[TreeLove]

long story short-no milk AGAIN. This is the 3rd time I've been pg and 3rd time with VERY low supply. When I bf her all day she only has 1-2 *slightly* damp dipes. When I pump I get 1/2-1 oz. She needs about 2-3 oz every 2-3 hours. I've been on Reglan for a week, nursing, pumping, and then bottlefeeding every 2-3 hours. Still, very little results. She was born 7.8 and at 2 weeks only weighs 7 lbs.
I've really done EVERYTHING known to womankind. Anyone ever heard of this kind of thing?

 

[beanma]

treelove! sorry you're having it so rough. have you read lisa_lynn's long thread? she's having the same trouble with her first ds. did you have a C? i thought i remembered reading elsewhere that you had to. seems like lisa and the other posters on that thread think it has to do with all the drugs from the hospital birth she had to have. i don't have any advice, but just thought i'd give you a hug and point you in the direction of that thread if you haven't had a chance to read it. it's here -- http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...threadid=88005 .

 

[wombat]

Sorry to hear that. I have heard of uncorrected thyroid problems causing low supply. I guess cause this is your 3rd time, you've already have your thryoid completely checked out? Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can cause low milk supply. See kellymom.com:
http://www.kellymom.com/meds/thyroid...tml#postpartum

Usually doctors test for TSH but this test doesn't pick up all thyroid problems. Insist on tests for T3 and T4.

BTW I could only pump 1/2 - 1 oz at 2w pp. Pumping yield is not necessarily an indication of milk supply. Weight gain/loss is the best indicator.

 

[TreeLove]

She went from 7.8 to 6.9 in 6 days. She's finally up to 7 lbs now, (14 days old) but that's only with nursing AND bottlefeeding. I haven't had my thyroid checked. What does that entail? Bloodwork? How can you correct it? Maybe I should read your link first before i bombard you with questions!

 

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

good luck finding the problem.

 

[Quirky]

Yes, thyroid tests are done with just a blood draw. Definitely go get that done ASAP, and ask for the results stat. Ditto to what wombat said for getting a complete thyroid panel. If you can swing it, see an endocrinologist. You can read up at www.thyroid.about.com for more info.

Are you working with an IBCLC (board certified lactation consultant)? Here's how you can find one in your area, call around to see who's got experience with low supply:

http://www.iblce.org/us_regional_registry.htm

Reglan is good, but domperidone is better. I think there's info on the thread link beanma posted about how to order it from overseas.

HTH! Hang in there, mama!

 

[MamaOui]

If there is anything that I can do for you S. let me know. Are you doing the SNS thing to help encourage your supply? I had lots of problems with Max in the beginning. Including no milk for days. Are you getting the rest and help that you need right now to focus on all of this?

The thyroid thing is certainly worth looking into.

I can make some time this weekend if you want some help or just to talk. I'll PM you my phone number.

 

[Mommiska]

Treelove - I don't have any advice other than what people have already offered, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about you and your dd as well. It must be so frustrating to be going through low supply issues again.

to you and your dd.

 

[bananasmom]

Quote:

Ditto to what wombat said for getting a complete thyroid panel.

Also ask for the anti-thyroid antibodies test as part of the panel. If you are dx hypothyroid, your doctor may refer you to an endocrinologist or treat you herself/himself. In either case, a hypo patient has to take a replacement thyroid hormone every day. There are a lot of different options, both synthetic and natural.

 

[StarMama]

Treelove, I just wanted to come over here to relate to you... I'm at 11 days PP with very little milk as well. Its really really tough, and I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone, I'm going through it, and other Moms here on MDC have gone through it as well (a lot of them have told me about their situations on that thread).

Domperidone is better, from my research, than Reglan. Reglan is used for reflux, and has the side effect of increasing prolactin. I'm not sure what domperidone was made to treat, but again its side effect is increasing prolactin. Reglan has side effects that can include making depression worse. It's also not supposed to be used if you have high/uncontrolled blood pressure. Not sure if that would apply to me since I had pre-eclampsia, but I'm avoiding that drug and going with the domperidone. Gurumama gave me this link to purchase it: http://www.globaldrug.tv/search.asp...rds=domperidone

But anyways I just wanted to give you a

because this is really really hard to deal with. I hope things improve for you soon!

 

[BowenTherapist]

http://seafish.freeyellow.com/

here is a link to hypothyroid info (she is an extended nursing mom)

it is also an ec page, you need to scroll all the way down on the left hand side, the last link is the hypo one

good luck!
btw guiness (the beer) is a great thing for milk production (only like one a day though...or else you might get a bit tipsy

 

[mom at home]

Congrats on your new little one, Treelove! Sorry to hear about your milk suppy issues. You have gotten some good advice from these mamas.

How are your boys liking big-brotherhood? And what did you end up naming your little girl? Congrats to you all!!

 

[bananasmom]

Just a note on the link that BowenTherapist posted. Some of the information is out of date (the author must have compiled her information some time ago). For instance, the normal TSH range is considered down to .3-3. I'd go directly to Mary Shomon's link (provided by that author) for the most recent information.

http://thyroid.about.com