BF mommas...supply issue and I need advice!

ecavin

Help!  About 3 weeks ago Owen decided that he hated nursing.  It started out with just him fussing on the left side, it's never been as full as the right.  But then it progressed to him kicking and screaming and refusing to latch last week.  A few times I gave up and fed him with a bottle.  I've talked to a few different lactation consultants and am taking fenugreek (3 times a day) and pumping.  They thought maybe my supply was too low to satisfy him, but I think he was just being lazy.  His latch was terrible.  And I could hear him gulping and felt myself having let down, but it seemed like he would nurse for a few minutes and then remember that he hated it.  Then he would start crying.  So I don't think it was a hunger issue.

 The last few days have been A LOT better, he's nursing like nothing ever happened.  But now my supply seems to have tanked.  I've been pumping after every feeding (trying to feed him more often too, like every 2 1/2 hours) but I barely pump anything.  He also sleeps through the night (about 10 hours) so I think that may have affected my supply as well.

What can I do to get my supply up??? 

MarJo03

I posted about this not too long ago, check out the "mommas who are/did BF" post.

But Im sure there will be even more ideas coming for you! GL

ecavin

Ooooh thanks! 

WildcatPrincess

I will say half an oz is normal pump output after a feeding, I definitely would not judge your supply by what you get after he nurses. Also I could never pump much at all, but my supply was fine - the best signs are baby gaining and having enough wet diapers. They are about 3x more efficient than the pump. If he's satisfied (I think sleeping 10 hours is a good sign!) and having enough dirty diapers I wouldn't mess with supplements. That's coming from someone who had oversupply in the beginning because I was paranoid and overcompensated. That took months to correct!

FutureMrsNAH

I agree with Wildcat, don't judge by what you get when pumping after nursing. I never got more than like 1/2 oz after nursing. The baby is very effective and as long as he's happy after nursing and having enough "output" everything is fine, and you have to keep reminding yourself of that. At most, I would just make sure you get enough water, continue to eat right and nurse at somewhat regular intervals. If he starts fussing or seeming still hungry afterward or not having wet diapers, then I'd be more concerned. 

I hope that helped! Trust me - BFing mamas know how your supply can consume your thoughts! We're here for you!

ecavin

Thanks ladies!  I can definitely drink more water, that should help. 

 The only reason why I'm concerned with the pumping output is that he is basically ignoring my left side.  And then when I pump that side I get at most an ounce.  Yikes, that's not enough!  Blair joked that maybe the right side has chocolate milk and the left is plain, and Owen doesn't like it. 

WildcatPrincess

Almost everyone has a producer and "dud" - I also had a lazy lefty I actually think it's pretty much done for at this point, she only nurses on that side 1 out of 3 sessions. I did find starting her every session on the left helped increase output somewhat. I had mastitis on that side a bunch of times in a row when she was around 1 month and they kept telling me to have her nurse off it more often, so I'd put her on as long as she'd take it (sometimes only a few mins) and then give her the right to fill up on. They never evened out, but after a few weeks the left increased a bit, anyway. Worrying about milk supply is maddening! I was so happy when we hit the one year mark and I didn't really have to care anymore.

MrsStreff

Oliver doesnt like my right side somes day and some days its my left... It comes and goes though. Oatmeal!

Rebekistan

BFing is really maddening! My left was a dud too, so I can relate. But in the beginning, my right was a big of a dud, so I focused him on my right more -- which is probably why my right started kicking in and my left stopped producing so much. You can't win!

I agree w/ pps -- if he is happy afterwards, gaining weight, having wet diapers, it's not an issue. But if you're worried whether it will increase with his needs, then I would recommend being sure to recognize his growth spurts / cluster feeding. That's how it'll increase, and even if you fed him 1.5 hours ago, and he's cranky but isn't wet or tired, then just go with it and give him a boob. The longer you exclusively nurse him, the better your supply will get / hold up. If he's unhappy immediately after he nurses, go ahead and give him a bottle if you want but if he's unhappy an hour after nursing, give him a boob and chug some water at the same time I took some days off of work to exclusively nurse Jacob one time when I had to recover my supply after EPing for a few days, and it worked wonders.

Other than that, the only thing I can add is stuff you've probably heard from everyone else: 8 oz water / hour, oatmeal, fenugreek, mother's milk tea, as much sleep as you can get, pump after nursing if necessary, and avoid cold medications. 

FutureMrsNAH

I should have noted that I had a dud too! And you know what, I can't even remember which one it was now. I know it started out as the strong one and then became the dud and I truly can't remember - I must have blocked it out! I it might have been my right one, the one I got mastitis in.