[~*Bethy*~]

Ok so my nipples are healed up but my milk supply is WAY down. I started breastfeeding her every meal starting this morning (I kid you not it still hurts somewhat but not NEARLY as bad as it did!) I only had to supplement on this last feeding as she was super fussy and kept unlatching and getting pissed. I know I have milk but not sure how much I have. I havent been engorged once today and that scares me. should I start drinking a few cups of the mothers milk tea to see if I can get more coming in or just let her nurse and see where that leads us?

[Mars]

I'm not sure what to suggest to get it back up. I remember that it seemed like the days I drank loads of water, I had more milk but I never really tested it. I think that once she starts back feeding regularly that you body should adjust again to the demand. I hope it works out that way for you.

[szczepanski]

Is she having enough wet and poopy diapers?

She may be unlatching because she wants to comfort nurse and just keeps getting milk when she wants to just suck. Does she calm down if you let her suck on your fingers?

[..Christine..]

When I was trying to build my supply- I did drink Mother's milk tea 3x a day....I also took Fenugreek (3 pills - 3x a day). I also noticed tat when I drank lots and lots of water that my supply increased. I have tried almost every thing there is to try-Rootbeer, water, protein, certain juices, pumping after feeding etc- I have an oversupply now.....

[**Jenn**]

Originally Posted by ..Christine..

When I was trying to build my supply- I did drink Mother's milk tea 3x a day....I also took Fenugreek (3 pills - 3x a day). I also noticed tat when I drank lots and lots of water that my supply increased. I have tried almost every thing there is to try-Rootbeer, water, protein, certain juices, pumping after feeding etc- I have an oversupply now.....

I did all this with Liam too. Plus oatmeal.

How do you know your supply is way down? Like Heather said, how are her diapers? She may also be hitting the 3 week growth spurt. If it was me, I'd just nurse her as much as possible.

Lila will sometimes keep pulling off if she wants to comfort nurse (not eat) and is trying to sleep. She just did this tonight actually. Normally, if thats the case I can just lay her on my chest and pat her butt firmly and she'll drift off pretty quickly.

[~*Bethy*~]

I never thought of comfort nursing *scratches chin* That does seem like how she was acting. Shes having plently of wet diapers but the formula slowed her poop down. Last night she finally pooped 2 diapers worth in a bout a 15 minute time frame (I think the BM helped her from being constipated?) Shes latching on just fine, and is doing the long sucks then swallows, so I know shes getting something. Maybe now Im just paranoid? My supply feels more up today, but I also drank a crap ton of water yesterday. I can tell if I havent had enough water when she nurses I get cotton mouth! shes a better baby today thats for sure!!

[soImarriedAnerd]

you getting to the 4 week mark so its going to even out then she will have a growth spurt and you will be low for a couple days till they catch up with her, then even out then 3 more growth spurts! LOL As long as the wet diapers are there she is getting enough. During growth spurts she will act a hungry because she only got 4 of her 6 course meal! LOL But she is getting enough (proof is in the diapers!). ITs a supply and demand thing.....when she demands more it takes a couple days to supply more.

[misfitinmn]

Totally agree with the other ladies and also want to second the suggestion of oatmeal - I have heard great things about it as a way to increase supply (had to avoid it myself as I spent months engorged). Also, you may have gotten to a point where your milk supply is regulating itself, so you may not feel engorged as much anymore. As long as there's wet/poopy diapers (although Ben at times went up to 10 days without a poopy diaper), and you are hearing her swallow while you're nursing, it should be okay. Even if you feel like you need to supplement, keep offering the breast first and that will stimulate more milk production!

[Babybear4]

Ditto what the others have said. Oatmeal worked wonders for me on days that I was feeling like my supply was low. That and nursing on demand. I figured if she wanted to nurse more often, it must have been because my supply wasn't meeting her needs, so she needed to signal my body to produce more milk.

[~*Bethy*~]

Ive ate the oatmeal the last 2 days and Im super engorged in one breast today go figure right? I also havent been nursing her the last day or 2, long mental story, but were putting the bottles and everything away so I cant fall back on it. kicking myself in the butt today

[ShannonMVT]

oatmeal, fenugreek (I never took it but heard it's good) also on the oatmeal I heard use the regular oatmeal not the instant kind. Steel cut oats are supposed to be good too.

Maybe talk to someone in LLL about the transition? Maybe I'm mistaken but you are going from formula back to BFing? Or were you pumping? If you are going from formula to BFing then I think it will take a few days for your supply to increase to what she is taking in. I don't know if it would have to be done graually or not.

[Mjp121212]

old wive's tale my aunt told me----who nursed 3 boys whose wives also nursed-----told me to drink chocolate milk. I did for a few days and I was turned into a faucet that I couldn't turn off.

[ScottishBrit]

I tried EVERYTHING and never had a good supply. I was on 12 Freaking Fenu greeks a day and reeked like Maple Syrup!!! Ate Oatmeal for breakfast, Monster Cookies, I only drink water, Pumped everytime after I nursed her, Im telling you everything and I didn't have much luck. I NEVER got Engorged and never leaked, It was crazy.

[~Jess~]

I rarely got engorged when Alyssa was little. Your breasts are reaching that stage where they are going to regulate and only produce what your baby demands, so you'll be engorged less. Right when you first get your milk in, your breasts don't know if you're going to have a petite little eater, or triplets, so they automatically produce enough to feel a whole army of demanding babies. Soon they're going to taper off and only produce what is needed--this makes it especially important to try to bfeed her as much as possible.

Also, she may be coming up on a growth spurt, during which time she will be fussy and act like she's starving even though she's getting plenty of milk. There will even be times when your breasts feel flat out empty, but keep nursing!

Also, you mentioned comfort nursing, one of my kids (can't remember which one), would try to comfort nurse and get FURIOUS when milk would come out, lmao.

[~*Bethy*~]

Originally Posted by ~Jess~

I rarely got engorged when Alyssa was little. Your breasts are reaching that stage where they are going to regulate and only produce what your baby demands, so you'll be engorged less. Right when you first get your milk in, your breasts don't know if you're going to have a petite little eater, or triplets, so they automatically produce enough to feel a whole army of demanding babies. Soon they're going to taper off and only produce what is needed--this makes it especially important to try to bfeed her as much as possible.

Also, she may be coming up on a growth spurt, during which time she will be fussy and act like she's starving even though she's getting plenty of milk. There will even be times when your breasts feel flat out empty, but keep nursing!

Also, you mentioned comfort nursing, one of my kids (can't remember which one), would try to comfort nurse and get FURIOUS when milk would come out, lmao.

Thats what she did during her growth spurt!! Shes back to normal for the most part now, I was even able to swaddle her and cradle hold her (she hates that position!!) I had hubby give her a bottle in the dead of night last night, and I have a feeling thats now its going to be as Im IMPOSSIBLE to wake up in the middle of the night. He doesnt mind the snuggle time so it works out

Yes Im coming off of formula. Right now I haven't had to supplement much. Then again hubby did give her one or 2 bottles of formula yesterday since we were super busy with the kids (we babysit 2 other kids now) She falls asleep at the breast so Im assuming shes getting enough. Even when shes latched off and is cranky, I express some to see how much comes out and I get squirted in the face so I know there is milk in there!

This is just all too complicated I wanna be one of thoes indian ladies that never wears clothes and just nurses wherever shes at regardless of people around her. I think my mental state of mind about BFing is influenced greatly by the people around me (wanting me to be back to normal how I "used to be" and not realizing that Im a mommy again to a baby who needs me, KWIM?)

[Mjp121212]

My point of view was pretty simple: Jesus was breastfed and I'm pretty well sure Mary didn't have to take classes and jump through a bunch of hoops. And if breastfeeding was as complicated a process as the books say the human race would have starved to death. When I started thinking about it that way and just let nature happen.....I was happier, brady was happier, and milk was fine Oh and around the same time the pedi suggest I try out a paci....I did.....we loved it.....he gave it up on his own at 12m and breastfeeding wasn't hindered in the slightest.

[~*Bethy*~]

Yeah shes had a binky since day one. I know her cues to where shes hungry or tired, and 99% of the time I can usually figure it out

I think Ive come to terms with the fact that I am a 50% BFer/FFer. I dont feel bad about it, and shes still getting BM, but with the convenience of FF while were out and about or if company is over and I want to be modest. *shrugs* its just whats working for us.

[Mjp121212]

As long as she's fed, happy and content....isn't that most important?

[~*Bethy*~]

exactly!