worried about supply

[*Amy*]

I have just come out of the end of the 10 week GS. But now she is so fussy at the boob. She feeds frantically for the first 5 mins or so then bobs on and off, I have now started to offer the other side which she takes and does exactly the same as the first side. I then put her back on the first side to try and get a second let down.....
The latching and unlatching, which she does herself is making my nipples sore. Today she fed every 2.5/3hours..
I am worried that I am not producing enough milk.....the whole feeding is now taking about 20/30mins as I am letting her suck on empty to produce more milk.
She is full after a feed, but not satisfied, she doesn't have that drunk look iykwim??
I am also feeling a little faint sometimes today, I am wondering if that has anything to do with it??

[~ Vik ~]

Hi and (((hugs)))

There are definitely things that you can do to increase your supply!  Here are a couple links to some FAQs which will be helpful to you:
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=65905.0
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=94121.0

Also some information from Charlotte from another post.  I can't say it any better, so here it is from her

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

Finally, here is the link to the kellymom.com page on increasing milk supply:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

Let us know what you think?

[*Amy*]

Thanks for that, She went to bed at 6pm last night and woke for a feed at 1.30am......however, she did spit a good bit of it back up again so I am not sure she was really that hungry, so perhaps I am feeding her enough during the day?? it is now 7.10am and she is still asleep!
I am upping my water intake, eating oatmeal, I can't find the fenugreek stuff here, but will have another look at the mall later! I have been having pasta for lunch and noodles for dinner to up my carbs! skin on skin is hard as I have a toddler! but maybe a bath together later before bed!

Thanks for posting
Amyx

[~ Vik ~]

Thanks for that, She went to bed at 6pm last night and woke for a feed at 1.30am......however, she did spit a good bit of it back up again so I am not sure she was really that hungry, so perhaps I am feeding her enough during the day?? it is now 7.10am and she is still asleep!

I would say that that really does sound like she's getting enough during the day!   Remember too that as they get older they get to be experts at nursing, and they can take large feeds in a surprisingly short time!  Remember too that we're all different - our breasts make different amounts of milk, babies have different sized tummies, etc.  What works for *many* may not be what works for you   So it may be that she needs to feed every 2.5-3h right now - as long as she's taking full feeds that's not snacking.

From what you say though, I don't think that you need too worry about your supply right now   Seems like you're both doing well

[*Amy*]

just need to make sure......
I start feed on left side, then right then back to left...
On next feed do I start on right, then move to left then back to right (for second let down?)

[~ Vik ~]

Yep, that sounds right! I always did the opposite of whatever I did on the last feed

[MamaCat]

yeah i always think if they spit up its cos they are pretty full so you probably have more than you think! not too mention if she's sleeping through she's not hungry! but if you are really, really worried, i would throw EASY out for 48 hours and just nurse and pump as much as possible ( i had to do this when my supply dwindled to just about nothing when jj was 3 months old). but i dont think you'll get to that, sounds like you are doing great!!