[Autoemesiss]

Hi, I have a 7m old, in the beginning I couldn't really get her to latch until about day 5. I've never had engorgement or felt a let down. I've tried regland (got ppd), Mother's milk, and now am on domperidone and goat's rue. I've gotten the suppliement down from 5 oz per feed to 3 oz per feed. And I have been pumping for months. Now my DD appears to be getting more hungry. I am at a loss. I think I am going to have to go back up on her suppliment.

I did about a thousand things wrong in the beginning. Poor latch, timed and restricted her sessions on the breast. Now (since about 2months old) I let her on whenever and she will sleep/nurse for hours. My thyroid is fine. And I think I've tried everything there is out there (and some good lactation consultants). I guess I just can't seem to give up. Any thoughts from anyone out there as to why this happend or how to improve it?

 

[TurboClaudia]

mama...

i'm not sure from what you have written if you are just in the search for answers, some of which you may never find or answer to your deepest satisfaction, or if you are reaching your limit of what you believe you can do in providing your baby with mama's milk...

you have done so much, as many of the mamas who frequent this forum have as well, and still we don't have the exact answer, even in this "scientific" age where we *should* be able to determine an answer. trust your instinct and it is bound to lead you to the ultimate right course for you and your baby.

choosing that right course is hard, because sometimes it involves grieving the loss of an ideal relationship that as mothers we may have imagined and envisioned and counted on. sometimes, choosing the best action takes time to feel right, and sometimes we feel we have to change our mind along the way we thought was right and try something different. either way is okay.

thinking of you, mama...

~claudia

 

[MarcyC]

The domperidone and Goat's Rue should help. Keep drinking the Mother's Milk Tea. Eat oatmeal and a lot of leafy greens (broccoli, spinach, asparagus, brussel sprouts).

AVOID SOY!!! Soy increases estrogen levels - estrogen suppresses prolactin.

If you can, get an SNS or lact-aid. That way supplements will be at the breast.

We've been SNS'ing for 16 months. We've had our ups and downs. Reducing supplements, increasing supplements, no supplements at all, then back to supplementing, etc. It's been a hard road, but nothing is more special than that bond we have.

Have you introduced solids yet? I noticed your baby is 7 months. Maybe ready for a little cereal or mashed banana or avocado?

 

[pemja]

Don't focus on feeling engorged or feeling a letdown -- I have never felt a letdown, and only rarely feel engorged if I go a REALLY long time between feeds/pumps. I've never leaked either! And I successfully breastfed my first daughter, and now are EPing for my second daughter.

 

[Autoemesiss]

Thanks guys, I guess what I keep looking for is some way to "fix it" and am stuggling on how to put this past me (the fact that I have low milk supply).

We have started solids... she is sort of interested in it some days. Its a balance thing that I have been tossing around. Should I just give her more solids? But then her primary source of nutrition should be BM, but I don't have enough, so should I increase the amount of formula. Which is kind of devistating because I have been so proud of much I have reduced. But then its not about me, its about her and if she needs it give it....and then my heart plummets some more....arugh this is so difficult!