low supply recovery--HELP!!!

[etmom]

My ds is 11 weeks old.  At my follow-up appt. with my OB I started taking the pill again as I had done with my other lo.  Unfortunately, he had prescribed one with estrogen in it and my supply went way down!

That was about 3-4 weeks ago.  I am having a difficult time re-establishing my supply.  I've been in touch with a great lactation consultant but really wanting to hear if anyone's been through this and recovered!  I'll try not to make it too long

Obviously, I stopped taking the pill.  I started taking fenugreek.  I would nurse him as long as I could keep him there, even if he wasn't getting milk the whole time (but a max of 20 min/side).  I really saw no choice but to give him formula after this as he would be screaming in hunger!  Then I would pump even if just for stimulation.  This whole process would take 1-1 1/2 hours/feeding!  I think my supply went back up, but then he seemed less interested in nursing.

So here I am---I even tried pumping exclusively but it's frustrating to try to pump 20 minutes and only get 2-3 ounces and then to have to supplement anyway.  And with a 19 mo. old at home as well, I don't really have time to spend hours feeding the baby!  I am really stressed because when I nurse him only I question if he's getting enough (like if it's only been 2 hours but he wakes up crying) and if I pump I end up supplementing anyway because he's not satisfied at the end of a feeding.

The point I am at is to nurse as long as he will and then give a bottle if he's still not satisfied.  I am also stressed out about the time all of this takes and I'm sure the stress isn't helping at all.  BTW, ever since I started giving him only bottles he's waking up twice at night as opposed to getting up only once before.  I am not sure why this would be as I'm assuming he's getting more ounces during the day now as he was before.  And he still doesn't always make it three hours during the day.  Is this too much to expect from an 11 week old, 12 1/2 pound baby?  He's been on 3 hour EASY since day one, although through all this I've merely tried to maintain the EAS pattern---times have just had to vary!

Any help would be great!  I really don't want to give up bf and would love to not have to supplement.  But I know the most important thing is that my ds is satisfied after a feeding!

[ErinB]

hi there! I saw that no one had responded yet to your concerns, and I just wanted to let you know it sounds like you're doing all the right things....I am not a lactation consultant, but am a women's health NP so have perhaps a little insight 
know that your baby is getting what he needs as long as he's growing & gaining (which it sounds like he is) and you're seeing wet/dirty diapers. Also, he is likley emptying the breast now in about 5-7 minutes, certainly in 10. I would continue nursing him as you are, and try offering  both breasts right now to ensure you're getting enough stimulation - your body will respond and make enough milk - especially now that you're off the estrogen.
is he taking the breast now? the other suggestion would be to talk to your doctor about taking Reglan - this has helped many women re-establish/increase supply when faced w/issues like yours.
ok - hope this at least offers you some reassurance....maybe one of the moderators will weigh in w/some other suggestions. Hang in there....and hugs and encouragement to you. EBW

[jbepko]

Fenugreek is great...it can be taken 3-4 times a day. Mother's Tea is also supposedly good. Are you pumping at night also? That might help speed up the production? The goal should be nursing or pumping every three hours on both sides to help boost supply. Could someone help you with you older child- even an uninterrupted 12 hours with your ds would be great. You and ds- spend 12 hours in bed and nurse, nurse, nurse (plus lots of water)! I also watch kellymom.com forum and they have a couple gals who are relactating and there is good info there.

[ErinB]

I just saw another post from a member w/a great resource -
http://www.mobimotherhood.org/portal-Aboutus.aspx  
you might find some good help there!

[KDawn]

Hi, just wanted to let you know I went through the same thing with the pill, which I stopped after 6 days.  I got in touch with Dr Jack Newman, and he was excellent.  He has a website under his name I believe, and there is tons of excellent advice and tips/techniques.  Also, I don't know how long ago you stopped the pill, but for myself after stopping, I got my period, and then a month later when I should have gotten it again my supply went way down again.  I never did get my period, but I guess there was enough of a hormone shift to drop my supply down again temporarily.  Good luck!

[etmom]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the help!  Surprisingly to me, things are all of a sudden getting better.  Maybe being a little more relaxed after all this re-assurance?  Last night I nursed him at 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30.  (He couldn't go longer than this between feeds.  Hopefully a boost in supply will help!)  At 8:30 he drank 3 oz. after I nursed him because we just couldn't get enough.  But I am figuring out that I need to keep him on for a second let-down.  That is what is taking so long.  I think that before I thought I had no more milk, but just didn't keep him going to allow for this.  As we keep going, will this let-down come sooner.  It is taking about 15 min/side now.  Down from 20---yeah!  And I feel better when he's done---like he's satisfied now.

ErinB:

I will check about the Reglan.  I hadn't heard about that before.

jbepko:
  Can you take too much Fenugreek?  I am taking 3 capsules at a time 3 times a day.  After some internet research it seems that the recommended dosage on the bottle is not enough.
   I will check out info. on Mother's Tea
   I was pumping the same number of times he had a feeding.  Although since things are going better I'm taking a break from that.  May do one extra just to save up some milk, but need a break from that machine since things are looking better.
  Thank you for the advice about my older child.  Someone has volunteered to watch him for a day and I think I just feel bad having to do that, but I am sure he will have a great time and I'll perhaps get some much-needed rest.

KieraDawn
  I will look up info. on the doctor you mentioned

Thank you all so much!  I think I was going to lose it and things are looking up now!  I was even hesitant to ask for help about this because I didn't want to be made to feel guilty for supplementing!  Oh, the insecurities we parents have!

[daisymelan]

Happy to hear that things are going better today.  They are some wise women!

[etmom]

Keira Dawn,  I forgot to ask you this question!

I had the same experience with my period starting.  It lasted probably about a week.  So now that my supply is going well, do you think I still expect to have problems around my next period?  I hope not
But it's good to hear that you went through this and made it to the other side~!

[jbepko]

Here's so info on Fenugreek
Dosages of less than 6 capsules/day (approx 3500 mg/day) produce no effect in many women. One way to determine if you're taking the correct dosage is to slowly increase the amount of fenugreek until your sweat and urine begin to smell like maple syrup. From Kellymom.com

[KDawn]

Hi etmom, it's great when the supply is back up!  I only did get the one period right after I quit the pill.  But a month later when I should have gotten it, my supply went down again for about 9 days.  I still have not gotten another period, dd is almost 5 mos.  My supply was affected  twice after that fisrt period, but by the second time was not nearly as noticeable, and now there are no problems, I again have an overabundance!  I did make sure to pump when my supplly was up and freeze in 2 oz bags just in case to top up with.  Hope that makes some sense!