Supply issues I think? Feeling so fed up

[Dotty38]

Hi
Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. I don't think I'm producing enough milk for my baby she is constantly hungry, rooting and unsettled has been like this for the last few weeks. I've been using a dummy to try and settle her but am so worried I need to just quit and give her formula (in fact for the last few evenings I've given in and topped her up with formula inorder to get some peace and rest my boobs) it has worked too she immediately settles and sleeps for 2-4 hours before next feed so she is clearly hungry. But am feeling so crap about it as it's been such a struggle with her latch and my poor skin integrety caused by eczma and deep breast thrush twice that to give up now because of supply is so annoying as I'm finally not in pain anymore 10 weeks in.

I find dealing with feeding issues really hard as I wasn't able to properly breast feed my first child, only managed 4 weeks latching her on before mastitis finally finished it off I then expressed what I could and managed that until 12 weeks at which point my supply didn't keep up with her needs and more and more formula filtered into her feeding. I felt dreadful about it, devastated in fact so this time round to have got this far is such an achievement (as I've had all the same problems bar the mastitus) but I'm just not sure I should be carrying on as I just don't seem to have enough milk for her if I did she's be satisfied after a feed! She hasn't been weighed for 5 weeks because my baby clinic is on a Monday and what with all the bank holidays I've not been able to go but 5 weeks ago she was doing OK and staying on her curve (75st) but 5 weeks ago she wasn't this unsettled and hungry!

I'm constantly knackered and stressed out trying to manage both of them, my eldest daughter is 2 and so pretty full on really. I'm trying to eat well and have just started taking a supplement but surely women manage to breast feed with busy lifes too and produce enough milk??

Hi dotty, do you think it could be a growth spurt?
Ds2 is 18 weeks and has gone through this twice. Once at 6 weeks then again at about 12-13 weeks. He's only recently started to go any length of time between feeds (2-3 hours if out and about) less if we are at home.
I have found the Kellymom website a godsend if you haven't already been on. There are also many very experienced breastfeeders on here so hopefully someone will be along soon to advise.
Just wanted to say well done for sticking with it through difficult times :)

Hi Tamdin, thanks for post. I've been wondering this too but then I'd have thought the gorwth spurt wouldn't last this long and/or my boobs would have caught up by now and have increased milk. I think around 6/7 weeks she did this but only for a few days then it settled down again. But I feel like she's been like this for the last week or so and I wasn't excpecting another growth spurt until 12 weeks ish. She's 10 weeks at mo. When your DS2 has been like this how have you managed, have you just fed with an empty feeling boob, when I put DD to boob when not much milk she just cries and falls off all the time and this can go on for hours usually she wears herself out then drops off to sleep for 15 mins or so until it all starts again!

Hopefully a specialist will be along in a minute, but just to let you know I found some herbal tea called Mother's Helper very useful in stimulating my millk supply. You can get it in health food shops.

Yes dotty have just tried to persevere with empty feeling breasts and he would usually drop off to sleep. During these phases it's worse at night. It feels like he's permanently attached from about 7pm onwards. My ds1 is 5 and it can be difficult so I really think you're doing incredibly well to be handling a toddler at the same time.
Ive read on bf threads before about increasing supply with pumping? Is there a local bf support group you could attend to get some advice?
Don't be afraid to bump this thread tomorrow when there are more people around.
I've lurked on few threads in the past and been inadvertently given some reassuring advice :)

hi
just bumping this. anyone else got any feedback on supply issues?

I have a friend who was struggling with supply... apparently oats are good for some reason? bowl of porridge / flapjack a day sorted her out!

good luck