Needing To Build Up My Milk Supply Again

Originally, I wasn't going to re-post anymore blogs until January (so this post was wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, thus the comments below) so that I could instead use the time to "remodel" my blog, but it ended up only taking me 24 hrs--so I will now continue posting where I left off when my son was four months old. This was written on Saturday, August 16, 2008:

I'm depressed. In my last post I mentioned that my milk supply had gone down this past week, despite still taking fenugreek. So, I've been pumping all day, every day--only to have it get worse! If you've been following my blogs, then you know that this tends to happen every couple of weeks, but usually pumping all day (in addition to still putting Logan to the breast) has always gotten the flow up again, so that once I'd start pumping more than Logan drank, I could exclusively breastfeed again.

This time, however, it hasn't been enough. (I know this because he's been crying his "hungry cry" at both the breast and after he finishes the bottle.) It's no surprise to me because I'm pumping half as much as I did a month ago. Therefore, I am down to just six storage containers left in my freezer! I will cry if I use them all up. I still have leftover formula that we got free when he had jaundice, but I refuse to give it to him when I worked so hard those first seven weeks to be able to breastfeed 100% of the time. (To read about my earlier breastfeeding rollercoaster, click here.)

I had no idea we could have a relapse at four months old. I don't know if he's going through another growth spurt or what. But my breasts have definitely changed--they are no longer full and I get NO natural reminders now to feed. Up until recently if I was just a few minutes late they would hurt like crazy and start leaking. I don't even need to wear my bra pads anymore (I recommend the organic washable kind). Now I'm convinced I could go all day without pumping/nursing and hardly notice. It's like my breasts think I'm done--but I'm not! I'd still like to continue for another 8 months! Maybe I've gotten too busy and need to focus more on breastfeeding again.

I do feel that I've been more stressed lately, and my lactation consultant told me in the beginning that stress is the #1 reason for low milk supply (and I had that in the beginning, too, with Logan's jaundice). Recently I've been feeling run down. . .this summer has been jam-packed (there's been one weekend since Logan's been born that we didn't have plans). . .I definitely need a break. But, we have plans the next three weekends as well as stuff during the weeks. I guess something might have to be canceled or else it's just going to continue the cycle of me feeling stressed & tired which then makes Logan the same way. :-(

At this point all I can do is try again tomorrow. I also found some good tips on the web by Sally Wendkos Olds, author of THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING, which I will end with.

Ways to Build Up Your Milk Production

• Nurse your baby more frequently for several days, using both breasts at each feeding. This is the single best way to enhance your flow of milk.
• Wake your baby, if necessary, to feed him more often.
* Pump or express milk between feedings. But don’t get discouraged if your pumping yields as little as half an ounce of breast milk. Your baby is almost certainly getting more than this. Even the best pump is less effective than a vigorously nursing baby.
• See a lactation specialist if your baby is not suckling well or nurses only a few minutes at a time.
• Cut back on your schedule. Do less. Rest more. Nap at least once a day, more often if you can manage it. Ask someone else to help with marketing, cooking simple meals (or getting take-out food), and doing basic laundry. Most people like to help a new mother, so take advantage of this willingness now. You can always reciprocate later on.
* Even though everyone wants to see the new baby, ask visitors not to come for several days -- or even weeks -- unless they’re people who will wait on you, not expect you to entertain them. Let your answering machine take phone calls – which you can return later when you’re not so tired. Well-meaning family and friends can wear out the new mom.
• If you can, take an occasional day or two off from work or from other obligations (by, for example, having someone come in to care for your other children) so that you can focus only on nursing your baby.
• Check your diet. Are you eating enough? Are you eating the right foods? Are you drinking enough fluids? Some women find that eating or drinking more seems to produce more milk. Keeping a glass of water or juice near the spot where you nurse is a good idea. You don’t need to drink any more than you need to meet your thirst, but some nursing moms find that they are thirstier than usual.
• Make a special effort to relax. Of course, this is hard when you’re concerned that your baby isn’t getting enough milk—but the more you can relax, the more milk your baby is likely to receive.
• Develop a few affirmations that you can repeat to yourself, such as: “I am a bounteous supplier of milk for my baby”; “I am doing the best thing I can as a mother”; “My baby is growing fit and healthy from my milk”; “My milk is my baby’s perfect food.”
* Visualize your baby at a little older age, looking well fed and happy.
* Vitamin B complex, brewer’s yeast, and the herbs fenugreek (also called fenugeek) and blessed thistle are sometimes recommended, as is the controversial prescription drug domperidone, which has not been approved for any use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• Believe in yourself and trust your body.

Note: Do not offer your baby formula while you’re building up your milk supply. A few ounces soon turn into a full bottle, which soon turns into several bottles, until you find that you’re producing even less milk. If your baby is drinking from a bottle, he is not stimulating your breasts and thus not doing the most effective thing that will increase your supply of milk.
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P.S. I also have a relaxation CD by Earth Mama, the same company that made one for my preparation for childbirth (it was a HUGE factor towards my positive HypnoBirthing experience--I think ALL pregnant women should get it, whether you strive for natural labor or not). I listened to the "more mama's milk" CD once, but I plan to take a bubble bath tomorrow night and listen to it again!