Breastfeeding encouragement needed

[SAK]

Guys, I am having such a hard time with Bf this time around. My supply sucks since being sick and this kid just wants to nurse all the time. I'm so much happier when I just give him a freakin bottle. I don't really want to quit because cheap and healthy and bonding and blah blah blah. Plus I did it for my other kids so F deserves breast milk too. But I'm just. So. Tired. 6 years is a long time to do this and I'm so over it.

[rrrrrachel]

What's the hardest part right now? Low supply? Remind me how old your baby is?

[ellie]

Holy cow that's a lot of breastfeeding. You are my idol. I assume you've already mastered nursing in a carrier. That's my only good advice.

[ellie]

Oh wait. Lactation cookies.. Like for supply I guess.. But really I just think cookies make every day better.

[SAK]

No I suck at nursing in a carrier. I'm really good at walking around with him nursing in my arms and tending to everyone else though so I feel ok there

He's only 5 months, so we have a looooong way to go.

The low supply is not helping. For the first half of the day I'm fine but he nurses through nap and then I'm tapped out.
Plus I'm sick of people constantly touching me, but he can't really help that.

[Stringy]

Have you been doing both? Doesn't have to be all or nothing. Hugs. That is a long time!

[MapleMe]

Hugs SAK. You're our superhero.

[brandiewine11]

Someone once told me to never quit on a bad day. I know how hard it is. I have only nursed 1 baby, but its not for the faint of heart. You CAN do it.

Short term, the constant nursing will help rebuild your supply. For me, I actually found that if I need a quick boost, Gatorade works really well. I guess its just easier to drink than water and helps with hydration.

Can you pump and have someone give a bottle every so often so you get a little break? I will make DH give R a bottle at his first night wake-up sometimes and even that little break helps so much.

I hope this is just a temporary bump in the road for you. But if it's really getting you down, then formula is not the end of the world. Your kids need a happy, healthy mom more than anything else. <Hugs>

[linewifekat]

I've fen going through the same thing with being sick and my supply. I started drinking lots of water and Gatorade. We buy the powder at Sam's for my husband and I've been using that. It seems to be helping my supply.

[nanaosaki06]

You can do this SAK. Low supply is an issue, but there are ways of fixing this. There's tons of supplements you can take, but whats going to help the most is to stimulate more production. So, I know he eats all the time right now, but even taking a hand pump for 5 minutes after a nursing session will help to stimulate more milk. As for the supplements there's always fenugreek and goats rue, but there's also More Milk Plus tincture (which is highly recommended by my local IBCLC). Also, oatmeal and water. You can do this, you really can!

[mimsy]

Lactation supplements? Teas, oatmeal, granola? More water?

5 months is a noble stretch.

[mrssarahrenee]

I am only on month 3 of baby 1 but I find it helpful to set goals that are short. Mine right now is six months because 3 more months seems doable. If I think I have another year of working pumping etc I get overwhelmed.

[rrrrrachel]

Are you drinking enough water? When I get really OMG stop touching me I haven't had enough water. Also I had to take sudafed for my ear affliction and I drank milk maid tea and it helped a lot.

[rrrrrachel]

Really six months is such a good milestone because then you can start offering other things!

[DGM]

Can you go to a BF support group? As wonderful as this board is, IRL support could help. The one I attend allows siblings.

[SAK]

Yeah. I'm eating oatmeal all the effin time and drinking gallons of water and the stupid lactation tea. And letting him nurse before and after the bottles.
I know I shouldn't be drinking coffee because of the supply issues but it's seriously the happiest 5 minutes of my morning. I'll quit tomorrow though

And thanks guys.

[halfahippy]

I make a lactation smoothie with a banana, oatmeal, peanut butter, and chocolate almond milk with a little Brewers yeast and flaxseed and a couple ice cubes. I noticed a huge difference in like 2 days. You could probably sub ingredients if you needed to, but it's a great way to get a decent amount of Brewers yeast without tasting it. My supply has always been borderline, but now I feel like it's sufficient if I have a smoothie a day.

[rrrrrachel]

Don't quit the coffee. One cup couldn't be hurting anything and you deserve it. It will only make you resent nursing more.

[violajack]

Creepy internet hugs. I'm only on kid 2 of 3 (hopefully 4) and tandem nursing right now, so I'm trying to imagine how I feel now plus 4 more years and a lot more food restrictions. I get the "OMG get off me" feeling when D's just going forever on a boob N already drained, so I'm guessing some of it is connected to nursing near empty and should get better as you rebuild your supply. I hope it gets better quickly for you.

[freezorburn]

Hang in there! I usually stay off of BF threads because it's just hard to put my head back in that space, since we finally weaned over the summer and we went a lot longer than I wanted to. Six years is a long time! You are a supermom! Just, I hope you can find some moments for yourself in all of this. You need your R&R too, and even with all the things you can proactively do for your supply, if you are sick and tired and depleted then your body can only do so much. Lots of hugs!

[ellebeedub]

(((Hugs!))) SAK, did you ever know that you're my hero?
Seriously, you're doing great. Can you take one day at a time? Or maybe give yourself a reward at/after each feeding? Also, don't quit the coffee. Really.

[things]

Lactation cookies really helped me this time. I've also been drinking the teas and taking supplements. I did the same with my last baby when I had to build a supply and EP. I also took Domperidone. I may order some again soon. Is that an option?

[mimsy]

Jan 15, 2015 19:26:10 GMT -5 SAK said:

Yeah. I'm eating oatmeal all the effin time and drinking gallons of water and the stupid lactation tea. And letting him nurse before and after the bottles.
I know I shouldn't be drinking coffee because of the supply issues but it's seriously the happiest 5 minutes of my morning. I'll quit tomorrow though

And thanks guys.

What about decaf? It's not exactly the same, but it still gets a coffee fix.

[ellebeedub]

I've been on decaf, but I've become a total snob about it... I buy locally-roasted beans, grind enough for one cu ,at a time (using a burr grinder), and brew on my stovetop in a percolator.. It's a process, but SO GOOD.

[Stringy]

Yea I've been drinking half caff or decaf done up TJ style. Not bad at all.

[ovenrack]

Just posting a hug. In internet form. You're awesome.

[meesh]

Jan 15, 2015 19:57:05 GMT -5 mimsy said:

Jan 15, 2015 19:26:10 GMT -5 SAK said:

Yeah. I'm eating oatmeal all the effin time and drinking gallons of water and the stupid lactation tea. And letting him nurse before and after the bottles.
I know I shouldn't be drinking coffee because of the supply issues but it's seriously the happiest 5 minutes of my morning. I'll quit tomorrow though

And thanks guys.

What about decaf? It's not exactly the same, but it still gets a coffee fix.

No. Decaf is crap and chemically decaffeinated and horrible for you

#realcoffeeforever

[unaveragejane]

Sending you a pm if I can figure out how!

[rrrrrachel]

Decaf is delicious and if your get the water method kind not chemically.

[mrshudson]

This might not want to be what you want to hear, but its okay to quit if that's what you need to do. Or at least supplement.
You've stuck it out for 5 months. Sometimes a happy, relaxed, non stressed mom is as good for baby as breastfeeding.

Just don't beat yourself up either way.