. and thank you both again for caring enough to keep posting and helping me figure this out it means alot!

Celeste - posted on 01/09/2012

You don't want to limit nursings even if the baby isn't going through a growth spurt

Celeste - posted on 01/09/2012

Sorry, one more thing.. Growth spurts can last for a bit longer than a week. Baby IS getting enough milk as evidenced by diapers. I'm guessing either a) growth spurt or b) OALD or c) both.

IF it's OALD, block feeding can help with OALD. This is Block feeding:
If nursing one side per feeding is not working after a week or so, try keeping baby to one side for a certain period of time before switching sides. This is called block nursing.
Start with 2-3 hours and increase in half-hour increments if needed.
Do not restrict nursing at all, but any time that baby needs to nurse simply keep putting baby back to the same side during that time period.
If the second side becomes uncomfortable, express a little milk until you're more comfortable and then use cool compresses - aim for expressing less milk each time until you are comfortable without expressing milk.
In more extreme cases, mom may need to experiment a bit with time periods over 4 hours to find the amount of time per breast that works best.

And you can also nurse uphill and see if that helps..

Christy - posted on 01/09/2012

I agree with the not limiting nursings if he's going through a growth spurt..but it doesn't sound to me that that is what she's doing.

Christy - posted on 01/09/2012

actually Celeste sent you the links..which can be helpful but sometimes it is not as simple as what the links are telling you. I think it is a wise idea to consult with someone, even if it's just for your own peace of mind. Keep your head up..I know you are tired. Don't give up. Keep fighting. :)

Celeste - posted on 01/09/2012

Yes and I agree with finding LLL.. Also find a lactation consultant that has the credentials "IBCLC" which is "International Board Certified Lacation Consultant". She will have more training than a CLC.

Celeste - posted on 01/09/2012

Absolutely but you don't want to limit nursings because that can affect supply. As long as diapers are good, her supply is fine. If there is lack of diapers, then there would be cause for concern..

Emily - posted on 01/09/2012

i read every link you sent me Christy and maybe it is a forceful let down but I'm not sure. He will fuss at my breast almost like a cry and unlatch and latch over and over and over I feed him all day long but this has been going on for over a week. I will consult with someone I just need help with this.

Christy - posted on 01/09/2012

those are good websites Celeste but I want to error on the side of caution because there may be things we do not know.

Christy - posted on 01/09/2012

Emily...I talked to a friend of mine whose mom is a LaLeche League leader. Celeste is right in one respect...giving him a bottle can reduce milk supply but only if he is just suckling and not nursing. If it is a growth spurt, your body is gaining the extra milk it will need after the growth spurt is over. Listen for swallowing noises. She said it sounds like a combination of him using you as a pacifier (hence the all night nursing) when you think he's nursing but he just needs to suckle. Try giving him a pacifier after he nurses and see if that calms him. You still may have to feed him more often but you are using the pacifier to satisfy that suckling need verses yourself. If it lasts more than a week, then it is not a growth spurt. I know this is hard..being a new mom (which I'm assuming you are or that this one is different from the others) is hard and scary. I remember. It's been 2 1/2 years since my first was born and I've had two more since then. The book Secrets of the Baby Whisper really helped me. It gave me sanity and cleared up a lot of confusion. You can also contact your local LaLeche League for support. I would still go to a lactation consultant if you feel comfortable. I know I did stuff like that just to ease my mind. Hang in there Emily. If it is a growth spurt, it should only last a week. Again...LaLeche League can give a lot of support because they have moms who are going through the same thing.

Celeste - posted on 01/09/2012

Also, just to throw this out there, here's another possibility.
http://kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdo...

The good thing with growth spurts is that it won't last forever!

Celeste - posted on 01/09/2012

Christy, this explains why he could be satisfied with a bottle but again, this doesn't mean low milk supply

http://www.mother-2-mother.com/cc-baby-B...



I've nursed three kids, including twins, and that behavior that Emily described is what my kids did during a growth spurt.. It was constant nursing, ALL DAY. I have pictures LOL



Kellymom is a really good resource. This run by an IBCLC and her info is up to date

Christy - posted on 01/09/2012

It's interesting the different opinions...I believe you need to do what's best for your baby. It's really important that you talk to a lactation consultant as there are many things that can affect your milk supply...tiredness, stress, etc. The fact that he is satified after a bottle and NOT after an hour of nursing says that there is something going on with your supply, otherwise he would be satisfied after nursing. That is a fact. Celeste is right..it could be a growth spurt..but in my experience with three kids under three..growth spurts do not mean that they eat for an hour and you are feeding all day. Again..I am NO EXPERT. All of my advice is based on my own experience and the lactation books I've read.

Emily - posted on 01/09/2012

maybe i hope so. its just getting really tiring on me but what is it when they latch and unlatch a bunch of times. he is such a natural since birth with the whole breastfeeding this problem came out of no where.

Celeste - posted on 01/09/2012

Great! Then he's getting plenty! I really think it's a growth spurt.

Emily - posted on 01/09/2012

thank you celeste and yeah he does make plenty of wet diapers and about 2-3 soiled diapers a day.

Celeste - posted on 01/09/2012

Sorry I completely disagree with Christy.
First none of this means low milk. The BEST way to determine is diaper count. If he's getting plenty of diapers no matter content, then that means he's getting enough.

There is no need to "replenish" milk. Think of breasts like factories not storage facilities. The more you nurse, the more you will make.

There is no set amount of time that hind milk comes. Research shows that the more often you nurse, the fattier your milk.

Baby not being satisfied is also NOT an indicator of supply.

It sounds like a growth spurt, as 2 months is a prime time for a growth spurt. I'd stop the bottles as this can interfere with supply.

Here are some links from kellymom:
Low supply. What it is, what it is NOT, IF you do have a supply problem what to do about it:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-su...
Growth spurts
http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spu...
How milk supply works
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/milkpr...

Foremilk/hindmilk:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/foremi...

Emily - posted on 01/09/2012

Nothing nutritional has happend with me. Its really upsetting for me. I dont know what to do. I will talk with a lactation consultant because I dont want to give up but thank you for replying good advice

Christy - posted on 01/09/2012

could be low milk...I find that my third tugs at the breast when he isn't getting enough..might try uping your water intake. It takes about four weeks to establish milk supply..nursing at lest 8 times a day. Is there anything that has changed recently? Nutrition? water intake? I read a book called Secrets of the Baby Whisperer that really helped me. Look at diaper wetness...how many wet diapers, how many poops..this should tell you if he is getting enough. Feeding all day long does not give your body enough time to replenish milk..so he's probably only getting foremilk, which does not satisfy. He needs the hindmilk, which takes about 10 min. to get to. If you've been nursing 30 min. on each side...but doing all day..I don't think your body would have enough time to replenish..Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. The fact that he's very happy after a bottle means that what I've said is probably right. If you're feeding all day..your body is so tired it does not have enough time to replenish the necessary milk needed to sustain him. If you could, I would talk to a lactation consultant. The reply I've given is just from my own experience with my three under three and from the books I've read. At two months, I have found that my boys went about 3 hours between feeding. I think this is within normal. If they needed more sooner...I fed them.