Thyroid and milk supply?

[littlemrssleepy]

I have a 4 week old who I am struggling to breastfeed. I breastfed her for 2.5 weeks at which point she was not only still losing weight but the rate of weight loss was increasing and she was beyond 10% weight loss. Whilst she went through some cluster feeding days when I could barely put her down she slept for long periods at night despite me trying to rouse her. I also dropped weight drastically and my pre- pregnancy clothes were baggy within a week (I normally have to eat carefully and exercise to control weight - I.e. Not naturally like this). My midwife commented that she could see the weight drop off even overnight and thought it might indicate a thyroid issue, which might also explain apparent low milk supply. At this point, and with a 3 year old to look after as well now dh had returned to work, we agreed to top up, offering a breastfeed every time first. This worked well for a week, she put on weight. Now she is getting increasingly fractious and pretty much refusing to breastfeed, wanting a bottle instead. I haven't properly breastfed her for over 12 hours and have no signs of engourgement, leakage etc. The same thing happened with my son and with a heavy heart I switched him to formula. I didn't have the same midwife then (I was caseloaded this time) so although I noticed the weight loss no one who might see it as a problem did. I'm really hacked off that bf is failing again as I so wanted to feed both of them myself. Does anyone know about weight loss / thyroid / milk supply? And before you ask I am not dieting - au contraire I have never eaten so much in my life!

littlemrs sorry I haven't got any experience and I'm not trained but thought you might find this useful on Kellymom.

Also, have you spoken to a Bfing Counsellor or been to a Bfing Support Group? Do you have the phone numbers of the helplines? Just asking as you sound like you need RL help from someone who may have more experience and training in Bfing than you MW.

Also, instead of topping up with formula would it be possible to top up with ebm? Have a read of this on increasing your supply and this on reducing formula top ups.

If it was me though, I'd get in touch with a local Bfing Counsellor now, or if there isn't one I'd ring one of the helplines.

Thanks Jilted. I have tried expressing but can get very little - even with my £100 medela pump! Grrrr. I think I will try the nct helpline and see what they can suggest.

Sounds lke a good idea. Just remember though that not being able to express doesn't actually mean you have a low supply, I could hardly ever express a drop. Agree though that the weight issues are another thing.

Ringing the helpline sounds like a good idea, they may be able to put you in touch with a local Bfing Counsellor too. Have a look at La Leche League as well, they may have a local Bfing Counsellor and a support group you can go to. There is a list here of more helplines.

HTH

Take yourself immediately to www.makingmoremilk.com and buy their excellent book which discusses thyroid problems causing low milk supply. It's available on Kindle if you have one (so you can get it without delay).

I've just got my copy to look for you. It's chapter 9 :)

"Dysfunctions in this process can affect milk production...can occur together with polycycstic ovary syndrome..."

"Hyperthyroidism... is diagnosed when TSH is low and T3/T4 are hugh, and it causes accelerated metabolism and weight loss.... Symptoms usually rebound after birth. Poorly controlled hyperthyroidism can cause premature delivery, preeclampsia and foetal growth restriction... studies on rats showed rapid mammary gland growth, but they used up mammary fat stores before birth affecting the amount left to make milk. Second they had lower prolactin and oxytocin levels during lactation. Because of significant problems with milk ejection, little or no milk came out...."

So it sounds like (and I'm no expert here) that if the throid diagnosis is correct, it's more a milk ejection problem than anything else. The next chapter in the book talks about how to increase milk supply, so I'm guessing that if you get treatment for the hyperthyroidism (if indeed that's what you have), and use their milk increasing techniques, you may have a good chance here.

Hope this helps a bit.

Thanks for all the advice. I rang the nct helpline and the lady there was lovely. She didn't know too much about the thyroid issue but was able to set out what I would need to do in terms of expressing and feeding to try and build up the supply. She was completely non judgemental about my decisions in light of the fact I have my son to consider also. In my heart I know that I will need to do nothing but feed and express for quite some time and that will mean him sat in front of cbeebies 12 hours a day, which is hardly ideal for his health and well being. It's not a decision I feel ready to take right now so I'm going to continue as I am for a little while longer so as to leave the opportunity to breastfeed there.

little do you get any help with DS? Is there someone that could have him on a play date for you or a family member who could take him for a couple of hours sometimes? Does he go to Nursery or Preschool? Just wondering as it might take some of the pressure off you. Don't forget too that you can feed at playgroups etc, that way LO will be getting the milk and DS will be getting a bit of social interaction too.

If it does come down to him watching Cbeebies its not the end of the world though is it? You could always try to do stuff like read to him while you express or set up some train track or playdoh.

At the end of the day though the decision is upto you, hope you find a solution that you are happy with.