Help me now so I can nurse successfully in December..

Teresa - posted on 07/19/2011 ( 4 moms have responded )

522

34

My last baby was born at 38+6 by emergency csection after an induction and fetal distress. His cord was wrapped around his neck and made it too short for him to descend properly. Anyway, I had a terrible time breastfeeding him. He was the 5th child I had breastfed and the first where I experienced problems.

#1 My milk was VERY SLOW to come in - 5-7 days after delivery compared to 24-48 hours with my other babies.

#2 There was never enough milk despite good nutrition and drinking gallons of water, milk, juice.

#3 I pumped often when he wasn't nursing to no avail.

#4 I tried Fenugreel, domperidone, mothers milk tea, brewers yeast, oatmeal by the bowlful to name a few.

#5 I took a nursing vacation in bed with the babe skin to skin

#6 Always nursed on demand

Nothing would satisfy the child. He was constantly hungry and nothing seemed to change my supply in the least. I finally gave up at 5 months. By that time I was supplementing at least 1/2 his feedings and I felt like I was beating my head against a wall.

I gained weight while nursing as well. No matter what I ate, I gained. My joints hurt like crazy.

So, what can I do to make this time around a little better? I really wanted to nurse to at least a year and it just was so discouraging that my body would not cooperate.

I have heard of possible causes and wonder if you all have heart these things as well:

c-sections cause poor milk supply
some drugs cause poor milk supply(I had demerol after the csection)

epidurals cause poor milk supply

Age causes poor milk supply (I was 41 then, 45 now!)

Hormone imbalances cause low milk supply (thyroid for example? or female hormones after birth)

I am expecting again in December and I will nurse even if it is no better than before.

Are there any new innovations is helping moms produce more milk for their babies?

Join Circle of Moms

Sign up for Circle of Moms and be a part of this community! Membership is just one click away.

Join Circle of Moms

4 Comments

View replies by

Starla - posted on 10/15/2011

39

21

I had pretty much the same experince with my first and he was born in December. One of my big problems was it was right at christmas time and the hospital was out of pumps and couldn't get any of the nurses to help me much. So after 4 months of working my self to deth doing all the things you mentiond i gave up. Which realy made me made because my son was little and didn't keep the formula down well. So the doctor was on me about his weight for the first 6 mo. With my second. I started the mothers milk tea 2 weeks before i was due and got my own pump. She is almost a year now and i have had no problems nursing her. Good Luck!!!

Michelle - posted on 08/09/2011

295

38

Ok, I have had two csections and both I have had plenty of milk. I can't say about age cause I'm just 30 now but it was no different than the first time. The only thing that I can maybe remind you of is that stress is a huge reduction. Just relax, listen to some quite music to help you, and start now. Try taking real warm showers frontal allowing milk to produce. There is a tea out, it's called "Mother's Milk". I don't know if you have tried it, but it might work. I wish you the best of luck, it sounds like you already KNOW what to do, just relax. If it's going to happen it will.
good luck

Teresa - posted on 08/08/2011

522

34

Yes I have contacted LLL and they were little help. I had already tried everything they recommend to increase supply, to no avail.