Milk supply dwindling - 5 wk old baby

[nilequeen]

After a very difficult 5 weeks of latch problems/nipple pain my milk seems to be drying up.

As of last Fri, after an appt with a lactation nurse, we got the latch prob sorted - and now this! My baby was feeding pretty much non stop from 5-9 tonight until I gave her 2oz of EBM from the freezer. With my first baby, she couldn't latch on at all as she was very prepature, but I expressed milk for five weeks, which is when it started to dry up. I'm scared it's happening again.

How do I get my milk supply up? Quickly!

I plan on phoning the lac nurse again first thing tomorrow - but I'd really appreciate any advice in the meantime.

[sundew]

hi nilequeen - just feed on demand as much as possible. dd2 used to feed all evening around this age so I think it is quite normal.

[Pippinintherain]

Could well be a growth spurt.

Lots of skin to skin and feed feed feed. Your supply should adjust in a day or 2.

Remember that any milk given not from the breast will effect your supply as your body will not know it needs to make it.

[aswellasyou]

This cluster feeding is completely normal-my daughter did it every evening for months. I doubt very much that your milk's drying up-more likely that your baby is having a growth spurt and feeding more to increase your supply. I'd try to steer clear of giving milk top-ups because your body won't react to the extra milk being demanded by your baby.

I'm sure you're doing fine now you've got the latch sorted, try your best to stay calm and trust your body to make enough milk.

[HumphreyCobbler]

I think it is normal to cluster feed in the evenings, and not a sign that your milk is drying up (although I remember going through the same anxiety).

Also your breast will not empty as such, think of it like a river that keeps flowing rather than a bucket that can be emptied. Breasts make milk as babies suck, and then know to make it the next day too.

[RitaMorgan]

There's some info here on Kellymom about cluster feeding.

[Cosmosis]

Agree with the others, evening cluster feeding is totally normal and not at all a sign your milk is drying up. Feed feed feed and your milk supply will meet your baby's needs.

[Kellsmc]

Sounds obvious but make sure you are eating and drinking regularly! And get some rest too, between feeds, if you can.

[crikeybadger]

All of the above is great advice.

You can try switch nursing too (keep switching between breasts when the baby seems to slow down or gets a bit fidgety).

If you can feed lying down, then it makes the cluster feeding a bit easier to cope with.

[nilequeen]

Thank folks - I'm determined to successfully bf this time and I'm very grateful for all advice/support. Every time my confidence gets the better of me and I feel like throwing in the towel I can always count on you guys to give me the push I need to keep going!

Will def try to eat and drink more and feed as often as needed. Sometimes the day's over before I know it and I haven't eaten for hours.

[verylittlecarrot]

Nilequeen, the eating/drinking advice is to make you feel better, but please be assured that if you have missed meals your milk supply will still not be affected, your body prioritises milk production above your own needs! Women feed through famines, evolution has been clever.

Second what others say about believing that your body can do it...have confidence.

[HumphreyCobbler]

your body will still continue to make excellent quality milk though, even if you have not eaten for hours. You should eat often however to keep yourself healthy and keep your energy levels up. You only need to drink to your thirst level too.

[MockingbirdsNotForSale]

My DD fed like a loon from 1800 until about 2230 every night until she was about 9 weeks. I did switch nursing. A lot of it is also comfort nursing. If you're no longer getting the deep swallows and its become more fluttery she's probably fast asleep and comfort nursing. She will still feed while asleep though which is why suddenly she'll start the long suck and swallows again as your breast moves more milk her way. Comfort nursing doesn't mean she doesn't need it- I found it impossible to get DD to bed at this time even though she blatantly wasn't hungry. It was only very late at night she'd be happy to sleep without the breast. You sound like you're doing very well and your baby is behaving like everyone elses and your breasts are doing fabulously .

[RitaMorgan]

I had a snack box when ds was little (several actually!), full of treats so whenever I sat down to feed ds I could have something to eat. Certainly made waking up for night feeds more bearable when I knew there was a box of chocolate brownies waiting for me

[Pippinintherain]

Actually the fluttery sucks are when baby is taking in the really fatty milk, like the dessert of the meal.
Often people think they've finished and take them off.

It's really important you let them stay on, if look like asleep tickle feet to wake up a bit, so they can get the most calorific milk.

[camdancer]

DD2 is also 5 weeks. Last night she fed almost constantly from 6pm until 11pm when she finally fell asleep. My boobs felt like competely empty sacks for lots of that but she must have been getting somethng (milk and/or comfort) 'cos she kept on. Just wanted to say there are others going through the same thing.

Am very of you being able to express so much. I've been trying but can't get more than 1/2oz!