Could it be low milk supply?

[Nay - Mateo's Mom]

I need some advice, help, shoulder to cry on, etc, etc...

Mateo is now 5 months old, and we've been BF since day 1. He does take a bottle of BM from time to time... but absolutely refuses to have any formula no matter what brand.

Anyway, in the past week BF has gone from bad to worse to an absolute nightmare!
He goes crazy at my breast if the letdown isn't fast enough. He totally freaks out, screaming, screaching, crying... he's on, he's off, he's on again... and all this time he's pulling on my nipple! OUCH

Anyway, I have been pumping, so I try to BF as best as we can, but after 20 minutes or so of both of us in tears and utterly frustrated, I top him up with a bottle. 

I am taking fenugreek again, and pumping in between feeding times to get the milk back up since about 3 weeks ago we stopped feeding through the night. (that's the positive side to this whole dilemma.. he now sleeps through the night)

What to do? He's obviously hungry... we are starting cereal soon.... but if he won't take formula, and my milk supply seems to be low.. what do I do??

HELP!

Thanks,
Nay

[Petunia]

Have you tried priming your breasts before you nurse?  Maybe pumping and massaging until the milk starts to flow and then putting him on the breast?  He wouldn't have to wait for the letdown then.

[KDawn]

Hi, Keira and I went through close to the same thing aftermy doctor put me on the pill, which really slowed my milk.  I quit the pill after a few days.  Anyhow, Dr Jack Newman has a really good website that will help you with almost anything that relates to bf.  I found that compressing while she nursed worked great.  Also feeding on both sides and alternating every few minutes, I was told that it helps bring on more letdowns, this way getting more milk.   Now once a month when my milk slows down, I make sure I stockpile expressed milk in the freezer and then after she nurses I top her up with my milk.  I also make sure I pump after nursing, while I compress and massage.  Hopefully everything returns to normal for you if it is a low milk supply.

[First Time Mom]

Hi Nay,

How long have you been topping him up with a bottle? I wonder if he's beginning to prefer the bottle as it has such a fast flow for them and he now knows he doesn't have to "work" for the milk? I would try to resist the bottle, if he fusses big time I would stop and then try again in 5-10 minutes. Does he fuss at all feeds or certain ones? My Milena was fussing at her 3 and 6:30 feed for about a week and I was concerned with supply so I kept her on and then when she was done I put her back to the first side. I don't pump so this was needed to help supply (if it was my issue). I also have to make sure the room is quiet and calm- no people around otherwise she's cranking her head to look (and takes me with her- ouch). Sara posted an article on our b-day site about determining if there is a supply issue, it's interesting so maybe check that out as well.

[lwwho]

Hi Nay,

I think you posted a reply to a thread I started about my DD not wanting the breast anymore. I just want to tell you that I've been where you are now. And it happened around the same time. But it was also probably related to my having to go back to work. What helped me was actually to stimulate a let-down first before putting my DD to the breast. I did that for 3 months! My let-down was just too slow for my impatient LO to wait for! Try to relax once you get Mateo latched coz that will help with subsequent let-downs and keep the flow up. Try not to give him bottles if you can help it. I didn't have a choice coz I had to go to work and my mom,, who was taking care of her during the day, just wouldn't hear of feeding my LO with a syringe or spoon. If you have to use bottles, use a newborn teat so that he will have to work hard for the milk and not get lazy.

With regards to supply issues, sleeping lots and eating lots helps. Have you tried Domperidone? You'd have to get a script for it. Another thing which I really swear by is Raw Papaya Soup. This is an Asian recipe so I'm not sure if you can get the ingredients where you are. Pan fry some salmon bones with garlic then boil together with really raw (as in green) papaya till the papaya is soft. You can add some almond nut too. Doesn't taste as bad as it sounds. That's what people here (in Singapore) take for helping milk supply and it works for me. Good luck!

[Nay - Mateo's Mom]

Thanks a million to all!

I will take all of your advice into consideration and go from there.
Mateo takes a bottle (avent with a #1 nipple) and also nurses. I have him nurse even if it's only for a few minutes on each side after he takes a bottle.
I am pumping after feeds so that I can build up my supply again. I'm also trying to pump once or twice per night...which is why I'm on the boards at 4AM!   Anyway I guess the fenugreek might be kicking in because I have just gotten 2oz from onse side and 3 from the other. I used to get like 4 or 5 from each side, but this is one heck of an improvement from about 4 days ago when I was getting max 1 oz from each side at pumping.

I would love to try and resist a bottle, but he's HUNGRY... and I can't leave the little guy hungry. We're starting cereal today... went and bought him a spoon and a bowl (cute) yesterday, so maybe he'll be able to be a bit more patient? We'll see...

Once again, thanks girls, what would I do without you?
Nay