Supply suddenly stopped

[LaLaLeni]

I posted recently after accidentally being given Microgynon and taking a week's worth. DS has been combi fed from the start but when at home we BFed fine until the pills. He suddenly started refusing boob so I kept pumping and trying to feed him. For the last week we've barely BFed at all. He suckles for only a few mins before crying. Now pumping isn't working either, when it used to get at least 5oz in the morning, now I can't even get an ounce and it's not squirting out anymore. I take 4 fenugreek capsules four times a day and am drinking lots of water in the heat.

Is this is for me?

My supply dips and expressing is impossible at certain points in my cycle. All comes back a few days later. So could be something like that?

Does he suckle for long enough to encourage let down? Is his latch correct?

You could try pumping a bit first rapidly to encourage let down, then pop him on to see if that helps.

Warm flannels on the breast can encourage let down too.

I used to pump in the bath with my manual pump as I always got a good let down there.

You can also try breast massage and nipple stimulation prior to offering the breast and also while feeding to encourage further let down.

The amount you can pump can bear very little relation to the amount that your baby can get at a feed.

Good site here with more suggestions.

See your GP for Domperidone.

Brewers yeast tablets, Nettle and Raspberry Leaf Tea are also known to help with production, you can get them at health food stores.

Have you spoken to a breastfeeding counsellor at all?

Planning to see GP tomorrow.

I've no idea about my let down - I never really felt it happen? I normally use my knuckles in certain places and get milk squirting out when pumping but that's stopped. I've done that just before putting him on but still he either won't latch at all (if he's actually hungry) or drops off and screams. As I can't feel my let down I have no idea if he's getting anything. I used to see milk in the corners of his mouth but he won't stay on long enough now.

I'd resigned myself to EBM as much as poss now if he's decided he only wants bottles but if I can't pump I can't do that. None of my past tricks work! I really hope it is just a phase

Planning to see GP tomorrow.

I've no idea about my let down - I never really felt it happen? I normally use my knuckles in certain places and get milk squirting out when pumping but that's stopped. I've done that just before putting him on but still he either won't latch at all (if he's actually hungry) or drops off and screams. As I can't feel my let down I have no idea if he's getting anything. I used to see milk in the corners of his mouth but he won't stay on long enough now.

I'd resigned myself to EBM as much as poss now if he's decided he only wants bottles but if I can't pump I can't do that. None of my past tricks work! I really hope it is just a phase

Haven't spoken to a BF counsellor since DS was about 5 weeks (he's 15 now) but only had access by email then. DS wouldn't latch at all for weeks but now I'm worried he's so used to the ease of bottles that he doesn't want to work for it.

Honestly I think it might be the hormones from the pills. Can you stop them and see what happens?

Planning to see GP tomorrow.

I've no idea about my let down - I never really felt it happen? I normally use my knuckles in certain places and get milk squirting out when pumping but that's stopped. I've done that just before putting him on but still he either won't latch at all (if he's actually hungry) or drops off and screams. As I can't feel my let down I have no idea if he's getting anything. I used to see milk in the corners of his mouth but he won't stay on long enough now.

I'd resigned myself to EBM as much as poss now if he's decided he only wants bottles but if I can't pump I can't do that. None of my past tricks work! I really hope it is just a phase

Haven't spoken to a BF counsellor since DS was about 5 weeks (he's 15 now) but only had access by email then. DS wouldn't latch at all for weeks but now I'm worried he's so used to the ease of bottles that he doesn't want to work for it.

Planning to see GP tomorrow.

I've no idea about my let down - I never really felt it happen? I normally use my knuckles in certain places and get milk squirting out when pumping but that's stopped. I've done that just before putting him on but still he either won't latch at all (if he's actually hungry) or drops off and screams. As I can't feel my let down I have no idea if he's getting anything. I used to see milk in the corners of his mouth but he won't stay on long enough now.

I'd resigned myself to EBM as much as poss now if he's decided he only wants bottles but if I can't pump I can't do that. None of my past tricks work! I really hope it is just a phase

Haven't spoken to a BF counsellor since DS was about 5 weeks (he's 15 now) but only had access by email then. DS wouldn't latch at all for weeks but now I'm worried he's so used to the ease of bottles that he doesn't want to work for it.

Argh sorry phone went nuts! I stopped the pill 2 weeks ago now

It sounds as though he has gone on a bit of a nursing strike due to frustration at it not being so easy to get milk as the bottle. Good helpful suggestions here to encourage him back to the breast.

Also reduce the teat flow on the bottles to first stage 0+ teat so that it is closer in flow to the breast to reduce his frustration over flow rates when breastfeeding.

Try pumping after warm flannels or in the bath to see if you can get a let down to occur and pump often for short periods as well as offering the breast more often for as long as he will stay on. If he comes off after 5 minutes then offer again in 20 mins for example.