To take herbs or not...?

[sattygirl99]

So, we've stopped all supplementation at the breast and are nursing and bottle feeding. I'm nursing most feedings (sometimes she just doesn't want anymore milk, lol), overnight and before naps/bed (which is WAY more than she'd nurse before)....

I'm just wondering if I should continue (well re-start) with the herbs to maintain/increase the supply I DO have... I'm not going to go back to pumping every 2 hours (and hey, she's more effective than a pump, she drains me dry!) or trying to majorly increase supply but was thinking that maybe herbs would help maintain supply... I fear AF coming back ( I am still night nursing and nursing about 8 times in 24 hours) and robbing me of what little supply I do have... Even though DD is primarily fed donor milk (as in, she takes her normal amount of donor milk and then nurses), I want her to receive as much as she can from me so that she gets all of the live antibodies.

WDYT? Would you take a gazillion pills a day or just let it ride and what it's going to be?

[MissyLissa]

Have you seen an increase in your supply from any of the herbs in the past? If not I don't see the point of starting them back up now. I'm taking Goat's Rue right now but it's not doing anything for me so I'm just waiting to finish the bottle and then I'm done with it. What made you decide to stop using the Lact-Aid? Also, to make sure you keep up your current supply I would nurse first and then give the supplement instead of the other way around.

[sattygirl99]

She often gets too upset if I nurse first. She still drains the breast (believe me, I get NOTHING after she nurses).

I honestly don't know if there was any type of increase before... Our supplement amount never changed and my pumping output varied so greatly throughout the day anyway...

I did decide today that I'm going to add in pumping when I can... no stress but when I can (which I need to go do now, lol), I'll pump.

Giving up the lact-aid... She hated the breast.. She was unahppy, I was unhappy... Nursing was a fight. There was no enjoyable bond, no closeness, no real snuggles... I also am dealing with PPD and the constant reminder that I alone am not enough for her to survive really got to me... Some days is harder than others... DH keeps telling me that she's still getting BM, she's still getting MY milk and she's honestly happier now. It's been a rough ride, emotionally, physically and mentally. I still have thoughts of being a failure but I'm getting better with it.

I feel like my supply is so low... She nurses for maybe 2 min or so and pops off and whines... I squeeze and get nothing! I mean, I know she got some as I hear swallowing and such but it seems like so little. I'm starting to wonder if my supply was always this low and using the lact-aid masked how low it really is... Oh well... Regardless, she is EBF thanks to our donors, still getting a couple oz (I'm sure) of milk from the tap and she's happy... that's what matters!

Sorry for the novel! I am off to bed!!!