Sleepy baby, shallow latch, low supply

[Ally638]

I am fast losing hope. I breastfed my first daughter for 14 months, despite early weight loss issues, her dropping centiles and me having to build up low milk supply

But my new baby’s challenges seem even worse this time and I’ll be devastated if I can’t carry on breastfeeding her.

She is 4 weeks old. She was delivered at 37 weeks due to small baby concerns, and was low birth weight (2525g), she was readmitted for jaundice and light therapy, bad tongue tie snipped day 6, then thrush, and my milk supply was very low as a result which I have been trying to build back up by pumping after feeds x 8.

Baby has already dropped a centile to 0.4 and I have been giving 240ml of expressed milk top up a day which seems to be helping her at least follow that 0.4 centile curve.

But she is so sleepy, she literally never wakes for feeds, never feeds with vigour, her suck is very weak, Latch is shallow, but no pain my end, just ineffective milk transfer.

We are going for cranio sacral therapy on Thursday to see if that might help.

Today my milk supply seems to have dropped AGAIN. I was getting 40-60mls per 10 min pump and today im getting 5-10mls
Per pump, what has happened?

I was prescribed levothyroxine 75mcg during pregnancy for subclinical hypothyroidism (5.4 tsh prior to medication) and my endocrinologist has written to my doctor to say for me to stop it now I’ve had my baby and that there is no need to be on it given only subclinical. But how will this impact my breastfeeding? I’m concerned I’m not on the right dose at the minute as it is, as it was a pregnancy dose. Could this be impacting supply? What do I do!

I am taking fenugreek capsules x 3 a day to help supply but could this be decreasing my supply given the thyroid situation? I took them with my first baby and it did seem to help supply.

Can you have the tongue tie rechecked as sometimes a repeat procedure is necessary? If you can afford to go private it'll be much better.

(If anywhere near Sutton use Feeding First who are wonderful with helping with supply and feeding problems too).

Also, try a rugby hold which can help smaller babies to get a better latch.

And drink lots and try to relax, such as low lighting, a nice bath, regarding music. Most importantly, have as much time as possible cuddling your lovely baby. That'll be the biggest help with supply.

I imagine it's hard with two kids, but can you do loads of skin to skin. That really helps with supply.

Have you tried nipple shields to see if she finds it easier that way?