Supplementing :(

My daughter is 10 months old and I just now have started having to supplement due to AF. The day after my period to the day before ovulation my supply is just right for baby girl. IMMEDIATELY following ovulation to when I start my period my supply gets incredibly low. Baby is having to wait 5-10 minutes for a letdown and only getting milk for 3-5 minutes. She is whining all day for milk and getting nothing out. Just when all hope is lost my period starts and it starts picking up immediately. It makes me SO upset because I didnt want to supplement but I KNOW she isnt getting enough. She gains weight the good weeks and loses it ALL the bad weeks. Its actually started making her lose weight. Im so incredibly sad. Ive seen a LC and even they admit I have some hormonal issues and need to give her some more milk...and in the beginning they said they almost never say that to anyone. Ive tried every herb out there to increase supply..Ive done power pumping..those two weeks are just horrid. I almost feel DRIED UP! I have a mama pumping some donor milk up for me and Im very thankful but a part of me is sad that another mama will be nourishing my baby and I cant :(

:hug:
That sounds really tough for you! Obviously continuing to breastfeed is really important to you and well done for continuing despite your problems! Would it help to think of the extra milk as a solid food, rather than a replacement for your breastmilk?

Could you possibly pump after she has a feed in the "good" weeks and save that for the supplementing in the "low" times?

im sorry you have these problems MRS - i know you have done so much to get the BM for your little one.. is there any possiblity in trying to pump extra in the two weeks your supply is good and stock piling for the weeks your supply is low? I know it isnt always an option and some people dont get a good milk supply from pumping but maybe worth a try?

kateo - good suggestion! lol :D

The same thing happened to me - except I got AF back at 4 months and the supply issues started then :( I understand what you are saying, I would go from feeding her just fine all day to her screaming in hunger straight after the first feed of the day when supply should be at it's best.
I started using Motillium (sp?) and that helped me a lot, have you explored that option?

Ive had AF since 28days pp...so Ive been dealing with this that long :( and every month it gets worse!

As for the pump my body stopped responding to it two months ago which is why I now have to supplement :( I was pumping and keeping.

Its like Im fighting a battle Im destined to lose :( :( :(

Would the mini pill help? Something to inhibit ovulation?

Sorry to hear you're struggling :hug:

You're doing so well Mrs! I'm sorry it's been so hard for you :hug:

Does it stop ovulation? I think Im having an issue with progestrone so if I took the mini pill it would be MORe progestrone.

Have you considered using a SNS? (Supplementary Nursing System).
You wear a bottle around your neck and tape very fine silicone tubes to your areolas and when your DD sucks your nipple, she gets breastmilk and the supplement at the same time, so you are still bf but its boosted by the supplement and your bf relationship can continue throughout your cycle.
It means there isn't an issue with trying to get your DD to take a bottle etc.
the brand that's more popular in the States is Lact-aid. I'm using the Medela brand (with organic formula) which to me looks more straight forward.
Also checkout the BFAR and low milk supply websites and post your story there. It's another online community of women with low or reduced supply so they have loads of experience to share.
Best of luck, your doing a great job!

We just bought the Medela brand one last week and she refused to nurse with it. I tried hiding it multiple ways but she could feel the little tubes and would freak out and pinch my nipples to try and get it off :(

I've been thinking about you today. How are you doing? Does your LC have any ideas about what else you can do or strategies to help the sns be successful?

I have NO IDEA whether this would help but one of my clients has been really struggling with her hormones (in this case the fluctuations are causing severe anxiety). She has really benefited from the assistance of her GP who also practices 'complimentary medicine' who has given her some synthetic hormone cream that seems to regulate whatever the imbalance is. (sorry to be so vague, I haven't really asked about the details of the specic treatment). Could it be worth getting yourself checked out hormonally in case something like this could be applied to you?

I currently wont have medical until after she is one :(

She has gained weight luckily from the supplementing. Its just hard to accept that it wasnt from me...but her being happy is making me feel better about it <3

On a positive note a mama just donated like 300oz of breastmilk to me to help get her through one :)

That's great that you've got some donor milk.
I felt the same when I had to start supplementing when DD was 4 days old. But we do what we need to do to feed our precious babies.
Xo