Preventing low supply during pregnancy

[jwpsgurl]

Does anyow one know how to prevent low supply during pregnancy?? I just found out that I am pregnant and my little one is only 6.5 months old and I really don't want to have to supplement.

[jwpsgurl]

Anyone? Well if no one has suggestions, are there any success stories of mamas nursing an infant while pregnant and not having to supplement???

[paradoxia13]

*bump*

:

[CathMac]

Jessica,
Only a small percentage of women don't experience a supply drop in pregnancy.

Hormonally you are fighting an uphill battle and you are limited in your herbal remedies due to the pregnancy. When I was pregnant with DD2 my hospital LC recommended "Mother Love's" "More Milk Two (MM2)". I believe it has the same herbs as "More Milk" but it's a non-alcoholic tincture.

I was ambivalent about taking it since from the research I did at least one herb was contraindicated in the first trimester and possibly later. Given the age of my DC (approximately 1 year) I decided not to supplement.

One of the herbs, Red Raspberry Leaf (RRL) is actually used by some women during pregnancy as a uterine toner which supposedly makes for an easier delivery. I believe there is an RRL "Tribe" out there somewhere, probably on one of the pregnancy boards. If I felt like I had to supplement I might start with the smallest dose of that.

Otherwise, I would eat as much oatmeal as humanly possible, drink lots and lots of water (anecdotally that's one of the few things I've heard is really successful in boosting supply during pregnancy), get plenty of protein, healthy fats, and healthy carbs, and consider co-sleeping to increase the number of nursings throughout the day. Oh, and get as much rest as possible.

Good luck,
~Cath

[jwpsgurl]

Thanks Cath!

Please anyone with a success story????

[ccohenou]

You might read "Adventures in Tandem Nursing" (http://www.nursingtwo.com) for more information. The likelihood is that you will experience a drop in supply and that the usual tricks for increasing supply will not reverse it. For the most part, bodies try hard to "reboot" during pregnancy for the newborn. This happens sooner for some people and later for others, and there are a few who have milk to the end.

For me, my milk was noticeably decreased by 2-3 months along and pretty much gone by four months. My children were older (11-12 months when I got pregnant), so we were able to move mainly to solids and nursing for comfort. Even if you need to supplement with foods, donor milk and/or formula depending on when/if there isn't enough milk, you can still choose to continue nursing for comfort and colostrum...and when the new baby comes, they can both enjoy the return of milk.

[Aletheia]

I am in the same boat, and am feeling so sad about it. I actually took a pregnancy test because DS, who has ordinarily not been much into solids, has been signalling "eat" instead of "nurse" a lot lately, and has seemed so ravenous. He's 16 months, but still I hate hate hate that I won't be able to nurse him for full two years. Stupid no birth control me.

So I am bumping this for success stories too-- hopefully there are some out there??

[Demeter9]

Oatmeal. Alfalfa. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea. Barley (I like ovaltine for this). Lots and lots and lots of water. Rest. Then more rest. Be kind to yourself.

[broodymama]

I nursed DS through my pregnancy with DD and am currently tandem nursing both of them through this pregnancy. I didn't lose my supply during my last pregnancy though it did drop a bit. Around 23-24 weeks my milk changed over to colostrum. Even though I maintained my supply throughout, I don't think it would have been enough to sustain an infant, my DS was over a year when I got pregnant.

Good luck!

[Aletheia]

Thanks ladies. The shock is beginning to wear off (I only got my BFP this morning) and I am trying to focus on the fact that I've done well nursing DS for 16 months, and not 6 like my mom nursed me. Right? I just hope he stays with the comfort nursing. I'm so not ready to give up our cuddle times.