Author Topic: Very inconsistant milk supply (Read 4435 times)

Janice Anne · « **on:** December 11, 2006, 15:16:26 pm »

Does anyone else experience this?

My milk supply seems to be all over the place! I can go from have an abondance of milk one day to next to nothing the next. Or, Have lots in the morning to nothing in the evening(to the point where my ds is crying, crying, crying and not able to sleep because he's hungry). My ds is only 8 weeks and I haven't given him anything but the breast and when there is milk he's a good eater.

This is becomeing extremely frustrating because he's so hard to get to sleep as it is without having to stay up even later nursing every 30 min in an effort to give enough calories to last him 4-5 hours during the night. When feeding I make a good effort to keep him on as long as possible but he pulls off typically by 10-15min after each side. He's gaining weight well enough up until now, but it's only in the past 1-2 weeks that I noticed this inconsistant supply of milk.

I do drink a lot during the day and eat ok for the most part. The one thing I don't get much of and that's rest (I also have a 3year old ds at home with me all day as well)

Any ideas on what might be happening?

Thanks!

Janice

Dree · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2006, 15:26:45 pm »

Hi Janice,

I used to pump when my DD was asleep to increase my milk supply. It helped. Have you tried that yet ?

Dree

Samuel's mum · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2006, 15:49:04 pm »

This might be a daft question but how are you judging the variation in your milk supply? Why do you feel it varies from day to day? Are you going by length of feeds/baby's behaviour/ pumping output?

Evening crying is very common for a ton of reasons we don't entirely understand. Most people have slower letdown in the evening but that is only part of the story - many theories centre around baby being overstimulated at the end of the day and using boob for comfort.

Pulling off after 10-15 minutes could well mean a full feed at his age - babies often get faster and more efficient as they get older.

If you're going through a particularly tough patch at the moment - could it be a growth spurt?

Janice Anne · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2006, 22:14:26 pm »

Well, I did pump with my #1 ds for the first 2 months and I never found it helped and it was a ton of work for such little results so I dropped it. This time around I purchased a manual pump (the previous one was the Medela electric double but it was a loaner) and I can get 3/4 of 1 ounce and I've only done it twice, but when I go to feed #2 the next time I don't have much milk and he doesn't want to take the pumped milk from a bottle. I haven't really pushed the bottle yet, though.

How I can tell - or think I can tell - is by the feel of my breasts and by my lo's actions on the breast and I can here and tell by his sucking he isn't getting anything. If I put him on he would be able to suck about 4-5 good mouthfuls and then nothing. He's tried for a while longer and then pull of crying. He has a particular way of breathing when he's hungry so I use this cue along with his hungry cry to tell me he's hungry.

I did read somewhere on this message board that some people have less milk in the evenings. Any idea why?

Maybe it is a growth spurt and I'm just not recognizing it. I'll have to watch for it and chart it to see if I can find some sort of pattern.

Janice

Dree · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2006, 11:06:48 am »

Hey Janice Anne,

I pumped because my LO was not latching on in the beginning. Then eventually she got it. My husband bought me an electric dual pump at Walmart. It was not expensive. Less than $100.00. It was amazing. Of course nothing like the hospital one. But, it did the job.

To be honest, I chose to do both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding (sometimes with EBM and sometimes formula). My Lo seemed always hungry and I felt I could not satisfy her hunger. So, especially at night, I would give her formula. I did breastfeed and pump exclusively for about 4wks when I realized that I was headed towards baby blues. So, I told my husband (who I thought would be disappointed in me) that's it I am going to give her formula from time to time. He said go ahead. I just want my wife back. I don't know who this woman is in front of me...I had a hard time with this. I thought that I was a bad mommy for offering my DD formula..boy, was I wrong. lol !

I believe the growth spurts are around 6wks and again at 3mths. So, it is very possible that it is a growth spurt. You feel like they never get off your breasts. Then it is a growth spurt.

If you are going to use a bottle, Just go slowly and they will catch on.

Hang in there..I promise it will get better !!!!!!!

Dree

Janice Anne · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2006, 13:00:03 pm »

Hi Dree,

With my ds #1 I gave up with the pumping but did continue with the bf but also supplemented with formula after each feed. Eventually my milk supply came up to an appropriate level but I only realized this after I stopped bf at 8 months and looked back at pictures of my lo and BOY was he fat! He was getting as much breastmilk as he wanted then he would be topped up with 2-4 ounces of formula. Poor kid, it's no wonder he used to spit up what seemed like litres of milk afterwards. I thought he was just a spitty kid, but he was probably too full. Silly mommy! I was too paranoid of him losing weight like he did in the first 2 weeks that I felt I must ensure he's getting enough to eat.

I have to say giving the breast and formula is the best of both worlds. Your baby gets the benefits of bm plus you also have the freedom of giving a bottle whenever you want without having the struggle with pumping.

I will continue to push the bottle on my ds #2 but it will need to be with formula because I don't want to waste bm until I know he'll take it from a bottle.

Thanks for your feedback!

Janice

Dree · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2006, 13:25:58 pm »

Hi Janice,

I know what you mean about losing weight. When I left the hospital, my DD lost weight (very normal) but she was also jaundice. I freaked. They were not going to release us until her jaundice was a a controllable level..So, when I got home I focused on feeding her. That is why I gave her formula. It helped clear the jaundice.

I will never forget the look on my DD face the first time she drank out of a bottle. She was usually sleepy during a feed..the moment the bottle touched her lips, her eyes were wide open sucking back every bit out of that bottle. It was very funny.

I think at some point we all over-feed our children because we think they are not eating enough. It happened to me once at midnight. My DD vomited. She was only 3wks old. My husband said now are you going to stop over-feeding our child...stop being so paranoid Dree...lol !!!!

Keep me posted
Dree

Janice Anne · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2006, 14:36:35 pm »

Exactly! My ds has jaundice also. So you know exactly what I'm talking about. My lo was rather small to start, only 6lb, 4 ounces then dropped to 5lb, 8 ounces. He was so lethargic from the weight loss and the jaundice it was impossible for his to feed on the breast. I couldn't get him to wake up. I felt so cruel trying to do anything I could think of to wake him up. I would strip him down to the diaper and sit in a cold room with a cold wet wash cloth on his bath! I hate to think about it now. I used to sit and cry, cry, cry everytime I had to feed him. The sight of his scrawny little arms and legs awful. It screamed out "you're a very bad mommy!"

So when we finally gave in and gave him a bottle of formula, he was exactly like your dd! He downed the entire bottle in under 5 min! and he was a completely different baby from that point on, and so was I! Thanks god!

Btw, my milk supply yesterday and espcially today are much better. I wonder if the supply also has something to do with stress levels. Because I've been feel much better the last couple of days. Not sure.

J

Dree · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2006, 14:58:08 pm »

Hey Janice,

I know exactly what you are talking about because I found myself crying on numerous occasions. I was told that my hormones are out of whack and eventually I will be myself again. They were right. But, I did not know that at the time. I was very very sleep deprived.

Keep in mind that there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing both breast and bottle. It took me a few weeks to come to terms with it myself and realized that it was important to have a happy baby than a stressed out mommy. When I changed, my daughter's temperament changed as well and we both went out and go some air.

I think milk supply has to do with if you are eating right. Are you ?? I know I wasn't all the time.

Just take it one day at a time and before you know it they will be a year old...lol

Dree

p.s Do you reside in Italy?...I love your children's name. My husband is Italian

Samuel's mum · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2006, 17:12:20 pm »

ladies - I'm really enjoying seeing your friendship developing - and feeling a bit rude for interrupting and posting!

Tracy was a big supporter of mixed feeding mummies and I really salute you for having found the right solution for you and your families.

Quote (selected)

It took me a few weeks to come to terms with it myself and realized that it was important to have a happy baby than a stressed out mommy.

Absolutely right

But I hope you don't mind if I put my mod hat for a moment and just point out if a mother is able to exclusively breastfeed (i.e no formula, water, solids) for around the first 6 months as recommended by the AAP, WHO, Health Canada, NHS in the UK - there are some health benefits. Anyone reading this thread can choose to read more about this in our FAQ entitled 'For those who have the choice - why exclusive breastfeeding is recommended'. Or anyone could PM me if they'd like further information on this.

I hope you don't mind me popping that in there but some exclusive breastfeeders reading this board may wonder about supplementing and not realise that the advice exists to stay exclusive if you are able - but of course not everyone has the choice.

Don't forget also there is the mixed feeding thread on the bottle-feeding forum if you haven't found it already.

Dree · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2006, 19:02:27 pm »

Emma - Please do not apologize for giving us your feedback. I believe that is what Tracy probably had in mind when this web site was created. May she rest in peace.

I do feel the need to mention that not all mommies can breastfeed for long. I did it for 3 months because I really wanted to breastfeed my children. I also have flat nipples and it was challenging using a nipple shield in public. Not to mention that my period started and my milk changed in taste for my DD. I couldn't force her to drink it. So, that is why I believe in both. I had a very hard time coming to terms with this. It was a long road but I feel good about it now.

I believe each mommy really needs to think about what is right for them without putting stress on themselves, their children and their marriage/relationships. Once I discussed this with my husband he got it and we became happier people in the end.

I really do wish that I could have gone longer. I have some friends who did it for 2yrs. They are the lucky ones as far as I am concerned.

Samuel's mum · « **Reply #11 on:** December 12, 2006, 22:07:27 pm »

Thank you Dree. Thank you for sharing and offering support to others.
We work hard to make this site a place where mummies can support each other and work towards being the happiest mummies and families we can be.
Breastfeeding isn't easy and despite all the best efforts for some it may not work out the way they planned. Hopefully boards like these will go some way to help support all our mummies whatever life throws at them.

Janice Anne · « **Reply #12 on:** December 12, 2006, 23:17:10 pm »

Thanks again for the support! I'm so releived to have discovered this website. I dug out my BW book from when DS#1 was a baby and found again that it was a great book full of fantastic advice, then I relaized that there is probably a website that goes with it and sure enough here it is. I've spent a ton of time already on this site and already my stress level has gone down considerably. Just knowing there is a forum to talk with other moms helps me make it through the days.

Has Tracy passed away?? I saw Dree wrote"may she rest in peace". I had no idea! That's terrible. But she's left such a wonderful legacy, though! I'm sure she's proud.

BTW: my dh is also Italian, but sadly no, we don't live in Italy! That would be a dream come true. I noticed you're lo's name is Sofia. Love it! This was my first choice for a girl name this time around.

Dree · « **Reply #13 on:** December 13, 2006, 11:44:50 am »

Hi Janice,

Yes, Tracy passed away 2yrs ago from throat cancer I believe. It is very sad. I think she was still pretty young.

We reside in Montreal, Canada. Where are your from ?

I chose the name Sofia because I wanted an Italian name to compliment my husband's family name. I love the actress named Sophia Loren. I love her movies. My husband loved the name immediately.

Well, you know where to find me if you need help

Take care
Dree

Janice Anne · « **Reply #14 on:** December 13, 2006, 12:26:49 pm »

Hi Dree, nice to talk with a fellow Canadian. I'm in Toronto.

I just did a search in Google and discovered Tracey died in Nov 2004 of skin cancer. She was only 44! That is so tragic and she had two little girls of her own.

I had another problem with my milk again last night. You may be right about whether I'm eating properly. Yesterday was a busy day running errands and I didn't take the time to eat much of a lunch and my dinner was rather sparce. I keep telling myself that I need to eat just as much as my kids do, but you know as a mommy you usually have a tendacy to put your own needs last which means they don't get met a lot of the time.

This morning was better after I had a 4 hour break and a bit of a rest. I'll take better care of myself today and hopefully it'll be fine tonight - and my lo will go to sleep sometime before 2am!

Thanks Dree for your support!

Janice

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