Need help prepping before baby comes, never made enough milk for first child...

[StarMama]

So when my son was born I never made enough milk for him. Maybe about 1/3 of his needs when he was bitty? I was induced for pre-e I didn't have, was pumped sooo full of saline and medications I have no idea if that affected my supply, but I really want to be prepared this time around.

Last time I pumped, used an SNS, had domperidone, ate oatmeal like crazy, took fenugreek until I couldn't stand maple syrup anything anymore (the smell of waffles and syrup in my first trimester this time around was so nauseating! ), ate candy coated fennel seed, mothers milk tea, and saw both a IBCLC and went to LLL meetings. I also had my thyroid checked several times with blood tests as well as iron levels, and progesterone levels. All perfectly fine.

This time around I want to start goats rue when its safe (34 weeks along I believe?), and be prepared before hand as best as I can. Hoping for the best (no issues) preparing for the worst.

I don't have any visible breast issues, never had any reduction or surgery to my breasts, don't have tubular breasts, I am plus sized and that might have something to do with it (but I am about 20 lbs lighter than I was when ds was born, even 8 months pregnant... dunno if that'll matter) with the extra estrogen fat stores, but I can't really improve that before the baby is born...

Can anyone give me other ideas of what I can do/have prepared before hand to perhaps help out? I did nurse ds until he was slightly over 4 even with the low supply, but I'd sure love to be able to provide all the nutritional needs for this new LO if its possible!

Thanks so much for the help!

[irony_optional]

Make sure you're not anemic. I was slightly anemic at the end of the pregnancy and after delivery, and had some supply issues that have since resolved (though I'm not a fountain of milk, my four-month-old seems to be doing fine with rare supplementing now).

I took Floradix, which was much better than any iron pill, and gave me B-vits as well.

[leerypolyp]

Wow, you went to great lengths! At this point you're probably as educated as anybody on the subject.

You know, I hesitate to attribute production issues to being plus-sized, UNLESS you think there's a chance you might have PCOS. Do you think there's a chance you might?

[StarMama]

Yup I had my iron levels checked several times, and my iron levels are actually in the higher range (when I used to donate platelets they were always so impressed by my levels). I am taking floradix now for some energy, it helps a little

Leery, I don't have a clue if the production issues could be linked to me being plus sized, it was a theory someone brought up when I was having all the problems with Orion when it was clear I wasn't going to produce enough milk and I wanted answers. So I didn't mean that like it was a super *likely* reason why, but the idea does linger in the back of my head, yk?

And no, I don't have pcos. At least I certainly have no signs for it. A very close friend does have pcos, so we've looked it up and spoken about it quite a bit and I don't think it applies to me.

Does anyone know about goats rue usage during pregnancy to help with building breast tissue for nursing? I'd really love some more information about that for sure.

[thepeach80]

I would look up PCOS. I have a friend who has it as well and her symptoms are more classic, no af, fertility issues, etc. There are more signs to PCOS than that and I have some of the other less known sxs so I will be asking my DR about it and talking about metformin possibly. There's not much info out there that I've found w/ goat's rue and pgcy. I think it's been associated w/ break through bleeding and is considered safe in the 3rd trimester. Have you looked up info on MOBI, I did yesterday and there's a lot of good info under their nutrition section on herbals and such. I'm hoping to start that soon. I pumped last time and drank the tea and took the pills and the More Milk Plus etc and nothing came of it. I too am hoping for a better time this time.

[khanni]

Have you had any breast changes this pregnancy? I took goat's rue the last month or so of pregnancy, and it was the first time my breasts started changing (I do have tubular breasts).

You can also take Shatavari in pregnancy--it's an Ayurvedic herb used as a general female tonic and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to increase milk supply. You will see it contraindicated for pregnancy in some places. There was some study that it created shortened limbs in the babies of pregnant lab rats. However, they've been using it in India during pregnancy for 1000s of years. You'll have to decide your own comfort level with it.

You can also drink teas of the following herbs, by themselves or in any combo: nettle, alfalfa, red clover, oatstraw, dandelion, and red rasberry leaf. They all are safe for pregnancy and help milk production.

I also ordered domperidone and started taking it the day my baby was born.

My first DC, I produced about 1/4 of her needs, and this DC, I'm doing about half. You might also want to look into the ;act-aid vs the SNS, but I'd wait to see what kind of supply you have first.

I second the suggestion to check out MOBIhttp://www.mobimotherhood.org

[StarMama]

Yes Khanni I have had breast changes, both pregnancies I did (first time around went from a C to a DD, this time around I had shrunk down to a B cup and now I'm back into a D/DD).

I've seen Shatavari around, but I had been seeing conflicting information about safe during pregnancy or not. I'll look into that more

I'm debating ordering domperidone or not... I hate to waste the $$ if the milk issue was related to my very medicalized birth, but man I'd hate to need it and have to wait a few weeks to get here too...

[pumpkinhead]

I remember your struggles (and trimuphs!!)to nurse Orion. I remember the admiration I felt for you too. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I truly believe the interventions you were subjected to during Orion's birth are what compromised your milk supply with him. I have heard similar stories. I would personally put my energy into avoiding similar interventions this time if it is at all possible. I would also work really hard at perfecting your baby's latch as soon as she is born. I didn't realize how important proper breast stimilation was for some Mamas and babies, but it really can be.

I also didn't realize how important skin to skin contact is for proper latch and milk production. There is a new initiative in some hospitals to encourage Moms not to bathe and for babes not to be bathed for at least the first 16 hours. Babies use pheremones to help them recognize their mothers. Scent is so very important. Some babies latch right on and nurse like champs immediately following their birth and then somehow forget how for the next feed. Usually their mothers have showered and many feel this is the link.

The goal at these hospitals is: if mom and babe are both doing well, they are both wrapped up together as naked as possible and are just left alone to do their thing. Sponge baths are fine for each, but full bathing of both should be delayed. Any essential procedures needed for the baby can be done against Mom's skin. If babe needs to be separated from Mom, he should be allowed to recover against her bare skin afterward.

Nils Bergman says that the mother's skin is a baby's natural habitat and that makes so much sense. They lived inside it for 9 months.

I wish you the very best of luck with this baby, Lisa. I am very happy for you. I can't even imagine how big and beautiful your Orion must be these days!

If you're not already familiar with Dr. Bergman's work, check out these links@!

http://www.kangaroomothercare.com/

http://home.mweb.co.za/to/torngren/bergman-int.html

[StarMama]

Oooh I so hope that it was due to all the interventions and this time around won't be an issue!

We were planning a homebirth, and having financial issues, the midwives just emailed me today with a proposal to see if we can make it work out, I *so* don't want to deliver at the hospital again (esp as last time all the interventions were so unneccisary!). So I hope to avoid all of that this time around!