HELP Hypothyroid and Low breast milk

Hi ladies,

I have had a thyroid problem for many years now. Its been HypEr and HypO and normal and ive never had to use medications to sort it out.

It was fine during my pregnancy but now it has reared its ugly head and is HypO again.

I was having low breast milk supply issues from the beginning and suspected something was wrong and turns out it is my thyroid is to blame. Hyper or Hypo it doesnt matter its a cause for low supply.

As you can imagine this is a massive issue with feeding my now 9wk old DD. So much so that i have had to supplement feed with formula. I think im getting to a point i can barely produce enough for one feed as is happening at night times already. As she gets older and bigger=more food. DD is very restless and frustrated from not getting enough when at the breast in the evening.

Ive just started eating lactation cookies this week and pigging out on them but im getting sick of them already as i have to feed DD HOURLY.

Hourly feeds are for 30 mins also so i am physically and mentally drained, its getting too much for me. I have a veracious eater. I love bfeeding her when im not exhausted and dont want to give it up but i need my supply to improve majorly or i think ill have to face giving it up.

Is there any mummas out there in the same boat?? please i hope so!!! i need support here so badly as all my friends are bfeeding fine and even one has an oversupply!! :(

Sorry its long but i tried to keep it succinct.

Hi Bellybean,

I have an underactive thyroid and take medication daily.....I also had a supply problem and under my dr's care I took Motilium a couple of times a day to increase my supply. I tried feeding on demand....but didnt notice any change. But with the medication i noticed a change within a couple of days and continued taking it until i was ready for DS to wean.

I know that taking medication isnt for everyone, but my desire to feed DS was all i could focus on at the time.

:)

Can I ask why you are against taking medication? I am on thyroxine have been for four years and my understanding is it is not good for your body to have too little or too much of the thyroid hormones for significant periods of time. How do you know when you are under or over and what did you do to correct it before?

I have had breast reduction surgery and also had low supply, though a different cause to your issue. I also took Motilium and noted and increase in supply, although I did have to comp feed from the time DD was about 2 weeks old until she was about 10 months (and eating a fairly varied diet). I stopped taking the Motilium when DD was about 12months old. I started immediately following her delivery as she is my third child and I had previously established low supply when attempting to feed my first two children. DD is now 2 years 3 months old and still BF'ing. You can have a long and successful BF'ing relationship despite low supply. It can be a bumpy road, but it is well worth the perseverance!

If you fix the issue with your thyroid, will this 'fix' the issue with your supply?

Are you medicated? If so, it will right itself? It's important for your wellbeing to treat this, not only for your milk supply. You must feel like utter crud on top of the usual exhaustion that comes with having a newborn. What's more, I would think that trying to treat the undersupply would be ineffective if you do not address the underlying problem.
Good luck. I am on thyroxine also and have had no issues with supply. It's just important to monitor levels nad ensure the doseage is correct.

I've been on thyroxine for hypothyroidism since it was diagnosed while I was TTC. I had low supply and a really big delay in my milk coming in for multiple reasons (induction, fast labour, attachment problems, PCOS and forgetting to reduce my thyroxine dose after the birth.) For me a combination of motilium, frequent feeds, pumping between feeds and lactation cookies did the trick. I was able to stop giving top-ups and DD is still a boobie girl 6 months on.

My advice would be to get your thyroid under control (consider seeing an endocrinologist if you don't think your GP is up to the task) and seriously consider trying motilium.

Also keep in mind all 9 week old babies are restless and frustrated in the evening. Your supply may not be as bad as you think if that's the main thing you're going on. My DD was always upset in the evening and wanted non-stop boob in the evening but top up feeds made no difference - she just wanted to suckle for comfort not food.

Hi mummas,

firstly thank you for all the replies and support/opinions

wysiwyg - not against medications for thyroid, never been prescribed them thats all...including this time. Dr has ordered me to get check up in 4wks time to see whats happening.

Amy - my desire to feed bub is strong too, guess i just feel helpless because im not getting the medical support i need to help ME!! sometimes i think i should put the dr hat on cos as it was she questioned me about getting my thyroid checked when i asked for a test....:wall:

MadB - not medicated, drs have not prescribed anything - said its normal for thyroid to return to normal after preg hormones settle a bit. YES i do feel like utter crud with fatigue, it even makes me dizzy which is my primary reason i went to the dr, ive been mostly housebound due to fear of fainting while driving or out with bub.

nickle730 - thanx for sharing and yes sounds like all i need to do is get thyroid medication and ill be fine.

k4t - your labour sounded like mine!! i had a horrendous time due to being induced so my milk was slow coming in too!! Im doing everything you mentioned except for thyroid meds and motillum. Also i know bubbas cluster feed at night anyhoo but my bub is def frustrated with MY supply, I can feed her 30-50mins (patiently) and she still cant get enuf till i give her a bottle and then she calms down, i see the contentment in her face and a big full belly and she is sweet so its def me not her.:)

AFM i guess ill try to see an endocrinologist, someone who cares/understands what im going thru and i should get somewhere!

xo

oh goodness! yes, I think talking to another doctor is a good idea. For your health and wellbeing.
As for your supply, it might also be a good idea to talk to a lactation consultant and get a good idea of what's going on and what you can do. The hospital where you had your baby may have some? or else there are some in private practice who will come to you. well worth it
all the best