Advanced age; milk not in yet!

[sherryotr]

I am 42 years old and had my baby girl 14 days ago. I planned on breast feeding but my milk never came in. When I pump, I get maybe a teaspoon of what looks like colostrum from each breast. That's it. My pediatrician wanted me to supplement starting day 3 of my baby's life due to the fact that she lost over 10% of her body weight by then. So we did and she quickly gained it back. I continued pumping every 2-3 hours but with no increase in milk! I had her suckle before pumping too and that didn't seem to do anything except frustrate her because she quickly learned what a full tummy was like from the formula. Is it too late to try to work on my milk supply? I simply do not have the discipline to pump 10 times per day. We just moved into a new house and I own a business so pumping every 4 hours /4-6 times/day is more realistic. But can I expect to be successful at that rate? My doctor put me on Reglan (anti acid-reflux med) to see if that would help but I haven't seen a difference with that either. The lactation consultant seemed to think my age has something to do with it. "If you don't use it you lose it" kind of mentality. Oddly, I got pregnant on the first try and had the perfect healthy pregancy. Could I just be peri-menopausal? Help!!!!
Sherry

[RootSnort]

I would see another lactation consultant. I would also prepare yourself for the fact that to make this work, you will need frequent breast stimulation, either from the baby or the pump AT LEAST 8 times a day. There are many things that could have happened, such a retained fragment of the placenta - have you seen your OB about this? There is time to work on supply, and there's multiple ways to work on it. In the mean time, keep practicing latch with the baby so they don't forget how, to keep up bonding, and to keep trying to kick start supply.

[khanni]

You could a;so nurse using a supplemental nursing system. There is the Medela SNS and the lact-aid. This way baby is being supplemented at breast while simultaneously stimulating your milk supply. I have low supply from insufficient glandular tissue (IGT) and feed my son that way. Check out the At-Breast Supplementer section here: http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml

[julie128]

It is possible that your age could be having an effect, but it could easily be something else as well. Can you supplement at the breast? There's a video clip here that shows how to do it. Fenugreek and brewer's yeast are known to increase milk production.

[Moonglow Girl]

I know some 42+ mamas who haven't had any trouble breastfeeding.

I think your supply issues stem from early and frequent supplementing.

That 10% body weight "rule" messes up breastfeeding and supply for many women. If you had IV fluids during your birth experience or baby was weighed immediately upon birth instead of hours later, it's not even accurate.

It's not too late to build your supply.

But you have to stop feeding baby anywhere but at the breast. Use an SNS. Call the hospital you delivered at and they should be able to set you up with one. Baby might fuss as she gets used to the new way of feeding, so be prepared for it. Her fussiness won't hurt her. And it will be the first of many times in her life that you do what's best for her, even if she's not in agreement as it's happening.

And, this is important... your prolactin levels are most fluid in the first 21 days after birth. After this period, it becomes harder to change your supply. Possible, but more much more effort on your part. The next 7 days are key.

Put your business on hold for one week. Pump or nurse 8-12 times. Especially between 1 am and 5 am, when your prolactin levels are highest. Have a "nurse-in" with your baby - spend lots of time in bed skin to skin and sleep with her at your side - sounds very non-technical, but it can really help you as build supply.

Finally, consider taking fenugreek. You need at least 6000 mg per day (usually around 12 tablets per day) to have the best effect on your supply. Make sure you are taking enough. Lots of mamas just follow the dosage directions on the bottle (it's sold as a "digestive aid") and never see results.

You can do this. But it's going to require some intensive efforts on your part, especially in the next week.

The rewards are very, very worth it.

Congrats on your new baby and good luck!

[visrumxl5]

keep going

no new advice - it's all been said... but big hugs and good luck....!!

[MarcyC]

An SNS (Medela) literally saved my nursing relationship with my daughter. I went on to nurse her for 2 years. You can do this!!!

[Mommal]

I wouldn't blame your age for your difficulties with milk production. I know an older mom who nursed both her babies- one born when she was 48, the other when she was 51! As a PP said, early and frequent supplementation is a more likely culprit.

The best thing you can do to get your milk supply to come in is to pump frequently, using a high-quality pump (hospital-grade is best). When I had supply problems I pumped every 2 hours during the day and every 3 at night. It was exhausting, but it worked.

There are some medical conditions that can hinder breastfeeding: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Insufficient Glandular Tissue, retained placenta, and thyroid problems.

[sherryotr]

advanced age; milk not in yet

Thank you all for your input. I am disappointed that my lactation consultant did not give me the same. I will give it all a try. I'm also glad to hear that age is probably not a culprit. One other question:
Would I have any symptoms if part of the placenta remained inside? I don't have an OB/GYN appt. until 6 weeks from delivery. I thought I would have pain/abnormal bleeding if so.
Sherry

[Cory]

This is all good advice-and I'd like to add some more. Goat's Rue is great at boosting supply. I have Insufficient Glandular Tissue and when I pump it is just as you describe-but the Goat's Rue really does help! If you haven't yet, I would consider having a LC look at your breasts to determine if you may have Insufficient Glandular Tissue. You can also do a google search and get an idea of what IGT looks like.

[tree-hugger]

you've been given good advice here. just wanted to wish you well

[pumpkinseed]

Originally Posted by sherryotr

Thank you all for your input. I am disappointed that my lactation consultant did not give me the same. I will give it all a try. I'm also glad to hear that age is probably not a culprit. One other question:
Would I have any symptoms if part of the placenta remained inside? I don't have an OB/GYN appt. until 6 weeks from delivery. I thought I would have pain/abnormal bleeding if so.
Sherry

At 14 days you wouldn't have any symptoms. The usual symptom is that you are usually still bleeding when most woman have stopped. With my first - I went in for my 6 wk check and was still bleeding-I didn't know this was not normal. I then went in for a sonogram and found out I had retained placenta.

[Romana]

Originally Posted by Moonglow Girl

That 10% body weight "rule" messes up breastfeeding and supply for many women. If you had IV fluids during your birth experience or baby was weighed immediately upon birth instead of hours later, it's not even accurate.

Could you please explain this to me? I did not have IV fluids for either of my births but both babies were weighed shortly after birth (not hours later). What difference does it make? Why?

Thanks!

[randomacts]

Originally Posted by Romana9+2

Could you please explain this to me? I did not have IV fluids for either of my births but both babies were weighed shortly after birth (not hours later). What difference does it make? Why?

Thanks!

Well, when you are pumped full of fluids during labor, so is your baby. When they are weighed right after, they are still all swollen from the fluids, tipping the scales when in actuality it is just the water weight. So when they lose the water weight, it appears as though they dropped actual body weight, but they didn't, causing health professionals to shove formula in their mouths.

Does that help?