Supply is dwindling :(

[PumpkinZulu]

Cassius just made me realise AF may be on her way too..

Thanks so much wise women I'll keep my eye on it and feed feed feed.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Oooh, yeah! Silly me! Counsellors are 24/7, so give them a call - they've heard just about everything and are great to talk to

[OceanPrincess]

PZ, the biggest advice I can offer is to persist. Its good that you don't mind the fussy as if you want to get over this, just keep feeding her, spending time with her, being with her. Its so tough as she will be fussy while your body adjusts but then you'll build your supply back up and she'll settle for you again.

If you are really concerned, you could see your GP as there are some drugs that can boost supply (prescription only) but just keep feeding. You can do it!

[*Danni*]

Aw that sucks! I'm sure having mastitis would have been awful enough, now a low in supply boob!

I was dealing with that a few months ago now I think it's been already and tried everything (well, almost). It was because my baby bit my left nipple in his sleep and I had to stop feeding on it for over a week so the supply drop was huge in that breast and even all round. Unfortunately the cookies didn't work for me, but I have heard some good reports though! Just use like double or more brewers yeast. What I found worked wonders for my supply was fenugreek tablets, I noticed the difference after 24 hours and they actually started filling right back up! I still use it now sometimes as for some reason my supply can be still on the low side sometimes, and causes bub to fuss occasionally and wake up more (prob cos not getting as hydrated), but when I take the tablets for a few days it boost back up.

Hope you're feeling better after mastitis & hopefully you can figure out this supply problem and what works for you. You could do a google search too (I think Kellymom site has a good webpage on boosting supply too). You shouldn't have to stop breastfeeding because of it, there are ways to fix it!!

Good luck


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[kitten2b]

Akta-Vite instead of milo seems to make me feel fuller, DS was really fussy earlier this week just before a tooth came through.

[TeniBear]

I always feel exactly the same when Amelia's going through a Wonder Week and/or teething, and everything's fine with us, even though it doesn't feel it at the time. The only time I feel completely full is just after that, when she's been doing the million-feeds-a-day thing and suddenly goes back to feeding normally.

I hope your supply picks up to what Isla needs/wants soon so you can finally get back to normal

ETA: I've heard (not sure where) that fatty foods can help temporarily boost supply

[PumpkinZulu]

*sighs with relief*

Everyone needs a village

[Heaven]

I agree with everyone else PZ, you're doing great! Well actually you're doing perfectly normally :P

Around that time is when I my boobs started to feel a lot less full too. I think I've read you usually have oversupply? So it's unlikely that it's decreased that dramatically, it's probably that it just doesn't feel as full and that's a much different feeling for you. But of course you are still feeding so I have no doubt you're still making the right amount of milk

[peanutter]

I know this sounds...odd...but would getting DH on it when DD refuses it (obviously not right then lol) help at all

not silly at all - I've seen other mums talking in other threads about having done this.

give it a bash - it can't hurt

[MrsFabuloso]

I haven't read all of the replies, so sorry if I repeat stuff, but a few thoughts ahave occured to me...

Do you have AF back, or could you be ovulating? My kids are always more fussy on the breast during those times of my cycle.

Are her nappies fairly normal? Enough wet and dirty nappies should be indication of what is going in.

My breasts always felt a bit less full and like they're not filling up so much at about the 5-6mth mark. Now, my DS2 is 10mths old and I don't even really get engorged unless he hasn't fed for about 4-5hrs depending on the time of day. It is normal for it to change.

If she is teething and a tooth is very close to erupting, she might be in pain and suckling hurts her which might cause more fussiness.

Try not to stress hun. Easier said than done I know. It all sounds normal to me. Keep up with feeding her to her demands, look after yourself, eat well, drink enough and try to rest when you can. It will sort itself out.

[Lisa B]

Hey PZ, I'm an EE and I notice that one boob makes significantly less than the other so that might come into play. Also if worst comes to worst, and it probably won't, you can always go the the GP and get motilium. I ended up on motilium, very different issues as I EE, and got an abundance of milk. Yes I'm on medication but it doesn't affect bubs and it is the only way I can still give my bub BM.

Hope it all works out for you and has a simple and quick solution.

[trishalishous]

my boobs after awhile never felt 'full'. they now feel like used up tea bags

same here!

[~Stoked~]

I remember when I was sick with mastitis, then gastro, when Archie was about 3-4months old and the same thing happened. It took about a week for things to get back to normal. I really think the antibiotics didn't help things either.

[Lisa B]

Yes, the other thing is that I regularly get blocked ducts. When i get a more severe case my supply dwindles and it takes a few days for it to right itself even after the block has been released.

[SunnyRain]

Hey PZ , our Bubbas are the same age and things feel the same for me right now. I've noticed after a feed I would have to work really hard to squeeze out a drop. Lilac is so distracted I dont feel she's feeding properly, it's hot and her fontanelle is often slightly depressed, and I feel like her nappies are less wet.

Now that you mention it, I just realised I don't feel let down any more, either.

All that said, after screwing up breastfeeding my son due to confusion and bad advice, I've decided to trust my boobs this time. As everyone has said, so many women stop breastfeeding around now. It must be th e most common thing to feel like supply is dwindling now.

Interesting. Only my left boob leaks, but my right boob gets the most engorged if Lilac goes for longer between feeds. Boobs work in mysterious ways.
--'--,--'--<@
Jude 07/10/08 | Lilac 16/06/11

[Kmn]

There are a couple of things that can drop supply - being pregnant, and taking sudafed.
Otherwise, get bub's ears checked, try feeding in the dark, try giving her something to play with whilst feeding, try hand-expressing a tiny bit before a feed so an impatient bub doesn't have to wait and feed her often.
When you start solids that can do funny things too until she gets the hang of solid pooh - but again frequent bf is the best thing for that as well.

good luck.

[Arcadia]

You've had heaps of awesome advice, but I wanted to say that my left boob can be sooooo slow with the let down that ds (and dd used to too) fusses and cries and carries on. I just switch them to the right one till I feel a let down and then switch back to the left (I'm talking up to five minutes for a let down if I'm feeling stressed.)

Good luck! Also rest and sleep as much as you can. Mastitis is nasty and takes a while to recover from.

[sloane]

lots of good advice & hopefully things are a bit better this morning. fwiw, i totally lost the 'full' feeling when my DS was around the same age as your DD & on one or two occasions i even went 12+ hours without feeding or expressing & i hardly noticed any difference (and DS was a 2 hourly feeder round the clock) & DS went back on as if nothing was different.

hang in there hun & do ring the ABA if you're feeling extra stressed or anxious