Has anyone successfully managed to restore their breast milk supply after it has dwindled away to very little?

[mrsibley]

Have had probs bf my dd since birth she is now 4mo. I have to express milk regularly to try and keep supply up as she cannot stay awake to bf and I am on my own with her and a toddler. I have to give her formula feeds as well to top her up.

I have had a few days recently where it has been impossible for me to express as much as usual and now I am only getting a couple oz a day from expressing and it's really gutting me as I really want to keep bf even if its only half the time for as long as I can,

I'm not after advice on how to keep her awake to feed just really want to hear if anyone's supply has gone right down and they managed to restart it and how.

Thanks.

Hello, how many times in a day are you expressing?

Yes, I'm currently helping a woman build her supply back after her lo was hospitalised. After one week she isn't using as much formula, so it can be done.

Can you get in touch with a bf group or la leche league?

Yes - lots of water for me, and several cups of breastfeeding tea (It has fenugreek in it) and a whole duvet day with toddler who watched pocoyo on my netbook and baby in bed cluster feeding/latched on whenever possible.

Good Luck xx

Ok thanks I will try all of the above, although the duvet day may be a bit difficult to arrange. I am expressing 3 times a day as well as formula feeding and dealing with my 2 kids alone the majority of the time- I know it's not enough but am doing my best.

Whole thing really upsetting me.

Don't be upset. You're doing so well.... I'm exhausted feeding my baby too, and I have lots of help with my other children. Breast feeding is so hard and tiring. Eat and drink lots and don't worry about your toddler, it's only temporary.

Thank you. My breasts just never feel full up any more and I'm upset that although I say I've done my best I probably could have tried harder. It's just I have no problem with b feeding in public but I can't use the breast pump outside of the house so it's very restricting and also incredibly time consuming.

Just really don't want the breast feeding to end as she's my last baby. Am welling up just typing this.

Mrsibley, I know it is so hard & finding the time to express is difficult with everything else you have to do.

Practically, to boost your supply now you need to start expressing more times, try 8 times in 24 hours. This is more like the number of times a baby would breast feed. Do you think you can do that?

I was able to boost my supply this way, actually I think I only managed 5 and still noticed an improvement.

There is an excellent NCT breast feeding helpline, they helped me when I was going through all this, so I suggest you call them if you want good advise.

By the way, you have done so, so well to get to 4 months of doing this. I know it is exhausting. You have done your best, don't beat yourself up thinking you could have done better.