3 months breast feeding but dried up now!!

[mamabrownbear]

Long story - had problems with BF from start. Difficulties latching on. Ended up back in hospital after DD lost 15% of weight. Hospital used formula to get her back up healthy but i was producing hardly any milk which i put dowb to the lacatives and drugs i waa on after third degree tear. After consulting with specialist I was given nipple shields which worked like a dream. I've been combining BF with formula top ups the last three months and love BF but never confident about feeding in public due to DD being a wriggler and needing to feel totally relaxed for the long feeds. I was away from home for the last week send a half and for 2 days I could feed from 10am - 5pm so had two days of painful full boobs but still fed once back home. The last week I've been able to feed pretty much as normal as I feed on demand but now I'm practically dry! I can't get my milk supply back to normal! It's breaking my heart, especially as we has so much trouble in the start. DH is not being helpful suggesting we just use formula which obviously I will do she doesn't starve but I need her to feed as much as she can don't I to get supplies back? He also makes little digs about my drinking as we've been on holiday and yes I've had wine so she had formula then. Also was having trouble getting enough water so upping that as well as trying fenugreek but could this just be it? I wanted to keep feeding until she was weaned and I hate formula, it's such a faff especially for night feeds. Have I ruined my supply by not feeding for 2 days, drinking wine and feeding formula??? Feeling awful.

why do you feel that your milk has dried up?

it's very, very unlikely that your milk supply would just go like that. you don't need to stop feeding her every time you drink alcohol (assuming you're just having a glass)

My breasts used to get really full and even leak lots but now nothing, even at night which used to be so bad the sheets would be soaking! I can also see there is less milk in the shields. I just don't feel full and given DD constantly wants to feed and gives heartfelt cries during the feed I suspect she isn't getting enough. She used to sleep 4-6 hours at night, now it's under 2 hours before she needs a feed...

In unless you stopped feeding altogether it is unlikely your milk has completely dried up. Especially if you've had a week of normal feeding since you returned.
If you are serious about keeping on BF then you need to drop the formula completely for a while and just feed as much as she will let you.
Do you express at all?

Only ever used formula when I was out in public and unable to BF. certainly don't use it at home. I've expressed in the past but not recently as its always been a good balance between her needs and my supply. I have a hand held pump.

And tell your DH to be more supportive!

How old is she?
You do reach a point when your breasts stop feeling 'full' even tho they are still producing the same amount of milk.
There are many other potential reasons for night wakings and appearing unhappy during feeds.
Teething, growth spurts and reflux being the obvious.

ok well you do reachj a point where your bbreasts don't feel full, it just means your supply is adjusting to what your baby needs rather than working hormonally and making tons regardless....

If she is wanting to feed constantly that may be why you are feeling less full?
it will also be GOOD for you as the more she feeds the more you will make... so keep up with it
she may also be going through a nice big growth spurt, which would also explain the waking more and feeding more.

honestly, just keep going with it, trust HER to tell you she is hungry, and trust your body to make the milk she needs.
you can do it

one other thing... do yiou have any reason to suspect your periods may be returning??

that can have an effect on milk supply but it should be just temporary. I always knew when I was due to get mine because the DSs would suddenly start feeding like loons!! it was always over in a couple of days though

No, not had a period yet but got the implant a few weeks ago which I think might be affecting me. Been feeling bit down etc so it did cross my mind if that might affect my supplies. So many factors and all I want to do is feed my DD. Due a HV visit soon so a weigh in would be reassuring

I've fed two DC for over five years. I can hardly squeeze out a drop these days. My breasts never feel full (even when I went 3 days without feeding). I used to leak and drip and feel the let-down reflex really strongly but that all started to settle after about 6 weeks.

I'm pretty sure your supply is fine as long as your DD is still gaining weight and having plenty of wet nappies. Keep feeding her as much as you can and try to refrain from using formula while you build up your supply.

I think if your DD wasn't getting any milk she'd be pretty miserable at the breast.

You really do need to trust it!
The only true way of knowing that your supply isn't good enough is a dramatic weight loss. Much less wet/soiled nappies.
If BF is important to you you try and explain to your DH. His, well intentioned, comments are undermining you and your confidence.
Do you have a good health visitor?

OP this is normal, it happens to everyone at 3 months and does NOT mean your supply is dropping. What it does mean is you are switching from hormone driven, post-birth supply to normal, established, demand-based supply.

Between feeds, your boobs will stop feeling "full" and feel floppy, soft and "empty". This is okay. Milk doesn't get stored between feeds anyway, it is made as and when the baby needs it. It's only that in the first 3 months your body isn't sure how many babies you've had, so it goes a bit mad and produces milk all the time. You will probably find that if you miss a feed for any reason then you will feel engorged again. That doesn't mean you should feel engorged every time.

If you have been expressing, your output up to this point might have been quite a lot - it will now have dropped to a more normal amount of only getting 30-40mls per pumping session. This is because a baby is more efficient than a pump, a pump is really only effective when you have a lot of milk "waiting" (which happens sometimes when the boobs get a bit overenthusiastic!) or if you're lucky - some people seem to be prize milk producers for the pump.

You'll probably stop leaking so much - again because your body has calmed down and gone "Okay - we know how much this one wants now. No need to panic and produce it all the time any more."

You are right that if you want to get your supply up then you need to feed as much as possible. Remember, milk is made on demand, so if she is latched on, there is milk coming. You can switch breasts as many times as you like, offer both sides and then the first again, you can offer 4, 5, 6 (+!) "sides" per feed with no problem.

I agree also, it is normal for them to suddenly become fussy at 3 months and seem unsettled for no reason. Ever heard of 3 month colic? A lot of babies also seem to want to be held but only when you're standing up. A sleep regression/growth spurt is normal too - she might be gearing up to rolling, sleep "blips" are usually related to developmental spurts. Or, it's not too early for teething to have started, it starts months before the teeth actually appear.

Good luck! And don't worry - you sound like you're doing fine :) Give your DH a if he dares make any digs at you.

I'm still feeding nearly 18 month old DS and my boobs 'feel' completely empty but I know that there is milk there as I can hear DS guzzling!

Agree with other posters that the best test at 3 months are plenty of wet and dirty nappies.

Is there any breast feeding support - NHS, NCT, LLL or similar - that you could access?

Mood, nutrition, alcohol, illness - none of these have an effect on your supply. Please stop worrying. ALL breastfeeding women pass this point and 99% of them find it terrifying and worrying because nobody ever told them it would happen. :( I find this really sad and unnecessary. I wish we talked about breastfeeding more in our culture.

really great replies on here OP :)

I hope we have helped put your mind at rest a little bit? take each day as it comes

Thank you all, feel much better and glad I shared. I think I'm very worried that she will lose weight and be starving like she was in the early days. It's not been a great journey into BF but I really want to stick at it and it would devastate me to have to stop feeding. I hope it's just another milestone we are working our way past. Thank you all

I find oat drink milk/dairy substitute is great for getting my supply up. (Found by the soya milk in supermarket)