For a week and a half now, my milk supply seems to have dramatically diminished. Sorry to any guys who may be reading this (which I'm sure is very few), but my breasts have shrunk in size, Noah has been fussy, and when he latches on he releases to relatch multiple times. I can tell he's searching for more. This lessening of milk has made me exceptionally sad, and I've been doing everything I know to increase my supply. I've been nursing Noah a lot throughout the day so that my brain knows to make more, and just yesterday I picked up a prescription my doc ordered for me. However, it only has a 30%-40% chance of working and I won't know if it is working for 3-4 days. I bought some formula yesterday and gave it to him a couple of times today...he gulped it down. Which makes me feel like I've been depriving him for a week now. He just hasn't been getting enough. I wonder if he'll sleep better tonight. He hasn't been sleeping well this last week and a half. I've been trying to figure out how this has happened, and I've only been able to come up with two possible reasons. The weekend of the baby shower, I missed a few nursings. Usually, when I miss a nursing, I just get really full and that's that. However, I missed a couple, two days in a row. Secondly, I got super sick at the beginning of last week and it lasted for several days. Could either of these two reasons be the downfall of my milk supply? I'm sick just thinking about this. Formula is not the devil, I know...but I just love nursing him, and I've been his provider for the last 7 months, and now I don't have that ability. Someone tell me there's a solution!
6 comments:
sometimes the more you feed, the less you produce...try 5 feedings a day, 3 hrs apart. yes, after sickness my supply is depleted from dehydration, tiredness. saying that, some women just dry up about 6 or 7 months. you have assess and make decisions that are wise for you and noah...you know what he needs better than anyone! love you!
I'm so sorry, Evie. I know that can be very disheartening. From my understanding, this just happens sometimes. Being able to nurse him for 7 months is a huge blessing! Yet I know, it can be very emotional when the nursing ceases. Hang in there, my friend!!!!
I know how sad it will be if you can't nurse anymore. Try to focus on all of the other great things that make you a great mom too. I'm thinking of you!
I think around that time Brennan was only nursing 4 or 5 times a day. Things definitely change once they start eating solid foods. Fortunately, they are getting most of their nutrition from solids and not as much from breast milk the older they get. If you don't want to stop completely, I would just try to nurse him in the morning and at night before bed and see how that goes. It may be too late for this because you posted this four days ago...but it's not the end of the world to stop nursing...you will have to stop sometime. It's a natural part of mommyhood. Good luck! Let us know how it goes!
Ahh. I know that is a bittersweet period. freedom!! but also you have to find other ways to bond. I am on the other end as sophia is 3 months and won't feed from a bottle. So i feel like a milk cow. I know i need to appreciate this time! hugs. you can do it!
We went through the same thing at about the same time. Just stick with it and remember being stressed will decrease your supply so try not to worry about it...I know that's harder said than done, but try it! As long as he's still making wet diapers he's not getting dehydrated and he is eating solids so just be patient and if it doesn't work come up with some other ways to keep the skin to skin bond going!
Post a Comment