I had low supply the 1st time. What should I expect for 2nd baby?

[Limabean1975]

Title says it all, here's some details:

LOw supply issues with first babe. I can't recall the numbers, but he lost too much of his birthweight and took too long to gain it back.
Never supplemented, got through it all with all the usual techniques: lots and lots of nursing, herbs (fenugreek, blessed thistle), pumping, ultimately domperidone.

Now he is 3 years old and still nursing, but one thing makes me nervous: I have no milk right now. I am 21 weeks pregnant; my supply has been completely gone for about 6 weeks now. I know this is normal & to be expected. My 3 -year-old does not mind - still comfort nurses.

I'm just nervous about supply issues again when this baby is born. Will my body know what to do this time? Will the assistance of my 3-year-old help things along? Should I get an Rx of domperidone just to have on hand so I don't have to go through the stress of trying to get someone to prescribe it when it's urgent?


I'd appreciate hearing others' experiences, etc.

Thanks!

[leigh09]

I had low supply with both 1 & 2, but a much better supply with my second child. The theory is all that work you put into nursing and building a supply with baby 1 helps build mammary tissue for the second time around. I did exclusively nurse baby 2, but with the help of domperidone, herbs, breast compressions, and frequent, frequent feeds.

We are ttc #3 and I have been finding a lot of new information in the books "Making More Milk", "Mother Food for Breastfeeding Mothers", and the internet site "Mothers overcoming Breastfeeding Issues (MOBI)" on low milk supply and things you can even start during pregnancy to help build your milk supply for baby. I thought I knew it all after two low milk supply babies, these books and websites are definately proving me wrong. MOBI also has an email support group you can request to join, many of the moms are also working through low supply issues.

[Limabean1975]

Thank you, leigh! I will definitely be looking for those books and at that site. Now that you mention it, I think my sister was on that site - she had worse problems than I and had to supplement with formula from day 5 through till introducing milk at one year. (And before anyone says formula sabotaged her bfing, know that she truly was one of the rare cases that cannot produce enough to keep a baby alive. Jack Newman told her to use formula. If you know anything about Jack Newman, you'll know that means it was very serious indeed).
I mean, I feel pretty confident that things will be better this time, but I want to be prepared. I was so blindsided by it all last time and it was so difficult.

[thepeach80]

I'm working on supply as well via Making More Milk and the MOBI site. I'm alternating herbs and will keep on them after birth (maybe adding different ones) and start pumping ASAP. Your 3yo could act as your pump though. For me, we're trying to tell my body I gave birth to twins in those first few wks and see if I can get up my supply and keep it. W/ Ilana's growth pattern, we think I had enough at least for a few wks, maybe 6, but then it was gone. She did have some problems so we're hoping to get past it and ebf this one.

[Limabean1975]

Wow thepeach, sounds like that will be alot of work for you- but I know it's so worth it. I guess that's kind of what I did with DS, since I was pumping after every nursing session!

[[e-mail]]

Thanks for the thread. I was just going to post almost the exact same question about low supply and what to do about the next baby, but now I don't have to. I had low supply with my first as well. I tried herbs, pumping and Reglan to no avail and had to supplement the whole time. It broke my heart but nothing worked. After 2 weeks of pumping 8x a day with a hospital grade pump I still only got a half ounce from each breast. My LC didn't know if it was insufficient glandular tissue or what. I am 24 weeks pregnant now and so nervous about the next baby. I want so badly to be able to EBF this time. I hope it is possible.

Thanks for the links ladies I am going to look into the books. BTW. Where do you get domperidone. I hear it works better than Reglan with less side effects. I thought it wasn't FDA approved in the US.

[Limabean1975]

I'm in Canada, so domperidone was easy to get prescribed. There is a way to get it in the U.S., I know I've heard about it on these boards. Hopefully someone answers you here - if not, start a thread.
I never tried Reglan but have heard over and over that domperidone is much better.

[boobybunny]

Have you been tested for thyroid issues?

I have always had supply issues, the whole.. too much lost, gaining too slow, my last child even failed to thrive. (baby number three) My second child failed to gain fast enough, but we had a GREAT PED who was super supportive.

With Thyriod support, herbs, a hospital pump and a super supportive hubby, Jack, the youngest breast fed exclusively (with the exception of that first week of formula in the SNS) for 9 months, and then has only recently gave up the ghost just past his 4th birthday.


Good for you that you are thinking ahead. After my second nursed until she was 17 months, I assumed we would be fine the last time. I wish I had been proactive from the start.

The good news, my LC was thrilled about how well my body responded. She claimed it was my daughter nursing a well and as long as she did.


BTW...just a funny.. It has been six months since I had any milk, our neighbor and former babysitter had a baby... and I relacted with no "help". I have an Aunt who relacted 30 years after her children nursed when she started helping with Jack and her neighbor's twins, I can not imagine what she will be like when her kids have kids.

[Limabean1975]

No, I have not been tested for thyroid issues. I should keep that in mind. But considering I *did* eventually get enough supply (and did not have to supplement), my case is probably not bad enough to warrant deeper investigation. My sister, on the other hand - I wonder if she has heard about the thyroid being a potential culprit.

I've heard stories of spontaneous relactation - but 30 years!?!? WOW!!

[spu]

hi mama,

congrats on nursing our 3 yo and nursing while pg!

I'm on baby #4 and tandem nursing him (he'll be 1 in 2 weeks) along with his 2 yo brother. I nursed my twins for 3 years. I had all the supply issues you can imagine with the twins... so I can relate to your concerns of nursing a toddler, nursing while pg, and supply issues.

A few things that may help ease your concerns:

With first babies, it can take a good 4-5 days before your milk comes in. If you have meds during labor, if your babe is born early, or if you are induced, it can take even longer.

When baby #2 comes along, your milk generally comes in quicker, esp. if you're nursing currently. Again, any meds during labor (esp. induction stuff) can cause a slight delay in milk coming in.

All babies will seem calm for the first 12 hours or so after birth, since they're full from placenta feeding. Then, they'll scream like crazy, get frustrated, you name it - until the satisfying hind milk comes in. In the meantime, they're getting that wonderful colostrum - not filling, mind you, but most incredibly amazing for their little bodies. So it's during this stage that you'll need extra patience and tolerance (and resistance to hospital nurses wanting to supplement...).

Since you're already having nipple stimulation from your nursing toddler, there's a very very good chance that your milk with your new babe will come in much quicker. There may still be a pound of weight lost, which is normal (10% +/-)... but keep the new babe latched on round the clock and before you know it, your 3 year old will be your best friend for relieving all the engorgement and your new babe will be nursing like crazy.

All the things you tried are great to keep on hand - 6g of fenugreek per day if needed - takes a few days to get things going. ANd the supply/demand issue is perfectly beautiful when tandem nursing. Check out the book "Adventures in Tandem Nursing" when you have a free moment.

Great that you're thinking ahead! I would bet that things should go much smoother for you with baby #2.

susan

[Limabean1975]

Thanks Susan! I had a fully natural birth the first time, so none of those concerns. That's the plan for this time too.
I do have Adventures in Tandem Nursing, it's a great book!