[Emmama]

Let me give Background info first:

I tried to nurse dd but she had problems latching on. This led to cracked and bleeding nipples. This led to mastitis and the doc told me to pump out the milk. She latched to the bottle and would not take me ever

My ds had a better time of it. He was a good nurser but when it got to the fourth month or so, my supply significantly dropped. I ended up having to give formula to satisfy him.

I have a great nursing relationship established with #3, now. I have not given a pacifier, he sleeps with me, and he can nurse whenever he needs to. The only problem is that he is giving me the same signs as before that my supply is going. I can't tell if I am full and I don't experience let down anymore. He is also really fussy when he is eating. He acts frustrated; as if he is sucking but not much is coming out.

Considering this is the longest I have nursed, I am not sure what is going on. I would REALLY not want to supplement again. I want him to wean when *he* wants to.

TIA!

 

[stafl]

two things happen at around 3-4 months that make women think they have low supply. First, baby has a MAJOR growth spurt and wants to nurse all the time and never seems satisfied. Second, milk production changes from hormone-driven to demand-driven, and many women stop feeling let-down and their breasts seem deflated.
Both of these things are normal, and all you have to do is hang in there and keep nursing. Just nurse your baby as often and as long as humanly possible. Don't fall in to the supplement trap, or start giving solid food before your baby is ready for them. You'll be fine!
Do you have any real-life support? That would be a huge help right now, if you have other moms to talk with who can assure you that what you are experiencing is totally normal and not a sign of any problems.

 

[DaryLLL]

Nurse, nurse, nurse. Don't expect him to go 2 or 3 hrs between a feed. Like stafl said, it might be a growth spurt.

Or he may be teething and feeling pain.

There is the odd chance he has thrush and that is also causing pain. Or say, an ear infection/inflammation.

Have him checked by yr dr if you want(but don't listen to her if she says formula or early solids are the answer--they're not!).

If you aren't eating or drinking enough, or doing too much and getting overtired--stop-- and take good care of yourself. Mom can't be a good mom if she is burnt out!

 

[Emmama]

Thank you stafl and DaryLLL. I am glad to know that this is normal at this time. Here I am thinking that it was MY fault due to supply. Maybe I just need to trust my body, I mean he is making wet diapers, so that is good, right?

I do belong to the LLL here. When I posted this, it was just easier than calling one of the women.

Once again thank you.........it really brought me back down to earth.

 

[LittleOne03]

Ok, I don't want to scare you, but I just finished reading your post about being worried that you may be pregnant. I got pregnant while exclusively breastfeeding my son when he was about 5 1/2 months old. I started feeling like my supply was not meeting his needs, and I was reassured by many people that it was normal when a baby hits 6 months to stop feeling let down, for him to want to nurse all the time, etc, etc. Under normal circumstances this probably would have been right on, but since I was pregnant, I really HAD lost most of my milk. As soon as I found out I was pregnant I started him on solid foods as well, and nursed him as often as he wanted to. I found out that my supply really HAD dropped, however, when he started losing weight instead of gaining (he was still making "enough" wet and poopy diapers, but was obviously still not getting all he needed).

I caught it before it got too far, and he's chubbing back up, but I have an INCREDIBLE amount of guilt that my baby was hungry and I didn't listen to my instincts that were telling me that all wasn't right. I wouldn't have responded and told you this story if I hadn't first read your post about being worried that you are pregnant, but it set off alarms in my head. Please test, and if you are pregnant you may have to supplement. I'm sorry, I know it's not what you want to hear, but I know you'd rather know now than a month or two down the road when your baby has lost weight and you know he's been going hungry!!