major difficulties - milk supply decreased. Has this happened to anyone?

[Freya]

Hey all,

Absolutely gutted as I cant believe this is happening

As of Thursday last week Gracie became frustrated during one of her feeds, after a couple of let down reflexes had occurred. She kept bobbing on and off the boob getting more and more cross. I switched sides, and she was content with the 1st two let downs and then got agitated again. I admit I could hear her sucking, but there didn't seem 'a lot' of milk, although when I squeezed a little to see, there was milk there.

The rest of the feeds went as normal. HOwever, as the days have progressed she has become 'fussy' at more feeds, so I have had to top her up with formula.

I dont know why this is happening 4+ months in?????? It's not thrush, wind, or getting distracted.

I am extremely exhausted (17 weeks on and STILL waking for 3/4 night feeds) and not eating as well as I should - but this isn't new and never affected feeding before.

do you think she is craving the fast flow of bottles? (She's had one FF a day at night, but never been nipple confused). It's like she wont work hard for the next 'let down'.

I know introducing FF will now affect supply, but I ony top her up after she feeds as much as she can/wants from me. I literally have no choice as she wont persist on the breast.

Is it her naturally telling me she 'wants off' or needs more vitamins from another source? It's really crushing to know that my time is up before I planned

xxx

 

[1st_baby]

Sounds like the problem I had with my son !

For us it was brought down to him being tongue tied but even after some practice I just didn't have enough milk for him ..for the first 3 months I had major let downs and he chocked every time then at 4 months its stopped

I know that stress and not drinking enough water can effect the supply of milk .so maybe try drinking more ..also eating oatmeal helps your milk . Dont feel bad about formula for top ups ..you need a break too hun

 

[Mervs Mum]

Sounds like the problem I had with my son !

For us it was brought down to him being tongue tied but even after some practice I just didn't have enough milk for him ..for the first 3 months I had major let downs and he chocked every time then at 4 months its stopped

I know that stress and not drinking enough water can effect the supply of milk .so maybe try drinking more ..also eating oatmeal helps your milk . Dont feel bad about formula for top ups ..you need a break too hun

Firstly dont ever feel bad about anything - you're doing a great job - there is no right or wrong way - no 'rules'.

Yeah - 1st Baby is right, it could be stress and the fact you're not always eating right from what you said. Try not to focus on what you think is going on in your boobs - it's very rare for there to be no milk in there at all, regardless of what you can squeeze out etc.

She's very young BUT babies are very clever too - I wonder if she's worked out that if she kicks off enough, she wont have to work as hard for her food....ie. she will get a bottle which as you know is easier for her. What I dont think is that she's telling you she wants a different type of food. She wants milk be it mummy milk or formula.

So it all really depends on you honey. If you really want to you can over some this but you know it's gonna take serious determination and that's easy to say but not always easy to sum up when you are bloody knackered!

If you want support to keep going then we're here for you and if you need the reassurance of topping up then we will still be here if we can help on that side too. xx

 

[Freya]

Sounds like the problem I had with my son !

For us it was brought down to him being tongue tied but even after some practice I just didn't have enough milk for him ..for the first 3 months I had major let downs and he chocked every time then at 4 months its stopped

I know that stress and not drinking enough water can effect the supply of milk .so maybe try drinking more ..also eating oatmeal helps your milk . Dont feel bad about formula for top ups ..you need a break too hun

thanks for reply. Sadly nothing I do seems to make a diffr=erence now and have come to terms with ff's more. Clerarly something has gine on with me... or Gracie and I have to adapt. I think myself lucky, and priviliged to have made it this far!

xxx

 

[kateqpr]

It might not be that your milk supply is low you know, as you say there is milk there when you check yourself. I've been worried about the same thing, and had a look at the kellymom website on breastfeeding, and there is a whole section on this, and how you know your milk supply is actually fine, despite various other factors we worry about (ie fussy, boobs being lighter etc)

Have a look at that and it may reassure you. Here's the link https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html

 

[Freya]

Firstly dont ever feel bad about anything - you're doing a great job - there is no right or wrong way - no 'rules'.

Yeah - 1st Baby is right, it could be stress and the fact you're not always eating right from what you said. Try not to focus on what you think is going on in your boobs - it's very rare for there to be no milk in there at all, regardless of what you can squeeze out etc.

She's very young BUT babies are very clever too - I wonder if she's worked out that if she kicks off enough, she wont have to work as hard for her food....ie. she will get a bottle which as you know is easier for her. What I dont think is that she's telling you she wants a different type of food. She wants milk be it mummy milk or formula.

So it all really depends on you honey. If you really want to you can over some this but you know it's gonna take serious determination and that's easy to say but not always easy to sum up when you are bloody knackered!

If you want support to keep going then we're here for you and if you need the reassurance of topping up then we will still be here if we can help on that side too. xx

You are always there for us when we have wobbly moments or in need of advice! Thanks so much .

I never thought of Gracie learning she could get the bottle if she 'sounded off', I thought she was too young but... yes, I think she definitely now knows this! I spent the morning in bed with her yesterday, trying to get the skin 2 skin contact to encourage her to fully feed from me.... but sadly the same behaviour happened. I didn't rush for the bottle (I figured she wasn't going to starve to death for a few hours), but she insisted on only stopping on for the 1st couple of let downs, each side!! Boo. She received ff top ups for rest of day.

However..... she still wanted mummy's milk for last feed of the night, to get snuggly and ready for sleep.... AND she feeds from me with no issue during the night. SO, perhaps this is now our compromise? I hope my milk will sustain her with this and not dry up with no day drainage!!

Tis a sad, sad feeling, but if Gracie is happy, i'm happy

 

[Freya]

It might not be that your milk supply is low you know, as you say there is milk there when you check yourself. I've been worried about the same thing, and had a look at the kellymom website on breastfeeding, and there is a whole section on this, and how you know your milk supply is actually fine, despite various other factors we worry about (ie fussy, boobs being lighter etc)

Have a look at that and it may reassure you. Here's the link https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html

Ooooo. I'm off to have a look! Thanks for the link!!!

 

[Mervs Mum]

Tis a sad, sad feeling, but if Gracie is happy, i'm happy

.....and this, my darling, is all that really matters.

 

[alice&bump]

i lost my supply recently. i dont want to discourage you from BF, but i've switched to FF and katie is so much happier! she stopped putting on weight, she's only 14lb1 now and she was always on the 95th centile for weight. i wanted to keep a BF for bedtime, but it just really wsnt happening for us and i'd rather she was happy and healthy!

basically what i'm trying to say is dont feel bad if you have to FF. i felt so guilty and like i'd let katie down, but now i couldnt be happier because i've got my happy smiley baby back! we've given them the best we can for the first 4-5 months of their life and now we just have to keep making them happy in any way we can xx

 

[Brockie]

def dont get upset about it honey, you have done a fab job and given her a fantastic start so be proud xx

as others have said try drinking more fluids i really think this helps and if you have to move onto formula then like you have said if your little girl is contented after a feed - boob or bottle- then thats all that matters xxx

good luck x

 

[Freya]

Thanks for your words Alice&bump and Brockie!! I definitely feel grateful for making it this far!!! I will drink loads of fluids, eat better and hopefully she'll still want at least one or two feeds from me a day.... Yes, for me, but also because I'm a ittle worried about how much FF she has been guzzling and the impact on her digestive system!!!

xxxx

 

[ani]

I went through a similar patch around 3-4 months when it felt like my supply just wasn't enough. I did have some stress around that time, but even when i felt more relaxed, it stayed the same. This went on for maybe 3 weeks or so? I just kept BFing anyhow, and tried to pump whenever I could to stimulate a better supply. It was quite frustrating pumping, though, as almost nothing was coming out! I started taking fenugreek capsules and I felt it really made a difference. Or maybe it was just that around that time my body readjusted anyhow. But whatever it was, the good news is that my milk came back with more volume than even before! So stay strong, keep trying, and hope it works out for you.

 

[Pyrrhic]

This is exactly what I'm going through just now I've found that topping up just causes more problems, so I'm trying to stick it out. It's hard though, as Niamh will just scream and scream and not try to feed at all sometimes.

 

[Freya]

This is exactly what I'm going through just now I've found that topping up just causes more problems, so I'm trying to stick it out. It's hard though, as Niamh will just scream and scream and not try to feed at all sometimes.

Hiya, can I ask how you and Niamh have been getting on with your bf? Reading through the posts it does seem we have been facing similar problems! I am wondering if my situation is something called a 'nursing strike'? It was just so unexpected and random. She will feed from me during the night when she is asleep/sleepy, the morning feed before we get up properly, and if I'm VERY lucky a afternoon feed (but if she's wide awake she will grumble and not stay on even though my boobs are so full of milk it hurts!!!).

From what I have read about nursing strikes, they can be overcome with persistance!! But, I never have been able to express milk, so sadly for me formula is my only option!!!! Such a strange situation, wish I knew what happened!

Good luck with your bf, fingers crossed things will go back to the way they were!
xxx