BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Breast Feeding => Topic started by: timmysmommy on July 07, 2012, 13:33:59 pm
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My lo just turned 9 months. I've noticed her diapers have been drier lately, and when I pumped yesterday, I only pumped half of the amount I usually pump. She is on solids, but I always nurse her first. I've noticed her gulping the water I offer her at meals. My cycles have started up again, but I'm not currently on my period. She's always fussy- so I can't say anything is different there. She doesn't sleep through the night, so wakeups are not unusual either.
I know it's been hot lately, but we've mostly been in the AC.
I had a similar issue with DS around this time. Turns out I was preggo with dd. Chances of me being pregnant this time are quite slim.
Any idea what's going on here?
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Could be any number of things, but have to point out that the amount you pump has little bearing on the amount LO will be getting from you. A dip in pumping output doesn't necessarily mean a dip in supply.
So, it could be the return of AF (there's usually a natural dip between OV and AF arriving). Could be teeth. It could be the heat, even with AC (which can also be drying). Have you been keeping up your fluids intake?
Or it could be all or none of the above!!
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Thanks Fiver. Any ideas what to do about it? How many wet diapers would be normal for her age?
I guess I could try oatmeal and fenugreek. I feel like I've just been through all this. :(
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*hugs* The number of wet nappies really is down to the individual child.
BF is such a swings and roundabouts thing - so often feels like you get one thing sorted and all goes well for a bit and then something else comes up.
Oatmeal could well help or have a read of the below if you think it might be linked to AF:
For some women, the drop in milk supply and nipple tenderness associated with menstruation becomes more of a challenge. An effective treatment for these symptoms associated with the return of periods is to add a calcium/magnesium supplement to the diet upon ovulation and continue it through the second or third day of a period. The supplement should be 1500 calcium/750 magnesium but can be as low as 500 calcium/250 magnesium (the higher the dosage the more effective and quicker the results). It should be a combination pill. This much calcium should never be taken alone. If your cycles are not regular and you do not know when you ovulate, you can take the supplement the entire month until you begin to see a pattern to your flow. This type of supplement seems to work as it prevents the drop in blood calcium levels which occurs mid-cycle and continues through the second to third day of a period. It is this drop which is associated with the nipple tenderness and drop in milk supply as well as the uterine cramping so often experienced with menstruation. You only need to take one pill a day.
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Thanks Fiver. I had some calcium suppliments on hand, so I've been taking those plus adding a bowl of oatmeal a day and nursing every three hours as well away her nw's. Hopefully things return to normal soon.
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How have things been for you, Amy? AF just came back for me since having M and I've had a dip in my supply. On top of moving and a vacation for just DH and I (had to pump and then store the milk), I've not really been able to get on top of it...have you noticed a change with the calcium?
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Sara- I haven't noticed a difference. The Suppliments I have are calcium and vit D though- not cal/ magnesium. I am going to head to the store to get the mag, and look for some other herbs etc to help. I actually feel like it has dipped even more. I am nursing every three hours, eating oatmeal everyday, taking the calcium and feeding at night. I can't take Brewer's yeast because I am allergic. I'm going to check out that Mother's Tea and Fenugeek.
I am so stressed over this and Emily's constant nw's that I broke down sobbing to DH last night. Emily woke an hour or so after bed and cried for an hour. I had to nurse her twice, and then she finally slept. Please let me know what you try as I am really desperate here!!!
Thanks Sara!
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*hugs* BF is such a psychological thing - if you're worried/stressed about supply, it can so often take a dip.
I know it sounds a bit hippy and is probably easier than done, but it you can relax as much as you can and maybe visualise yourself having loads of milk, it MIGHT make a difference. Keep going :-*
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Thanks Fiver! I am stressed to the max right now! This has got to be partly hormonal right??
I went to the store this morning and got the correct calcium mag supplements and mother's milk tea, and a preg test. The test was negative- thank goodness. So I went ahead and drank the tea and took the calcium. I'll keep you posted on the results.
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Good luck and try to take some time to relax :)
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So I decided last night to try a bottle of formula before bed to rule out hunger as a cause of nw's. I bf'd at 7, offered bottle at 7:45. She gulped down 5 oz! Then woke twice in the night to bf. so clearly she is quite hungry! I 'm thinking about continuing to suppliment with formula, but I have no clue how much to offer. So far today she has bf'd 4 times and had 3- 4 oz bottles. She's guzzling them down. I don't know if this is the right place to ask, but how much do I offer?
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Sorry, I've no idea. Just bear in mind that it's easier to get milk from a bottle and also that LOs don't get the "full" signal as readily with bottles as when they're BF which may be why she's appeared to guzzle it and be hungry.
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Just bear in mind that it's easier to get milk from a bottle and also that LOs don't get the "full" signal as readily with bottles as when they're BF which may be why she's appeared to guzzle it and be hungry.
That can be true. You can also use a slower flow nipple to help with that (we had M on a #2 avent nipple for a long, long time so that she wouldn't get a preference for it over me). What we do with formula feeds (so no bfing--like if I'm gone away from her) is make M 5 oz and then make more if she finishes it, 1-2 oz at a time. Sometimes when I bf and I don't think she's gotten enough, I'll give her a couple of ounces of formula and see how that goes before making her more. You can try to do that...that thing I've found is that it will keep your supply where it currently is by combination feeding. It might bring you some peace of mind if you're doing all that you can to increase your supply but seeing any results, iyswim. *hugs*
These past couple of days and tomorrow included are rough on me and bfing. My brother is getting married and I will not be around M to feed her for most of the day, just like the past 2 days. One day at a time, though :-*
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Thank you both! I'll look for some slow flow nipples for the bottles. AF arrived today which certainly could have been the culprit. Thinking back through the last two months, I've had AF twice, and strep throat 3 times. And no sleep to boot. No wonder my supply has taken a hit! I've been bfing, then offering a bottle. I tried doing two oz and she was mad when it was gone! So I think 3-4 is prob about right for now. I'm hoping to see a rebound in my supply in a few days- fingers crossed!
She has been so much happier having these extra ounces. She is like a new child!
Oh- I am pumping right now, and can tell already there is more milk- almost my normal two ounces! Yippee!
Sara- good luck at your brother's wedding! Hope you have a wonderful time!
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So here is our update. AF is nearly gone, and I've had mo increase in supply. I've been taking my calcium, and had been drinking the mother's milk tea. I was supplimenting with 4 oz of formula at each feed, no feeds through the night. I gradually decreased the formula, and she's been waking at night again. Yesterday I started nursing every couple hours. So our day yesterday was wake up, nurse, bottle, solids, nurse, nap- repeat. I also switched from the tea to a suppliment by Mother's Love called More Milk. I'm not sure what else to try. I do not want to nurse in the middle of the night. I'm beyond sleep deprived with all her wake ups. She's been averaging 3-4 for the last few months, and more before that.
Any other ideas?
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*hugs* Amy :( I am sorry that you're still struggling.
Do you drink a lot of water? How about your diet--coffee, sodas, enough calories? How about really revving up on the nursing, for, like, a week or so. Some moms on here have had luck with that. Other than that, I honestly don't have any big ideas...I'm kinda of the belief that some women's bodies just max out at what they can produce (myself being one of them). Might be totally off to say, but it really sounds like you're doing so, so, so much!
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Have you talked to your doctor? There is a prescription drug you can take called domperidone ( I think that's the name, but maybe do a quick search) that is meant to increase your BF supply. I know some women on here who have taken it and seen a significant increase in supply. If you've exhausted every other option you could always check into it and see if you feel it's the right choice for you. Like I said, I know there are some women on here who have taken it, maybe start a thread or search the BF board and see if you can find the threads for some BTDT advice on the medication.
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Yes, Kate (kmk512) took/takes it...you might ask her!
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Might be totally off to say, but it really sounds like you're doing so, so, so much!
I agree with this. I'm sure it's totally stressing you out!
Nursing before and after naps, or just more frequently in general for a few days, should increase your supply. Not sure if we've referenced this before, but you could read the part about a "nursing vacation" about 2/3 of the way down the page---there's not a lot about it, but you get the idea.
http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/low-supply/
It's also got lots of other good ideas, which you may or may not have tried.
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Thank you all for your suggestions! I WAS really stressed, but then I calmed down a bit. When I realized I wasn't producing enough (dry diapers and constipation) I freaked out because I had a similar experience with DS.
He had just started sttn, when I noticed a supply drop. He started nursing every 2 hrs and waking at night again. After a few weeks I found out I was pregnant. there were only a limited amount of supplements I could try due to the pregnancy, but I had really wanted to nurse at least a year, and here it was at 10 months and he was starving, and he wouldn't take formula. He had a mild case of MPI so he had to have the really nasty tasting stuff. Finally after after a month of nursing around the clock, he took the formula because I was completely dried up. I stopped bfing that day. So I was really sad, and relieved at that point. It was really stressful nursing that often and knowing her wasn't getting enough, and I was sad that nothing I did worked, but relieved that he wouldn't be hungry anymore. He went back to sttn and was much happier.
So I started supplimenting with formula about a week and a half ago. I started with 4 oz a feed, and for the first time ever, so only woke once at night very briefly and went right back to sleep. A few days later, I dropped to 2 oz and tried nursing before and after naps. She started waking again 3-4 times a night. So I upped it to 4 oz, and do you know she sttn for the first time ever! Clearly not a coincidence.
But now she has a terrible diaper rash- I've found online called an allergy ring. Something she is eating is bothering her. The formula is the first dairy she's had, and I also tried yogurt this week. Her formula also has soy in it. So now I am back to stressing again.
My plan is to try nursing before and after naps for a week and if that doesn't help, then I'll talk to my doc about the meds. I'd love to do a nursing vacation- in fact, I'd love ANY kind of vacation but it just isn't feasible with a two yr old DS who doesn't even nap most days. I have read the Kelly Mom site, and I even own a really good book called Mother Food that outlines foods and supplements taken around the world to increase milk supply. I can't take Brewer's yeast because I'm allergic. I haven't tried malt yet, and there are a few herbs I haven't tried yet either.
I will pm Kate about the meds.
Thank you all so much for your support! It really means a lot to me!
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Once you start with Domperidone, you do have to continue with it for a far while and then wean off gradually.
For some women it makes a huge difference. I'm not sure it made a massive difference for me, though, so you can only try and see.