Are You Losing Your Supply?

[Seekrit]

Often women feel they're losing their breastmilk supply and switch their bubs to formula, regretting the decision. This is a thread for help and support.

I've noticed this a lot on the hub and thought maybe a thread would help someone who doesn't know where to look for help.

Experienced Breastfeeders, please feel free to add to this

Please, however, seek the help of a lactation consultant if you really feel something is amiss, I'm not a doctor, an LC or an ABA counsellors. Breastfeeding is simply a passion of mine and I wish to help others who want the help.

Common Issues which may bring thoughts of "Lack Of Supply".

I can't express a drop!!
Lots of women can't!! My SIL breastfed her three babies and could never express! Her youngest was exclusively breastfed until 11 months and not a drop was able to be extracted!
In the early days some women think their milk hasn't come in as they're unable to express very much - remember that your bub doesn't have a very big stomach.

I had no milk when he was born
For the first 3-5 days (on average, can be up to 14 days) the breasts leak colostrum. Don't discount this as it's liquid gold!! Colostrum is one of the best things for your baby in those early days. Milk generally won't "come in" until day 3-5 and until then Colostrum is the way to go. If your baby is still hungry after a feed, keep going! Keep feeding him - again the suckling tells your body how much milk to produce and when! (our bodies are great!!)

I don't feel full anymore
I remember freaking out about this. My boobs suddenly returned to being normal boobs! I wasn't engorged, they weren't *as* huge and they actually felt like boobs! While I freaked out, you don't have to - this is normal!! It was described to me as something great as my body is working exactly as needed - it knows how much milk, it knows when, so they don't need to be big hard rocks - the milk is still there if bubby has a feed a bit earlier, but.. gosh it's nice to take the bra off and not walk around with boulders clanging together!

I used to leak, and now I don't!
Another rejoice! Again your body knowing the whens and the whys! I think I threw my breastpads out at 8 weeks!
Let down now occurs when I'm feeding my bub, not when I think about it and again - this is all normal boobie behaviours.

My baby won't stop eating!!
Never fear! Growth Spurts are here!
Babies typically go through a few spurts in their first couple of weeks, then at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 4 months, 6 months and 12 months. Growth spurts are designed to do the suckling thing - supply-on-demand. The more often you feed your bub, the more milk your body will produce! We're amazing!
My advice for this time in our lives is to set up on the couch, have the water and the remote nearby and just enjoy the cuddles.
Remember, however, your baby can't read books, some growth spurts come before the nominated times, and some after. Don't stress and remember she's working with you to get what's needed!

I'll add more to this post as I think of things. I hope it helps just one person.
And remember a lot of this is anecdotal advice, and advice given to me when I was freaking out Should not stand in the way of a LC or any other boobie-expert!

[cheekypossum]

I am a breastfeeding mum and know a lot of people who have this fear...

Just wanted to say this is a great idea

[meme]

great idea for a thread.

knowing some of the things that can indicate adequate milk intake may be reassuring for new mothers;
-wet nappies and bowel motions. in an exclusively breastfed baby about 6-8 wet cloth nappies or 5 heavily wet disposables over 24hrs is a good guide. bowel motions start with the meconium at first and then change to a mustardy or pumpkin soup consistency, they can be quite frequent in a newborn and in an older breastfed baby can be spaced daaaays apart, as long as the consistency is soft.
- some weight gain or growth in length or head circumference is reassurring, although each baby grows differently and their are many individual factors to take into account when meassurring weight gain and growth ( such as using the same scales, genetic differences between babies, using an appropriate and up to date chart )
- behaviour, some crying is normal in babies and their are many reasons for a baby to cry. it is stressful to listen to your baby crying and i think it is normal to question milk supply as it plays such a crucial role in our kids health and happiness, many feeding problems can be overcome with help and support, so it's worth looking for some if you are dealing with an excessively unsettled baby. www.breastfeeding.asn.au

i also found it reassuring after birth to know that most babies are born with reserves of 'brown fat' this is a reserve of fat to help provide energy in those early days while the milk supply is starting up, natures insurance against a starving baby i think. combined with colostrm most healthy babies will be provided with all the energy they need until the milk supply is up and running.

[Emily 85]

i wish i had seen this thread sooner ! i thought i was loosing supply!i now realise i dont need to panic ! thank you

[Seekrit]

i also found it reassuring after birth to know that most babies are born with reserves of 'brown fat' this is a reserve of fat to help provide energy in those early days while the milk supply is starting up, natures insurance against a starving baby i think. combined with colostrm most healthy babies will be provided with all the energy they need until the milk supply is up and running.

ooo that's interesting!

[loving_life]

I just asked a question about this not long ago and am going through this myself at the moment so thank you so much for posting this! I am topping up ds with formula which I don't like doing at all because he is still screaming for milk after an hour of sucking and he gets overstimulated and cranky at not getting enough milk soon enough. Any suggestions/advice. I would prefer not to give formula and not get used to the bottle. He's only 12 days old so I'm hoping there's hope for me yet?

[meme]

breastfeeding does take some time to establish. so there is hope that things will improve for you.

there are things you can try to boost your milk supply.
contacting the ABA could really help too. search their website for the info sheet on increasing supply.
you'll get lot's of tips on bubhub too. you may find it helps to start a new thread about it aswell.

[Sheer Bliss]

Just wanted to add that my milk didn't come in properly until about day 8 or 9 - I never had that huge engorged feeling, but bubs has been gaining 300-450g per week! I also could only express 5-10mL after a feed in the first month. So I can vouch definately for some of the above!!

Also on days where bubs seems unsettled as if he is not getting enough i increase the amount of water i am drinking (i am naughty and sometimes forget to drink enough). It is amazing how something as simple as re-hydrating yourself can help your supply.

[loving_life]

I've posted a thread but maybe didn't explain myself in it too well. I've contacted ABA and they were brilliant but thought I'd see what others did or experienced and get advice.

I also don't know what to do about breastfeeding at night. I've been waking ds to feed to increase supply but he falls asleep while feeding or sometimes I can't even wake him, he's in such a deep sleep. Do I wake ds for a feed that doesn't go well or do I leave ds to sleep his 5-7 hour block which he does well? I hear of so many parents with problems getting bubs to sleep and having a solid sleep and I'm waking mine who does sleep well.

[Seekrit]

Hi loving_life.
I haven't had experience with this, but I'd say any extra "suckling" time would be great. I often feed my boy in his sleep (Dream feed) to help him sleep longer.

When he was little he had a real problem with falling asleep on the breast, I was informed by a midwife to start stripping him in his sleep as the coolness will stimulate him to wake up. Also playing with his cheek and his feet help.
(He was a winter bub and the midwife assured me that the skin-to-skin would keep him warm)

Regarding your supply, have you looked into Fenugreek (herbal supplement) I took it when my supply was quite low (due to working and getting the flu) and within a day my boobs felt SO engorged and I was doubling my pumping again!
There's also a great cookie recipe here which really does work! Click Here!! They really do work and they are yummy!

Good luck