Supply tips for a friend

A girlfriend is having supply issues, and has asked me for some advice and tips on building it back up. So I'm going to print or email some things for her, as well as make her some lactation cookies. Her DS is 1 month old, and they've had a rough start with bf. At 2 days old they were back in hospital as he was jaundice, and they topped him up with formula. She is still topping up with formula now. 2 weeks ago they were in hospital for 5 says as he got viral meningitis, and since then the stress from that has dropped her supply. She says from 5pm onward it isnt keeping up to what he demands.

Now so far I have told her that they do have a growth spurt around this age, and he will be coming into a wonder week soon so he will want to feed lots more. That it is entirely normal for babes to be wanting boob boob boob in the evenings and gave her an example of what my DS was like at the same age. Then said to help your supply, get him on the boob as much as possible and lots of skin to skin. But I cant say much over message as its a pita typing out lol.

So what other advice can I give her? I just thought then that I will tell her to call the ABA as well.

She really wants to breastfed and said she is open to every bit of advice I can give her.

TIA :)

edit: I just got another message from her answering a question I asked, and he is generally content during the evenings just wanting to feed lots which is why she is questioning her supply.

He is building her supply for what he needs. There is stuff called activite that you get from the supermarket in the section with milo which helps. Pumping after each feed, even if she isn't getting anything the simulation will help.
Defs get her to call aba they are wonderful. Vitamins such as blessed thistle and fenugreek can also help....

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I agree with Mollie, Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle are good. Blessed Thistle can be hard to find though, Herbs of Gold make a Breastfeeding Support blend that combines both herbs. Brewers yeast (lots of that in the lactation cookies) is good too, so she can even put that in drinks etc. A friend was recommended alcohol free beer as well. Actually I wonder if those new Bundaberg brewed fruit drinks would help... although the citrus could cause taste issues/curdling.

Spending time skin on skin... if she can, take a break from life for a day or two and just feed feed feed whenever he wants it.

Would she feel comfortable leaving out the formula for a day and seeing how he goes? I was surprised when I was able to stop comp feeding when DD was about 2 weeks old. I didn't think my milk would ever be sufficient.

I did end up having more supply issues later and started expressing between feeds to boost supply. In hindsight I should have just popped DD on the boob rather than pumping because the stress and fatigue of the whole merry go round really tanked my supply.

Good luck to your friend, and good on you for advocating for her.
xox

oh i forgot... LOTS OF WATER!

Congrats to your friend on her baby and hard work!
Is he well now? That must have been a very stressful time for them all with a sick baby :(

Definitely a good idea to call the ABA - 1800-686-2-686. They can give her lots of reassurance and suggestions.

Does she want to stop comp feeding? Was the jaundice the only reason she started on the formula?

It does sound like normal baby behaviour that has thrown her - as you say, boob boob boob is quite normal at a certain time of day. The best indicator of input is output. At this age you'd expect several poos per day and plenty of wet nappies (6-8 cloth, 4-5 disposable). Weight gains, growth, disposition, etc, etc, are also good signs.

We used to think that babies went through fussy periods and fed more to increase supply and get more milk. Actually, more recent research has shown that between one month and six months of age, babies take the same amount of milk every day. Isn't that incredible? Breast milk is biodynamic and changes as our babies grow, always providing precisely what they need, even without an increase in the volume consumed.

As you know, the secret to supply is demand :) Feeding as often and as long as her baby wants is the best way to ensure she produces enough milk for him. It is a really good idea to talk to the ABA and even an LC to discuss any particular concerns she may have, especially if there are other issues that have led her to feel her supply is inadequate (ie, that may require medical assistance).

Mothers often find that the constant demands of baby in the arsenic hours leave them feeling empty and insufficient. A lot of the time, however, it's only because they are feeding so frequently, not because the mothers don't have enough milk. It's easy to doubt ourselves, though, especially if we've already been given reason to do so by our carers. What can happen then is that mothers give a bottle of formula, which the baby duly drinks down - and remember it's easier to take milk from a bottle so it doesn't always mean the baby really needs it - and, feeling very full, they go to sleep.

Does she have lots of help & support at home? That's often the best predictor of breastfeeding success :) Also, sometimes being near mummy will suffice when baby is particularly needy - perhaps a sling would help?

Thank you ladies so so much, your info was so helpful! I read this before I saw her yesterday so was able to repeat it all to her, and I also printed some info on cluster feeding & supply from kellymom. She was so grateful for the advice, and we had a chat about it all and how hard & tiring it can be!

MadB, the jaundice & that he lost over 10% of body weight after birth was why she comped with formula. She has pretty much stopped the top ups, but she does give the occasional bottle (not daily) when she just cant take it anymore. I saw her again today and she said after spending from 3pm-6pm on the couch with him feeding/comfort sucking, and then cluster feeding all the first half of the night, she gave him a bottle so she could get a little sleep to recharge. She does have support from her hubby and he helps when he is home from work, but overnight she is obviously the one who needs to get up to him. I told her maybe co-sleeping may be helpful so she doesnt have to get up & down, but I think she is a little worried about doing that.

But she did find the info I gave her helpful and reassuring, and I told her a million times what a brilliant job she is doing. She really is, she isnt finding this as easy as someone else may but she is doing such a great job as she really wants this to work.


So thank you all again, very much!! :D

That sounds pretty good! Probably supply isn't her problem at all. If that's what she needs to do to get through, then that's what she needs to do :) I hope things settle down for her soon.

Absolutely bed-sharing/co-sleeping is a great way to get more sleep. There's an article she can download from the ABA HERE. It certainly can be done safely in most circumstances. She might even be able to move her cot/bassinet up next to her bed? I have the cot side-car style and that gives us a bit more sleeping space.

Does she have a sling?

It certainly does sound like she's doing a great job!

Thanks again MadB :) I agree, I dont think its supply issues, just her needing to learn to trust her body & baby and that all these things are normal. She'll get there I know it.

She is looking into a sling, I told her to get one asap as it will be a life saver. So wish I had of thought to get one when DS was the same age doing the same thing!

And thanks for the link, I will be forwarding that onto her!

Your friendship and support will do so much good, after a pretty rough start. You will be like a 'breastfeeding doula', just helping her find that confidence in her body again.

I second the sling! If it's warm, she could let bub go topless and lift up her shirt to make more skin-to-skin time. Nothing beats nodding off on your mummy's warm tum with your nose an inch from a milky nipple.

Taking baby in the bath is another lovely way to clock up more skin-to-skin cuddles and get those lovely hormones flowing.

Kellymom has great info on supply and galactogogues.

There's a book, The Nursing Mother's Guide to Making More Milk that is very helpful. It lists all the galactogogue foods.

Low Milk Supply -- Providing Information and Support to Breastfeeding Mothers

Breastfeeding cookies can be great, do you need a recipe, I have one.

Breastfeeding herbal tea can also help, and tinctures from a Naturopath too. My BF tea also contains Vervain which is a galactogogue and it nurtures the nervous system to promote calm and relaxation which can be so helpful when the early weeks have been stressful.

Sounds like things are turning a corner for her.

Thank you Julie :)

That info is brilliant, I had no idea there was bf tea! And I just forwarded those links to her as well. And I would love a recipe for the cookies, I told her I can make a batch up if she feels she needs it.

Again thank you! :D

Um, this is my recipe, let me know if you'd like something a little more - orthodox ... :D

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Lactation Cookies

Cream 500g Butter.

Chuck in what's left of the Brown Sugar in the packet. (In our house - prolly about 4 tbsp)

Coupla spoonfuls of Peanut Butter.

Coupla spoonfuls of Molasses.

Dollop of Flaxseed Oil.

1 can of Condensed Milk

1 egg

Dribble of Vanilla

Shake of Cinnamon & Nutmeg

Cream-cream-cream-cream it all together.

Now, ready for the dry ingredients:

A cup or so of rolled oats

A cup or so of Self Raising Flour

Now for the Healthy Bits:

Any thing you like from the following list or similar:

Wheatgerm

Brewers Yeast

Flaxseed Meal

Whey Powder

Crushed nuts of your choice (I like Pecans, Walnuts and Almonds)

Goji Berries

Raisins / Sultanas

Chopped dried Apricots

Chia

Sunflower Seeds

And the Yummy Bits, to make you eat them:

Choc Chips

Mix it all together until it's the right consistency to shape cookies.

No way am I going to tell you what temp oven or how long, your oven is different to mine, mine is gas, with no fan, so you cook them right up under the grill to avoid them burning on the bottom, on a really low temp, until they are just barely pale brown then whip 'em out quick before they over-cook on the bottom. Now, your oven's not like that, is it??

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