Reply With QuoteNo advice just support!
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Call ABA, babe. If the counsellor who picks up can't answer you right away she'll know a counsellor who is more experienced with supply issues. Stress can and does affect your supply, and this has been an ongoing situation, so it doesn't surprise me that there are issues.
Hopefully, though, it's something far more simple than that and it's her demanding more before the supply can kick in. Usually, it's the simplest explanation that holds. Also, remember that she's getting out more than you can get out with a pump.
Call ABA
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Fenugreek, lactation cookies...awesome, I will try them tomorrow. Blessed thistle?
Yep we're doing BLS, I'll just let her grab what I'm eating, to a certain extent (if it's healthy, non allergenic etc).
I appreciate all this help. I'm starting to feel quite overwhelmed. Breastfeeding is one of the only things that gives me some sense of control. I feel like all the old tricks, feeding, lots of skin to skin, fluids etc are not working. I've tried lactation cookies before and will again, as well as the other things.
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I'd go the old chestnut - Activite!
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No harm in giving a try what you already have..you may find now that your DH has left amicably, some of the stress is gone and these things will actually help.
BellyBelly Member
I think that stress screws with let down more than it screws with supply. But then, if DD doesn't have the patience to deal with the slower letdown she may give up early - and hence not get the milk that is actually there, and be thirsty again very soon.
Have you tried giving her 3 or 4 "sides" - that way she knows she has to suck hard at the start of each boob, and she will get more let downs and get more out.
And you need to physically relax as much as you can whilst feeding her - so that things can actually squirt as best as they can.
Very boringly - get her ears checked too, because if it hurts to suck or lie down then that will also have the results you describe.
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Yes, letdown! I knew there was something I was missing there! Cortisol (stress) inhibits blood flow, which will impact let down, which is the dilation of the milk vessels at intervals (because there's more than one let down in a single feed). Milk is a product of the circulatory system, i.e. blood.
Endorphins are your key. You're going to need mood music, a slideshow of your yummiest moments with DD on your computer or phone, even if you need a bit o' wine to loosen up (just a wee drop! A teensiest trace of alcohol that's mostly metabolised into your body before reaching your nipples is better than no mama milk).
Could you do a bit of yoga before feeding/expressing? Anything that gets the endorphins going. As well as Activite
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Blessed Thistle
Alflalfa
Both fantatsic I took for 9 months with DS1
Try and get lots of skin to skin, have a bath together if you can or just lie in bed together lots.
Try and get some sleep as sleep and stress play a massive part in milk supply. If you can express a bottle worth can you get your mum to have her for a few hours while you sleep???
People swear by Activite but it is a myth and does not have any proven results to show it helps.
Hugs hun supply issues suck I had issues with DS1 and I tryed many things Fennugreek upset my belly and his, also tryed motillium as well as what listed above.
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My local healthfood shop sells a breastfeeding tea, which is a mixture of fennel, fenugreek, anise and caraway, yours might have something similar? I know that if I eat fennel anything my breasts start exploding, so maybe check out different things you can cook with fennel in them? I like fennel risotto, fennel and chorizo frittata, fennel salad... At the bottom of this kellymom page it has an a-z of herbal galactagogues, including recommended dosages and possible aide effectshttp://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milks...actagogue.html
Registered User
I love activite, grew up on it.
I am so, so stressed in my life right now.
Letdown isn't too bad now, still a bit of a wait (30 sec to 1 minute) but that's fine. I used to get letdown in the time between unclipping my bra and DD attaching lol. It definitely feels like the quantity.
I just had a huge, huge cry. I'll cry some more in about 10 min when DD is properly asleep.
So, my shopping list tomorrow:
Activite
Lactation cookie ingredients
Fenugreek tablets
Fennel seeds
Some form of BF tea
Blessed thistle tabs
Alfalfa (just in the tubs?)
Anything else? I'm going to start pumping after DD goes down for the night, before I go to bed. Meditate, spend as much time naked as possible with DD, lots of relaxing and hydration.
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You know what to do, honey, just keep yourself well
Registered User
That all sounds good. And Aktavite tastes yummy - I reckon it works though it could be the placebo effect - who cares?
You forgot one thing. Happy thoughts and tell yourself you're a great mum. Because you are.
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Blessed Thistle are in tab form
Alfalfa in tab form as well both available in health food store.
Can eat the tubs if you want but will need LOTS!!
Hang in there xoox
Registered User
That big cry might have been one of the best things you could do, if you're anything like me. A huge release of emotion usually helps me when I have problems
Registered User
Sounds good but is there a particular reason for pumping?
There was an article in the most recent ABA magazine about pumping, and when is really necessary and also how it can lead to unnecessary stress - the quote that stood out for me was "It seems that a school of thought exists in our culture that expressing or pumping may be necessary to maintain a mother's milk supply. This is usually advocated as part of a regimented breastfeeding schedule or routine. But if we look at how breastmilk is made and a mother's milk supply is maintained, we can see that, provided the baby is given unrestricted access to the mother's breast, expressing is not actually necessary" I might be tempted to give yourself the night off from pumping and just do all the other things you suggest (any foods you love high in calories are great - I personally wouldn't add the stress of baking - but I am not a fan of baking - but if that relaxes you that is great). I can scan the article and send to you if you don't have Essence - maybe speak to ABA on phone to see what their opinion is on the pumping.
Registered User
Oh I'm not doing it for what I'm getting out of the pump (which is zero to 5 mil...so nothing), but just for the extra stimulation. There is a part of me that is worried about the amount coming out, seeing as I was EE for a few weeks when DD was young and couldn't attach, and I was a 1.5L a day girl...but no, I only started pumping a few nights ago and then once before that on NYE...the time I started to notice all the other signs, but mostly DD's terrible output
Registered User
If I were you then I wouldn't bother with the pumping - DS is about 4 weeks younger than Isla - he also sleeps through (so similar in that respect - also in the trying to latch on through clothes if he gets anywhere near my top half :-)) if I try to express of an evening I get nothing at all - so as am sure you already know what you get from the pump is no indication of what you have and if it were me the seeing nothing would have more of a detrimental psychological effect on me than any benefit that the stimulation from the pump might give. Unless you find pumping relaxing I would dig into a tub of ice-cream or whatever else it is that helps you chill out instead.
Registered User
I agree. I found pumping great when I was getting heaps out (and having little competitions with myself for my personal best) but demoralising when not much was coming out. I think if you're feeding up to hourly during the day then that's plenty stimulation and best to concentrate on some relaxation and sleep.
Stress and lack of sleep DEFINITELY plays a part in BFing.
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