Where did my milk go?

[AquaDementia]

I've had to pause BF because I was on some meds for a few days and Mia has been on formula for those days.

I usually pumped when my milk would come in, but for the past 3 days there is so little coming out with the pump and when she eats as well.

Could it be because I am not eating much? My appetite is M.I.A. and I cannot force myself to eat. I am confused.

 

[missjess]

Did you keep pumping while you stop breastfeeding her? Like pumping and throwing the milk away?

Sorry your milk isn't coming... I've stopped the breastmilk feeding now. I could never produce more than 6-8 onz a day and Josh would go nuts when I would try to BF as he would be so hugry.

 

[mickey]

try to let her suck as much as possible to stimulate your milk production again!

it is not that you are not eating enough, your bady will have storage (that's why woman have hips ) to produce milk!

when only pumping milk dries up sooner, I heard!

good luck

 

[mickey]

as well, did you check with doc regarding milk and medicine?

some medication can dry up milk!

 

[Margerle]

try to let her suck as much as possible to stimulate your milk production again!

it is not that you are not eating enough, your bady will have storage (that's why woman have hips ) to produce milk!

when only pumping milk dries up sooner, I heard!

good luck

YES.

Drink lots of water, get that baby on your breast, and lay skin to skin with her. That's one of the best and most 'forceful' ways you are going to get that milk production up. Pumps are great when absolutely necessary, but a lot of women end up having trouble with them. Wonky let down, or lack of milk when milk production equalizes.

I know a lot of women who breastfeed, have had to use a pump because of antibiotics or going away for a few nights, and couldn't get but an ounce or two... they knew that was crazy since they were exclusively breastfeeding a 4 month old child!

You can get the natural supplement fenugreek, and that's awesome at helping milk come in. Make a strong tea or add it to oatmeal. (Oatmeal is good milk stimulant too - as is guiness or ale.)

You can try a little bit of everything to get it back, but your best bet is to allow MIA to bring that milk back in.

good luck!

 

[mickey]

YES.

... is good milk stimulant too - as is guiness or ale.)

sorry off topic, but do you actually mean alcoholic beer and ale?

always thought, best to avoid alcohol whilst bf?

 

[Margerle]

Its' the hops in it that is supposedly helpful, and it is one beer per day as needed, not necessarily every day.

 

[goldlion]

Beer certainly does work. I wasn't producing enough milk for Aspen and my mom kept telling me to drink a beer and I refused and refused-- eventually I gave in and it really did help me to produce more milk. She said when she gave birth to us, they actually encouraged women to bring in a beer to stimulate milk production (in a hospital run by nuns!).

And like the other women said-- WATER! Drink tons and tons. Have a glass or bottle on hand while BFing as well.

You can also try eating leafy greens, they're supposed to help with production as well. I ate tons at the beginning to try to get more milk and to be quite honest I'm not sure if they had anything to do with it but I did produce more milk.

Try massaging your breasts too.. its supposed to imitate your baby kneading on your breasts and helps with letting down.

Last but not least, have her suck and suck and suck... even if nothing is there. Nothing will stimulate the production of milk better than your little one sucking.

Good luck Aqua! Soon enough you'll be producing tons once again.

 

[goldlion]

How is it going now Aqua?

 

[AquaDementia]

Well, it's not going so well I am afraid. My breasts are very soft and empty despite the fenugreek that I have been taking. I have also been letting Mia suck but she gets very irritated when nothing comes out.

I am gonna continue using fenugreek, drinking water, letting her suck and pumping. The funny thing is that I used to be able to pump out quite a bit, but now even that has gone to the crapper.

Mia has been on formula for the past 6 days. I am sort of bummed out.

 

[Margerle]

Aqua, your breasts won't always feel full. Have you contacted a lactation consultant?

After your month of feeding your breasts should have regulated nicely and you should have found that they seemed almost normal a lot of the time.

This shouldn't have hindered production. More milk is 'called to be made' when the breast has been emptied the last time.

I'm a little frustrated with all the promotion of pumping that I've found in my day to day life, it seems like it's being promoted a lot by healthcare professionals etc., but I've heard numerous cases where pumping fails.

With DD#1 I had overactive letdown (I expect that with this one too)... I just absolutely gushed when I fed her. But the moment I had to pump, I literally clammed up and couldn't get but a few ounces. No matter what I did, I couldn't get nearly the amount I knew she was getting in a feed.

As an aside, I used to 'capture' the milk from the opposite breast as I fed and it let down instead of pumping because of the problems I had with pumping.

I actually thought there was something wrong with me in that I couldn't pump at all... but my daughters pediatrician assured me that as long as the diapers/day was fine, and she was doing well (if we weren't in a growth spurt), I was making exactly what she needed.

Babies have growth spurts at 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months. So those early weeks have a lot of growing and breast feeding/production adjustments in them. IOW just about the time you think you have it figured out, she starts acting unsettled and needy. Hang in there, let her suck, (I'd blow off pumping, but that's me) and let her get your production back up to snuff. She's not going to starve.

Good luck, and remember no matter what if it doesn't work out, you did your best.

Get her on your breast.
Contact a lactation consultant.
Slow down (or stop) the formula supplements.
Keep up with the production increasing supplements etc.
Don't beat yourself up.

 

[AquaDementia]

Thanks Marge.

Well, it is very true they promote pumping in hospitals. I had to rent a pump the first day I was there because the nurse said that would be the only way to get the milk out.

I will def keep at it. Thanks for the kind advice.

 

[mickey]

With DD#1 I had overactive letdown (I expect that with this one too)... I just absolutely gushed when I fed her. But the moment I had to pump, I literally clammed up and couldn't get but a few ounces. No matter what I did, I couldn't get nearly the amount I knew she was getting in a feed.

I also couldn't pump, but when she latched on milk came like Niagara falls. she often got irritated on the breast 'cos of this!
before I heard about the let down reflex, I always thought there is something wrong with the taste of my milk and she doesn't like it!

but as Margerle says, if nappies are wet and soiled they get enough.

good luck