How to increasing milk supply while pregnant?

[~ Mylitta ~]

It's looking positive that my latest IVF cycle has worked and that I'm pregnant (official blood test is next thursday, but I'm getting hpt's that are getting slightly darker each day). Since I started using Crinone (a progesterone gel) I've notice that my milk supply has dropped dramatically and I really don't want to stop breastfeeding my 12 month old DS. The other IVF drugs didn't significantly effect my supply, but it looks like the progesterone is, so I can only expect things to get worse as my body continues to make even more.

I'm already doing a number of things to try to increase my supply, but it doesn't seem to be working. I take pregnancy/breastfeeding vitamins daily, I take fenugreek and blessed thistle capsules 2-3 times a day, and I basically let DS feed whenever he wants. Lately DS is coming up to me every 1/2 hour to hour and pulling at my top, so (location permitting) I generally let him feed straight away. Sometimes he doesn't even seem to get let-down before he gives up. When he does get let-down I can hear the milk pouring into his mouth, but it lasts for no where near as long as it used to before he can't seem to suck anymore out and gets frustrated.

At the moment I think he would be trying to feed 10-14 times a day, with 3-4 of those feeds still overnight. I don't want to night wean him because I have a feeling he might be having his best feeds overnight. I'm also worried that if I night wean, it will only makes things worse with my supply.

I've attempted expressing again (I used to do it lots when DS was younger, and have 8-9litres in the freezer), but I find that my breasts won't let anything out now unless it's a real baby doing the sucking. They are too smart to be fooled by the pump. Add to that, I never really have time anymore with DS trying to feed so often.

I've felt guilty that I'm not able to give DS as much as he wants, so a few times I have tried giving him to EBM from the freezer. He was fine with it at first, then I made a major mistake of trying to mix it with some cows milk (maternal health nurse told me to because he was one now and should be having cow's milk too, grrrr) and he spat it out and now won't take my EBM from his bottle OR his sippy cup. I've just made him suspicious of what's in there

Any ideas on what I can do would be greatly appreciated! Also, does anyone know if blessed thistle and fenugreek are safe during pregnancy? A couple of times I've had raspberry leaf tea tablets to help boost supply, but I know that you shouldn't have that during the first couple of trimesters...

[Kmn]

kellymom.com :: Fenugreek for Increasing Milk Supply - fenugreek is probably not a good idea.

There isn't much you can do other than let him feed as he wants to. Your body is going to keep making hormones that will reduce your milk supply - and he's just going to have to learn to deal with it. You may be able to get more out by giving him each side twice at a feed, but that's all I can think of.

As for the EBM, try it in a normal (not sippy) cup with you helping, or even on his cereal!

[MantaRay]

Mylitta, congratulations hun. Unfortunately supply does drop during pg and there's not a lot you can do about it. Offering the breast more often and expressing might help, but it's likely that you will still won't have a lot of milk. Some babies are happy to continue feeding for comfort and the bit of milk they get, others give up. Mine gave up, but I know many mums who have gone on to tandem feed. I hope you are able to be one of these. If not however, you will still share a special bond with your little man and you have given him a great start in life. It is always sad to deal with our babies weaning before we are ready, it's ok to feel sad. Perhaps now would be a good time to get some photos of you breastfeeding in case he does wean, so that you'll always have those to look at

[onthefly]

Congratulations!
Does P4 affect supply, I thought it was E2? Anyway, I'm not sure there's much you can do
The flip side for me is the DS doesn't care one jot that I have no milk now, he still wants it and will suck away happily getting nothing.
Hope you guys can find a way to keep going if your little one wants it

[wysiwyg]

I have a book that we are checking out for the ABA library called The Breastfeeding Mothers Guide to "Making More Milk" is quite American as is recommended by La Leche League but this is what it says about making more milk when pregnant

"What are your options for increasing supply while pregnant? It really is a case of swimming upstream against nature, because your body shifts priority to preparing for new baby - nursing more frequently may help.
Using Herbs to Increase Supply While Pregnant
If you want to continue breastfeeding during a new pregnancy, a galactogogue may help maintain some of your milk production. However you're working against nature as your body's first priority is to prepare for the new baby. Not al herbal galactogogues are appropriate for pregnancy. Those generally considered safe for pregnancy include red raspberry, nettle, oat straw, oats, dandelion leaf, alfalfa, fennel and milk thistle"

Not sure if that is any use or not.

[~ Mylitta ~]

Kmn - Thanks for that link! I'm not going to take the fenugreek anymore. I'm probably under the dose that would be bad, but I'm not taking any risks.

MantaRay - Thanks for your supportive words Yes, I'll be sad if he weans, but I'm so proud that I made it to 12 months without a problem. I still have quite a bit of EBM in the freezer, so I'll continue to give him that in some form or another which makes me feel better. Fingers crossed he'll be able to keep breastfeeding and that I can tandem feed.

Marcellus - To be honest, I'm not sure if it's the P4 effecting the supply, or if it's already the E2 even in the small amount present at this early stage. It would be nice is my DS is like yours and wants to keep suckling even if he's not getting much from it.

Vic - That definitely helps. If I'm definitely pregnant and my supply keeps dropping I'm going to take that list to my obstetrician and ask if he's happy for me to try them. Red raspberry sounds yummy (I wonder if they mean the actual fruit or a tea...) and I'm sure I could add some alfalfa to my diet...