Hi!
I just wanted to share my success with you all. I started out, 3rd baby, (actually it happened with all of my babies) with supply issues -huge ones, like they estimated I probably only made about 4oz of BM/day by how much formula my babies have needed to maintain their growth. I figured it'd be a miracle if I could make a full supply. Well, I'm not there yet, but my baby is 3 months old this week and he's only taking 5-8 ounces of formula/day now, (through a supplementer). I NEVER thought I'd be able to supplement one of my babies so little! It still seems to be getting better. Here's what three things seem to have helped the most in order of most important to the least:
1. Domperidone, -160 mg/day (I'm going to try to wean off of this when ds is 6mos old). More prolactin = more milk for me, no question.
2. Reverse Cycling, -Really! I actually encouraged him to do this -especially between 1 and 9am and it has made a big difference. I noticed that if he fed alot at night he didn't take as much supplement in a 24-hour period. I figure he gets the most for his efforts at this time. I seem to make more milk at a quicker rate during these hours. -and for someone with supply issues I figured I may need to take advantage of that natural "high" in production. I'm not sleep deprived at all, I just move to the couch, let him nurse and go right back to sleep. I couldn't relax enough to do this with my other kids.
3. Using a supplementer to feed him, -After he's nursed on both sides without it. He always gets his meals at the breast this way and completely empties me every time. -He even nurses a ways past empty with the supplementer.
Again, when I think back I can hardly believe I've just about reversed the situation -from only making 4oz BM to only needing 5-8oz of formula. Do I dare hope I can nurse without the supplement in the future?
I just wanted to share my success with you all. I started out, 3rd baby, (actually it happened with all of my babies) with supply issues -huge ones, like they estimated I probably only made about 4oz of BM/day by how much formula my babies have needed to maintain their growth. I figured it'd be a miracle if I could make a full supply. Well, I'm not there yet, but my baby is 3 months old this week and he's only taking 5-8 ounces of formula/day now, (through a supplementer). I NEVER thought I'd be able to supplement one of my babies so little! It still seems to be getting better. Here's what three things seem to have helped the most in order of most important to the least:
1. Domperidone, -160 mg/day (I'm going to try to wean off of this when ds is 6mos old). More prolactin = more milk for me, no question.
2. Reverse Cycling, -Really! I actually encouraged him to do this -especially between 1 and 9am and it has made a big difference. I noticed that if he fed alot at night he didn't take as much supplement in a 24-hour period. I figure he gets the most for his efforts at this time. I seem to make more milk at a quicker rate during these hours. -and for someone with supply issues I figured I may need to take advantage of that natural "high" in production. I'm not sleep deprived at all, I just move to the couch, let him nurse and go right back to sleep. I couldn't relax enough to do this with my other kids.
3. Using a supplementer to feed him, -After he's nursed on both sides without it. He always gets his meals at the breast this way and completely empties me every time. -He even nurses a ways past empty with the supplementer.
Again, when I think back I can hardly believe I've just about reversed the situation -from only making 4oz BM to only needing 5-8oz of formula. Do I dare hope I can nurse without the supplement in the future?
to both of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
