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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Help - Think my milk's depleting......

15 replies

pippawallace · 20/06/2008 10:48

Any ideas how I can go about getting my milk supply back up? Quite upset at the thought it may be depleting
DD BFs in morning, I express for her night feed in the morning too and she has an afternoon feed.
I've recently gone back to work part time & have been struggling to express at regular times (it's a hotel I work at so busy at different times!)and now that I'm on days off I'm struggling to express for her night feed and don't want to use up my frozen supply.
Think the problem is more do to me expressing at random times but I don't think my boobs seem as full as they used to be (might be paranoia kicking in though).
Thanks in advance

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 20/06/2008 11:41

how old is she?

I'd carry on expressing as much as you can but stop giving her a bottle at night and feed her direct instead - you're missing a golden opportunity to boost supply by skipping the night feed.

DisplacementActivity · 20/06/2008 11:45

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brightongirldownunder · 20/06/2008 11:49

For the first 8 months I constantly panicked about my milk drying up. Then I phoned La leche league and had a chat with one of their counsellors as I was getting really low. They were great and went through all the possibilities:

  1. Are you getting enough sleep?
  2. Are you overdoing things?
  3. Are you eating properly - remember all those calories being used need replacing.
  4. Are you worried/stressed about anything?
  5. Are you well?
All of the above can affect breast milk production, however its highly unlikely you are drying up. even when your boobs are as flat as a pancake (and my regularly are) they can still be producing enough milk. Apparently milk thistle is good for stimulating milk production. I bought some homeopathic stuff online which felt like it was helping, although it may just have changed my mindset. If you are expressing and feeding DD you will be producing more milk - in which case I would probably make sure you are getting enough of the right nutrients. Don't worry too much - apparently worrying is thebest way of decreasing milk production. How old is DD btw? Phone La Leche League if you want to talk to someone who can really help.x
Original poster
pippawallace · 20/06/2008 11:52

She's 10 months,I've been expressing for her night time feed as she would feed for about 2 hours before getting enough to sleep through the night and it was kinda killing me! She now gets about 6oz in bottle and then a top up from me.
I'm quite happy to do it again to get the supply back up tho. She has recently been waking during the night & I've been feeding her direct for that.
I had been expressing in the evening for her morning cereal but now giving her soya milk with that so not doing that as much.
The real change I've noticed is that I used to be able to express 6oz no problem in the morning and now I'm struggling to get 2oz!

OP posts:
DisplacementActivity · 20/06/2008 11:55

Message withdrawn

Original poster
pippawallace · 20/06/2008 12:03

Thanks Brightongirl & displacement, I think to be honest I just needed my mind put at rest that I wasn't going to dry up.
It's easy to forget all the factors that affect your supply 10 months on and I have had a few crap days at work & probably not looking after myself so no doubt down to that!
Thanks for the advice re la leche, I've not contacted them at any point but good to know they are there as you do have "moments".

OP posts:
brightongirldownunder · 20/06/2008 12:06

Just remember to look after yourself - best thing i was told and I'm still feeding DD at nearly 14 months and no longer worrying.

tiktok · 20/06/2008 12:06

pippa, sounds as if you are producing less, but no big deal....increase the feeds and/or the expressing and you will make more. I am dashing off so have no time to say more, but leaving hours and hours between feeds/expressings means your body makes less. Easy enough to reverse, though

DisplacementActivity · 20/06/2008 12:08

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DisplacementActivity · 20/06/2008 12:09

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brightongirldownunder · 20/06/2008 12:19

Def chocolate! My midwife always told me to have a small glass of red wine to relax as well (although only once a day!)

Original poster
pippawallace · 20/06/2008 12:37

Thanks guys chocolate & wine sounds good lol!

OP posts:
missymum · 20/06/2008 20:56

i took fenugreek herbal tablets in an attempt to increase supply. it was recommended by a lactation consultant i once saw, it did seem to help, but i dont know if there is any research to support this, maybe tiktok would know?

Original poster
pippawallace · 21/06/2008 13:35

Well I had a nice chilled out evening last night, only gave DD 3oz in bottle and rest from me, she was up through the night but I have noticed a difference today already.
Nice to have my mind put at rest so thanks everyone, is certainly a wake up call for me to look after myself a bit more!

OP posts:
brightongirldownunder · 22/06/2008 01:27

So pleased pippa.
Hope you enjoyed the wine and choc!
Enjoy the rest of the time you feed your DD. I'm coming to the end and am really going to miss that closeness. x

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