I have Sheehans syndrome, which inhibts lactation.
Im taking fenugreek and motillium and feed at least every 2 hrs in the day to boost my supply, but my son still has 2 bottles of 60mls each day.
Before giving a bottle I feed him until he gets upset, and we swap sides until he pulls off after 1or2 sucks.
Tonight I noticed I can still easily hand express a bit even after he starts to complain that Im 'empty' and Im wondering if hes just frustrated that the flow is slow or something, or if hes tired and a bottle is easier, or if Im actually empty?
When he takes the bottle he scoffs it, but Im not wanting to up the feed volume so early (hes 12 days old)
I had the same supply issues with my daughter, who still breast feeds before bed (while my dh does ds' bottle) but she had trouble latching until 6 months old so I pumped as well as her ABM top ups, and Im hoping that ds isnt weaning so early!
Any ideas?
I would say its a flow thing. Have you been diagnosed this time with sheehans for sure? You know it can not necessarily occur every pregnancy?
Try and lower the ABM and see how he goes. If there's milk there he will take it. Weaning doesn't happen this early. In most cases mothers confuse nipple confusion and frustration for weaning when it isn't so.
It's not that he's being lazy as such but he probably doesn't have to work as hard with the bottle and if he knows it's coming, he will probably prefer to fuss and wait for that instead of having to work for the milk from the breast!
It's not necessarily an issue of supply but when babies are very little it is hard work to extract milk from the breast - can be very tiring for them. A bottle is much easier!
Have you seen an LC for diagnosis and treatment of sheehans?
Have you seen the cup bottles? (not sure that is the right name) Instead of a traditional teat they have a spoon (trough) type thing at the end that the milk flows into and then baby laps the milk from here. I think this pic is one, but it is a bit different from the one i saw irl. Have you thought about a SNS (supplementary nursing system) - you can make them fairly cheaply with a bit of imagination if you don't want to buy one.
Also, have you thought about feeding your toddler after feeding the baby? This will stimulate your supply more, and if toddler has survived through pregnancy she will probably be happy to suckle even after baby rather than instead of baby.
thanks everyone.
I have to go for another mri, but my pituitary gland is definitely damaged, and very unlikely it would have repaired itself.
my toddler feeds after bub, but 1-3 times a day, as Im only letting her on when hes definitely finished.
Thought I would update.
Since posting this DS hasnt demanded any top ups, and with the motilium my milk seems to have 'come in' properly. Nappies are good, so it looks like we might be in the clear.
We have a weigh in on Thursday, so Im hoping hes gained weight (otherwise we will start top ups again) but Im feeling positive that I might be able to EBF a child!
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hungry or 'lazy'?
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