Sick, supply diminishing. « Back to Group Discussions

[CDsMom1031]

Please help. I'm already taking like, 12-15 Fenugreek a day and drinking, I don't even know how much water.

It's hard to eat because my throat hurts SO BAD.

And my ENTIRE BACKSTOCK of breastmilk is gone because I'm no longer able to keep up. I'm now only making one bottle for every 2-3 feedings when I used to make as much as he drank.

=( He's only 12 1/2 weeks old. I'm not ready to be done BFing.

[jbk21]

It's pretty normal for your milk to go down while sick.  Just keep nursing as much as you possibly can- once you feel better and are eating as normal it will bounce back.  Don't stress out (that reduces it more!)  Don't supplement if you can help it- baby to the breast!  If you have to supplement, pump.  You have to keep demanding that your body make milk.  Remember- it's all supply-demand. :-)  Feel better soon, mama!

[Jaimee]

Yes, baby to the breast as much as possible!  Keep up the fluids!  What about soup?  Smoothies?  Avoid antihistamines.  I hope you feel better soon!  You can do it!!!!!!!

[Abraisme]

Yup
 

Originally Posted by jbk21 

It's pretty normal for your milk to go down while sick.  Just keep nursing as much as you possibly can- once you feel better and are eating as normal it will bounce back.  Don't stress out (that reduces it more!)  Don't supplement if you can help it- baby to the breast!  If you have to supplement, pump.  You have to keep demanding that your body make milk.  Remember- it's all supply-demand. :-)  Feel better soon, mama!

[CDsMom1031]

=( I'm pumping, because I woke up before kiddo did. He's STTN now so I haven't done anything since around midnight when I pumped before bed (He ate at 930)... I'm not even getting anything out of my right side and my left side has barely given me an ounce. It's been 20 minutes. =(

[Jaimee]

Are you getting a let down while pumping?

[CDsMom1031]

No. And I usually do. I got oatmeal tonight... And I'm still taking the Fenugreek so we'll see if that helps.

[SoCaliMommy]

Reminder that pumping doesn't indicate your actual supply.

 I wouldn't base supply dimishing going off of what you can or cant pump.  This talks about low supply http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#supply

[CDsMom1031]

I know it doesn't indicate how much supply I have, but when I'm used to getting 3-4oz everytime I pump to getting nothing but a few drops, it worried me.

He was still getting enough from my breast though. Sometimes he'd have to feed off of both sides, but we'd get it.

And, update. Feeling much better... And pumping almost as much as I was before. =) Now I just have to work on getting my stock back up, so I can quit supplementing. Sigh.

[Jaimee]

I'm so glad you're feeling better and your supply is returning!