5 months in, whats happened to my milk and let-down??

[Rebecca_B]

Hi ladies,

I might be stressing a bit prematurely but two things have happened which are worrying me and not sure what to do...

I express during day and bf at night , have done since 6 wks.

Charlie has been 4 hrly for about 3 wks now feeding 7am 11am 3pm 7pm and a10pm dreamfeed. He has whatever he wants during the night on the breast.

I express between 6-7 ounces every 4 hrs which charlie will drink the majority of.

Today i went to express at 11.30am and i could only get 4 oz.

I topped this up 3 hrs later and doubled it. which i gave at his 3pm feed.

i expressed again at 6.30 and again it is short of my normal amount by 2 oz.

What is going on????

Also, i have noticed recently that my let down sensation seems to take quite a while. It happens when expressing and when Charlie latches at night.

It was a good 15 seconds before the milk came down last when charlie went on this morning. If you count it out it is a long time when baby is sucking.

What is going on?

Im due to pump again at 10.30 and im stressing about not having the amount i need for the dreamfeed.

 

[bekkie]

have you had your period yet since giving birth? I had my first one around 5 months and my milk supply dropped to almost nothing a few days before and after it started and then it returned to normal. I was told by my doctor to take calcium and magnesium supplements to help prevent it from happening and it seems to be working.

That may not be the issue but thought I'd toss it out there

 

[Rebecca_B]

No not had period yet, no signs either.....

I expressed at 10.30pm and only had 3oz between the two boobs!!!

I set my alarm for 1am to pump then to signal boobs to produce more, as charlie usually will sleep till 3-4am before wanting any.

i got 4 oz at 1am and 4oz on one side at 7.30 bfed the other side.

dont know whats going on!!!!!!!!!

wonder what 11am pumping will produce.

hope it isnt my period, what shall i do about suppy???

 

[-Linn-]

you could see your gp and ask for domperidone, this happened to my friend when she got her 1st period, she started on domperidone and has had plenty more milk since!

 

[bekkie]

Try not to stress about it as stress can affect your supply and just keep up with expressing as much as possible. I'm not a fan of medication so I wouldn't jump to domperidone right off the bat, calcium and magnesium supplements worked for me, Fenugreek has shown to work well also.

 

[Rebecca_B]

Aren't their side effects to taking domperidone?

I dont knoe enough about it to be happy about asking gp for it, thats if my gp would even prescribe.

i havent produced what i normally would today and have had to use some stores i have in the freezer, but will continue to pump 3 hrly and during the night to try and increase my output. Fenugreek in med cabinet so will start that again.

Not sure about the delay in let down reflex though, most odd.

Thank u ladies who replied. xxxxxxx

 

[-Linn-]

trying alternatives first is better but my friend who had hardly any milk one day and had to supllement with formula is now fully bf again, she said there were no side effects! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domperidone my LO is on it as well for reflux and doesn't seem to have any side effects!

 

[Mummy Vikki]

I had this myself just over a week ago. I usually pump in the morning and get between 8-9oz and then 1 hour before every feed and get 5oz but last week I struggled to get 5oz in the morning and 3oz every feed after that - I even had to give LO formula as I could not keep up with her demand.

I have been drinking 2 cans of non-alcoholic beer a night and drinking fennell tea and for the past 2 mornings and it seems to have done the trick, I am getting 10oz of a morning and 6oz at every feed.

I tried guinness (as suggested by HV) but did not like feeling tipsy when taking care of the LO so tried the beer instead.

Might be worth trying this - I now have about 24 cans in my fridge and will be drinking this for the forseeable future

Give it a try

x x x x