6.5 month old not drinking enough milk and not gaining weight well

[ENMS]

I'll definitely try this Deb, thanks!!

So I went to see the LC this morning, she's not concerned about the weight gain but she is concerned about her low milk intake and that her diapers are not wet enough (when I went she had the same diaper on for about 3 hours and it was barely wet).  I fed her there and she really didn't drink much, when my letdown happens, she drinks for 2-3 minutes max and then stops she doesn't want it anymore, and same thing happens with the other breast. The LC thinks she's definitely not getting enough milk but she's not sure why.  She told me to add another feeding during the day (feed her 5 times instead of 4, which I had already started a few days ago) and try to express some milk after she's done and give it to her in a cup.  She said maybe DD doesn't like the milk flowing out fast but that doesn't make sense to me since she does drink for 2-3 minutes when let down occurs.

Anyhow just wanted to keep you all updated, thank for all the good advice and I'll continue to monitor the situations (I'm also seeing the LC again next week to follow up on this).

[Canwi]

Glad you found an LC that has good sensibility.  Thanks for the update

[~ Vik ~]

Thanks for the update! So glad you're getting some help IRL keep us posted!

[ENMS]

Some really good news...  Just came back from the LC and she weighed her and she gained 170 grams (6 oz)  in one week!! This is so amazing compared to the 70 grams in 2 weeks we had not long ago!

There is only one thing I can see which could've caused this, I was taking the estrogen-only pill that doctors prescribe to you when you bf (called Micronor here in Canada) exactly one week ago.  The LC had told me it could impact milk production, but I stopped it because I was feeling tired and not well and my doctor suggested trying to stop it b/c maybe I was not reacting well to the hormones (felt that way too during pregnancy).  The next day, I was a new woman feeling so much better than before, and since then, DD has gained so well and has been much happier.  My doctor had told me Micronor did not impact bf AT ALL but unless it's a major coincidence, it seems as if it did impact it for me.

Anyways hopefully it will continue but I have seen a major change, she is happier and I am so glad to see this!!

Thank you so much for your advice and help with this problem!

[~ Vik ~]

Wow, that is fantastic news!! 

So strange that your doctor told you that estrogen won't impact your milk supply - I was actually researching estrogen based contraceptives for another thread and found that:

"Estrogen-containing contraceptives have been linked to low milk supply and a shorter duration of breastfeeding even when started when baby is older, after milk supply is well established. Not all mothers who take contraceptives containing estrogen will experience a low milk supply, but these unaffected mothers appear to be a very small minority."
(http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/birthcontrol.html)

A different situation I know, but non-estrogen containing contraceptives don't have the same negative impact on milk supply, so it would seem that it's the estrogen that's the problem.  Food for thought, anyway

[Canwi]

Glad your LO is putting on weight hon!
Co-incidence or not, I'd stay away from that particular birth control pill.

[ENMS]

Sorry, I meant the non-estrogen pill, the one that most bf women can take without any issues with milk production.  I guess it was different for me... I'll definitely stay away from it from now on!!