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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Love bf but drying up, what to do?

10 replies

sweetchops · 13/04/2008 22:32

My boy is 6 mths and I've almost always had to supplement bf with bottles - big boy. We started rice and pureed veg 2 wks ago and he loves them but is really off bf, mainly because there's nothing there. In the past pumping really helped but I can't believe how quickly I'm drying up now- nearly all gone in under a week. My mum thinks it's stress as have to move house again, etc. I'm convinced starting solids is not related to my milk loss as he still drinks bottles - less hard work I guess - but pumping is no help this time. Desperate to carry on bf - please share advice. Thanks.

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thisisyesterday · 13/04/2008 22:34

how do you know there is nothing there?
it's really very, very unlikely that your milk would just dry up if your baby is still feeding.
pumping is no indication of how much milk you have, a baby is much more effective at removing milk. some people never manage to express much and yet still feed their babies exclusively.

if you really want to carry on BF then I'd ditch the bottles, lower the amount of solids and feed as much as possible

Original poster

sweetchops · 13/04/2008 22:42

I can feel they're not very full, all soft, and he sucks a little but pulls away as so little comes out. They used to spurt milk out initially. Do you think he wouldn't get too dehydrated if I stopped bottles? I only got 20mls out last pump. Thanks.

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TinkerbellesMum · 13/04/2008 23:09

They shouldn't feel full at all, by now you should be feeling soft most of the time and you shouldn't be getting spurting. Pumping is no indicator at all of what he is getting.

Personally I would drop the bottles and possibly some solids and let him build up your supply for himself. Breastmilk is enough to carry a child of his age, however big they are.

It might be worth looking into BLW as it will mean he gets less solids because he will only take as much as he needs. Puree is easier to eat so babies tend to eat more of it than if they are self feeding, in a similar way to them taking more from a bottle than the breast.

I do agree with your mum, stress can impact on your supply as it isn't easy to produce oxytocin in stressful circumstances (think about it's other use, can you get "in the mood" when you are stressed?) Try to destress a little, take some warm baths, lavendar oil etc. Maybe cobath and feed in the bath (Tink used to love her bath feeds).

Original poster

sweetchops · 14/04/2008 22:48

Thanks for the advice, I just logged on again. I am pulling out all the stops this week as I can feel I am so close to drying up completely. I did give him some bottle tonight as I was worried about him dehydrating and he has been very passive and disengaged today - don't think it's related though.

He sucked on my breasts for about ten minutes this afternoon but it's difficult to keep him on as there is nothing really coming out. I just pumped one breast and only 20ml came out - they really are so much smaller than usual.

I bought some Fenugreek after visiting the Baby Clinic today and will go to a Baby Cafe tomorrow that I heard about whilst there. I give puree 3 times a day but will try cutting back, and making breastfeeding times more special. Also de-stressing but that's not so easy!

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TinkerbellesMum · 14/04/2008 22:58

I don't think you are drying up because you are still putting him to the breast, if I haven't fed Tink for a few days (which doesn't happen often) there is still milk there. Usually she will feed in the morning, but sometimes she asks for more in the day and she always gets what she wants. It's supply and demand. Don't look at what comes out in the pump as an indicator.

Someone posted a really good article from KellyMom on another thread that said from around 4 months babies start to take more interest in the world around them and breastfed babies don't like to feed when there's stuff going on around them. So they make up for it by feeding through the night when it's quiet or you can try to feed in a dark quiet room.

Original poster

sweetchops · 14/04/2008 23:43

I neglected to mention that he barely feeds from me, there's really nothing there. I've had times my supply has gone down but this is different, I can't get it back up. I really hope things improve tomorrow and I wake up with more milk for him, I can't think what else to try.

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Original poster

sweetchops · 14/04/2008 23:46

...usually there's been enough for at least an early feed at about 6am since supply started to dwindle but even that was hardy there this morning despite efforts.

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/04/2008 23:50

As long as he keeps feeding, he's getting something. Instead of expressing, let him feed instead - he's much more efficient at getting milk from you than a breast pump.

seeker · 14/04/2008 23:51

How do you know there's nothing there? It would be very unusual for the milk supply to stop if the baby's still feeding.

I could never get anything out with a pump - but bf effectively for a long time. So don't use the pump as a measure of supply.

TinkerbellesMum · 15/04/2008 00:05

It took me a long time to get any milk out with the pump - Tink was 31 weeks and I had to pump for her for the first 2 weeks or so - and I was only pumping effectively for a few days before Tink insisted on full time breastfeeding! I tried to pump after that but I couldn't ever get much out. Pumps really aren't efficient for most women and not a good indicator.

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