REALLY sore nipples (ouch!) & supply problem

[Romana]

I need help . . . little history:

Dd is 8.5 mos, started solids at 6 mos. EBF until 6mos. I work full time. Recently, we have all been sick. I'm completely well now, but my supply dipped while sick and hasn't gone back up. In fact it's gone down more. I used to get 12-16 oz/day pumping, now I get 6-8.

This week I started pumping more to try to get more milk. I'm pumping every 2-2.5 hrs or more. I have the Medela advanced PIS. I generally use it on a very low setting but sometimes need to turn it up a bit to get the 2nd letdown (if any).

My problems are (1) it hasn't increased my supply yet; and (2) my nipples are so, so sore. When I go to start the pump, it hurts so much. Also when dd latches on. It does get better, but the pain doesn't totally go away.

There's no cracking, bleeding, or dryness. They look normal, they just HURT!

Anyone have any advice for either or both of these? I can't use most skin products because my skin is very, very sensitive, especially to natural/herbal ingredients.

Thanks for any thoughts!

Julia
dd 8mos

[RootSnort]

Are the flanges on your pump big enough? Keep at it, you should still be able to get supply back, it may just take some more time.

[Romana]

Thanks for responding.

I don't think it's an inherent problem with the pump - I've been pumping daily for almost 7 months now with no pain. All of a sudden I am sooooo sore.

Please, anyone, remedies for the pain? I don't understand why it's returned at almost 9 mos of BF and pumping! Will it get better?

Julia
dd 8.5 mos

P.S. Laura - if dd had been a boy, she would have been named Alex. And my EDD was 3/24/06!

[kozmickreations05]

Have you tried breastmilk on the breast like lotion? That always helped me. And ofcourse lanolin. Also for your supply prob you could try Fenugreek. 1500 mg per day is what I took and I noticed a difference from day one! I never had a supply issue but I stopped getting "full" breasts around 8 mos myself so I took fenugreek just to be on the safe side.....I took it for about 2 weeks. It helped with fullness and but I never got my letdown back again.

[Romana]

Thanks, I'll try all of those! I'm ready for a little help.

Julia

[mama-a-llama]

Any possibilty you might be pregnant? That could account for both issues, and the suddenness.

[RootSnort]

I'm stumped about the pain. I wish I knew what to tell you!

One thing I have done for supply is to drink a dark beer most nights after pumping before bedtime. It's a German herbal remedy, and it's believed that the hops and brewer's yeast are part of what helps. Perhaps also you need more fluids since you are healing from an illness?

I named Alex after my Mom Alexe, who was named after her Grandfather Alex. He was "due" 3/31, but since I have an autoimmune disease and am older (36), we agreed that going to term might be risky, and induced a little early. He's a wonderful boy!