Does anyone else have insuffient glandular tissue? - Page 4

[scubamom]

hang in there , im in the same boat and were still going strong at 7 months.
ive also gotten used to explaining to people about the SNS and why i do both, its never easy though. I also get so frustarated with friends, and friends of freinds etc who give up so easily or dont even try, when i wanted it so bad and couldnt.

My ds i think sees me as a big walking pacifier, as nothing setttles him as much as bf when he is upset, so it makes it all worthwhile. He is also at the age when he reaches for it or lunges at me for more, its a great feeling, and i console myself that i may not have much milk but ive been going longer than a lot of mammas last. i was fully bf, but even my mom quit at four months as i was a biter, so shes proud of me for going so long, which helps too.

hang in there, if you evern need support or a chat just pm me.

[macbump]

Originally Posted by Pearmama

I know some babies go a few days without stooling, but with my history of low milk supply and underfeeding, this is really freaking me out. She pooped twice on Monday but she hasn't done any since. She has peed alot though. And her stools haven't turned yellow yet (the last poop was a yellow-brown).[...]Right now we are averaging maybe 4 oz. a day and she is 10 days old.

I hate to break it to you but this alarms me. A newborn who is still having meconium or transitional poops at 10 days old should be seen by someone. I am a natural birthing tandem nursing long-term nursing (my kids are 4.5 and 2 and nursing both of them) mom and I volunteer with a BF support group (not the LLL but a similar type of group) and have taken several seminars on BFing and this just screams to me that your baby isn't getting enough food. :-( I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you know, the first rule is "feed the baby"...she needs to eat. :-) If you are like me you may be wary of seeing a traditional Doc. who often push formula way TOO much but try and find someone, a LC or bf-friendly natural doc. who could see her, because while this may be that she needs more supplement, it could also be something like bowel troubles. I don't want to worry you too much (since I know we moms are good enough at that without undue stress!) but I just had to say this.

Hugs to you!

Fio
:

[Corriander]

I was so excited to see some activity on this thread! But I'm afraid that macbump has replied in the wrong place.

[lavendermama]

Corriander-I followed your story with interest on this board and I was wondering how the nursing was going for you? I am due with #4 in march and I too suffer from the same problem. I will be ordering my goat's rue after Christmas and hoping it helps a bit!

[momotim]

Hi,
I'm new and had found this while looking up insufficient milk on google.
I don't believe I have insufficient glandular tissue but I have a marginal milk supply and with my third baby continue to supplement. He is 5 weeks. It's nice to find other women who both breast and formula feed. Interestingly enough my first two I was able to get rid of the formula after about two weeks of supplementing early on but it meant feeding every hour sometimes. But my third continues on formula. He's a bigger baby born at eight pounds 14 oz. I use a bottle twice a day and breast feed the rest of the time. I'm trying not to increase the formula, and trying to nurse more if he is hungry. He was gaining 10 oz per week, but based on his last weight which was 2 1/2 weeks ago and his weight today. He has slowed down to just under an oz a day. I plan on weighing him next week and if he isn't gaining close to an oz a day I will up the formula.
It's hard to believe I still obsess about this with my 3rd child. I thought I would be a pro and be able to get rid of the bottle.
In my mind I don't even think formula is bad ,but in my heart I feel sad when formula seems to make him happier than when he just nursed.
I do think everyone should stop thinking of formula as evil and stop feeling so guilty. Just because something is natural does no mean it is easy. the best example of this is childbirth. Just because it is something women should be able to do does not mean that aid from medical science and technology are not necessary. Women used to die in childbirth in large numbers. I'm sure c sections have saved many lives. I feel the same way about formula. We live in 2005 ladies. There is no need for babies to go hungry or get dehydrated. I think if people feel less guilty and think less or breastfeeding as being all or nothing alot more women would actually be breastfeeding.

[lavendermama]

Hi,
have you thought about using a supplementor? It would cut out those bottles and still be stimulating your breasts to produce.
Good to hear from you.

[pipra]

I am so frustrated right now and also a little sad....and relieved! I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and a 9 month old son and was prepared to nurse them both for at least the 1st year. I didn't find out until I was pregnant w/ my son that there was such thing as tuberous breasts and didn't find out until even later (when it dawned on me one morning) that maybe there was a conection between that and my nursing problems. I have tuberous breasts, did my best to nurse my 1st child and did w/ the help of supplemental formula bottles until she was 8 months old. Then, w/ my 2nd I thought I would be more prepared, more patient and better able to handle nursing but it was worse. I even talked ( the 1st time ) to my midwife, my doula, 2 lactation consultants and not one of them mentioned this was possible. In fact, I told my midwife that my breasts were very assymetrical ( didn't know to describe the tuberous part as I have always been told that ALL TYPES OF BREASTS can breastfeed) and she was very dissmisive, saying all breasts are that way. I'm so glad to have found this website and specifically this thread, even if I didn't find it in time to help w/ nursing. I quit nursing my 2nd at 4 months The poor baby didn't even care by then, there was just no looking back for him, all he knew is he wasn't hungry anymore.
I just had to get that off my chest, this is just all coming together for me today and I just felt a flood of emotions about it this morning for some reason. I think I finally realized that it sucks that I never had body image issues w/ my breasts 'cuz I knew they were for nursing and assumed I would be able to. Then when it came time to, I couldn't and it was because of my dang small deformed boobs.

[sip217]

Originally Posted by pipra

I am so frustrated right now and also a little sad....and relieved! I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and a 9 month old son and was prepared to nurse them both for at least the 1st year. I didn't find out until I was pregnant w/ my son that there was such thing as tuberous breasts and didn't find out until even later (when it dawned on me one morning) that maybe there was a conection between that and my nursing problems. I have tuberous breasts, did my best to nurse my 1st child and did w/ the help of supplemental formula bottles until she was 8 months old. Then, w/ my 2nd I thought I would be more prepared, more patient and better able to handle nursing but it was worse. I even talked ( the 1st time ) to my midwife, my doula, 2 lactation consultants and not one of them mentioned this was possible. In fact, I told my midwife that my breasts were very assymetrical ( didn't know to describe the tuberous part as I have always been told that ALL TYPES OF BREASTS can breastfeed) and she was very dissmisive, saying all breasts are that way. I'm so glad to have found this website and specifically this thread, even if I didn't find it in time to help w/ nursing. I quit nursing my 2nd at 4 months The poor baby didn't even care by then, there was just no looking back for him, all he knew is he wasn't hungry anymore.
I just had to get that off my chest, this is just all coming together for me today and I just felt a flood of emotions about it this morning for some reason. I think I finally realized that it sucks that I never had body image issues w/ my breasts 'cuz I knew they were for nursing and assumed I would be able to. Then when it came time to, I couldn't and it was because of my dang small deformed boobs.

Oh Pipra that is awful. So much of what you said is exactly how I feel.

Perhaps you should check out the Yahoo group Every Drop Counts, started by one of the ladies here on MDC.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EveryDropCounts/

[T a r a]

Me too

I'm so happy to have found this thread! I have been nursing my 8 month old son along with supplementing formula since he was only a few days old. I never had a lot of breast change with my pregnancy, and have been the same size before, during, and after delivery. My son was screaming and starving with only breast milk. I've tried everything under the sun, including pumping, herbs, domperidone, reglan, food, water, rest, etc. Nothing has really made a difference. The most I have ever been able to pump was close to 3oz total, but typically 2oz is my max, and the majority of that is from one side. My son latched well and tried to nurse but easily became frustrated and pulled on my nipple and cried when he couldn't get any more out. We never tried the SNS as he easily switched from bottle to breast. I about gave up several times, and can't even fathom the amount of tears that were shed over my inability to feed my child. Fortunately I stuck it out. He now gets both formula & breast milk, will nurse and I pump occaisionally too as it's almost easier to pump & give him the milk in a bottle. He nurses exclusively overnight. I imagine I only produce around 10-12oz daily and that's it. I've always thought my breasts were small and strangely shaped and have desired implants in the past. DH doesn't really care one way or the other. While I'm not quite as extreme as the picture on this site http://www.007b.com/breast_size_breastfeeding.php , I do closely resemble the second picture from the bottom of the "normal" breasts.

I'm glad to have found others that have been through the same situation and feelings as myself. While I'm optomistic that next time around will be better, I'm still scared to death that I'll encounter the same problems. It's nice to know I'm not alone. I've wondered about the source of my low supply: was it the long labor, all the drugs in delivery, lack of nursing in the first couple of days, the fact that my milk didn't come in until day 5, did I not gain enough weight during pregnancy (only 18 lbs), do I not weigh enough (underweight at 105 lbs & 5'4"), blah, blah, blah. I also had my first baby at age 17 and did not attempt to BF, and was given a medicine to dry up my milk instead. I'm wondering what, if any of these situations may have been a factor? Sorry to be so long winded. I'm just happy to have found people that can relate to my saddness.

[puffmama]

I agree, this thread is very helpful & lets me know that I am not alone. I am not 100% sure that I have insuffient glandular tissue, but I have been doing everything else possible (lactation consutant, pumping, feeding on cue, SNS, fenugreek, brewers yeast, thyroid medicication, oatmeal, even heard soy protein and lechin were good to increase milk...) and still make about 18-20 oz a day for a 13 lb, 14 week old baby!

The thing that was so hard for me is that everyone kept telling me everything was probably just fine after the baby was born. He seemed to be having the right amount of wet and dirty diapers, even though he seemed kind of skinny, and was fussy a lot at the breast, until suddenly one day when my ds was a day shy of 7 weeks old, still at his birth weight and officially lableled 'failure to thrive'. now my doctor thinks I am at risk for PPD because I was so upset by the whole thing-- she says moms aren't usually so emotionally volitle at this stage in the game.

I have my days when I still am sad about not being able to make enough milk for my baby, and I also have the same shyness about bottle feeding my baby in public, esp around ebf's like in my postnatal yoga class.

As much as I too hate being dependent on formula , I just want to remind all you other women out there like me that of course its important that your baby is getting enough food, BUT the most important thing that you can give them is your LOVE-- and we all have enough to feed them more than their share of that.

[Kristina M.]

Does anyone know where on the internet I can get Domperidone? I've been taking it for several months now with a prescription and had success with it, but Iwonder if the internet is cheaper. By the way, I've gone from making about 12ounces to making about 18 ounces.

[T a r a]

you can order it from globaldrug.tv. I have mine compounded and can get full reimbursement from insurance so it's cheaper (not to mention faster) that way. I think it's like $40 for 300 10mg tabs, plus $10 shipping.

[Kristina M.]

I too have tubular breasts and have cried about it a lot. I always knew they were dfferent, but I thought they would grow into normal breasts when i got pregnant. It wasn't until I had my baby (by the way, what does "dd and ds" mean?) that the lactation nurse told me about my breasts and the difficulty I would have bfing. My daughter is now 6 months and I'm happy to say that I'm hanging in there still bfing (and of course supplementing). I used to make only 12 oz, but now I make 18oz in a day thanks to pumping and taking Domperidone. I think I'm going to try taking it 2 pills 4 times a day instead of 1 pill 4 times a day. Good news, my breast are still growing. I've never been more happy to see stretch marks. I'm fixing to try Goat's Rue. It supposedly increases glandular tissue. Real quick, has anyone's breast grown with each pregnancy, or produced more milk the second or third time?

[T a r a]

dd - dear daughter
ds - dear son

I only make ~12oz/day I think too. Domperidone helped some, but not that much. I may have waited too long as I didn't start it until around 4-5 months.

[Kristina M.]

Hi Tara,
I think I started taking domperidone at ~3mths postpartum. I had tried fenugreek before that, but not much happened except I smelled like maple syrup(a side affect)!

[Kristina M.]

Thanks for explainig what ds and dd stood for. (Tara) And for telling me about globaldrug.tv. Thats an awesome site!

[Kay Mac]

Thanks for sharing your story

Im Hoping that corriander, scubamom and pearmama will see this note and know how much I appreciated you all sharing your story. I have insufficient glandular tissue and have experienced everything Pearmama(I believe it was)
Experienced, except I used the Lactaid instead of the SNS, and I have 4 childrennot five.

For years I have searched for information on this subject and was always very dissapointed that low milk supply due to insufficient glandular tissue just wasnt talked about or written about in any of the breastfeeding How To Books. When I ever got on line and searched and found this site and read your threads I laughed and cried and laughed and cried. It may sound Weird or maybe not. Nobody can even start to understand the hope, frustration and determination you experience when dealing with a genetic condition as this is in my case.

Pearmama I couldnt write anything more accurate than your descriptions ex. Hooked up (I would feel like a science project most of the time) using cold formula so you know the lactaid is flowing properly, to the tube being lined up correctly. You said it all.

I'm a mother of four. First born 1999 fourth 2004. I would have replied earlier but am very busy and Internet access was't convenient. Would love to share my story. I think the support thread is a great idea.

Will someone reply to this so I know I did this right.

[lavendermama]

Hi Kay,
I have this condition as well. I just had baby #4 a few days ago. I am using Lactaid this time instead of SNS and I have to say it works so much better! I still feel like it takes FOREVER to drain it though. I know a bottle goes quicker, but do exclusively breastfed babies take that long? Right now I savor the moments, but I will have to get this house up and running again at some point!
I am taking fenugreek. I have some goat's rue, but it says to take it every other hour and I am waiting until I am a bit more settled in a routine. Anyone have experience with the goat's rue?

[larastheme]

Glad to see some activity here again. While DH and I are TTC #2, I'm wondering if anybody knows about any treatments for IGT. I had a very rough time with DD, mostly I think because I got blindsided with the BF difficulties (I so wish somebody would have warned me, or a book might have at least mentioned it.)

I'm still nursing DD once a day (just before bed) using the Lact-Aid, and she uses sippy cups the rest of the time. She never ever liked a bottle.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to my doctor to ask about what I could do for next time, and she was basically stymied. Any ideas on whether there are treatments? I have to begin cold-calling MD's that might have a clue (I have names of 2 local pediatricians that have a "special interest" in BF.) Any ideas on who to contact? My doctor also advised me to get counseling, because I am still so upset about not being able to BF. I was so set on it, didn't have a bottle in the house, gave away formula samples, etc.

And it appears that my grandmother might have had the same issue. My mother didn't BF us, but when my grandmom was trying to nurse my uncle, apparently he cried all the time, and the doctors told my grandmom that she didn't have enough milk and would have to use formula.

Anyway, I'm just glad to know that I'm not alone in my struggles, and I hope everyone who is affected by this knows the same thing. I think we rock, for our committment and dedication to do something that our bodies are not fully equipped to do.

[scubamom]

i am so glad that this thread is getting revived, i havent posted here for a while, as we stopped bf at 10 months, it was just too hard esp with me going back to work. But as we are ttc #2 i have been talking through the whole not enough milk issue with my DR, as dont want to have to go thru it all again if it can be fixed. But we have come up with nothing conclusive, even after numerous blood tests. We are also having tests as ds is 14 months and still no period (so hard ttc!!!!). The Dr reckons taking domperidone could have affected this (but been off it now 6 months). The tests are showing nothing, but polycystic ovarian syndrome has been mentioned in passing (i read somewhere that this can be linked to low supply, does anyone have anymore info on that?)

So to all you other mammas with low supply, but big up for us all for not quitting and sticking with it even when the going gets tough