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low supply...I feel like there is nothing left to try! - Page 4  

post #61 of 80
10/12/07 at 7:25pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks all for your kind words of encouragement. MDC has gotten me through some difficult times! i did see the LC today and she helped me figure out that the SNS doesn't have to go directly to baby's roof of mouth as the instructions say. So now we're at least able to use the SNS!
I am going ASAP to have thyroid and iron tested just in case. Otherwise I'm now content that I've done pretty much everything that I can do and can peacefully supplement. After all, this baby is getting more than half breastmilk! That is something to celebrate. It's far better than none, and yes, given our challenges, this is great!
Thanks again.
post #62 of 80
10/12/07 at 7:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sanguine_speed View Post
Otherwise I'm now content that I've done pretty much everything that I can do and can peacefully supplement. After all, this baby is getting more than half breastmilk! That is something to celebrate. It's far better than none, and yes, given our challenges, this is great!
Thanks again.
What a wonderful gift to give your child all the milk you can make. DC will still get the antibodies, and the anticancer agents, the good fats, and the cuddly mommy-time. And before you now it, you can shift over from formula to table foods and eventually no more formula. Yet the nursing relationship can go much longer and mean so much more.

FWIW, for me, just giving up pumping except occasionally was a lifesaver. I found it easy to try some different galactagogues after giving up the pumping sessions without any stress. It was that pumping schedule that was :
post #63 of 80
10/16/07 at 2:27pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I'm still at it. I got a new prescription for Domperidone (I had run out) and I've got enough to take 120mg a day for a month. I also got Brewer's Yeast on the advice of a MDC mama (thanks!), and I figured I'd give Weleda Nursing Tea a try, even though Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle really didn't work so well for me in capsule form. This one has fennel in it, which I really don't like the taste of, but whatever--I also don't like not having enough breastmilk. A LC did tell me that fennel might be harmful in that it can decrease milk production, but I'm willing to try it as it's been in nursing teas for eternity and other mamas have had success with it. I also got the order for bloodwork to have the thyroid and iron checkup. The doctor will call me with the results whether the levels are normal or not. We both agreed that we hope I have a minor thyroid problem because it's easy to fix and might help my milk supply to fix it! If it's not problematic, I'm pretty much out of ideas. My LC did say I could try Goat's Rue, but that it really only helps to increase tissue after a couple of months. By that point, DC will be starting solids and I'll need less milk anyway :.
post #64 of 80
10/16/07 at 4:13pm
I tried to PM you but your box is full...

I haven't read your whole thread, so forgive me if this has been mentioned... but MOBI is Mothers Overcoming Breastfeeding Issues and it might really be helpful for you. I have low supply also and found it really really wonderful. Very supportive and those moms (and some IBCLC's post there also) really know their stuff. Here's the link if you are interested....

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mobi/

BTW there's another option if you are bottle feeding. My LC told me about this... it's called the "Finish at the breast" method. Most people tell you to breastfeed first, then use the bottle. With this method, you bottlefeed first, then finish at the breast.. the idea being that the baby receives all those wonderful feelings of satiety and being so full and warm from the breast, not from the bottle. It worked well for me.
http://www.lowmilksupply.org/finishatthebreast.shtml

Please let me know if I can help in any way at all...
post #65 of 80
10/18/07 at 2:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sanguine_speed View Post
Well, I'm still at it. I got a new prescription for Domperidone (I had run out) and I've got enough to take 120mg a day for a month. I also got Brewer's Yeast on the advice of a MDC mama (thanks!), and I figured I'd give Weleda Nursing Tea a try, even though Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle really didn't work so well for me in capsule form. This one has fennel in it, which I really don't like the taste of, but whatever--I also don't like not having enough breastmilk. A LC did tell me that fennel might be harmful in that it can decrease milk production, but I'm willing to try it as it's been in nursing teas for eternity and other mamas have had success with it. I also got the order for bloodwork to have the thyroid and iron checkup. The doctor will call me with the results whether the levels are normal or not. We both agreed that we hope I have a minor thyroid problem because it's easy to fix and might help my milk supply to fix it! If it's not problematic, I'm pretty much out of ideas. My LC did say I could try Goat's Rue, but that it really only helps to increase tissue after a couple of months. By that point, DC will be starting solids and I'll need less milk anyway :.
I'm glad you're still at it!! Was any of Dr. Newman's info helpful? I believe I started taking the Motherlove More Milk Special Blend (with goat's rue in it) around three months postpartum, which is I think where you said you were, and I believe it's helped.. Something helped I think because ds is up to almost 12 lbs and only on 2 oz. of supplements a day... I was never well-endowed anyways so the extra tissue doesn't hurt

Good luck!
post #66 of 80
10/20/07 at 5:15pm
There's great freedom in saying "I Quit" isn't there? It seemed like I was able to find the strength to try again every time I said it. It came to the point where I was just fine with being able to provide for half of his needs, 'cuz half is better than nothing! The important thing became just to provide some antibodies and to enjoy my boy.
post #67 of 80
10/27/07 at 5:08pm
Thread Starter 
I am still trying very hard to increase my supply, but my mindset has shifted so I no longer feel 'guilty'. This weekend I'm doing a "nursing vacation" except for me this means pumping every hour to hour and a half and nursing on demand and pumping after nursing (so pumping all the time ). It's hard for me to pump after feeding and supplementing during the week because oscar cries A LOT and i can't put him down to do so all the time. We are seeing a craniosacral therapist which no, hasn't helped, but whatever. It's worth continuing for now. We're also seeing a chiropractor on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, I decided to ask for breastmilk. And I got litres of it. I trust its source. Once it's pasteurized I will be giving it to Oscar to supplement. I'm wondering if he's having a hard time processing the formula and if that's causing him to cry all the time. We'll see. If his demeanor changes I can pump a lot more and hopefully this will help.
post #68 of 80
10/27/07 at 5:47pm
I don't know if you ever got the thyriod checked but please please do so!!!

I had suppply issues from 1wk after birth until 12mo when I discovered my thyroid was overactive. As soon as they put me on meds - wowsers my milk came in just like it had right after DD was born!
post #69 of 80
10/28/07 at 11:08am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sandygirl View Post
I don't know if you ever got the thyriod checked but please please do so!!!

I had suppply issues from 1wk after birth until 12mo when I discovered my thyroid was overactive. As soon as they put me on meds - wowsers my milk came in just like it had right after DD was born!
I'm sorry I forgot to update. Yes, I did get my thyroid checked and it was fine . I wish that had been the problem. Just for kicks I also got my B12, hemoglobin, ferritin and other stuff checked out and it's all fine. I did the full thyroid...free T3, T4 and TSH. All normal.
post #70 of 80
10/28/07 at 5:36pm
to you and all your efforts! Yes it is worth it. I always feel sorry for you mamas with low supply and who have no idea what from. That must be frustrating.
post #71 of 80
10/28/07 at 7:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sanguine_speed View Post
Meanwhile, I decided to ask for breastmilk. And I got litres of it. I trust its source. Once it's pasteurized I will be giving it to Oscar to supplement. I'm wondering if he's having a hard time processing the formula and if that's causing him to cry all the time. We'll see. If his demeanor changes I can pump a lot more and hopefully this will help.
WOW! I just wanted to let you know that I think you are amazing. You are working so hard at this. Your baby is getting breastmilk at the breast. That is fantastic. I hope that your 'nursing vacation" works well and your supply increases.

If your supply stays steady, and you must continue to suppliment, I hope that you enjoy nursing your baby for a long time to come. You will likely find that as he gets older and shifts to include solids in his diet, and then as solids become the main part of his diet, that the suplimentation decreases and then disappears, but you both continue to enjoy your special nursing relationship that you have worked so very hard to preserve.

post #72 of 80
11/13/07 at 6:06pm
Thread Starter 
I have a happy ending :.

DS has not had a supplement of anything since last Thursday. That's 5 days! Thanks for all of your support. MDC has really helped me through some difficult times and you can all take some credit for my baby getting mama's milk.

Thank you.
post #73 of 80
11/13/07 at 8:07pm
yay! that's so awesome!!

do you feel like something helped the most, or was it a combination of things?
post #74 of 80
11/13/07 at 8:50pm
I am so glad to hear a happy ending! Good for you, mama. You put a lot of work into this.
post #75 of 80
11/13/07 at 9:45pm
Sanguine, pls let us know what you think turned things around for you - I am in your position and have benefited from your description and others' advice!
post #76 of 80
11/13/07 at 9:51pm
AWESOME!
post #77 of 80
11/13/07 at 9:55pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Mamas...

This sounds so cliche, but as soon as I stopped worrying about it so much it happened. I nixed the blessed thistle, but did continue the fenugreek and Domperidone. Also, I was able to make small gains on the weekends when DP was home. I pumped the weekend prior to this every 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours. Also, ds was diagnosed with GERD and I have learned that he's not hungry as often as I'd thought. He went from the 10th percentile in weight when he had his surgery for pyloric stenosis 8 weeks ago, to the 75th percentile! I thought GERD babies would be losing weight. Well, ped says it's common to see a huge spike because GERD babies cry so much and mamas offer them food when they cry. So, his 'need' was less than I thought (though I do still think he was meant to be a big boy), and I nursed a lot.
I do believe wholeheartedly though that the biggest factor was releasing the stress of it all. I asked for and received a generous donation of breastmilk right before a very sudden improvement. I accepted I would supplement and felt okay with giving donor milk. Before that, I was very stressed out and felt horrible for giving him formula. We did happen to go to craniosacral therapy and chiropractic care a little while ago. Though, the craniosacral therapist said she couldn't work with him until his crying let up. He's been on Prevacid for a week and now I'm not trying to feed him all the time because he's not crying constantly.
post #78 of 80
11/13/07 at 11:41pm
Wow, Sanguine_speed - congratulations! I am so happy for you and your baby.
post #79 of 80
11/17/07 at 12:59am
Hello sanguine_speed,

I have been reading this whole thread, having just found it today. I know what it is like to feel like you are offering so much, getting so frustrated and then to begin to resent your baby and I am so glad for you that things have gotten way better and you have come out the other side. Congratulations!

I am writing about the thyroid issue you are investigating. I developed hypothyroidism (underactive) after my first baby at about 5-6 months post-partum. I likely had hyper that changed to hypo, as this is very common. I would venture to say that most docs, even endro specialists, are not aware of the sensitivity of the blood tests for thyroid disease. What I mean is that there can be many occasions when the tests come back normal, when in fact a thyroid problem exists. Docs (and others) who know this, use a much smaller range for "normal" than the range provided by the labs and used by most doctors. For example, for TSH, labs will say that .5 to 4.5 is normal. However, most women feel good between 1-2. Personally, I need to be close to 1 and I can tell from how I feel as to when I am under .5 or over 1.5. The problem of course is that we, the patient, can learn that we have normal labs when we still feel off. Often we are told (in one form or another) that we don't really have a problem or we are MIS-led down another road - for example, to anti-depressants, or such. I hope you are able to learn the actual test results of your labs so that you can do a little research yourself.

I am happy to provide more information - websites, books, personal experience if you would like. I was so angry not to be properly diagnosed because I felt like I missed out on my time with my baby (and my life) while my thyroid was whacked out and I was not treated in a timely manner. For this reason, I urge anyone who thinks they MIGHT have a problem to check it out - you can save yourself (and your loved ones!) a lot of grief. Here is a place to start (see links to checklists of symptoms too): http://thyroid.about.com/library/links/blthyroid.htm

Good luck!
Robin
post #80 of 80
11/17/07 at 12:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sanguine_speed View Post
...
This sounds so cliche, but as soon as I stopped worrying about it so much it happened. ... So, his 'need' was less than I thought (though I do still think he was meant to be a big boy), and I nursed a lot. I do believe wholeheartedly though that the biggest factor was releasing the stress of it all. ... Before that, I was very stressed out and felt horrible for giving him formula. ... He's been on Prevacid for a week and now I'm not trying to feed him all the time because he's not crying constantly.
sanguine_speed,
I am so happy and relieved for you. Sometimes breastfeeding isn't cheap but it's always priceless.
~Cath
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