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Author Topic: Supply dip - is there any hope?????  (Read 1815 times)

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Offline LyndaManus

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Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« on: December 18, 2006, 18:59:06 pm »
Have any of you experienced supply dips due to illness, medication, or even af but been able to beef up supply after the fact and continue breastfeeding? 

:'(

Ok, I had an ear infection last week and went to the nurse practitioner at the company I work for.  She put me on a 5 day z-pack of antibiotics.  I let her know that I am bfing and she looked up some stuff and said that this would be okay (I wish that I had put a posting up here asking all of you what you thought  :'( )

Huge supply drop.  DS got his flu shot today so I asked that nurse.  She said that she has heard more supply issues with this antibiotic than any other.  I took the last one today and she said that it will stay in my system for 5 days.  She said supply will stay low at least until then and then I will have to drive it up.  At this point I knew supply was low b/c of how empty my breast felt, but, because of the weekend I had been bfing directly so I wasn't sure. (I pumped after every feeding yesterday to try to push supply up but only got 1.5 ounces).  DS has not complained at feedings, but I know he isn't getting as much as normal.

Well, today I am back at work and have to pump.  I normally pump twice a day and get at least 18 ounces (I need 16).  Well, I have only been able to pump 6ounces today  :'( and, while pumping is not a clear indicater of supply, how empty my breasts feel is.  As long as I can get at least 8 ounces a day my stash will hold up for the 5 days and I can suppliment to get through the week.

My question is, is this an end to bfing :'(  I am pretty upset and emotional about this.  I am pumping more times per day than normal, I am pumping after every feeding, I started taking fenugreek last night, I am drinking a TON of water.
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Offline chargerfans

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2006, 20:59:10 pm »
I had dips in my supply more than once. I was on the Z pack one time as well and noticed a dip. I think you are doing all of the right things - pumping after feedings to try to bring your supply back up. I was also a working Mom and I would try to pump a few more times at work if you can. Even when my son was older and not eating as often I would still pump 3 times during the day just to keep my supply up. Everything affected my supply, if I only had a salad at lunch and no carbs my supply would be down the next day. It was crazy! Try not to stress about it (I know its hard) but you should be able to slowly get your supply back up. How old is your baby? There was a time when I felt that my breasts were not as full and it was because my body was adjusting to how much he really needed and just kind of leveled out. I think it was around the 5 or 6 month mark. If you are not getting enough milk during the day, maybe you could nurse as soon as you pick up the baby just to give him a little extra. Do you nurse during the night? I noticed that if I nursed more than normal in the night that I did not get as much milk in the morning. Good luck!
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Offline LyndaManus

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2006, 21:29:13 pm »
He is 8 mths old.

I normally don't nurse at night but did last night because I was certain he did not get enough at the df and was hungry when he woke at 4am. 

I do nurse as soon as I get home.  We had to arrange his schedule that way because he always wants to suckle as soon as he sees me for the first time.

Ok, good to hear that someone else has had success.  Luckily this next weekend is a holiday weekend so I will have an extra day with ds to work on this (and it will be after that 5 day mark the dr talked about).  I really wanted to nurse until one year.  I will be very sad if I have to stop b/c of this  :-\
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Offline RachelC

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2006, 12:33:57 pm »
{{{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}}}} You can do this!  (there are women who stop bfing for weeks and then relactate... just to give you some hope  :-* ).  The full feeling is not an indicator of supply, as milk is made during nursing.

Keep pumping and try not to stress (that's a supply dipper in itself).  I have heard that fenugreek taken with blessed thisitle helps and also eating oatmeal.  Throw in an extra pumping when you can, but take advantage of his wanting to suckle (off the bw path for a couple days) and allow him that time, as that will help increase your supply as well.

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Offline LyndaManus

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2006, 12:43:58 pm »
Thank you.  I am trying not to stress, but it is tough given that too much supply has always been my problem than not enough.  I don't think he got enough at his df last night so when he seemed restless around 2am I gave him another df instead of waiting for him to wake.  I don't think there was anything there for him though - he suckled for 45 minutes (df normally lasts less than 5 minutes for us) - I figured it was good stimulation time anyway.  For what an excited eater my lo has always been, his patience with this is shocking to me - I feel very fortunate for that.

I am going to start pumping two extra times a day starting today.  I am trying to be content as long as I produce 50% of what I need for the next day (at that rate I have a stash that will last me 2.5 weeks).  Today is just my first day off the antibiotic and the dr said that I likely will not see an improvement for at least 5 days after I am off so it will be hard not to get really emotional working so hard without seeing an improvement.  Hopefully the extra work will make for a quicker turn around after the 5 day mark.

Thank you for the support - I definitely feel like I need it :-\
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Offline RachelC

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2006, 12:45:27 pm »
More {{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}
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Offline LucyA

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2006, 12:47:51 pm »
I had gastro when ds was about 3 months old and my supply went WAY down. DS was hungry again an hour after feeding for 30-40 minutes. I stayed in bed with him for a couple of days and fed him whenever he wanted to (literally every 1-2 hours). As I recovered from my illness my supply returned. He's 15 months now and we're still bfing!

Incidentally, I saw a doc who prescribed medication for me. I asked him twice if it was ok to take while bfing and he said it would be fine. When dh went to get the prescription filled he asked the pharmacist, who said that I shouldn't take it while bfing!

Anyway, hth! Get lots of rest and feed/pump as often as you can and things should get back to normal soon!

{{{hugs}}}
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Offline LyndaManus

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2006, 12:52:13 pm »
Thank you and kudos for you for working so hard after your surgery!!!!  That definitely gives me hope :)
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Offline LyndaManus

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2006, 16:01:01 pm »
Hey, just wanted to give y'all an update  :D

Things are definitely looking up.  I don't normally cluster feed but I did last night and it was the first night since my dip that ds slept through the night :)  As a result I have been able to pump a good amount more today.  Still doing the extra sessions but I am already at 11 ounces and it is only 11:00am (2 more sessions to go).  I need to make it to 14 to not have to dip in to my stash for tomorrow and it looks like I will make it for the first time this week.

This has definitely given me a huge confidence boost that all this extra stuff is worth it.  Hopefully by Tuesday I will be back to normal.  Will post another update then.  Thanks again!!!!
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Offline LucyA

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2006, 20:40:12 pm »
Great news Lynda!! Keep up the good work and I'm sure things will be right back on track in a couple of days.  :)
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Offline RachelC

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2006, 20:44:16 pm »
YAY!  ;D
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Offline LyndaManus

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2006, 18:25:43 pm »
Strangely enough, after that last post, I still had to dip in to my stash  :-\

Well, today will be the first day that I don't have to.  I needed to pump 14 ounces and I got 16 today :)  I think the dry spell if finally over  ;D  I feel so releaved an proud of myself for not giving up.  Thank all of you for your help :)
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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2006, 20:16:19 pm »
YAY! ;D
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Offline RachelC

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Re: Supply dip - is there any hope?????
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2006, 23:33:12 pm »
Good news!  Keep up the great work  :-*
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