I am breastfeeding my 3rd child - a boy. I have been under some stress lately. I have a 4 yr old and 2 1/2 yr old girls and they have been very difficult lately. I am also a bit sleep deprived. I also do not live around any family. This is the first time I have felt like my supply is dwindling. I have added some cereal to my son's diet, but not much at all. I nurse him whenever he is hungry. It just seems like there is not as much there and it takes a while to have a let down. Sometimes my son get so mad by the time my milk does let down. Has any other breastfeeding mom had this experience and what did you do? I would like to continue to breastfeed till my son is 1 yr old.
Thanks everyone! I really appreciate it! I started to make an appoint to keep track of how much water I drink and just that alone has helped. I guess I thought I was drinking enough, but I wasn't. I have not tried any of the herbal supplements, but will if something happens. Thanks again. Blessing to all of you!!!
Absolutely, yes!
See www.kellymom.com for tons of info on breastfeeding.
Fenugreek worked for me, too. It's very safe, so I just took it until my sweat and breath started smelling like maple syrup and then backed off. But it definitely helped kick-start the supply again...
Stress can definitely reduce your supply. I agree with the others. You've got to relax so your milk can come down and drink lots and lots of water, but there are also some supplements you can take. B-compex has helped me a lot, I take one a day of those. Just for extra energy it is great! As far as increasing milk you can do any of these. I have heard that having a beer can help, haven't tried that one as I think the stuff is nasty. But it's something about the yeast or the hops or whatever. For herbals, fenugreek or blessed thistle can increase supply. Take two capsules with every meal. Either of those can be found at the vitamin shoppe. Another I've hears is really good is "more milk" made by mother love herbals. Do an online search and you'll find it. My midwife had really good things to say about that one. Nurse often and do these things and your supply should increase. I did the blessed thistle with my last as I was also pumping to help feed my neighbor's baby. She had a problem producing milk and her baby wasn't reacting well to formula, so for a while I needed to make enough for two. It worked pretty well!
Best Wishes!
Unfortunately being a mom with 3 young kids can be very stressful and it can play havoc with your milk supply. What might also be happening is that you are tense and that may reduce the let-down session when the milk is coming in. Make sure to wait 2 - 4 hours between breastfeedings - if he is thirsty, he can have a little spring water.
If you find that you're not getting enough sleep, you could try multi-tasking (we moms are great at that!) - take the baby to bed with you so that you can nurse him and sleep at the same time. Just make sure that the baby can't fall out of the bed and hold him football style - sort of like he's sitting beside you with your arm around him. You need sleep and you need time to yourself and time with your significant other. I know it can be difficult to find someone to watch 3 kids, but they are out there - get creative. A happy, rested mom is a good mom.
I hope things go well for you :) A.
Hi J.. I am so sorry that you've had so much stress right now. As a fellow breastfeeding mom, I can tell you that sleep, eating habits, and stress all play a part in a reduced milk supply. If I could offer you any suggestions I would first say SLEEP. Watch that you aren't skipping meals. I know it's easy to get busy trying to take care of everyone else and forget about feeding yourself. Remember that you are still "feeding for two" and you need the increased caloric intake. Also, try to really focus on breathing calmly each night. The added oxygen in your muscles will fight the tiredness you are probably feeling.
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!
Try to take 5 min, even 1 or 2 min if you can't do 5, to sit in a quiet place, close your eyes and take deep relaxing breathes.
I had to pump during 10 min work breaks in the companie's gym locker room! Nothing would come out. I would do the above,count backwards from 10 to 1 a few times and just complete relax my body. Then the milk would flow! Just try to relax before you nurse.
Best wishes,
D.
Try making a 'quiet spot'. Soft soothing music (kids lullaby tapes can be good, or something classical), close the curtains/shades, soft comfortable chair or rocker.
Drink water....lots of it. Make sure you are still eating well.
See if another girlfriend/mom that you trust can watch your other 2 kiddos for an hour a day for a couple of days (one of your feeding times) to help relieve the stress. Sounds crazy, but my kids often behave better when they have a friend over and then don't pick on each other. That decreases my stress level a lot and my kids are way older than breastfeeding age!
Good luck!
Good luck.
Yes it sure does! I have nursed 11 of them! Drink lot's of water, sit down or lay down when you nurse and always have a glass of water when you do (yes I know that wasw redundant but...have a glass of water!), try mothers milk tea and or camomile tea, as a mom it is hard to say get more rest but you already knew that one, and last but probably the most important for YOU is to take a good b-complex! Stress eats up the b's and effects you in numerous ways! I use and sell Shaklee and swear by it but please buy the best you can find if you don't want to order the Shaklee. Always use a complex(this is vital) and try to get a whole food supplement and not a synthetic one. Best wishes and way to go for going for the year mark! You and baby will be so blessed by your efforts no matter how long you are able to continue!
Blessings!
K. B
Absolutly strees will reduce it and make it go away if not turned around. Water, water, water really is your best answer. You need to be getting AT LEAST a gallon down daily for a 'good' supply to continue. I have heard good things about the fenugreek as well. I know it sounds gross but i've also seen good results with one drinking a beer. The yeast aparently does make one produce more. However, not crazy about this one. So glad your trying to go to his birthday! Good for you! If you add the water and perhaps the fenugreek, you will make it. He will most likely be getting veggies soon too so that with the cereal will trim down a bit on his need. Your bm is still best for him! No doubt, keep up the great work and TRY to get some sleep, easier said than done for sure! Good luck!
As the other posters have noted, stress can/will/does affect milk supply. It could also be your son is going through a growth spurt, which coupled with the stress adds to his want for more. I know it's hard, but try to relax, follow the tips of the other moms and in a few days your supply should be up to demand. If anything just know you're not alone, even without family near :)
My milk almost went to nothing with my 5th cild. So much so that at her 4 week check up she was back DOWN to her birth weight! This shocked me because she was eating every 3 hours and sleeping through the night.
My doctor wanted to put her on formula. I went home and prayed and talked with husband. Decided to keep nursing but I added some things: water, water , water and more water. I kept raw almonds in my pocket and ate a few every time I thought of it. I nursed every 2 hours (instead of my normal routine of three.) I also bought some fenugreek capsules from the health store and took 2 in the a.m. and 2 at night. (They increase your milk supply.)
At the next weeks checkup she had gained and the doctor was satisfied with my not following his suggestion to use formula. Good luck. With little ones it is hard to remember to eat and drink. Also I drank lots before bedtime and upon rising when the house was quiet and I had a chance to remember!
Yes, I sure does just like sex, its not very comfortable if you stressed is it; It makes sense right?
Hi J.,
It looks like you've gotten some great advice already, but I have another ideas that worked great for me. Oatmeal. With 2 little ones around sitting & eating a bowl of hot oatmeal may be tough, but I loved the Quaker oatmeal squares -like granola bars but square & way more oatmeal than a regular granola bar. Eating 2 a day really helped me keep my supply up.
Also, around 6 months my milk slowed down a bit - turned out I was about to start getting my period again. Every month after that my milk would slow down for about a week before my period, then it would bounce back. Just keep trying!
Good Luck,
~P..
Yes, stress does affect milk supply. It's tough I know, especially when you have other children at home. Just keep nursing on demand to get your supply up and try not to supplement too much if you can help it. Make sure you are eating enough and drinking enough liquids. The rest thing is so tough, but try to get as much rest as you can. It's another step and more time, but you could also try pumping after you feed the baby, even if pumping only for 5-10 minutes. The frequency of nursing/pumping will help increase your milk supply not the length of time you do it. I am trying to keep up with enough milk for twins right now, so I totally know what you are going through and we have no rest at my house! Hope this helps! Good luck - you can do it!
