I'm failing :(

[Rnejic]

I'm nursing my second child, she' s 4 months old, I had no problems with my first and was able to nurse him for 14 months (I got pregnant and lost my milk).  I've had mild issues the entire time this time though.  First with bleeding and latch, now with supply.  I was managing to produce just enough to satisfy her (though not always fill her) until I got sick last week.  Now I'm producing almost no milk and my freezer stash is gone so I am having to supplement with formula :(   

I've been taking 12 fenugreek pills a day for the past month or so, I drink a ton of water and I eat oatmeal every day.  I nurse every 2 hours (switching sides back and forth every few minutes) and all through the night.  Today I started trying to pump after nursing to see if I can stimulate production but it's really difficult because she is so fussy I can rarely put her down to pump. 

I feel like no matter what I do my body wont make the milk my baby needs.  I've talked to 3 separate LLL leaders and none have been able to suggest anything different.  I fear I am quickly losing this battle. 

Advice?  Suggestions? 

[Megan73]

You're not failing. You're doing what you gotta do to feed your baby while you figure this out. Please don't beat yourself up.
First, is it possible your little one has a tongue tie? That might be an explanation for persistent low supply when you haven't had it before.
Second, pumping after feeds is a great idea. It's hard to do it with a fussy baby - do what you can. I'd consider a galactagogue, too. Have you heard of domperidone? It's a drug for gastric motility that has the side effect of increasing prolactin and hence supply. I believe U.S. moms can buy it online from overseas. There's a FAQ in the Breastfeeding Challenges forum and here's a primer on domperidone, which I've taken for a total two years without any effects other than more milk: http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-DGS
I think U.S. moms can more readily get Reglan, a similar drug, although apparently it can cause anxiety and depression in some women.
Finally, how are you supplementing? If you're using bottles, I'd consider an at-the-breast supplementer like a Medela SNS or (much better) a Lact-Aid. It will head off flow preference which can compound low supply and lead to nursing strikes. I always needed to supplement my first son but it was important to me that he was only fed at the breast with the Lact-Aid. http://www.lact-aid.com/
If you're not interested in an at-the-breast supplementer, I'd use the slowest flow newborn nipple you can find.
Hang in there. It's so, so hard to struggle with simply trying to feed your baby. Be gentle with yourself.

[sosurreal09]

Everything she said!

[Rnejic]

Originally Posted by Megan73 

You're not failing. You're doing what you gotta do to feed your baby while you figure this out. Please don't beat yourself up.
First, is it possible your little one has a tongue tie? That might be an explanation for persistent low supply when you haven't had it before.
Second, pumping after feeds is a great idea. It's hard to do it with a fussy baby - do what you can. I'd consider a galactagogue, too. Have you heard of domperidone? It's a drug for gastric motility that has the side effect of increasing prolactin and hence supply. I believe U.S. moms can buy it online from overseas. There's a FAQ in the Breastfeeding Challenges forum and here's a primer on domperidone, which I've taken for a total two years without any effects other than more milk: http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-DGS
I think U.S. moms can more readily get Reglan, a similar drug, although apparently it can cause anxiety and depression in some women.
Finally, how are you supplementing? If you're using bottles, I'd consider an at-the-breast supplementer like a Medela SNS or (much better) a Lact-Aid. It will head off flow preference which can compound low supply and lead to nursing strikes. I always needed to supplement my first son but it was important to me that he was only fed at the breast with the Lact-Aid. http://www.lact-aid.com/
If you're not interested in an at-the-breast supplementer, I'd use the slowest flow newborn nipple you can find.
Hang in there. It's so, so hard to struggle with simply trying to feed your baby. Be gentle with yourself.

Thank you!!! Yay, new suggestions :)  I'm going to buy a SNS today, I completely forgot about those, I think it will really help.  She is most frustrated by the lack of flow when nursing.  She likes to nurse but gets really frustrated by the lack of milk.  I hope this does the trick.  I will read up on the domperidone as well.  Thanks so much!!! 

[Mama2ChicknLil]

I'm sorry you are going through this...and it may not really be possible, but have you tried some skin to skin with baby? It porbably can't hurt. I've seen moms whose bodies 'relearned' the process with a few hours of skin to skin daily, any chance you can be topless that long? And I third (or fourth?) all of Megan's tips!

Just the fact that you are trying so hard to make this work shows you are not failing. Whatever you end up feeding you rbaby, she is getting loved like crazy, and that matters more than anything.

[Mama2ChicknLil]

Just wanted to check in and see how you are doing!

[Megan73]

Me, too. How are you doing, mama?

Originally Posted by Mama2ChicknLil 

Just the fact that you are trying so hard to make this work shows you are not failing. Whatever you end up feeding you rbaby, she is getting loved like crazy, and that matters more than anything.

So true.

[Rnejic]

Originally Posted by Mama2ChicknLil 

Just wanted to check in and see how you are doing!

We are doing alright, thanks for asking! 

I only ended up having to give her formula twice.  When I stopped pumping every 2 hours (I did it for a few days, I was trying to trigger my body to produce more) and my lact-aid came in (just 2 days after ordering it!) everything was pretty much back to normal.  I don't give her any bottles now, if I need to supplement I use the lact-aid.  It seems to be helping some with her flow preference, I think the bottles were messing her up more then I wanted to admit.  The SNS works really well though!  I still don't have a ton of milk for some reason but we are managing just like we were before I got sick.  I still have to watch that I don't go much more then 2-3 hours between feedings, that I eat and drink enough and that I don't get too stressed because my supply seems to be affected really easily this time around.
 

[Megan73]