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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

low supply issues - please help!

22 replies

tanmu82 · 11/12/2010 10:34

my baby is 6 weeks old and she has started wanting feeding constantly all evening and night. My breasts feel deflated, and although I know there is milk in there (i've squeezed to check), she is frustrated by the slow flow and starts thrashing around, pulling on and off and crying. It is making me sore and I've resorted to topping up once or twice now with formula. I've had my latch checked countless times and it is fine, I've tried compressions, warm showers/flannels and massage, but nothing seems to be helping.

I've heard about something called domperidone and was wondering if anyone could tell me more about it, what it is and where I can get some.

I really don't want to give up bf, but at this rate I wont last the week out :(

OP posts:

jaggythistle · 11/12/2010 10:40

Hello,

This sounds like a growth spurt, there is commonly one at 6 weeks where baby feeds like mad for a few days to stimulate your supply to increase.

Totally normal so don't worry.

Kelly mom is a great website for breastfeeding advice www.kellymom.com

Sorry, at work so no time to reply properly, sure more people will be along soon.

Congrats on your new baby :)

jaggythistle · 11/12/2010 10:42

If you can, try not to do the formula top-ups, the more baby feeds, the quicker it should pass (in theory of course!)

Do you have Lansinoh cream or similar for your sore nips?

Original poster

tanmu82 · 11/12/2010 10:49

the problem is she doesn't actually take in much milk for all the time she is spending at the breast...... it doesn't seem to be stimulating supply at all! I do have lansinoh, will dig it out....

OP posts:

jaggythistle · 11/12/2010 10:58

How do you know how much she is taking in, if you don't mind me asking?

Anyway, it is being at the breast which stimulates the supply, I beleive they may want to suckle lots?

here is the kellymom growth spurt page.

www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurt.html

Original poster

tanmu82 · 11/12/2010 11:02

when she is feeding properly I can feel the difference. also, if she were taking in enough she wouldn't then guzzle down 3-4oz of formula....... I'll take a look at that link. thanks for helping when you should be working :)

OP posts:

organiccarrotcake · 11/12/2010 11:15

Has feeding been ok up to now?

crikeybadger · 11/12/2010 11:24

tanmu82- babies often take lots of formula after a bf fooling us in to thinking they're hungry. Often, they take it because it's easier and the milk comes quicker for them.

Are you swapping breasts - even a couple of times from one to the other when she starts to get frustrated?

Original poster

tanmu82 · 11/12/2010 11:36

feeding has been ok until a few days ago (bar the odd day/night) When she starts fussing I have been swapping breasts - anything to try and get more milk into her. I just sobbed into DH's chest as he was rushing out the door to take ds to football. my house is a mess, I'm a mess and I just feel so inadequate!

OP posts:

organiccarrotcake · 11/12/2010 11:40

As people have said, this is totally normal and actually it's how it's supposed to be. However, that doesn't make it any easier and it's horrible isn't it. The most important thing is, it passes. And it should pass very soon - I would say in another week and things should settle down a lot.

It seems a horrible idea to keep on with the BFing rather than topping up if they're crying, and some people have said things like "I don't want to starve my baby". Well of course noone does and it seems much kinder to top up. But when you consider the long term benefits of BFing (not to mention how easy it is when it settles down) it's worth a but of temporary pain to many people and if you start the top-ups your body isn't being told to make that amount of milk so this will carry on for longer. I remember going through exactly this and having to have SO much faith in my body and the way this works to keep on going, and just as people say, as I am saying, it did pass (phew).

I am totally with you on the pop-on-off thing which can get you really sore. My DS2 was doing that last night (he's 5 months) but in fact he wasn't hungry and I've often found that he is very fussy and fussing at the breast, maybe crying, seeming hungry, but actually he's just grumpy and tired or wanting a change of scene. If she's had a feed have you tried doing something different - a walk in the pram or sling, some music, a walk around the house even. Just 5 or 10 minutes distraction away from fighting on the sofa is often enough to get her mind back on the job again properly. I then just kept offering the opposite breast when he'd finished the first and started fussing - sometimes back and forth 5 or 6 times which after this growth spurt is almost unknown.

I honestly don't think you're short of milk as if you can squeeze it out, it's there. I wouldn't even bother trying hot compresses and things as in this case I don't think (and I could be wrong, go with what works for you) that it's going to make enough of a difference. I think it's just a case of bearing with it and thinking "one more week".

On the other hand, a BFing counsellor advised me to gently squeeze the breast above the areola when mine was coming to the end of that breast which can stimulate another let-down.

I hope this gives you some hope!

organiccarrotcake · 11/12/2010 11:41

Ok x-post.

Well you are doing the perfect thing. Gosh, I know that feeling. BUT it honestly sounds like things are working perfectly - it's just a horrible, horrible period that passes really fast. Have you phoned the NCT breastfeeding counsellor line? They are brilliant and very, very highly trained (at least 2 years training).

organiccarrotcake · 11/12/2010 11:43

Here's the number: 0300 330 0771

Leave a message if there's noone available right now - they will call you back. Although only once have I had to do this (I've phoned 5 or 6 times). They are wonderful.

You poor thing. I know that feeling of inadequacy - but honestly, to be blunt, you're wrong :)

You CAN and ARE doing this just right. It will pass.

Fuchzia · 11/12/2010 11:43

Had the same problem in the evening. We were both knackered and the poor wee thing was so hungry he'd feed and cry all night falling asleep at 4am. a few formula feeds last thing at night had him off to sleepproperly restoring my sanity however I was really unhappy as wanted to ebf. I got the most fantastic tip which was to express a bottle first thing ( used to do this with DS on the other boob) when the milk is richer and save this until bedtime. Only way I was able to carry on so worth the effort

Kristingle · 11/12/2010 11:43

i forbid you to worry about the house .get your Dh to do it when he coems home. you sound exhausted

you need to take a little time for yourself, have a shower or bath , fix your hair, put on decent clothes and put your feet up for 5 mins. sit on the sofa to feed baby and watch Tv or read some mags

please try to stop giving her formula or your supply wont catch up with her growth spurt.the best solution is to feed her more often. she will also get used to how quickly teh formula comes out the bottle and get annoyed at having to suck on the nipple. this could coudl end up buggering up your bf

baby feeding all the time does NOt in itslef indicate a supply porblem. its more than likely a growth spurt. It will pass

Original poster

tanmu82 · 11/12/2010 12:03

thanks everyone - organiccarrot I realistically know it will pass, I had the same problems with DD1 in the first couple of months, but it is so distressing for baby, for me and then for everyone else as a result. I will keep that number handy.

kristingle dh does as much as he can, but with long work hours and freelance work on top, plus taking on other dc's he is doing his best already. He's told me to leave everything and just stop being so hard on myself. Just got to get that message through passed the hormones!

OP posts:

organiccarrotcake · 11/12/2010 13:16

Oh tan what a lovely husband :)

He's right (as is Kristingle). Ignore it. It is so hard I know but it's a never ending job after all.

Well good luck and keep your pecker up and all that! Hope you will be feeling much better later next week xxx

FairiesWearSnowBoots · 11/12/2010 13:40

could you get a friend/ relative/ paid cleaner to come and get your house straight? If it is really getting to you then it would be worth getting someone to do it for you as it would make you feel a lot better and more positive.

Original poster

tanmu82 · 12/12/2010 08:38

we couldn't afford a cleaner, and my closest friends are dealing with stuff of their own.....

I do feel much better today, partly because we had a long nap together after I posted yesterday, then she fed really well and we had a lovely bath together. She fussed quite a bit in the evening, but the slept really well last night. thanks for all the support - I know there are going to be days that are hard going, but it helps to know I can come on here and get such quick responses x

OP posts:

organiccarrotcake · 12/12/2010 10:48

Just popped on to see how you were doing. So glad you're feeling better today :)

plasticspoon · 12/12/2010 10:59

Hi tanmu, I remember you from one of my threads a few weeks ago! My ds and your dd seem to be on a very similar schedule :) We are in the middle of another growth spurt too so you have my sympathies! There doesn't seem to be anything to do other than ride it out...

Original poster

tanmu82 · 14/12/2010 16:09

hi plasticspoon :)

yes, it is just a matter of riding things out - things seem to have settled down now and I don't know why I was so worried about my supply.....I think it was the sleepless nights that made everything much worse than in reality they were. how's your son settling?

OP posts:

Original poster

tanmu82 · 14/12/2010 16:10

thanx for checking on me organiccarrot .... tis nice to have people look out for you :)

OP posts:

PeanutButter99 · 14/12/2010 16:57

This thread is why I love mumsnet so much . You seem to have loads of advice regarding the bf Tan. My advice to you is about your house.
Did you know that those clothes don't really need ironing and your bathroom will last another 3 weeks without being cleaned . Lift everything off the floor and tables and put it in a big box. Sort it later when you have time.
And pasta is a wonderful meal!
Good luck

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