What should I do?

[PumpkinZulu]

I haven't been getting any sleep. I've been under a huge amount of stress trying to save my marriage, and with DH moving out. I've had DD on my boob constantly, she feeds about 15 times a day (that's about every hour, she sleeps through the night). I'll feed her from both boobs, they'll be bone dry and she will scream for more. So I've fed her more. Pumped at night. Water, food. Nothing, no more milk. I'm starting to not handle the feed ending with DD still hungry. She'll root around and latch through my clothes all day, and when I'm empty it breaks my heart. I know BF works with supply and demand...but the demand is outweighing the supply massively. Her nappies are not good. Very yellow and smelly, moat nappies are one small wee after 3 hours or dry. I used to have to change every 2 hours, now she could go 4 or more. What gives? Why is this happening? DD has started biting out of frustration (although I think we're on top of that) because she'll be done in a few minutes and wanting more, but there is none Ending BF is just not an option. This has been going on for about a fortnight now and I'm really struggling now with DH not being here.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Is she on solids yet? This sounds super-familiar as DS used to do that just before I started solids, only he was all night as well.

Try some baby rice with expressed milk in it after a feed, or some fruit. You don't have to end BFing, but you can offer an alternative source of nourishment after a feed.

[PumpkinZulu]

But won't offering more solids essentially replace milk and make this worse? She's not eating really at all yet, every few nights she eats some veg or fruit off my plate but that's it, and it's really just her feeling it and playing, she has only actually eaten a very, very small amount, if anything at all really. She just pushes it all back out so I figure she's not quite there yet? I'm so stumped as to why this is even happening, I didn't think lack of sleep or stress actually affected supply?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

It sorted things out for me because I physically couldn't make more milk, but then Liebs was very, very ready for solids. If you offer the milk first then the solids it won't damage the supply as you're offering milk first and Isla is still getting that. She doesn't have to eat after every feed, just the ones when she's really hungry.

[Kmn]

We started solids because of a couple of days when I would have needed 17 boobs to keep DS happy. He was nearly 6 months, and it worked pretty well.
Is she having water as well - you are coinciding with some very hot weather, so it may be that demand has gone up as much as supply has gone down.

[peanutter]

I'm so stumped as to why this is even happening, I didn't think lack of sleep or stress actually affected supply?

I thought it did - after my birth injury etc, I was still exclusively bf DS, but when the surgeon confirmed that I would need surgery, my stress levels hit the roof, the proverbial hit the fan, my emotions went completely bezerk, and my milk dried up almost overnight ... it was only through a ridiculous amount of pumping, feeding, massaging, fluids, praying, fenugreek, fennel and everything else I could think of that I managed to maintain any sort of supply - and we went through all my stored milk and got DS to a few days shy of 6 months before we had to start comp feeding (to my absolute dismay).

The only difference between one day and the next was finding out the surgery had to happen, and the physical impact on my milk was drastic and immediate ... so I personally think that stress can impact quite severely.

Now if only there was a straightforward solution I can suggest to you!

I personally would probably try for more solids too, if I was comfortable that she was ready - but you know her so completely, you will know when that's the right decision for her.

And you'll know whether she's ramping up for a growth spurt, or dehydrated and just needing water, or teething, or in the middle of a wonder week, etc. I'm not going to sit here, typing up a "how to suck eggs" brochure for you

But in general, if I didn't think more solids was the way forward, then I'd be asking the ABA for more ideas, drinking craploads of fennel tea, taking fenugreek tablets like they're m'n'ms and doing my best to get more sleep, if possible ... it will all help, I'm sure.

And obviously, lots of people swear by motillium, but I personally wasn't comfortable taking it. But that's a personal decision, which you can obviously make for yourself.

I hope your supply and Isla's needs meet perfectly very soon xo

[PumpkinZulu]

She doesn't have to eat after every feed, just the ones when she's really hungry.

that's every feed bar the first of the morning. Thanks hun.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

that's every feed bar the first of the morning. Thanks hun.

I'm sorry love, I didn't mean to make you upset. I found when I started solids that even though Liebling was hungry after every single feed, the feed or two after the solid food he wasn't as hungry afterwards, so I was offering solids just 2-3 times a day rather than every hour/half-hour, which is what you'd expect from the feeding pattern.

[Miss E]

I know you're going through an awful tine at the moment. Unfortunately I don't really know the answers, but have you tried calling the ABA? I'm sure they could help you devise a good strategy that will ensure you and isla keep feeding for a long time to come and provide some much needed reassurance.

[Arcadia]

Afaik sleep affects supply. Can you nap with her in the day?

I agree with pp to offer feed and then offer solids.

My ds is a massive baby and despite having a healthy supply, I've had to offer more food than dd was eating at his age.

Sorry for the brevity...feeding ds to sleep

[PumpkinZulu]

Nutter I think that's what is happening to me.

[~me~]

I have no idea what is happening with your supply PZ..sorry. Fenugreek is supposed to help boost supply, you could try that.

Have you tried to check with Barb Glare to see if she can shed some light for you or can she recommend someone for you to see here in Melbourne?
You are terribly stressed at them moment
At just over 6mths, she is probably just extra hungry
You could also start offering a sippee cup of water with it being so hot and to help with the fluid?

[Mak]

Big hugs PZ - can you hang out at home and rest this weekend? Maybe have a pj day and camp out in bed? Hope things settle down for you both. xxxx

[Cherished]

Hi hon, I think stress can play a big role in breastfeeding. My marriage is also under lots of strain at the moment and I am more stressed and depressed than I think I ever have been. Over the last 2 months ds has been feeding all day and all night! He's 15.5 months old. I believe he is picking up on my emotions and he is responding iykwim. I don't have supply issues though even though he was down to 1-2feeds in a 24 hour period and now I couldn't count how many times he's on my boob. I would suggest drinking more water and soaking a couple of teaspoons of fenugreek seeds in about 500mls of hot water, let it cool down a bit and drink it every day. I also co-sleep and find that must really help with my milk supply too. Hope you sort it out

[PumpkinZulu]

Tha ks guys. She has a cup for water, I do give her solids but she isn't eating them. Maybe I'll try more. Breastfeeding is so important to me and I'd be devastated to lose that. DD isn't currently teething, having a wonder week or anything. She enjoys playing with food but her tongue thrust is still very strong. Bar shoving food in her throat with a spoon I don't see how she'll eat right now. She wants milk and I am just not making enough for her. I'm heading out tomorrow, what sort of things should I be getting for my milk? Give me a list, ladies. I'm sitting here in tears.

[Cherished]

fenugreek seeds to start with. And I just googled this, lactation cookies

* 1 cup butter or marg
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 4 tablespoons water
* 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal*
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups oats, thick cut if you can get them
* 1 cup or more chocolate chips
* 2 tablespoons of brewers yeast* (be generous)

Directions:

Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. Mix together 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and water, set aside for 3-5 minutes. Cream (beat well) margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mix well. Stir flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to the margarine mix. Beat until blended. Sift together dry ingredients, except oats and chips. Add to margarine mixture. Stir in oats then chips. Scoop or drop onto baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment or silpat. The dough is a little crumbly, so it helps to use a scoop.

Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies.

Serves: 6 dozen cookies

Preparation time: 15 minutes

[~me~]

Have you tried baby led solids? So just a bite of whatever your eating. Like a chop bone, or piece of broccoli or steamed stick of carrot.

You could also get baking the lactation cookies or just put some brewers yeast on your cereal in the morning.

[Lily Dust]

Oh PZ I couldnt read and not post! Firstly . I just went looking for this and it has some recipes on there for all different things. You may have already seen it but thought on the odd chance you had missed it, something might help....
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...duction-20776/



ETA: I was looking further down the page at the recipes not the 'put bub on the breast more' bits