My milk stopped coming! All of a sudden! My 6-month old lost weight since her 4-month check, maybe this is why. I'm supplementing with formula, but want to keep nursing her. What can I do?
Well, I want to thank all of those who responded to my milk question. And I hope you got your flowers :) After 2 weeks of Fenugreek, AND Reglan, drinking tons of water, eating oatmeal day in a nd day out,and pumping....NOTHING!! You're probably thinking something is just wrong with me...but I'm pregnant! Just found out, so...I'll be extra busy soon. Thanks again! I really appreciate it!!
Have you tried mother's milk tea? you can get it at the grocery store in the organic section. Also, the hobbes in beer can help you lactate. Also, I heard if you make real oatmeal and use whole milk that would help too!!
Good Luck!! C.
I had the same thing happen with my second baby and had to go to formula. I tried pumping and drinking lots of extra water, etc. Nothing would help and my baby was losing too much wieght. Please don't feel like a failure if your milk supply dries up just be happy that for the first six months you provided her with the best milk ever!
Do not drink beer. It does contain an ingredient that will help your supply of milk. The alcohol is magnified in your baby's system though. Rootbeer and oatmeal will help provide the help you need without the alcohol. Good luck.
Hi! You didn't mention how many feedings a day you were breastfeeding, but the books say that anytime you drop below 6 feedings your supply can go down. I know that is a lot. I have to say that I nursed for over a year, and was able to one by one drop a feeding and still have plenty for the feedings my son still needed. But always remember, the more you breastfeed, the better your milk supply will be. The more you supplement with formula, the less your baby will be stimulating your milk supply.
That being said, I had several unexplainable drops in milk supply along the way that left my baby acting hungry and fussy. Taking 3 fenugreek capsules 3 times a day helped within 2 or 3 days every time. It will boost your milk supply. Then your body will adjust again to what your baby needs. It helped me a lot. Also, eat as much oatmeal as you can (cookies count). It stimulates supply also for some reason.
You can write back if you have any other questions at all. I had such a difficult time breastfeeding for the first 7 1/2 months, but it was so worth it. Now I just wish I could help all breastfeeding moms. Good luck, and hang in there!
pump like crazy to up your "demand" but also keep your daughter interested in breastfeeding so she doesnt get lazy and prefer the bottle.
Drink lots of water and make sure your calorie intake is still up there. You need those calories to produce milk, and calcium. The nurse at my Dr. suggested a small milk shake once in a ehile for the extra calories and calcium. You can also try the herb Fenugreek. If all else fails and you really are against formula (which isn't a bad thing) talk to you doc, there are prescriptions that will help boost your milk supply, but you have to maintain it. Once you stop talking it your milk will slow again...it happened to me.
Sometimes your milk supply can dry up if you go back on birth control, smoke, have a lack of dairy products in your diet or get your tubes tied after birth. Mine did when I got my tubes tied!
You need to nurse as much as possible and possibly even start pumping regularly to stimulate your supply. Supplementing with formula can be a very slippery slope toward weaning. Some women can supplement here and there without a problem but other women have a drastic decrease in their milk supply. The lower their supply, the more they supplement and the lower their supply gets. It becomes a vicious cycle that results in no milk supply. The best thing you can do for your supply is nurse, nurse, nurse. And then pump, pump, pump.
T.
There should be a lactation specialist at your hospital. or find a La Leche referral on line. I tried Mothers Milk tea you can find it at Wild Oats. Good Luck
Did you take a decongestant? I did that on accident once when my son was nursing and my mild dried up completely. luckily, I store a lot of breastmilk in the freezer, so I was able to feed him despite my milk being gone. It came back a couple of days later though. I have heard that for some women though, it doesn't come back. Keep nursing!!! if you stop completely, or suppliment even more, it is just a matter of time till you stop for good.
H.
Drink tons of water and anything else and get a breast pump to stimulate your breasts while your child is not eating. Also, drink a beer..that helps stimulate your milk.. good luck
