Milk Supply Question

I too had a cranky son in the evening. Never failed he would start to fuss at 5pm, every night. All he wanted me to do was sit down & nurse him NON STOP till bedtime.
Just some suggestions that worked wonders for me:
Make sure you are drinking AT LEAST 64 oz. of water/ fliuds a day. If I didn't get enough fluids, especially in the summer, my milk supply was extremely low in the evening.
Wear him in a snuggly after he's been fed.
Watch what you eat, onions, garlic, peppers, spices, chocolate, milk (any kind of dairy)can all cause fussiness from upset gassy tummies. Once I cut out all of the above he was much happier. Evenings were still tough though. Know the signs to watch for, shrill cries & pulling their legs up to their chest, crying harder if you move them are good signs that he has gas. Mylicon - my very best friend! A very large exercise ball also a great investment.
I live in Coarsegold if you ever need to talk to someone. Just send me an email & I'll get back to you. I have nursed two boys successfully for a year each. My youngest is 1&1/2. ____@____.com
good luck to you! Great job for giving your baby the best start to life! Keep up the good work!

L.

The first think I thought about when I read your post was, "Could it be something your are eating in the evening that isn't settling well in his tummy"? Maybe something to spicy, or too much dairy, etc but, like the other ladies said it is possible your supply is lower in the evening. Remember to drink lots of liquids and I personally would not in any way try to supplement just because I felt that my supply was low. NURSE NURSE NURSE since breastmilk comes in on a supply and demand basis continue to nurse even if he is cranky. I remember my son always nursing more during the morning and afternoon then during the evening and I never had that full feeling that I always had in the morning.

I think its pretty common for milk supply to be lowest in the evening. There are a few factors that play into this: first you're tired from the day and your energy sources are low and prolactin levels are low. It is common for babies to be fussy and "cluster feed" during these times. I discovered this low milk supply in the evenings while my son had issues breastfeeding and I pumped exclusively. I always got fewer ounces of milk in the evening and right before bed. However, prolactin levels are very high and night and this is the reason why you feel like your breasts will explode when you wake up in the middle of the night to nurse or in the morning. If you can have an extra snack and try to rest with the baby in the evening, you may have a more plentiful milk supply for your baby, however, like the previous poster mentioned, its also very common for babies to have a fussy time and its usually after 4pm. As long as your baby is gaining well, there's probably nothing to worry about. It wouldn't hurt to contact the pediatrician as well, if you're still worried.

Don`t worry its normal nurse more and take Healthy Nursing Tea by secrets of tea.
Congratson your LO.

Dear R.,

I am like that lady in 'Gone With The Wind' on this one - maybe the Dr. Iannelli website would help on this one too. He concentrates on young babies.

C. N.

Hello try Fenugreek pills they are natural and are sold at GNC for around $7. Take 4 capsules daily for a few days until you notice a milk increase, usually works in the first 3 days.I had the same problem when my daughter was born and I consulted a lactaction specialist at a hospital who recommended me to take this pill without a prescription, it worked like a charm, my daughter is now almost 8 months old and I am still nursing and I have so much milk 24/7. Of course conSult your doctor first next time mention "FENUGREEK"

I have also read that milk supply is greatest in the morning and gradually lessens through the day... Have you ever checked out kellymom.com ? That is a great site I have always trusted with my breastfeeding advice.... and we're still nursing at 13 months old! Also look up (just google it) dr. jack newman articles for lots of trustworth bf'ing info. good luck!

i've read that a mama's milk is most abundant in the morning...i know this is true for me mainly because my feedings are spaced out more at night than during the day (my daughter is 3 months old today). besides that, my pediatrician mentioned that it is normal for babies to be cranky in the afternoons/evenings...if you're worried, though, i would definitely contact your pediatrician. they're the experts, right :)?