Building supply back up

[Sid77]

I posted a couple of days ago about my 7 week old bf baby vomiting his feeds back. He is improving, but still being sick at least once a day and taking a much lighter feed than normal. He would previously emptied both breasts per feed and now just takes some from one side and is finished. I have expressed a couple of times when my boobs were really hard, but apart from that I've left them alone. Was I right and will he just build my supply up again when he's better - or should I be pumping like the clappers to keep up my supply? Any advice appreciated

I would pump after every feed during the day if you can. I did this for about a week, then dropped about half of the pumping sessions, then only when needed.

Continue pumping for about a minute after the last drop comes out.

Thanks! I hate pumping... Necessary evil I guess!

I found water was key. Everyone advises drink water and eat lots for better supply but eventually someone told me to literally drink pints of water between feeds and that seemed to to the trick. Expressing too unfortunately I found even though its a pain xx

water and fenugreek. You can get it in a tea or table form. Worked wonders for me.

Thanks alex and april - I will drink and drink...

I would only pump if you are v uncomfortable, and then only a very little to relieve the pressure. Otherwise you are just sending your breasts a message to keep making loads of milk, and making your breasts full again, in a vicious circle. When your baby id better, he alone will quite adequately build up your supply. No need to pump to keep up the supply. That's the whole point of BF-ing - it regulates itself depending on the needs of the baby. Incidentally, how do you think women have successfully fed for millennia, without pumps?

Also, since you currently have an OVER supply issue, not sure why you'd need fenugreek. And when your baby wants more, you just need to offer the breast more in the first instance. And only seek further advice about a low supply problem if you think you have one. But you may well not!

Thanks wigeon I can see the logic. I don't have a supply problem at the moment, I guess I'm anticipating one when my baby gets better and is hungry again. However, if I'm producing only what he needs then as you say, he will build it back up again himself. It's confusing as different people have different interpretations...

Www.Kellymom.com is great for evidence-based information on BF based on scientific fact. Also a website called Analytical Armadillo (yes,really) - easy to find it if you google. There are also lots of BF headlines which I'm sure would be happy to answer any questions you've got about this particular issue.

I think you dont need to anticipate a problem of under supply given the probability is that your body will just adjust to the increased demand, as it's meant to.

Helplines, not headlines!

Read Kelly Mom on how BF works, and how demand feeding works to ensure your baby gets the right milk at the right time.

I really over thought feeding my first 2DC and would stress about these type of things OP but with my 3rd DC I fed when she was hungry or unsettled and that was it. No expressing etc. bfing has worked like magic. There's always milk there when DD's hungry, even when she was ill with colds, chicken pox, in hospital with cellulitis etc.

I would try not to think about it too much and your supply will return to what your baby needs as they need it. I wish someone had told me this with DC1.

Thanks - I do have a tendency to overthink things

I honestly think as he starts to feel better he'll gradually feed more and so you'll have enough milk for him. It's amazing how it all works. Don't worry!