Supplement from the start? Glandular issues.

[ErinsJuneBug]

My breasts never change shape or size during pregnancy and I'm pretty sure i have tubular breasts. While i did make milk with DD - i only made MAX 1 ounce from the left breast and 1/4 ounce from the right. I tried fennugreek, domperidone and eventually fed her with an SNS for months. She nursed until she was 3 and then self weaned.

I am now 36 weeks pregnant with #2 and am wondering how i should handle the first few weeks with this baby. DD lost over a pound and after 2 weeks was continuing to lose and never gained any weight back before i supplemented - i feel horrible at the thought of starving another baby, but i also want to make sure i'm not going to hurt my supply. I mean, really...what are the chances that this time i have a full supply? Probably not great.

How should i handle this?

[marisa724]

The chances are actually good that you'll have some more milk this time around, sooner, even with the insufficient glandular tissue. Your body has done this before, and it has 'learned' what to do. Many mothers in your position do find that they make a little more milk with subsequent children (a combination of physical factors and early proactive management, perhaps?).

Do you have a LC that you've worked with? Can you start doing daily weight checks and weigh-and-feeds within the first few days? It does seem that you will have to do some supplementation no matter what, can you start out with the SNS after the first day or so? A newborn needs very little milk, a fraction of an oz. really, so keeping baby at the breast for the first 24-48 hours might be good for ramping up whatever production you'll have going, and then see how diapers are going, etc.

But definitely have a professional 'keep an eye on you' as well. We had other issues with DS1, but I know too well the feeling you get when you realize your baby is not gaining.

[starling&diesel]

I'm a low supply first-time mama who supplements at the breast with a Lact-Aid. When I think about subsequent children, I think I would start taking my herbs and domperidone a few weeks before my due date, and see how things go. I would do daily weights for the first week, and then make my decision. I would be a LOT quicker to supplement next time, as I don't fancy making my baby hungry when I know what's going on.

I hope you make more milk this time, mama! You'd be an inspiration to all of us! Keep us posted on how it goes!

Oh, do you supplement with a Medela SNS, LA, or some other set-up? After trying THEM ALL, I highly recommend the LA, with as many of them as times you feed in a day to minimize cleaning and filling.

[ErinsJuneBug]

Thanks guys. I work for my pediatrician so i am def planning on doing daily weights and before and after feeding weights. I have actually considered buying an infant scale for myself.

We used an SNS last time - i'll look into the LA, its true the SNS was a pain to clean! I also am trying to hook up with a milk share group - if i have to supplement this time its going to be breastmilk, not formula. We're also planning a homebirth - i tell you i am doing everything to get this going on the right foot.

Can i start dom while pregnant?? Has anyone done this before?

[justthinkn]

My plan for next time, from last month of pregnancy on... (igt mama nak w/ sleeping 23mo DD

- Goat's Rue in last few weeks of pregnancy
- Add in More Milk Special Blend right after delivery
- Track diapers carefully in first days/weeks, & start working w/an LC & doing daily or weekly weights by day 3
- Not hesitate this time to supplement at breast as needed!!! But also be sure baby is experiencing my normal flow, "tubeless," at least every other time at breast
- Try to pump 6-8x/day for first few weeks, esp, if supplementing, but back off once it's clear baby is emptying my breasts effectively

Blessings as you wait for your new LO to arrive.

[thepeach80]

I had great success w/ Saw palmetto Berry and milk thistle. The spb especially is supposed to be good for IGT and PCOS issues, as well as Goat's rue too. The book Making More Milk has a GREAT table of herbs and what they're good for and how much etc. I did alfalfa as well. There are quite a few herbs you can even take while pg. Check out www.mobimotherhood.org if you haven't already.

[ErinsJuneBug]

wow thanks Jennifer! I havent heard about this site before - off to check it out!

[sattygirl99]

Consult an LC prior to starting ANYTHING while pregnant... Fenugreek cannot be taken pregnant and I'm pretty domperidone can't be either.

I have IGT (I think, my LC disagrees but she's not the best LC I've met with lol) and started supplementing at 5 weeks old. We used to use a lact-aid but nursing got to a point where we both hated it so we are supplementing with bottles after nursing. I'm hoping to still extended nurse her but will settle for her getting donor breast milk if not.

Hugs and good luck!

[ErinsJuneBug]

Fe -thanks, i will. I just wanted to reassure you that around 6 months nursing became an emotional thing for DD and even though i never made that much milk there was no way i could have weaned her before she was ready. You ABSOLUTLY can extended nurse her. I always told people that if all i ever was to her was a pacifier then it was fine by me.

[delfin]

in addition to the herbs of your choice, my suggestion is to just spend as much time with baby on you, preferably naked from the waist up, without watching the clock too much, without thinking about it too much or ckeching on her weight too much. eat good, drink enough, relax, create some intimacy so you make as much milk as needed
i wish you the best!

[sattygirl99]

Originally Posted by ErinsJuneBug

Fe -thanks, i will. I just wanted to reassure you that around 6 months nursing became an emotional thing for DD and even though i never made that much milk there was no way i could have weaned her before she was ready. You ABSOLUTLY can extended nurse her. I always told people that if all i ever was to her was a pacifier then it was fine by me.

Aww... thanks! I wish she'd comfort nurse but she's not much into that... We nurse before we supplement though... I think she gets about an oz from me, more in the morning and overnight.

She doesn't *love* nursing like I had envisioned... But as long as she'll take the breast, I'll offer it and maybe over time, she'll develop that love for it. I'll always nurse her before bottles and when she's older, before solids. I try to make it a point to nurse her before giving her a paci for naps/bed so that when she's older, I can still have those nursing times.

I make about 12 oz a day (pumped)... I'm blessed, given the IGT, to make that much but this is my 3rd time lactating so that could be why (once after DS was born, then I relactated for him and then now).

Thanks for your encouragement!

[ColwynsMommy]

I'd never heard that you can take domperidone while pregnant. I'd check that out first.

While pregnant, you can take alfalfa, nettle, shatavari, Metamucil, and goat's rue. I did alfalfa and nettle as a tea (along with red raspberry leaf). I took shatavari in pill form and goat's rue tincture. The Metamucil I didn't find out about until after the baby was born, but it had a great impact on my supply, so I'd definitely start it while pregnant next time.

You can't take shatavari and domperidone at the same time, but if you can't take domperidone while pregnant, you could at least do a few weeks of shatavari before switching to domperidone when the baby's born.

[Taryn237]

Do not supplement first. For atleast 1-2 weeks. I have IGT and didn't need to. To get to a full supply I:

- read Making More Milk
- took alfalfa, goat's rue, and alternated red clover, dandelion root, and nettles during later pregnancy
- pumped from 38 weeks once a day (be careful, pumping caused my water to break)

Good luck!

[Taryn237]

AND I made about the same you did with my 1st. 1oz left, .1oz right. Now I can get 2 out of each side.

[leigh09]

i had impossibly low supply with baby #1. he was supplemented very early and never got off of it in order to gain weight.
i did nothing during pregnancy of baby #2. i took domperidone & metformin (i have PCOS) during nursing and she was exclusively bf, although quite frequently. i have never been able to pump more than 1 oz.

what helped a lot was knowing low supply is an issue and having a good lactation consultant help monitor her growth. we did frequent weight checks (this was reassuring for me) to ensure she was gaining well. i didn't supplement at all with her and personally wouldn't do it if not necessary. give your body a chance to work first.

i am currently pregnant with baby #3 and was fortunate to stumble upon the mobi website and read making more milk while we were ttc. i am taking metformin throughout pregnancy (surprisingly with my doctor's blessing), and just started alfalfa herbs and nettle tea. i have hopes for a good supply with this baby.

best of luck, i know low supply is frustrating.

[koalove]

im in the same boat as you. i was wondering the same thing. my thought was to not supplement for at least 5 days to give my milk a chance to come in. BUT i wonder if ill be able to hang in there with a hungry crying baby. this is my 4th and i havent seen improvement with each one as far as supply goes. this time im starting goats rue at 36 weeks. ive never tried that before. let me know how it goes for you!

[justthinkn]

Don't you all think it just depends on what the baby needs? If diaper output is too low, even in those first few days, we can find the best ways to supplement without jeopardizing supply, but baby must eat - always the first rule.

[Megan73]

Originally Posted by justthinkn

Don't you all think it just depends on what the baby needs? If diaper output is too low, even in those first few days, we can find the best ways to supplement without jeopardizing supply, but baby must eat - always the first rule.

This.
I have unexplained low supply and while I fervently hope to have more milk with my next babe I will rent a baby scale immediately and be prepared to have to start supplementing early.
If needed – judging by output and more than normal weight loss – I'll use a Lact-Aid to supplement, pump after feedings and start domperidone immediately.
OP – I hope it's better for you this time around. Best wishes for a wonderful birth and healthy little one.

[kudzuqueen]

ErinsJuneBug ~ would you mind sharing what your nursing relationship looked like past 1 year, etc? I have possible IGT and would love to keep nursing DD as long as she wants, even if it's just 1-2x a day, though I will stop pumping at work at 1 year, if not before (i can't believe that would be like 6 more months but i'm taking it day by day . I'm impressed you were able to nurse her until she was 3. Like you, I"m ok even if all I am is a pacifier. I adore nursing her to sleep and I can tell from her swallowing that when she gets a let-down, it's a good one. I can see us at least doing that for a long time. Just curious to hear more about your experience.

Good luck with the new babe!

[ErinBird]

Originally Posted by kudzuqueen

ErinsJuneBug ~ would you mind sharing what your nursing relationship looked like past 1 year, etc? I have possible IGT and would love to keep nursing DD as long as she wants, even if it's just 1-2x a day, though I will stop pumping at work at 1 year, if not before (i can't believe that would be like 6 more months but i'm taking it day by day . I'm impressed you were able to nurse her until she was 3. Like you, I"m ok even if all I am is a pacifier. I adore nursing her to sleep and I can tell from her swallowing that when she gets a let-down, it's a good one. I can see us at least doing that for a long time. Just curious to hear more about your experience.

Good luck with the new babe!

My daughter just weaning this weekend at nearly 33mo. I had a very low supply- probably 6-10oz/day for the first year or so? I never really knew, but I supplemented 15-20oz/day until 9mo. We weaned off supplements at 11.5mo and my daughter never lost interest. Beyond a year, nursing changes quite a bit for many children- it was less about milk and more about closeness for us. Of course, DD continued to reap the benefits of breastmilk and breastfeeding, but my supply was no longer the primary source of her nutrition. At about 18mo, DD began to nurse mostly at night and in the morning or to bed. Gradually the night nursing tapered off, and I night weaned her early this year when I was newly pregnant and my supply dipped.