Supply Issues...

Maddie&EthansMom wrote: Where can I find Mother's Milk Tea or Fenugreek? Would they have this at GNC? Ethan went through a growth spurt and I haven't been able to keep up with his demand. It is odd b/c as much as he has been eating...my milk just never caught up. My milk dried up at 4mos with Maddie. Ethan is a little over 4 mos and I fear that my milk will dry up. I started him on solids, but he is still eating as much so that shouldn't matter. I wanted to wait until he was 6 months old, but he is sooooooooo hungry!! He loves his solids and is doing great. He is a natural!

jcc64 replied: I believe any good health food store would carry them, but I swear by oatmeal and beer. One beer and my supply goes wayyyyyyyyy up, and it never hurts my disposition either!
Oatmeal is another winner, really works wonders.

amynicole21 replied: Yes, I found them both at GNC and Whole Foods (a natural grocery store here). I think that 4 months is when I started to be unable to keep up with Sophia's demand, too Don't give up! Even if you find you need to supplement, you can still nurse as long as you like

MommyToAshley replied: Hi Aimee!

I know they are not supposed to have another growth spurt until 6 months, but I am sure Ashley had one around 4 months because I remember she nursed like crazy and it took my supply a little time to catch up again. But, after that, it was fine again.

I don't have any advice, I just wanted to offer some support and say that I hope you can continue to BF, I know how important it is to you.

It's good to hear from you, please keep us posted on how you and the kids are doing.

MomToMany replied: Hi Aimee!

Sorry to hear that you are having problems!! Here's a link that has lots of great info on what to do.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#supply

I hope that things improve for you! I know I really cherish my nursing relationships with Hannah and Kayla. I would be a real mess if it ended for either of them.

Good luck!

jem0622 replied: All the advice you got is great. I also wanted to remind you to nurse him first before you feed him solids. Always the rule of thumb in the first year.

Fenugreek should be taken 4 times per day and your armpits should smell like maple syrup. If you don't want to drink beer then eat a bowl of oatmeal daily and stir in a teaspoon or two of barley malt syrup. It will sweeten it, so go for plain oatmeal. I found it at a local co-op, but you could probably find it at Whole Foods.

coasterqueen replied: Can I ask why you think your supply is low or why you can't keep up with him? If it's because he's nursing constantly, that's VERY normal. Especially through growth spurts and for some, like Kylie, all the time is normal.

Are you giving bottles often and if you are are you pumping those missed nursing sessions? Unless you have a serious medical condition or you are giving more bottles and not pumping or giving way too many solids your milk supply can not dry up. Milk is a supply and demand thing. As long as Ethan is nursing like he should for his age your body will continue to produce milk.

Low supply is a very common issue for most and one that is easily mistaken. Do you feel like your breasts aren't as full anymore? If so that's normal, it's your body regulating to Ethan's need. I remember thinking my supply was low because my breasts didn't feel full anymore, very common mistake lots of women make.

In my honest opinion, with Ethan having reflux it's extremely important to wait on solids. Waiting til at least 6 months when the gut is more closed. You may just be causing more issues later on for him if you don't. But I''m not sure if you've already intro'ed solids if putting them off now will make a difference. He may seem fine now with solids, but he could have problems at 6, 7, 8 years old when he *may* develop gastrointestinal issues or allergies. This is a common problem my lactation consultant has seen time and time again.

Let me know about the above questions and maybe I can offer some more help.

DansMom replied: I had a supply change at 4 months too and went through some panic about it. I couldn't get any milk when I pumped at work. I was so very anxious about it. It is true what Karen says that the nursing mechanism changes at some point, so that your breasts will feel much less full but you are still producing milk. At that point for me, the pump was not stimulating the "let down" of my milk. I switched to a new pump, and that plus a lot of nursing in the evening and overnight helped over time and I got caught up. It might be helpful to talk to a lactation consultant. I found Fenugreek more helpful than Mothers Milk Tea. We have a health food section in our regular chain grocery store that carries both. Keep us posted!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Thanks so much for your help. I will try nursing him around the clock and see if that helps. I always nurse him before I give him solids. I read a lot on the subject and I did read where there is a growth spurt at 4 mos. He was nursing pretty much constantly at night. Now that he is on solids that is *some* better, but not much. He is fussing at the breast and it feels like it is empty a lot of times. He will latch on and pull my nipple and let go (over and over) like he is 'playing' with it. I just feel like he isn't getting enough to eat. I guess he will tell me whether or not he is. I used to be able to feel let down really strongly and now I don't feel let down at all. Is that normal? My breasts don't feel full either. Which a lot of you said is normal around 4 mos of age.

I will also try beer and oatmeal. Thanks again for all the great advice.

coasterqueen replied: Yes, it is VERY normal not to feel letdown after so long of nursing. For some that's earlier than for others. It's especially a different feeling if you had a "painful" letdown before and now you don't. That happened to me and it freaked me out! I thought something went wrong. I can't remember when I stopped feeling it but what's weird is I hadn't felt it for a VERY LONG time and now all of a sudden I'm feeling it again.

jen replied: I am glad I read all these posts! I thought my supply was diminishing because I wasn't looking like Anna Nicole right before every feeding, but I feel a lot better now!!! Maddy hasn't complained about not getting enough! i guess it is true that your body adjusts because I don't feel anything as far as let down goes anymore but she is swallowing something! LOL!

Kaitlin'smom replied: Glad things are going well and you got some great advice. I only once or twice fell the fullenss and the let down, so you can imagine I always wondered if she was getting enough. I ate otmeal for breakfast when I was nursing and that helped me. Keep up the good work and you have tons of help and support here.