Hi there
Sorry you're having such a rough time.
I wonder if there may be lots of things going on here. A growth spurt (
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=66001.0), not taking full feeds so may be not getting the fattier high calorie milk that helps them go longer between feeds, a very distracted age, etc. Are you feeding from both sides? Is there still milk left in the breast when she's finished?
So. I would suggest looking at the list below for ways to increase your milk supply - just so we *know* it's all okay, but I'd miss out the feeding honeymoon bit as you're feeding frequently already.
The other thing I would suggest is trying to increase that EASY a little in really small increments. Not all babes can go to 4EASY at this age. Babes are all different; different likes and preferences over being full AND different sized tummies! Mamas are also all different - we don't all produce the same amount of milk. So it's unlikely that we can all get to 4EASY at 16 weeks.
It's early days.
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=120362.0 Not suggesting that you force her to wait 3h and then start increasing! Try using the 5m increment transition to fit where you are now and slowly increase the time between feeds that way.
Naps can also affect things - how are naps going for you? What does you current EASY look like? It could be that tiredness (not getting a long nap) is working against you both here.
Okay. Increasing supply - at this age, I'd highlight the need to eat and drink LOTS. Really important to give your body fuel to recover what it's been through, to sustain you and fuel your rapidly growing baby. I ate far more than my 6'4" DH who is hell of a lot bigger than me and plays sports
. At this age, I was still eating the equivalent of double (breakfast and then another breakfast mid morning, lunch & then another lunch mid afternoon and so on) AND a large glass of water per feed.
Things that you can do to increase your supply:*First and foremost - your lo! Nothing will stimulate your supply like your baby so key here is to nurse, nurse, and nurse some more
*Skin to skin contact - as much as you can - strip yourself off - strip lo off and climb into bed. Play, cuddle, nurse etc. Spend the whole day in bed if you can. Failing that, make sure the house is nice and warm and strip your lo off and yourself and just play like that all day. Bathing together etc... This will increase teh level of oxytocin (one of the primary milk producing hormones) and therefore help a LOT
*switch nursing: when lo has finished with the first side, offer the second. When done with the second, offer the first. When finished with the first for a second time, offer the second again. This will normally stimulate a further let down with each switch and tells your body to make more milk.
*Pumping directly after the feed preferably for at least 15 mins per side although anything is better than nothing. You can also "switch pump" which is basically going back and forth between the breasts when the milk stops coming...
Things you can consume to help:
*Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, Mothers Milk Tea & Brewers Yeast are all things you can buy at your local health food store that can be really great for helping to boost supply. With the fenugreek, it's arguably the most effective but unless you are smelling like savoury maple syrup (and I mean everything - your urine, your sweat, you!), you're not taking enough haha!
*Oatmeal/porridge. This can be great for some - I personally notice a difference with this When I've been low in the past, I've had it for breakfast and for lunch - you can also eat tons of flapjack or oatmeal cookies ~~~ porridge is great for me: porridge, milk, cinnamon, pinch of ground cloves, drop of vanilla essense and fresh berries - really helps my supply everyday. Also, oatmilk available from healthfood stores and some UK supermarkets - even do chocolate flavour
*make sure you're getting plenty of water - this really can be a major factor for many! In those early months (up to 6 months or so), I'd drink a large glass of water or milk during / or with each BF. All other drinks during the day I saw as drinks / hydration for me.
*make sure you're eating properly - well balanced diet, with enough calories, enough dairy fats and health fats (such as are found in seeds and nuts etc). Up until 9 months or so, I ate an awful lot. I viewed main meals as nutrition for me, and then additional meals and snacks as feeding the boy...so I'd have breakfast and then toast an hour or so later... lots of healthy, carby nutritious snacks all day. It helped me make sure I was taking on enough to feed us both.
Hope this helps. Let me know what you think and how you get on?
Charlotte
