Just need some advice or suggestions

[Envision]

Hi everyone,
It's been forever since I have been on the boards and there is a good chance I could find the answer to this question in the arcives but I am quite busy these days and just don't have the time to search...
My dd is 4 mths old and has been exclusively breastfed.
It seems that a few weeks ago my breasts changed from always feeling full to now most of the time feeling quite "mushy" and soft. I am not worried so much about milk production because she is having normal poops and pees and does not seem lathargic.
We just get to the end of the day and it just seems like at each feeding there is less and less milk and she gets frustrated and starts pulling and trying to suck on my arm (sorry baby...not more outlets...)
My friend and I go to breastfeeding moms group and the nurse there didn't seem to think that there was any solution...but this is getting to be very frustrating for both of us and I'm sure there must be something that we can do...
My idea was to feed her more often like every two hours for a few days in hopes of producing more milk, does anyone think that will work?
I am just baffled because I nursed my son pretty much exclusively for the first 6 months of his life and nothing like this ever happened to my breasts in the way they feel, and even when he started eating some solids, they stayed quite firm for several more months. (I breastfed him till he was a year)
As I said, I am not concerned that she is not getting enough, it's just painful for me and really frustrating for both of us by the end of the day, which is when patience is out the door.

I appreciate any suggestions anyone might have...

Envision & Baby Zoe

[mamangazelle]

The "mushy" feeling is normal after a few weeks, from my experience and what I have read.
I have really strong letdown, so when it didn't flow as fast (like in the evening) my dd would get frustrated too. My only solution was to feed her more frequently, a long time before she got really hungry. That seemed to help at the time.
Now that she is older (6 months old) she's a lot more patient with me

[seven_lux]

My mum always said that at the end of the day, when you are worn out and tired there just doesn't seem to be as much milk...only occasionally I have felt this to be true though, for myself.

Have you started doing something that may hamper your milk production?

All I can suggest is that you drink significantly more water throughout the day, that always help me make more milk.
For me it's more water in more milk out!

I have a 2L bottle of water that I keep around all day and I force myself to ensure that I finish it by the end of the day. Even if that means it gets to the end of the day and I have to sit there and drink half of it.


I have also read that the mushy feeling is normal though once your milk supply has regulated.

[yequanamama]

The mushy feeling is definitely normal, and I second the suggestion to nurse more often, or "sooner", so that the baby isn't extremely hungry. I find that, in addition to drinking plenty of water during the day, drinking a big full glass of it right when you sit down to nurse can help cause a letdown quickly - but maybe that's just a personal trait!

[rareimer]

i noticed this feeling around then too. i think it just means your supply is regulated. i was worried too, because i had a massive oversupply early on, so it all of a sudden seemed like i had NO milk. it is common for mothers to wean around this age, because they believe their milk has dried up. but from what i understand, the breasts start making milk differently--they really have it figured out now, and so does your baby. there is no longer any need to have extra on hand "just in case", so your breasts don't need to be over-full. there is just the perfect amount, and it is made as your baby needs it.

as long as your baby has enough wet diapers, i wouldn't worry a bit.

[SagMom]

I agree with what everyone else has said, and just wanted to add that, with each child, it seems that the supply-demand issue gets settled sooner. So, while you may have felt full longer with your first child, it's not unusual for things to settle down earlier with your second.

Also, is there any chance that your period is about to return? I've always noticed (and so have the babes!) that my supply seems to diminish just before my menstrual cycle begins.

[Envision]

Well I took the suggestion of drinking more water...2 L infact and the day went a bit better yesterday. We still had our moment at night...
I really hope it's not my cycle coming back...I was hoping to leave that behind a bit longer...
One thing the nurse said at our group, was that the baby was just impatient and the milk was not coming down fast enough for her...so I guess we just have to figure it out together...
Thanks,
Envision

[Quirky]

have you tried breast compressions?

i do these to get another letdown going when ds is super fussy.