I'm not ready to be done!

[KMK_Mama]

My son is 8 months and my milk is just about gone. :

I had this same problem with my DD's at about the same time and all the LC can tell me is that it is hormonal. When my periods come back, my milk supply dries up.

I have been pumping and if he has just eaten, I get nothing. If he hasn't eaten, I get only 1 oz combined. I am already taking Domperidone and just ordered more, but it gives me such a terrible headache. I only take 1-2 pills a day and I want to try more, but I don't know if the headaches will get worse??

I am going to try and pump every few hours during the day and as soon as I get the Domperidone, I am going to try and up my dose to see if those things help. I don't know what else to do, but I am not ready to be done. Keegan is my last baby. :

Anyone else in a similar situation??

[twins10705]

Are you absolutely sure the milk is gone? Is he having wet diapers? Is he fussing for more after both breasts are empty?

My milk supply seems to dip when I'm on my period, but I just try to eat and drink a little more and *try* to rest. I am only able to pump very little, but that is not necessarily an indication you have low supply.

I had too many bad s/a from dom(including headache) that only got worse -- oatmeal and fenugreek worked better for me anyway.

I would just keep nursing -- always offer nursing before anything else. He may be going through a growth spurt, too, so it will take lots of nursing before your milk supply catches up.

If you try everything and he is obviously not getting enough milk, maybe try a lactaid or sns(or cup or finger feeder) with some donor milk or goat milk -- that way you never have to give him an actual bottle...which can feel really defeating when you've tried so hard to keep the baby breastfeeding. good luck!

[KMK_Mama]

With my first DD, I absolutely refused to supplement. She got rings under her eyes, lost weight and looked generally unhealthy.

This time, I am supplementing with formula. I always nurse first, but sometimes he won't even stay latched because nothing is coming out. This isn't JUST while I am on my period. It started when my periods started, but my supply also dips when I am ovulating and isn't even back to normal by the time my period starts and then it dips again. It seems to be getting worse every month.....this whole thing started when he was 4 months old. Before that, I had TONS of milk!

It is so frustrating. I am so sad. :

So, yes, I think that it is drying up, but I am going to try and pump and take more Domperidone to see what happens.

Anything else I can do?? Can anyone relate??

[BakerALM]

Originally Posted by KMK_Mama

With my first DD, I absolutely refused to supplement. She got rings under her eyes, lost weight and looked generally unhealthy.

This time, I am supplementing with formula. I always nurse first, but sometimes he won't even stay latched because nothing is coming out. This isn't JUST while I am on my period. It started when my periods started, but my supply also dips when I am ovulating and isn't even back to normal by the time my period starts and then it dips again. It seems to be getting worse every month.....this whole thing started when he was 4 months old. Before that, I had TONS of milk!

It is so frustrating. I am so sad. :

So, yes, I think that it is drying up, but I am going to try and pump and take more Domperidone to see what happens.

Anything else I can do?? Can anyone relate??

I am soo sorry for you! This sound so hard! I am EPing and I totaly understand the pain you feel when you are loosing your nursing relationship . : Pumping sounds like a good idea along with the dom but could you pick up an SNS or just run a tube from a bottle to your breast and tape it on. My LC rigged this up for me when we were trying to get my DD back to the breast. The system worked well but her latch was so far gone (she was already 4 mths old when we tried this, I wish we had tried this months earlier ) that she would not even make a seal on my nipple to create suction so I never got to really use it on a daily basis. This system might get your little one to spend more time on your breast so that you are getting the stimulation your breasts need. Atleast it would be better than having to pump even more to make up for the time she is spending bottle feeding. I would also recommend pumping after using the SNS or similar system just to be sure that you are getting every last drop and your breasts are good and drained.

Hugs!
Andrea
EPing for Lola 9.5mths