Milk running low? fenugreek?

[Impatient]

Hi,
I have a 2mth old baby and I'm thinking that my breastmilk is starting to run out. About 3 weeks ago I would only 'let down' maybe once a day, my boobs felt really soft all the time & she kept pulling off the boob over minute or two & would just keep crying. I went to the doctors and they put me on motilium and I found that it did work but when she had her 2 mth vac's last Monday she didn't take it very well & was rather sick. She went totally off the boob and the doc said it's normal when there sick as they get lazy cause breastfeeding is so much harder for them than the bottle. But now I'm back to where I was a few weeks ago (it may not be from her not want the boob, it may just be life tho).
I'm in two minds, I have read that fenugreek can help and also my mother in law told me to try malt beer. I have no idea where to buy malt beer for a start, so if any one would know that would be great. But I'm a little scared to try the fenugreek or if I should just let it be. Is it healthy to keep trying to force it? Like how many times should I try different things to keep my milk?

Has anyone had the same or similar issues & what did you do?

[BabushkaMumma]

I would give the ABA a call as they will have some good ideas about how to increase supply, but I just read your comment about malt beer, I've also heard people reccommend guiness. Aside from the fact it may go through to the milk. I read that it's a false filler in the fact that it can make your boobs swell but not actually add milk to the supply. The ABA may reccommend a few thugs like expressing or switch feeding but I'd give the ABA a go first maybe?? Hope your able to get some answers!!! Xxxx

[headoverfeet]

sounds like you could use the advice of an ABA Councillor 1800 mum 2 mum or maybe a lactation consultant.

As for your question about forcing it and trying different things, only you can really answer that, just remember that it is very hard to renege on weaning so don't make that decision lightly. Once again probably best to speak to an ABA councillor

[JabberJaw]

Sounds like breastfeeding is established, so i would not worry to much about feeling let down nor feeling like breasts are full as those things do subside (with alot of people) once breastfeeding is established.

The best way to gage if you are supplying bub with enough milk is firstly nappies....as long as bub still has plenty of wet nappies, then you are giving her enough and secondly is she gaining weight.

Supply = Demand, so feed bub as she needs it.

Less than 2% of women who breastfeed actually run out of milk, so the chances are pretty slim.

Make sure you have plenty of fluids yourself.

Lots of mums give up because they believe they have supply issues, but infact its just that your breasts are supplying adequate amounts so never get to the 'full' stage, and let down disappears, and may possibly re appear later (different to previously)

You might notice when bub has a growth spurt, and is at the breast all day, that the days following, you will again have that full feeling, which will settle down till next growth spurt.

The other thing is, lots of babies fuss when mum gets there period back. My DD is 2.5, still breastfeed and STILL fusses 1-2 days before i get mine.

[lambjam]

With regard to the beer, you can buy brewer's yeast from the health food shop. Any benefits to be found in beer will be found in a smoothie or cookies made using the yeast, and you don't have to worry about the alcohol. (Note, it must be brewer's yeast, not regular yeast!)

When I was trying to increase supply I was taking fenugreek, blessed thistle, and making smoothies with milk, oats, honey, brewer's yeast and a bit of drinking chocolate. TBH I didn't see much improvement in my supply until my dr prescribed Maxalon, after which I was all set.

HTH

[JabberJaw]

Brewers yeast and flaxseed meal in a smoothie would work great.

There is a lactation boosting cookies sticky in the BF section. But the ingredients that promote milk are oats, flaxseed meal and brewers yeast, so anything you make using 1,2 or 3 of those might help.

[lambjam]

Oops, I forgot flaxseed meal, I used that too! I started with the lactation cookie recipe, figured it was far too high in calories to be good for my butt, and put the key ingredients into a smoothie instead

[JabberJaw]

You could also goggle LACTOGENIC FOODS, they are foods that make the nice fatty filling milk for bub.

Raw peanuts are one of those foods, but best avoided if you have a history of peanut allergies. I am still munching them .

[Impatient]

Thanks for everyone’s ideas and suggestions, it was really helpful.
JabberJaw in your first post you mentioned that it's common to stop 'letting down' or your boobs feeling full & my husband was nice enough to google any info for me this morning & he actually came across the same thing on some website. It has made me feel a little better about my supply.
But I have found the recipe for the cookies so I think I might give them a go and see what happens. Off I go to the shops this afternoon.

[JabberJaw]

Thanks for everyone’s ideas and suggestions, it was really helpful.
JabberJaw in your first post you mentioned that it's common to stop 'letting down' or your boobs feeling full & my husband was nice enough to google any info for me this morning & he actually came across the same thing on some website. It has made me feel a little better about my supply.
But I have found the recipe for the cookies so I think I might give them a go and see what happens. Off I go to the shops this afternoon.

With DD 4 i only had let down for a really short time and did worry also because with first DD i had it for ages (well it felt like ages) now very rarely i get this horrid itch under my arm thats let down, but as i said its really rare and only happens if bub has missed a few feeds for the day (she is over 2!)

Dont doubt yourself Like i said the best way to work out if bub is getting enough is by the wet nappies per day, if they suddenly drop and bub is feeding as normal, thats when i would worry.

Prepare for the next growth spurt! You may feel let down and fullness again for a while, but it will also subside again.