I am trying so hard but things are getting worse :( So upset

[SilverWillow]

I don't know what has happened, I had breastfed our daughter for 4 weeks with no problems and she was actually piling on the weight and the HV said she was thriving. But since about Wednesday it has all gone wrong. I started to feel like she wasn't getting enough, now I know this is a growth spurt and I should catch up but it has not happened, instead my supply is reducing. She is sucking and sucking me all day and not getting much, my boobs are empty and sore and I can't even squeeze anything out by hand. Then she got to the point of screaming her head off in hunger on my empty breasts so I had no choice but to give her a bottle, I had to feed her! But I tried to express to counteract the effect of any bottle feed to keep my supply up, but nothing comes out.

I am eating well, taking fenegreek since Saturday, I know the rule is 'supply and demand' and I've been constantly having baby sucking and expressing as much as possible but the amount of milk is pathetic.

I don't know what to do this is killing me I want to feed her so badly and I feel like I am losing my bond with her having to bottle feed her. I can't belive how awful this feels, I feel like someone is ripping my heart out, I know you ladies will understand!

 

[summer rain]

Hun it is your supply regulating; many women cannot express a single drop especially after this point-even many women who have huge babies who gain massive amounts weekly and BF up to a year or more; this sounds like a slightly later '3 week' growth spurt (was your LO a little early perhaps?) and that is actually the worst one in the opinion of many mums, it is normal for your boobs to feel empty at this point as well-for most women they will feel considerably softer from now on. Just keep doing what you're doing and try not to give bottles; this will only prolong the growth spurt. Babies do often act very 'silly' during growth spurts but it is just an instinctive behaviour; they are trying to up your supply for 'future' use and they don't actually need the extra milk your body will start to produce right now; but they know they will need it in the next few weeks so that is why they just keep feeding absolutely constantly. Your boobs are never empty btw; there is always something in there and the more close to empty they are, the fattier and more calorific the milk produced is xx

 

[SilverWillow]

Hun it is your supply regulating; many women cannot express a single drop especially after this point-even many women who have huge babies who gain massive amounts weekly and BF up to a year or more; this sounds like a slightly later '3 week' growth spurt (was your LO a little early perhaps?) and that is actually the worst one in the opinion of many mums, it is normal for your boobs to feel empty at this point as well-for most women they will feel considerably softer from now on. Just keep doing what you're doing and try not to give bottles; this will only prolong the growth spurt. Babies do often act very 'silly' during growth spurts but it is just an instinctive behaviour; they are trying to up your supply for 'future' use and they don't actually need the extra milk your body will start to produce right now; but they know they will need it in the next few weeks so that is why they just keep feeding absolutely constantly. Your boobs are never empty btw; there is always something in there and the more close to empty they are, the fattier and more calorific the milk produced is xx

Thank you, I will keep trying to be positive and go on as I am, I am really trying not to give bottles but yesterday she was literally sucking for ages and then sceaming her head off, then after sucking me for nearly an hour (but I never heard her swallow) she guzzled a whole 4 ounze bottle so was obviously starving hungry! I will definitely not give up though, thank you for your support


Edit: I forgot to say, she wasn't early, she was actually 2 weeks late!

 

[summer rain]

It could be the six week growth spurt early then, babies will guzzle bottles as the very flow of the milk coming out of the bottle means they have to guzzle it-they have no other choice. This reply from a lactation consultant to a mum explains more

https://forums.ivillage.com/t5/Archives/KATHYWITHPP-help-m/m-p/19794533

during growth spurts babies will often suck without swallowing; it is called comfort sucking and they do it to up your supply but they aren't actually hungry at the time xx

 

[summer rain]

and this one

https://kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fussy-evening.html

 

[SilverWillow]

These links are very helpful, thank you! I will really try to stick to the breast! I am feeling much more positive.
I had assumed that when I can pump no more out that baby won't get any either, so I hope this is not the case.

 

[summer rain]

no it isn't otherwise all those ladies who cannot pump anything at all out ever (and there are many ladies like this) would be screwed from day one . I have also read that when you cannot pump anything else out, there will always be 1-2oz more in the breast that only your baby can get out xx

 

[SilverWillow]

no it isn't otherwise all those ladies who cannot pump anything at all out ever (and there are many ladies like this) would be screwed from day one . I have also read that when you cannot pump anything else out, there will always be 1-2oz more in the breast that only your baby can get out xx

Really! Wow, Thankyou

 

[KarenMc]

I agree with the earlier posts, there are very few reasons why your milk would just suddenly disappear. The early growth spurts are a common reason for women to stop bf because they think they are not producing enough.

Reasons for low supply but shouldn't really be all of a sudden are PCOS, breast reduction surgery, boob job where they cut the nipples, retained placenta, low level hormones of pituitary or thyroid problems.

I think that you just need a little more confidence in your bodies ability to produce milk. I know it's hard to watch your baby guzzle 4oz of formula, but remember they have very little control over the flow (kind of like the funnel used at college for drinking hugs amounts of beer, if you stop swallowing you get drowned). It should calm down in a few days, try to get out to a support group or see a bf counselor to keep your mind at ease. The evenings are the worst because you have to cook dinner, get ready for bed, try to relax and all baby wants to do is eat and eat and eat. Luckily for me I lived in the US for a number of years and learnt to eat one-handed which comes in very handy when nursing with the other hand. You gotta eat!

 

[midori1999]

These links are very helpful, thank you! I will really try to stick to the breast! I am feeling much more positive.
I had assumed that when I can pump no more out that baby won't get any either, so I hope this is not the case.

I sometimes (not deliberately) pump before my baby's last feed and pump until nothing else comes out and then some. There's always enough for a full enough feed afterwards for my daughter to sleep a 6 hour or so stretch afterwards and if she pulls of when feedinf her mouth is so full of milk it all dribbles out. So don't worry about there being no milk left after pumping.

 

[Weezie123]

Just to back up what has been said, I have never felt my breasts are full ever, i cant feel let down, and I can't pump a single drop, also my baby did sometimes suck non stop all day, but at 9 weeks my baby had gone from his 3 day old weight of 7lb 11oz to 12lb 4oz. So clearly something is happening in my breasts!. I just relied on nappies to show me all was ok. If something is coming out it's clearly going in!

 

[SilverWillow]

Thanks for your comments everyone, I am feeling much more confident now! Going to stick with this and no more formula!

 

[minties]

Even when I had truck loads of milk and would leak, I never could pump much out.

The first few times I tried, I got 30mls all up from both breasts after about an hour of pumping. Pumping really doesn't indicate that there is or isn't any milk.

Also wanted to wish you good luck.

 

[purplepower]

I never get much pumping and my boobs rarely feel full, my LO has been through plenty of growth spurts and fussed on and off the breast, there were many times when I wanted to reach for the formula but I didn't thanks to the advice from the ladies on here. 5 months later and my LO is doing great. Trust yourself and your body, if your LO is gaining weight and is having plenty of wet nappies then I reckon you are doing fab. Of course it would be much easier if our boobs had a level indicator!

 

[SilverWillow]

Of course it would be much easier if our boobs had a level indicator!

Haha! yes I wish they did! I just want them to feel full all the time like they used to, and they used to practically drown her at every feed.

I have fed her all day and she has been really fussy and seemed hungry and cried every time she came off, but she still has a full looking belly and has done poos and wees and she has now gone down to sleep since 9pm (after not sleeping all day due to feeding ALL the time! But I guess she must have got something!

Thanks so much for your support ladies!