Supply problems, thinking about quitting

[mrshal07]

Hi all! My name is Carolyn and I used to be a lurker. My little boy was born October 30. We did great the first 6 weeks of exclusive breastfeeding, then the paid started. Turns out I had thrush. My doctor gave me some medicine and said to pump to give my breasts time to heal. I pumped for a week and my supply was still great. I tried to get him back to the breast and he really resisted, so I kept pumping and bottle-feeding. Now, my supply has dropped off, where I barely pump an ounce a day! I want to get back to breastfeeding but I'm not sure how to start or if it is even possible. I really wanted to make it to 6 months and feel like a complete failure. He will take the breast sometimes but usually pulls away pretty quickly. Any advice? Thanks!

[ashanne88]

First, you are not a failure - no matter how you do it, if you are feeding your child you are doing great. Second, I am so sorry you got thrush!

Have you been to a lactation consultant? If not, I would definitely go ASAP. They can watch a feeding to evaluate what the problem might be. In terms of supply there are lots of things you can do to try to up it - fenugreek, mothers milk tea, oatmeal, lactation cookies, lots and lots and lots of water.

I am so sorry you are going through this. I wish I had more advice for you.

[iloverunning]

Ditto PP. What kind of pump are you using? If you aren't already, I would suggest renting a hospital grade pump.

[theresat858]

If you want to get your supply back, you likely can, but it will be a lot of work. Is your baby nursing at all?

I'm sorry that you got the terrible advice to pump while recovering from thrush, because most women don't respond as well to the pump as to baby, and that's a surefire way to tank your supply (as well as making it harder to recover from thrush because of having to sanitize all the parts every time).

To get your supply back, assuming baby is not nursing at all, you will want to pump at least every 2 hours during the day and every 3 hours at night with a rented hospital grade pump. pump for 20 minutes every time. Use breast compressions to help. Do lots of skin to skin with baby and get him to nurse if you can - even just latching on for a few seconds can help with your milk ejection reflex.

[ellabee]

Be kind to yourself! I'm so sorry you are struggling with your supply. It sounds like you've been through a lot and are just trying to do your best for your LO.

You've gotten some great suggestions from pp. You can also try power pumping to increase supply. That simulates nursing during a growth spurt and can help boost production.

[flcl]

You sound like you've been working really hard to feed your LO...you had some pretty big challenges. Just wanted to echo PPs to meet witha LC, get back onto a regular pumping schedule, lots of skin on skin time with LO and take good care of yourself. Best of luck!

[sweetpeabee]

I agree with PPs. Meet with a LC, increase how often you are pumping/BFing. You need to stimulate your body to produce more milk and adding pumping/BFing sessions will help do this. A hospital grade pump will help.

Make sure you are getting enough calories and drinking enough fluids--making milk is hard work and your body needs energy to make it happen! I have had decent luck with Mother's Milk Tea, but I think most of that is just the fact that I have significantly upped my fluid intake. There are some herbs and supplements that can help support or increase supply, but check with a lactation consultant before taking anything new.

Most importantly, take care of yourself. You are doing a great job taking care of your baby!

[lavwana]

What bottle are you using for baby? The nipple might be letting him eat so quickly that he doesn't want to do the work at the breast. Maybe massage the breast and try to get the letdown to start before putting him on, if that's possible. He can get more out of the breast than the pump. Put him skin to skin as much as possible too, even if he's not nursing to help increase the supply.