Supply drop at 9 months - still struggling 2 weeks on (20 July)

[~Sara~]

*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!

[okinawamama]

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.

[~Sara~]

Yes, Kate (kmk512) took/takes it...you might ask her!

[Erin M]

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.

[timmysmommy]

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!

[Fiver]

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.