1 year old nursing 2x daily and worried about supply

[b0nni3]

Hi guys,

I'm wondering if someone has some advice or experience to share. DS just turned 1 year old and I've been BF-ing him since birth (yay!). About a month ago he started day care 3 days a week; by then he was already down to 3 BFs a day and solids well established, so I figured it would be easier to just give him formula for the mid-afternoon feed (from a cup) than to pump. (My supply dropped a lot at around 9 months, when he was still doing 4 feeds a day. He went down to 3 feeds at around 10.5 months.)

However, lately I have noticed that a) my let down is really slow; b) he used to do suck-swallow suck-swallow but now it's more like suck-suck swallow; and c) when he is 'done' he looks up at me, a bit frustrated, and gives me this 'eh, where's my milk?' face. So I don't know what to do I have tried to nurse him a lot more times on the days when he is home (Wednesday, and Fri, Sat and Sun), but that hasn't seemed to increase my supply in any recognizable degree. Also, DS is so easily distracted when there is no let down, and when I've tried to add nursing sessions he basically would pull off because there was no milk, so even though I'm getting a bit of stimulation I'm not actually getting the let down to empty the breast to make more milk.

I'm also taking fenugreek, which seemed to help initially, but not really any more. So I was wondering - is 2 feeds a day too few to produce enough milk for DS? Should I take more fenugreek? (I take 2-3 tablets 2x per day, usually right after a feed.)

When DS was 10 months we were on holiday and he slept really poorly so I resorted to AP-ing and BF'd him at night (even though he had night weaned already). During that vacation I noticed my supply increasing but that was due to BF-ing at at least 6 times in a 24 hour period (4x in the day, 2-3 times in the night). Now I don't really want to feed him 6x a day just to up my supply. But I'm not really too keen on pumping either, because since my supply dropped significantly at 9 mo, I've had a really really hard time getting anything from pumping.

I guess my questions are: 1) is this normal for someone who is BF-ing only 2x per day? 2) is there anything else I can do to up my supply? and 3) should I be concerned about how much milk my LO is getting if he seems dissatisfied after a feed? I don't know if I should also offer him some formula after a BF --I don't want him to think that's just the 'easy way out' and give up BF-ing altogether. I would really like to BF him for another few months (at least through the winter) so any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Canwi]

I guess my questions are:
1) is this normal for someone who is BF-ing only 2x per day?
2) is there anything else I can do to up my supply?
3) should I be concerned about how much milk my LO is getting if he seems dissatisfied after a feed? I don't know if I should also offer him some formula after a BF --I don't want him to think that's just the 'easy way out' and give up BF-ing altogether. I would really like to BF him for another few months (at least through the winter) so any help would be greatly appreciated!

1. Doesn't sound incredibly abnormal - but with both my boys I was lucky enough to still be BFing 3 times a day up until 18mths.
2. I've read that Fenugreek (and other galactogogues = milk supply enhancing drugs/herbs) is best taken about an hour before a BF.  The idea is to have the drugs/herbs at peak levels when baby latches so that your body gets the most 'make more milk stimulation' IYKWIM.  You could take more Fenugreek.  I believe the max amount I found when I did a google search was 3500mg in a 24hour period.  Follow the instructions on the bottle would be best
Is it possible to have something similar to a "baby-moon" for the days he's at home most of the day?  Offer the breast more often, switch-nurse to offer each breast more than once in a feeding.
3. While I understand your concerns over the amount of fluid that your DS is taking, he won't starve himself.  If you do decide to give formula after a BF, then avoid a bottle.  Use a sippy cup, cup or some other container.  The bottle is too easy to get fluid from and you are more likely to have early baby-led weaning from breast to bottle.

[A pair of Charlies]

Hi

I think Deb's got this covered!!

I can share my experience if that helps? DS is 19m and still BFs 2xday. Those feeds have really changed since the old days of feeding with gusto. He is distracted or fervent; empties every last drop and sucks desparatley for more or decides a minute after let down that he's done and wants to switch breast; or wants to cry passionatley for his toy bus or try and tell me things, so can't feed and talk. 

At 12m we were still on 4 feeds a day and this was really down to DS as he was still interested in it. My supply dipped dramatically at 9m and I used Fenugreek (and the other tricks) to up it but it never seemed like it was before. Breasts change how they work, and so that fullness can go. It's normal. 

Things I found that help: when I really feel supply is slump I fed more often (as Deb suggested) for a day. I did the max dose of Fenugreek and I ate porridge everyday. Even now, I slump without porridge - energy and milk. And my milk supply is really easily affected by things like sleep, a cold, a cough, a hard day etc. Far more than ever was before when he was littler and feeding more often.

If you feel he's dissatisfied, then Deb's suggestions sound great. I would also avoid the bottle. Since we hit 12m, I've made sure that my DS has access to drinks of water all day long whenever he wants them, plus a good calcuim intake in his diet, and then the milk feeds. I'm trying to remember when we dropped to 2 feeds and I think it was about 14m may-be. We dropped to 3 feeds when he went to 1 nap, and then dropped the afternoon feed shortly after. He just didn't take much really anyway and it started affecting him eating supper.

HTH

Charlotte

[shivi]

just another suggestion....something I added in when my supply was low or I felt my LOs were /are on a GS was a kind of DF even at 10-12 mths+....feeding them directly from the breast at 10pm ish.....I am relaxed, they are asleep and latch on, have no issues with distraction or impatience as they are sucking for comfort to begin with.....

I use this method now as my daughter is almost done with my right side (same happened with DS around this age...) so I know she drains the RHS well once per day (feeds 3 times plus DF) at least at this time. As I leave for work shortly after 7am I sometimes get to do a DF of sorts in the am as well as she is sometimes still sound asleep when I have to feed before leaving her with DH.

S x

[b0nni3]

Thanks. I try to nurse him more frequently but one of two things happens: 1) he doesn't wait for a let down and just gets distracted/frustrated and pulls off (or won't go near boob at all); or 2) he does nurse, but gets dissatisfied by the end-of-day feed because there isn't the volume he normally wants. I know it should eventually adjust and I should make more, but the 3 days in day care seems to undo what good has been done over the weekend in upping the supply. I've tried to do the dream feed but he is not very consistent in whether he will take it or not; some nights he will just purse his lips and turn away. I do switch nurse, he gets on each boob twice.
When DS gets formula he already gets it out of a straw cup (he hasn't had a bottle since he was about 9 months old) and I think he is pretty quick on that - he will drink 6 oz in one breath and then another 3 in a second breath, in a total of about 10 mins.

[Canwi]

The only other idea I have is to pump after you have BF him.  Even if you aren't getting any milk, it is stimulating the breast and will help to increase the volume your body thinks it needs to make.
Do you pump on the days he goes to day care?

[b0nni3]

No, I don't pump at all because it was so exhausting and I don't have the time to do it at school. I was hoping we could just do the 2 feeds/day and it would be enough but I guess it's not

[Canwi]

Unfortunately you sound like me.  A very demand sensitive breastmilk supply mother.  I have to pump at work or I have zip for supply after a couple of days with no BFing.  I do appreciate how hard it is to fit it in.  But if it helps your supply remain and if you really want to keep BFing you may have to see what you can rearrange so you can make pumping work at school.
(((Hugs))) for you hon.  I'd hoped I'd have had an easier answer for you.

[b0nni3]

Thanks everyone. I guess we'll just stick with it and see how long it takes us. I'm glad we made it this far   I'll stick with the fenugreek and hope for the best. I just don't have the energy or time to pump...I know that I'll just get to a point of resenting it (let's say parenting has not been easy for me...)