OK, I've worked out the problem, and NOW I have a problem.... "run out of milk".

[Jackaroo]

So I decided to try feeding DS2 til he bursts and he's lapped it all up today. Even stopped sicking up so much etc etc.. so no idea what was happening, but think it's a growth spurt and/or my milk is diminishing.

It's now 8pm, and I've fed him (alot) at 4pm, and then at 6.30pm and now he's still lunging for food, and there's pretty much nothing for him to go for.

i've a bottle, and a tetrapak of formula in teh cupboard, but I didn't ever use it with DS1, and I'm not really interested in starting now (although vistas of freedom come to mind if someone else could feed him it!).....

anything I can do in the next couple of hours, so we don't have a night of crying/upset.

I'm gutted. It's been a really stressful week, and turns out the doctor's right, it is my fault.

I know to go to domperidone if necessary, but obviously can't get that til tomorrow...

Help,please.

J

By the way, 6 weeks is a classic time for frequency days/growth spurt type activity...

Give it 2-3 days of just giving in, keep the faith when we tell you it WON'T carry on like this as long as you let him feed as often as poss for now.

Also, this happens when you and/or they have been ill sometimes: your supply may have dropped off a bit and they may have wanted a bit less while ill. So they feed every hour or whatever to build up.

If it is hot where you are, that can also lead to a change in feeding style - feed a bit more often but shorter feeds to take more fluids...

Lots of reasons. None of which mean it will necessarily be like this for ever.

Some babies do cluster feed in the evenings also, to stoke themselves up for a longer sleep at night. Again, a good idea to just accept this and let it happen because sometimes it is a precursor to better sleep!

PS, since you've had PND, have you got a way of assessing, or someone else assessing how your mood is, and how it might have changed?

I had this, where it feels like you have no milk left, very annoying. I knew all the principles but DS was obviously frustrated that there wasn't a fast flow of milk there, and it felt like I didn't have enough.
The only thing I can suggest that helped me is that I used to "massage" my breasts to get milk out, this seemed to help. And it did get better.
It always used to happen at the MILs as well who would helpfully tell me that I didn't have enough milk. Sigh.

I don't know if this is helpful to you...but the Italians are big fans of fennel tea, you just crush some fennel seeds in a mug and steep them in hot water, then drink. Apparently it can also help colicky babies as they get the benefits through your breastmilk. My sister tried it when she was having supply problems and it helped her.
It's worth a try perhaps?

eek... 6 weeks, no wonder you're stressed!

i agree with the others, 6 weeks is a classic time for both baby upping feeds and becoming cranky and for the euphoria of a new baby to wear off and the exhaustion (mental and physical) caused by the drudgery of a young baby to set in.

flu can't possibly have helped with any of that.

if it were me, and it's at all p;ossible,i'd set up camp on the couch with duvets, snacks and tv remote and just let him latch on and off and whinge if he wants. and i'd have him in the bed with me and stuff boob in his mouth all night.

Thanks all - I've just had a hot bath, which has taken my brain away for a bit, and certainly got the milk going when I didn't need it too earlier on.

Vulp - please don't worry on that score - I will definitely call someone if this continues, but it really is one and a half days of feeling wretched, and I'm very happy to give into the drugs/therapy if necessary. They saved us last time.

I'm just relieved that this time there isn't an intolerance issues. I can eat chocolate etc (excellent idea) whereas with DS1 anything with a molecule of milk in it sent him into a tailspin.

New problem - just heard the baby crying.. got out the bath, went to feed him and DH said " you can't do that i've just spent ages getting him to sleep". Mm...

Sounds like you've really been through it recently. And with the shadow of PND hanging over you from last time, no wonder you're stressed out.
Would a BFing or mums and babies group help? From what I gather you've made a big move recently so might not have your usual network of friends/ family around you?
I've had that panicky feeling too, desperately not wanting to go back to feeling so awful. Knowing what was going on, my OH made it a priority to look after me (and do the housework etc) so I could concentrate on feeding our son and generally coping! Hope you are being looked after too, it makes a massive difference.
Also, anyone that posts on here is doing so because they've been through it and know how hard it is. No-one is going to think you're lazy. Please accept our support and continue posting when things are difficult.
Hope things get easier for you soon.

Thanks HM - big move, yes something like that, moved to Oz 18 months ago, and that was the first of 4 moves in that time. I think none of us know exactly which way is up at the moment.

I am very lucky in that we have just moved into a lovely house, very convenient, and I have worked to get a support system in place in the last months - have a counsellor - although haven't seen her since the birth due to various circ.s. Some family near by, which is a big difference from last time, and a very very different birthing experience.

Seeing DS1 get upset is doing my head in (for want of a more eloquent expression) but I also really really miss him. I just don't seem to ahve any time for him anymore; also Friday was the 1st year ann. of my father's death, so essentially the last week or so has just been lousy.

Despite all this there are many positives. I have a cleaner at the moment, and until this week my mum has been with us - she flew back on Sunday. That had it's own dynamic, but she was great, and lots of things just got done - like food and clothes! DH is trying hard, but we have our tensions, obviously, he's on home turf and I'm not, for one.

Anyway, I suppose I'm a little freaked out that it took just one thing to leave me feeling a bit hopeless again, but having written these posts I realise there have been a lot of things going on that I need to allow for.

So, the baby is finally asleep and will go and try and get some of the same.

Thanks again, I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Best wishes Jackaroo. I can't remember how many times in the first few weeks after having DD my DH phoned from work to see how I was doing, only to end up with a sobbing hysterical woman on the end of the phone who couldn't get the baby to feed/burp/sleep/stop crying and hadn't eaten all day and was totally losing it...and I was in my nice house 40 miles from where I was born with my mum half an hour away! I really hope things get better for you, it's amazing the difference a few minutes on your own in a nice warm bath makes .

Re Fennel tea from fennel seeds: not just the Italians. It seemed to work for me. Bfdg mothers drink fennel tea as a way of keeping up supply.

Try Neal's Yard (also online I think). (Sorry re reading I see that you are in Oz. There must be an Oz equivalent).

Fenugreek also helps.

Also a friend was in a v stressful situation where her milk stopped. She called a homoeopathic helpline and was recommended urtica. But as soon as you see increase in supply you must stop taking. If you are interested, I will try to find details (although speaking to a homeopath would be better). btw she was a homoeopathy sceptic - but desperate. And it worked.

A midwife at the portland recommended squeezing the breasts methodically (sorry am not explaining v well) in between feeds (to make them think milk is needed so they produce more).

Oral thrush?

Hope this helps. Just quickly read your last posts. You have a great deal on your plate. Try to be kind to yourself.

Just wanted to post an update, not sure if you'll see it now, but thank you for all the advice.

Still going through it - but definitely better. I stood over hte formula on Saturday, in the pharmacy, and in the end bought some.. but also went and got some fennel seeds (forgot that from last time). It worked like magic. I might just post "fennel seeds" on here every mont or so to remind everyone!

Weirdly no-one stocks fennel tea here, but a tspn of the seeds in a cup tastes about right.

Still lots of latching (therefore wind) problems, but he's eatin loads so am ahead of the game.

Am hugely resentful about the lack of support I'm getting, but that's another post

The night after I last posted, DS2 fed only every 4 hours for a couple of feeds, which had me in a dither as to whether to wake him up, but the rest/lack of nipple pain was a good catch up. Went back to demented mode the next day til I started on the tea in the afternoon. Within a feed it was flooding in.

Bit garbled, DS1 sick today and hating the lack of attention, DS2 not sleeping, happy, but not sleeping....

There'll always be something I suspect.

Cheers

J

Glad to hear things are a bit better. Fennel seeds definitely better than tea (the seeds tend to be stronger). Nettle also helps (if you do not have any dried leaves, do you have any nettles in your garden? Wash and boil , for at least 20 minutes I think).

Best of luck.