I'm so frustrated at the difference!

[motheringforme]

With my son, who is now 3, we had no breastfeeding issues.  My milk came in on the 3rd day, and I was engorged.  I had enough milk for 2 babies when I was nursing him.  He nursed exclusively for 6 months and total for 2 years with never a drop of formula. I now have a 3 week old daughter.  I have such a low supply with her. The colostrum gradually changed to milk but I never felt it really come in.  My breasts have never felt full with her.  I've been having to supplement, which I hate!  With my son, I just nursed him whenever because I had plenty, so I never had to guess if he was hungry. With her I'm always wondering if she's upset because she's still hungry.  I've tried everything. I've been on the fenugreek for 2 days now with no noticable change. Today I'm starting Reglan, a 2 week prescription.  I don't have a history of depression so I hope it won't affect me.  If that doesn't work then I will order the domperidone.  I'm down to my last hopes here.

[LilMomma83]

*hugs* I can relate, I nursed my first (we did have some issues but we got through it and I maintained enough of a supply to at least nurse when I was with him - he had some formula at daycare); and then my DS2 was supplemented all the time from 2 months on and my milk dried up by 5mos. I tried everything...BUT, loooking back, I think he may have had a slight tongue tie which was causing him to have a weak suck (I could feel the weak suck compared to my first) and because of the weak suck he was not properly stimulating my breasts which caused me to have low supply (at least that is the theory I have come up with). Do you think there is any chance your baby is latching or sucking improperly? Could she have a tongue tie? Also, if you are supplementing I would reccomend you do so at the breast if possible (maybe you are already doing this) that will help your supply, also pumping after feedings...I had a LC tell me to feed baby on the breast as long as he would and then pump until a couple minutes after the last drop came out - if nothing came out to still pump some.

I never did Reglan, but, I had good luck with domperidone (just unfortionatly my son went on a strike after getting ear infections and at that point domperidone was not enough - but it worked well when there was also a fair amount of stimulation).

Take care of yourself mama, you are seeking help early and I bet things will work out great!

[MiaFL]

I had tons of problems nursing DD1, she had oral motor problems and NEVER wanted to eat.  While she did nurse for 18 months, mostly I pumped and gave her bottles while she slept since her feeding aversion was so bad.  I had plenty of milk and ended up pumping for almost 2.5 years with no supply issues at all.  DD2 is 4 weeks old and fortunately has a healthy appetite but my supply tanked at 2 weeks.  I'm pulling out all the stops to get my supply back but I'm having to give her formula because she stopped wetting diapers.  It's hard not to get upset at the irony of having plenty of milk with a kid who doesn't want it and not having enough milk for one who does.

[motheringforme]

I know it's not a latch issue.  She can really grab on. All I can think of is that I suffered from severe insomnia for about 2 weeks after she was born. Maybe it messed up my chemistry somehow.  I'm sleeping better now so hoping for improvement.

[foreverinbluejeans]

Are you sure you don't have enough? Breasts function better with the second baby and you may not feel the mature milk come in and may never feel engorged. As long as your baby is gaining at least 4 ounces a week (a pound a month) then the baby is getting enough. Weight gain is the best way to tell if you have enough. How your breasts feel is subjective. You can go to the doctor's office several times a week for weight checks or rent or buy scales. Weighing a baby before and after feeds is not considered an accurate way of telling how much milk a baby gets during a feeding. Some "experts" think it is better to go to the doctor's office for weight checks so you aren't weighing the baby too often.

[motheringforme]

Thank you above poster.  I just recently read that your breasts may not be engorged the second time around, but I never knew to expect that!  They seem to be doing better now, but I do think the Reglan has helped with that.