Sudden Drop in Supply with Sinus issues. HELP!!

[DoulaAlicia]

I'll do my best to give all the information. Hoping you guys can help.

I've always been an "Oversupplier"...plenty of milk for my babies.

My little guy is 10 weeks old.

Few days ago I developed a sinus issue. Was hard to tell if it was allergies or a cold or what. But it came on suddenly with an allergy attack and my ears/face has been clogged ever since. Within 12-24 hrs of my face becoming clogged I noticed a reduction in supply but nothing drastic. It continued to feel low and my face continued to be VERY clogged.

Since during pregnancy I had a couple bad sinus issues that turned into infections that needed antibiotics to clear.....I thought rather than have that happen again I would start to take CLARITIN to maybe help with this face issue.

AFter 3 days on claritin my supply has slowly widdled to what feels like hardly half or even 25% of what I had before. A baby who was eating off of one side and having plenty left over is now eating off of two sides and still sucking on his fist after feedings. He hasn't sucked on his fist since birth! I'm unclear if he's hungry or just forming a habit but he seems to accept the breast like he is hungry if I feed him when he's fist sucking.

I started fenugreek last night and have taken it a couple times today as well. Haven't seen a jump in supply yet and starting to worry. Last night he ate quite frequently and is doing that today as well. He usually gives me 5-7 hrs at night. So I know he is extra hungry. His pee diapers seem approx the same or maybe a bit less than before. So he seems to be getting fed but I'm getting nervous about this! My breasts feel so empty and he seems so hungry. My breasts feel like they get empty after 2 minutes of feeding.

I'm unclear about how to proceed.....I don't know if the sinus's are an infection and that is causing my body to dedicate its energy to my face? Or maybe the claritin is affecting my supply even though it is supposed to be breastfeeding safe? I'm afraid to stop taking it because my allergies were so severe and if my face already isn't infected it will be if I don't take something for the allergies. Don't know if I should go to doc for antibiotics for sinus? Or just keep trying fenugreek? I'm pissed my supply did this so drastically! HELP!

Maybe this is unrelated and my body is going to be low every now and then...?

(I should say that my other kids were supplemented with formula for now what I understand to be completely ridiculous issues - so I've never been through a 10 week old fully breastfed child so treat me like a first time Mom with your answers! Thanks! It is very important for me to get things right this time.)

[PatioGardener]

Claritin has a good track record and is not suposed to drop supply - any chance you took claritin D? that has pseudoephedrine in it which drops supply big time.

great news is that over supply moms (i'm one) can get their supply back quickly most times with adding in some pumping sessions.

good luck and feel better soon!

nak

[briome]

I'm currently nursing my third who is 8 wks od today. I also just got over a cold. I'm sure some of your symptoms must be related to the cold and infection and maybe the Claritin but some also might be that you have now been nursing for 10 wks (great job!) and your let down and feelings of fullness might be lessoning (mine do around this time). That may not mean your milk production has changed a lot either especially if your son is still having plenty of wet diapers.

Are you drinking or eating any mint or pepermint? That can lesson milk production I have heard. Are you staying hydrated? Have you tried a neti pot?

[rparker]

If you're just taking plain Claritin (loratadine only) and not Claritin-D it's unlikely that the Claritin is impacting your supply. I've taken copious amounts of Claritin during 31+ months of breastfeeding (including while pregnant) and it hasn't impacted my supply.

If you want to try to stop the Claritin though to see if it helps you could switch to Benadryl (diphenhydramine) because that is also safe for breastfeeding and shouldn't impact supply. (I've taken this too while breastfeeding.) Benadryl is actually probably more effective for allergy/sinus issues than Claritin. You just can't take it if you need to drive, cosleep, etc. since it will probably make you drowsy.

Are you drinking enough? Being sick might be making you dehydrated which could impact your supply as well.

[DoulaAlicia]

You know - another variable in this is my thyroid. This pregnancy I became hypothyroid for the first time in my life. I thought it might go away after pregnancy. They checked my levels at 6-7 weeks postpartum and as i suspected I was SUPER HYPER TSH anyway, .01. So he backed off my medicine but only a bit. He told me to skip my 75mcg pill once a week.

Now that I internet research I see that if you are hyper you also can experience supply issues. I wonder if that is what is going on. This week alone I've lost 5 pounds. I haven't lost any weight since 4 weeks postpartum. And suddenly dumped 5 lbs and I've been eating ALOT more than usual. ALOT MORE. I couldn't understand the weight loss with all the eating but maybe I am just too hyper and my metabolism is moving too quickly. Anyone have experience with hyper and breastfeeding?

I'm going crazy trying to figure this out!

[DoulaAlicia]

And to answer some questions I'm drinking a ton. I'm taking claritin (regular not D)

No mint

And already using Neti Pot 2 to 3 times daily.

[spughy]

How is your baby's diaper output? If he is still producing 6-8 wet diapers a day, plus a poop or two, don't worry - your supply may have dropped to what he needs and no more, and that's natural, although 10 weeks is late for that, and it is suspiciously coincidental with your other symptoms. Still, if his diaper output is still sufficient, don't worry - just keep yourself rested and as comfortable as possible.

Rapid weight loss, increased appetite AND legitimate supply issues do point to a thyroid issue though. Thyroid issues don't give you allergy symptoms, but I suppose a wonky thyroid could do unfortunate things to your immune system and make it hypervigilant enough to react excessively to a modest bit of pollen or dust.