milk supply issue

[WobblyPig]

Dd now 10 weeks old. I have always been concerned about my milk supply . I have never had sensation of let-down; spraying or leaking .For first 5 weeks dd was fed on Ebm due to latch issues then converted to exclusive breast feeding.

The last week or so she has been feeding more often but for much shorted times and weight gain has slowed although not worryingly so. Today not really feeding convincingly at all much fewer wet nappies and less wet when changed and more unsettled through last night. I am sure she is not getting any milk and don't know where the milk supply has gone. Have had to give formula to settle her this evening.

I offer the breast frequently and co-sleep.
Has this ever happened to anyone else ? Any idea why this would happpen? Any advice?

[FrameyMcFrame]

bump for you.
I am interested as I feel the same thing may be happening to me. I wonder whether it is hormonal as my periods have now returned.

[cheezcurl]

FWIW I have never experienced let-down sensation, spraying or leaking. Apart from the initial milk coming in my breasts never felt 'full' as such. Have been feeding DD for 14 months now with no significant problems.
Hopefully it is just her appetite varying at different stages - possibly it will be better tomorrow. I am sure someone more sensible will be along soon with some advice for you but I just wanted to say that let-down or leaking are not an indication of milk supply. Some people just don't get them and some do - my sister could spray a stream of milk 10feet across the room but I take 20 minutes to electrically pump 50ml of breast milk!

[WobblyPig]

I should also say that in the last week she has been much windier and clicking while she drinks - does this mean a latch problem and recurred?

[tiktok]

Wobbly - nothing in your post indicates a supply problem....it sounds like the issue is with your confidence, not your milk

• babies' weight naturally slows down a bit from about now - no healthy baby needs weighing more than once a month in the first six months anyway
  
• babies often change their feeding pattern - and a baby whose feeds last shorter times (because, perhaps, they are interested in what's going on) may well increase her frequency of feeding
  
• unsettledness at night is common
  
• amount of wee - hard to guage this, but if she is taking smaller volumes of milk, but more frequently, maybe she has less wee at any one time You cannot judge a baby's intake by guessing from what the nappies feel like anyway
  
• milk doesn't disappear

[WobblyPig]

Thanks Tiktok - I really don't want to stop BF but finding the last few days really demoralising. She is still around the 50% centile but the excessive windiness and clicking is worrying me.

[tiktok]

Wobbly - call one of the bf helplines today and talk about it. I think it will help.

The fact you have 'always' been concerned about your milk supply, even though your baby is thriving makes me wonder if you are 'micro-analysing' every click and rumble of tum. I mean, most women with happy bf are not aware of how wet the babies nappies are, honestly. You are 'sure' she is 'not getting any milk' and that simply can't be true

Hope a chat with someone will give you a good boost, and help you decide if the clicking is anything to be concerned about.

[Aidensmama]

Hi,
I really wouldn't worry about your milk supply. All womem are different so don't compare yourself to your sister.
As long as your baby is weeing and pooing she is staying hydrated. I became really obsessed with this thanks to my job as a neonatal nurse.
It is normal for bf babies to feed more frequently as they digest the milk more throughly and quickly than when on formula.
Your daughter may be having a little growth spurt which will make her feed more too.
If you want to give her a bottle of ebm at bedtime, you could try expressing for 10mins after each feed in the day to get a little collection. I did this for a few days then I got into the routine of giving ebm via bottle at bedtime then about 10pm expressing my milk for the next night.

It is also really important to stay well hydrated and fed, have a constant supply of water or squash next to you and eat plenty of protein and don't be messing with low fat foods just don't go over the top with full fat stuff.
As much as possible have your quiet times to relax with your baby, forget the housework and get on the sofa for some skin to skin time.

Try not to stress as this will affect your hormone levels which may hind milk supply and let down, many women do't get a let down sensation but as long as your baby is swallowing she is getting milk. It may be worth winding her part way through a feed or try infacol type stuff. My little boy gets a lot of wind and this really helped us.

I hope this helps, .

Leah, mum to Aiden (5 months)

[tiktok]

Aidensmama - you say "It is also really important to stay well hydrated and fed"

No it isn't Breastfeeding happens just fine, whatever the mother's hydration levels and diet.

"have a constant supply of water or squash next to you"

Not necessary - though mothers may feel thirsty in the middle of a feed, so this might be useful from a comfort POV.

"and eat plenty of protein"

Not needed - protein levels don't have anything to do with bf.

" and don't be messing with low fat foods just don't go over the top with full fat stuff."

She can eat what she wants (she might want to take a long term view of her own health and reduce full fat foods, of course).

"Try not to stress as this will affect your hormone levels which may hind milk supply and let down"

No it won't....breastfeeding is pretty robust and unaffected by stress. Acute anxiety or fear may inhibit let down.

Sorry to pick this apart, but often people who have had some care/medical/health/nurse based training hear these myths, and it gets passed on. It's ultimately undermining to bf, IMO, as people think if they are stressed, have a crappy diet, don't drink loads of fluids, then they cannot breastfeed (or even shouldn't breastfeed). And the good news is it ain't true

[WobblyPig]

that's v interesting Tiktok - you're right that many of those things like drinking lots and eating protein have been told to me before. there seems to be so much mythology around BF.

[Aidensmama]

The things I suggested are things I have been taught on breast feeding modules/study days at uni and not just word of mouth or mythology.

Stress can affect the oxytocin levels which will affect the prolactin levels in mum which will have an impact on milk supply, anxiety and fear are stressful emotitons.

I didn't imply people with particular diets or emotional states should not/ cannot breastfeed as I believe every mother is able to breastfeed with the right support and advice and that they should at least give it ago.

My previous post was intended to help and my suggestions are things which I have found to be a success in both my professional and personal roles as I nurse and mother of a bouncing 5 month old.

[hoochymama]

I can empathise with the worry about low milk supply, I have never needed a breast pad, never got engorged (my milk came in around day 7 or 8) and now dd is 5 months, I still get worried that I don't have enough milk.

It's all rubbish of course, just another thing for me to be neurotic about , dd is the most happy, alert, active baby I've every come across. I just keep feeding her, more frequently if she seems like she wants it.

For the wind, I found Infacol helpful and also gripe water if she was uncomfortable after a feed.

FWIW I'm seriously impressed that you fed your baby on ebm for 5 wks, I would have given up and put dd on formula after a few days!!