My daughter is about to turn six months old. She was completely breastfed until four months. At her four month check up her pediatrician advised me to begin giving her cereal twice a day. She began going to day care the first week of july. I was pumping milk between my classes, about five ounces, and also had a store of frozen breastmilk. She was drinking much more than I was producing and quickly ran out of the stores of milk. I began supplementing her with formula while at daycare but continued to pump while at school. But I stopped producing even the five ounces! I struggled to even pump two ounces from both breasts combined!
I have stopped pumping completely and am giving her only formula while at daycare. It seems like my milk supply is just getting less and less. I used to be full in the mornings (she sleeps through the night) and when I pick her up from day care. I have not fed her since seven this morning and it is now four, but my breasts feel pretty much empty. This does not seem normal to me and I think that my milk supply is much too low!
She nurses three times a day: in the morning, when I pick her up from daycare, and then at night before she goes to sleep.
She drinks about eight ounces of formula at day care and has some cereal and pureed fruits/veggies three times a day.
Does this seem like adequate nutrition? Why is my milk supply dwindling off so much? Should I continue to breastfeed? Is it possible that my milk supply will completely disappear?
It is possible to dry up and sounds like she is getting plenty of food. A lot of doctors just do not start feeding them until 7 mos,. The Day Care knows the portions of what they need. Yiou are amazing I would just be too tired to keep pumping. Congrats great mom. Keep it up G. W
It's natural for your supply to go down if you cut your feeding. But if you really want to breastfeed, don't worry: Your body will make enough to nourish your daughter.
The best way to increase your milk supply is to nurse her more often, but it sounds like that may be tricky with your schedule. You can also take herbs and get a prescription from your doctor but I don't know what the rules are about that, if it's for moms of newborns or what. I just know it's out there but I don't know the name... i'm sure if you ask again here or google it you could find it.
Supply and demand, you produce when they nurse all the time. So try pumping more often and drink plenty of liquids. If you can record her crying and play it while you pump it may help your milk supply. I would never have started any food for about the first 11 months. Some doctors are just dumb when it comes to advice to a nursing mom. You ask experts like Leleatche League or a lactation consultant, or someone with several kids who has nursed all the time for over 10-19 months and see what they advise. As far as nutrition, cooked food doesn't have much, but breast milk has everything they need for a long time.
I did breastfeeding for a year. 3 actually on breast and the rest of the time I pumped. Pumping is a consuming schedule; its about supply and demand. If you want to keep a good stock you have to pump every few hours. I pumped every 2 to 3 hours to keep my supply up, drank a lot of water and water with calories so that at each pumping i had 12 oz (i even drank while pumping). I kept this up through out the entire year until I was ready to wein her at one years old; then i cut back on the pumping. The further between pumping your body is reducing supply and will eventually cease producing. So if you want to keep it in you must pump every 2 to 3 hours, drink plenty of fluids, eat a healthy diet...etc. There should be a lactation consultant available to speak with for free at your local maternity ward in the hospital. I had support through out my entire year which was very helpful. Even going on long trips I brought my handpump to express in the vehicle. If you work at it your supply can return within a few days.
Nutrition-wise, it seems fine, but if you want to continue to breastfeed, you may need to do some things. Do you pump in the morning before or after you feed her? You said between classes, but how often is that? You can try fenugreek, or there is also a Rx to increase your supply. Make sure that you are drinking plenty of water and that you can relax while pumping.
If your not demanding the milk your body will stop producing it. She sounds like she is getting plenty of nutrition but if you want to get your milk supply back up you need to start pumping! Pump the opposite side of whatever side she is nursing on, while she nurses. It isnt easy at first but I find I get alot more milk when I do. Also pump a few times in between her feedings. It may take a little time but your supply should come up. Also you could try taking Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle, 3 pills of each, 3 times a day. Thats what my best friends lactation consulatant told her just 2 weeks ago to help with her supply. I started taking it a few weeks ago so I can store milk when I go back to work in a few weeks and its working great! I could only find it at a health food store though. Good luck!
Ahhh the woes of breastfeeding. This is my third go around with low supply. Yes, your milk supply sounds low. You'll just need to decide how important it is to keep nursing. If so, you can try a supplement called More Milk Plus and see if that helps. It is very successful for many women, unfortunately not for me. What's workng very well for me is taking Domperidone, it's a stomach med which has a side effect of milk production. It's not FDA approved for milk production and not covered by insurance so it is very expensive buying it here. You can get it very inexpensively from online Canadian pharmacies though without an RX. Just FYI my lactation consulatant and OB were supportive of this medicine.
Hi,
Similar happened to me during breastfeeding. I personally took an herbal remedy called Healthy Nursing Tea by secrets of tea and had the great result.I hope it`ll help you...
Hi L.,
Breastfeeding is supply and demand, meaning that your body will make what your daughter needs. The more your daughter suckles at your breast, your body will nourish her. With the introduction of solids and the supplementation of formula, your body has adjusted accordingly. If you are looking to boost your supply you can do so with fenugreek, by eating oatmeal, drinking plenty of fluids, nursing your daughter and even pumping (to stimulate production) after your daughter is done nursing.
Your body will continue to produce the milk your daughter needs during those 3 feedings. My daughter is 11 months old and is exclusively breastfed. It is possible to meet the demands of your little one with breastmilk. We just started giving our daugther avacado, oatmeal and vegetables but her sole means of nutrition is breastmilk.
Hope that helps. If you have other questions feel free to email me.
Peace,
J.
Your supply went down because you stopped pumping. I know it's hard to pump, I did it 4 times a day at work, but stick with it. Try adding one or two pumpings a day to help bring your supply back up and make sure you drink plenty water. Most pediatricians suggest starting cereal at 4 months, but there is no reason to do it. My son would violently throw up cereal so he didn't get any solids until 7 months and was perfectly happy with breastmilk for that long. Hang in there, breast feeding is a big commitment that doesn't work for everyone, but keep it up as long as you can! Congrats on making it this long!!
i know pumping is hard!! it's so much easier for them just to nurse. yes your milk will eventually dry up. If you are committed to continuing with breast feeding you are going to have to increase your pumping schedule. Also drink water, water, water!
Hey! you should definately keep breastfeeding! i suggest contacting your local la leche league. they're super helpful with any breastfeeding questions, I know they've really helped me out! they have a website where you can find a group close to you. look it up!
