Is it possible to increase supply this late in the game?

497 Views 3 Replies 4 Participants Last post by pbjmama, Dec 8, 2008

Heavenly

Discussion Starter · Dec 4, 2008

I am nursing my daughter who is almost 3. I nursed my other daughter until she was 5 but I had a baby when she was 3 so there was lots of milk. I will not be having more children but I expect my youngest to want to nurse for a couple more years yet. The problem is I seem to have completely lost my milk. I have a low supply anyway because of a breast reduction but there is basically nothing. I can get a drop when I squeeze on the right breast and nothing on the left. She says there is no milk. I am assuming it has dried up due to the health problems I've been having (thyroid issues, possible autoimmune disorder) and it is breaking my heart. She still nurses a lot but I really want there to be more milk for her. Is there anything I can do? I don't want to take any herbs or anything because it might contradict with other meds I'm on. I already eat oatmeal every morning for breakfast and have recently started drinking 3 liters of water a day. I noticed the no milk thing over a month ago. Is it just a lost cause?

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User101

· #2 · Dec 5, 2008

Moving to BBI. You may also want to try Breastfeeding Challenges. There are some great threads there on building supply. Best of luck to you!

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AbbieB

· #3 · Dec 8, 2008

The first and best thing it to keep on nursing. After all it is a supply and demand kinda thing. I personally have experienced engorgement (nothing like the kind of engorgement you might have had in the early weeks!) after my 3 year old increased nursing during an illness. When she felt better and went back to her old pattern there was definitely an increase in supply for a few days.

That being said supply naturally moves toward a smaller and smaller amount. If you have gotten to a point were there is very little (not being able to express doers not mean there is nothing there) than you may never see a huge increase no matter what you do.

I also have thyroid issues. Unfortunately it can effect supply negatively. I also notice changes through out my cycle.

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pbjmama

· #4 · Dec 8, 2008

Hormones overrule the usual methods of increasing supply such as nursing more, drinking/eating more, etc. When you get your thyroid back on track your milk supply should follow.

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