I agree with Lenny ... you're doing enough. I know this is going to sound utterly impossible, but you HAVE TO TRY AND RELAX!!! Your milk production will increase if you stop worrying and fretting (as if I don't know what you are going through) If you eat right, drink water and rest, your body will take care of making enough milk, ok? Are you still taking your preggie vites?? That could help with the vitamins you need and are not getting from eating like any new mother eats.
About the pumping ... the girl in hospital told me to pump every two hours, but it was easier for me, because my bubba were in hospital, so I think you are doing great by pumping every 3-4 hours. What you can do is while you are breasfeeding Ava, you could pump the boob she has finished with, just to get some extra stimulation, but honestly ... I really think you are doing enough already. And quite frankly, pumping while breastfeeding is a mission of titanic proportions!!!
And don't worry about replying on FB ... I KNOW you don't have time
Ren, Fenugreek is great for increasing your supply. You can take the capsules or the tea - the tea is pretty disgusting so I recommend the capsules. Don't go by the dosage on the jar - take three capsules three times a day or more, until your sweat begins to smell like maple syrup. It was fantastic for me when I was struggling with supply issues with dd4. It can make you gassy.
Hello Ren,
I just want to let you know I think you are doing a great job persisting through all these dramas! You are def encouraging others to keep going. I wish I had tried harder, next time I will. I seem to have had some similar problems as you in the early days and I kept trying to pump and feed but ended up exclusively pumping (still going at 6 months) I did call an LC but she was busy at the time and didn't call back so it put me off. It sounds like you really have a FANTASTIC one! Hang on to her.
You are doing such a great job for your little Ava. Well Done!!!
Hmmmmm. It's such a hard balancing act. I would definitely agree that you don't want to run yourself into the ground. That's why it's so important not to worry about anything else, just you, Ava, and breastfeeding. (it doesn't last forever, I promise!).
Fenugreek can be helpful, you need to take 3000mg/day, so make sure you buy the 100mg capsules.
Look, pumping is useful, but it's better if Ava can simply have more feeds at the breast. Is she up to that? If so, then I would just offer it to her when you would normally pump. After a few days, or a week, she will be getting the hang of it, and your supply should be increased.
Maxalon, you might need to give it a while yet. Did your LC talk about dosages? Make sure that she's happy with the amount you're taking, GPs aren't that great at prescribing galactalogues.
I have to go, crying boy, will come back tomorrow! You're doing SO SO well
Hey Ren... Hope you can get Ava back on the BB's today. I'm looking forward to hearing what the LC says.
I know it's hard to express while trying to settle Ava. I recommend putting her straight into her rocker/bouncer after you feed her, & look at her whilst expressing. I don't know if anyone has mentioned this to you but it is FACT that you WILL express more milk if you are looking at your baby. They say you can even look at a photo, but I didn't find this as affective. When BJ was in the SCN, if I expressed at his crib, I would get so much more milk. Once I got him home, when I fed him in the middle of the night, I would pop him into his bouncer while I expressed. It is really good for their digestion too. To keep them upright and still for 20mins or so after a feed.
I will mention again, that I lost all my supply in my right breast when I had mastitis. I would express for 15mins and only get 10mls. It took alot of dedication to get my supply back. It took nearly 3 weeks of 2hourly pumping. Heat packs first, and loads of massage.... This really helped too. Maybe while your DH is home, on weekends, you can focus on expressing while he settles Ava. I'm sure this will help. Once you see your supply building up more, you will get so much more motivation to keep going.
I will also mention again, YOU ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB..... YOU SHOULD BE SO PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS & DEDICATION *hugs*
Last edited by Georgi; March 7th, 2009 at 05:56 AM.
: Added something
You can get Fenugreek from health food shops, but not all of them will have the 1000mg capsules. I can't remember what the brand is, but the bottle has a dark green lid. I think you can take it with Maxalon, you certainly can with Motilium.
TBH, I would only give the Maxalon 7-10 days before ditching and trying Motilium. Even that will take a little while. I expected an immediate difference, but it took a couple of weeks.
I really, really wish I had not been so hell bent about expressing and simply put DS to the breast more often. He wasn't up to it in the early days, but later on I could have. How many feeds is Ava having? I know you know that the more she has, the better it is for your supply.
Something that is good for your supply is feeding at night. Lots of feeds overnight. I don't mean to kill yourself sitting up and feeding all night, but getting 3 or so feeds in is great. Something that is GREAT for your supply is co sleeping, feeding lying down in bed. It has the added benefit that you get more sleep too Nobody actually told me that, and we didn't co sleep for months. Once we did I couldn't believe the difference in my supply! Of all the things I did to increase my supply, that was the thing that worked the best BY FAR. You really just need to rely on good old hormones to do the job for you, but sometimes they need a little bit of help And the night time snuggles are lovely I would guess that between co sleeping and frequent feeds, your supply will be rocking in no time.
BUT......obviously you know best what's going on in your home, and you have your LC who is the expert. If none of these suggestions sound right to you - then don't try them. Or check with your LC. You need to choose very carefully who you take your advice from, and make sure it's right for you and Ava. (I'm sure you are already, just thought I'd mention it ).
Ava was weighed today and she's put on more weight! She was 3.78 on Monday and is now, today 4.11kg!! Woot!! My little girl is putting on weight.... she is way past her birth weight now.... yeaahhhaa! That's thanks to combination of feeding on L side only, plus EBM plus formula feeds.
LC came to visit and she helped me to attach on the right side (the painful damaged one that's been healing for 5 days) and it didn't hurt!!!!! Yay. She corrected my attachment (once again) and has advised me to now b/feed 10 mins one side, 10 mins other side and then feed Ava EBM or formula (if not enough EBM) if she wants more. Only 10mins each side because we don't want her to get lazy again if she's on too long.... which was happening before and affecting my supply.
That's the new plan at the moment.
Wish us luck with the next feed!!
Already, I've noticed my milk supply has increased. The GP told me Maxalon can take 2-3 days to kick in, sometimes longer. Guess it varies for everyone huh?! Once I run out of tablets (i have 28) I will go to Motilium if I feel I still need it.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support girls. It means the world.
Georgi - I usually put Ava in front of me and express but sometimes she'll be crying as she wants to be held after her feed.... is this ok for milk supply? lol To see her crying? It sometimes stresses me out so I have to make sure I'm relaxed..... you are a champion for expressing 2hrly. Wish i could! I have been doing 3-4hrly.
I can express R side and get 50ml in 10mins lately. Whereas few days ago I was only getting say 20ml in that time.
Thanks for info on Fenugreek girls. Will check at the health food store tomorrow about it.
Congrats Renstar - Sounds like you are doing better at getting your full supply than I am, good work! With regards to the trouble feeding Ava on your left side - I had the same prob as you + some with my left side with Elly but when I started re-using it she didn't like it much cause had been used to feeding off the right boob and is still her favourite - BUT - I discovered that she attatches REALLY well and is happy to take it now if I put her on that side twin style (probably because she is lying the same way as she would if she were on my right boob) And I find it really easy to hold her that way too maybe because I'm right handed. So, maybe your LC can show you how to attatch that way as it might help get her back on that side properly again??
PS - love the name Ava by the way - we named our bub Ellyse Ava, and were thinking of it as first name.
Ah Ren, it's great to hear things are getting better every day. As for weight - just as long as the overall picture is good then that's the main thing.
DS fussed on one side for ages (months!) - and everyone in the chatter thread seemed to have the same problem at one time or another. Keep trying, hopefully one day she'll take both sides equally.
Keep up the great work and the amazing attitude!
I second trying in the football hold for the side she doesn't like. I would 'trick' DD by doing this and then switching to the cradle hold once she thought she'd had enough. Since she persisted a bit more in the football hold and let down had happened she was often happier to stay on the slower side.
Have you considered taking her to a paed chiro? She may not like turning her head that way or staying in that position for a reason.
Jennifer - that's a good suggestion.... a lady from the ABA morning tea I went to last week also mentioned seeing a Paed Chiro as they are great for correcting things that could have been 'changed' during the birth process as it's quite traumatic on their little bodies (not to mention ours!!!!).... I do have a number she gave me here. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to make a phone call..... at least then we've ruled that out.
Will talk to DH tonight about it.
As for football hold, how do i get her into that position? Can you explain it to me or is it a bit too hard to explain on here? I haven't tried that position, only once in hospital but I can't remember how to manouvre her into that position. Scared of damaging my nipples again too as they just healed!!
Firstly there probably nothing wrong with her physically as to why she doesn't like the left side as much- you can usually tell if there is an issue, for example she would not be able to turn her head to one side, or might be developing a flat spot on one side of the head. So don't worry about it too much - ask your MHCN if she can detect any reason to refer you to a paediatric physio consult or chiro before you book in, because if she can you will be able to use the public system which is free, and if she doesn't see a need then there wouldn't be anything wrong.
Secondly, your LC is right in saying the flat nipple shouldn't bother her - I have fairly flattish nipples and baby can attach as they suck it back in their throats whether flat or pointy, but she might simply prefer your other nipple as is easier and she's used to it - babies are creatures of habit like the rest of us.
Thirdly, I don't know if it would be a good idea to just express off the left one instead of feeding because wouldn't offering her a top up if she's being fussy on that side maybe reinforce the aversion and then stop her being as hungry, so then no motivation to be interested in the left boob? (Could be totally wrong, just typing as I think, check with your LC or someone more experienced of course)
Lastly, you have done such a fantastic job thus far, I'm sure you'll be back to solely breastfeeding soon. My DD's left side aversion dulled down a lot after a week or two and now even though she still prefers the right, she will feed off the left too beautifully now, and I'm sure it will be the same for you, she's just got to get used to it. I also find if Elly starts to pull off and whinge and fuss a bit, (which she does most feeds as I don't have much milk but need to encourage her to keep sucking) I get up with her and walk her around while breastfeeding and keeps her interested enough to keep sucking without complaining (though my arm's feel like lead from holding her up). So I don't know if you could try that, (think of it as Bicep Curls )
hours, but it was easier for me, because my bubba were in hospital, so I think you are doing great by pumping every 3-4 hours. What you can do is while you are breasfeeding Ava, you could pump the boob she has finished with, just to get some extra stimulation, but honestly ... I really think you are doing enough already. And quite frankly, pumping while breastfeeding is a mission of titanic proportions!!!
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Nobody actually told me that, and we didn't co sleep for months. Once we did I couldn't believe the difference in my supply! Of all the things I did to increase my supply, that was the thing that worked the best BY FAR. You really just need to rely on good old hormones to do the job for you, but sometimes they need a little bit of help 
I would guess that between co sleeping and frequent feeds, your supply will be rocking in no time. 
With regards to the trouble feeding Ava on your left side - I had the same prob as you + some with my left side with Elly but when I started re-using it she didn't like it much cause had been used to feeding off the right boob and is still her favourite - BUT - I discovered that she attatches REALLY well and is happy to take it now if I put her on that side twin style (probably because she is lying the same way as she would if she were on my right boob) And I find it really easy to hold her that way too maybe because I'm right handed. So, maybe your LC can show you how to attatch that way as it might help get her back on that side properly again??
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