Nervous about my supply :(

[jen6163]

Sorry so long---
Hey girls. I had supply issues with DD1 when AF came back at 10 wks pp and ultimately stopped BFing at 6mos after a long struggle. Well now this time around AF came back at 10w2d (how crazy) and I feel like my supply is not good. I BF on demand (I'd say she eats every 2 hours during the day) & she eats 1x at night (great sleeper)... I think she would STTN if I let her, but we cosleep and I normally just BF her when she stirs around 3am. During the day she is a snacker and will pretty much eat whenever I put her on the boob.

Anyway, today I wanted to try out my freezer stash bc I thought I had high lipase. So DH gave her a bottle and she drank it fine :grin: (3.5oz out of 6oz), so I pumped and only got 2oz total from both sides after 20mins & 2 letdowns. This was probably the 4th feed of today and she had just eaten an hour prior to when I pumped.

I drink a TON of water, mothers milk when I remember, take fenugreek & blessed thistle everyday, eat oatmeal 4x a week, and make the lactation cookies when I feel like it. Also, I pump every morning after she eats (sometimes she eats both sides) and I usually get 4+ oz after she eats.

So how does all of this sound to you? She seems to be gaining well and is the MOST content baby I have every met. I am such a nervous wreck bc of having to stop last time around and I really want to make it a year +!

What do you think? THANK YOU (if you got this far!)

[*MamaJen*]

Just remember, babies are much more effective at getting milk out of the breast than a pump is -- don't necessarily judge your supply on how much you can pump. I started having trouble pumping after about five or six months, but I know I still have a ton of milk.
If your babe is growing well and making plenty of wet diapers, your supply is good.
I also got my period back in less than three months while nursing around the clock. Totally unfair.

[Bokonon]

2 oz. is a perfectly great amount to pump! The average woman pumps between .5-2 oz. per session, both breasts combined! It doesn't sound to me like you have a low supply at all.

[Rose-Roget]

Originally Posted by Bokonon

2 oz. is a perfectly great amount to pump! The average woman pumps between .5-2 oz. per session, both breasts combined! It doesn't sound to me like you have a low supply at all.

Really??? I had no idea! I was thinking my supply was low because it went down to 3-4 oz. a session. If I only see half an ounce, I get really discouraged.

I'm not an expert, but you sound like you're doing great, although I understand your nerves. Rather than pumping to try to estimate how much you're making, the pumping could just add another stimulation for milk production.

[Bokonon]

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/p..._decrease.html

[CookAMH]

2oz an hour after feeding isn't bad at all. As others have said, I thinkh you're ok

[jen6163]

Thank you all for your replies

Yesterday was our weigh day (we have a red cross baby scale). She WAS gaining 1oz a day and has only gained 4oz in the past 2 weeks. WTF?

I WISH I didn't even own a scale. I *think* she is doing fine... she seems to be thriving.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by jen6163

Thank you all for your replies

Yesterday was our weigh day (we have a red cross baby scale). She WAS gaining 1oz a day and has only gained 4oz in the past 2 weeks. WTF?

I WISH I didn't even own a scale. I *think* she is doing fine... she seems to be thriving.

How old is baby? After 3 months, weight gain typically drops to about 0.5 oz a day, so ~4 oz a week. And remember that babies do NOT grow in a smooth fashion - they have fits and starts of growth, (like a staircase) once they get out of the newborn period.

Have you been watching baby's weight on a growth chart? That will give you a better picture of the overall growth pattern. Here is the WHO (gold standard) chart: http://www.who.int/childgrowth/stand...irls_p_0_6.pdf

If I were you I'd work these next few weeks to try to nurse baby as much as possible (no bottles if Mama is there!) and I bet next weight things will be back on track Are you guys cosleeping? That can help with nursing too. (ETA I reread your post and see that you cosleep)

[deezee02]

I have been worried about my supply also since DD was around 10ish weeks old (my cycles started back at 6 week post partum).

I have concluded she is an efficient eater. Right now at almost 6 months she only eats 3 times a day, morning, afternoon and night. Although I have not weighed her in almost 2 months (at her 4 baby well check), she has wet diapers through the day, and typically goes every other day without a dirty diaper, but then will have 1-3 in a row.

I also pump at 11pm (around 3 hours after her last feed) and get 4-7 oz's at that point, since she goes closer to 6 hours between feeds (double the time), I am guessing she gets 8-14 oz's per feeding session, putting her at atleast 24 oz's a day.

I think as BFing mothers we are so worried since we cannot physically see what your babies are eating. As long as you LO has wet/dirty diapers and producing tears, you are producing milk and your baby is not dehydrated.