Supply help (PIOG) *slightish update

[Godspitgrl]

I think I'm drying up, and I don't know wht to do. Lily will sleep for 6-8 hours now and I always offer breast first but she only gulps about 10 times per breast and then is letting go screaming after about five mins and I give her a bottle of formula. We are almost out and I don't have funds right now for more. Fenugreek, oatmeal, and suckling has done nothing to help and when I pump I get hardly anything. I don't know if I should try and pump more (honestly I stopped when she was sleeping cause I was hoping that I would fill up more for when she woke up) or what. I have had someone offer me some domperidone and some blessed thistle that I'm tring to work out meeting up with and I'm going to try to do a nurse in tomorrow and not offer a bottle at all if I can help it. But I'm afraid of her going back to no wet diapers. What else can I do?

*Ok I know pumping its always a good indication but I just pumped my "full" breast (Lily only nursed from one side this last time she was having trouble sleeping) and only go 4ml. Which is worse than before. So I'm going to kee the pump out and keep drinking my mothers milk tea, taking the blessed thistle and fenugreek, keep eating oatmeal, and use the motherslove someone is sending me and try my best to up my supply. I know I get irritated when I'm tired but I'm going to set alarms to at least nurse if she doesn't eat.

[KylersMom8-16-7]

Stop supplementing! Every bottle damages your supply because your body is not getting the make more milk signal!

Pump output is normally .5-2oz for BOTH BREASTS! 6 diapers in 24 hours, poo=2.

[jjchick75]

This is not a supply problem, its a flow prefrence. Baby knows bottle is easier and so she isn't going to take the breast. The only way to know baby is getting enough is diaper count. 6 to 8 diapers in 24 hours. Some women don't respond to the pump. I don't get more than just a few drop but I have successfully nursed 4 children incluing twins. Giving formula is only going to hurt your supply not help. If you diapers aren't good, use an SNS, syringe, or spoon to supplement not a bottle.

[Godspitgrl]

The reason I started supplementing was there was no diapers at all for two days and I'm afraid of it happening again.

[collinsmommy0]

What about reducing the supplementing? Have you tried that? When we were weaning off supplements, I decreased by 1 oz every few days. I was supplementing with my own milk at the time.

If you can't afford it, have you looked into WIC?

Quoting Godspitgrl:

The reason I started supplementing was there was no diapers at all for two days and I'm afraid of it happening again.

[Ashiopeia]

Stop supplementing. She'll be fine, you need her to signal your body to make more. Worst case scenario but some Domperidone. You'll certainly make more.

[Godspitgrl]

I haven't tried reducing. I have just been feeding her till she stops acting hungry. (which varies from 2-4 oz a setting) 

About WIC we have just moved and so I have not had a chance to get her birth cert or SSN yet to have to go apply for it. But if it gets where I have no choice but to use formula I will have to get WIC. :( I hate it that formula is so high esp the allergy free ones or I wouldnt have the trouble but 30$ a can is crazy. 

Quoting collinsmommy0:

What about reducing the supplementing? Have you tried that? When we were weaning off supplements, I decreased by 1 oz every few days. I was supplementing with my own milk at the time.

If you can't afford it, have you looked into WIC?

Quoting Godspitgrl:

The reason I started supplementing was there was no diapers at all for two days and I'm afraid of it happening again.

[collinsmommy0]

I would just try reducing & watch diapers. Then if they go low, just increase again, then try to decrease after diapers are good.
We were up to about 10 oz a day at a point. It took me over a month to reduce to none, but it was worth it!

Quoting Godspitgrl:

I haven't tried reducing. I have just been feeding her till she stops acting hungry. (which varies from 2-4 oz a setting) 

About WIC we have just moved and so I have not had a chance to get her birth cert or SSN yet to have to go apply for it. But if it gets where I have no choice but to use formula I will have to get WIC. :( I hate it that formula is so high esp the allergy free ones or I wouldnt have the trouble but 30$ a can is crazy. 

Quoting collinsmommy0:

What about reducing the supplementing? Have you tried that? When we were weaning off supplements, I decreased by 1 oz every few days. I was supplementing with my own milk at the time.



If you can't afford it, have you looked into WIC?

Quoting Godspitgrl:

The reason I started supplementing was there was no diapers at all for two days and I'm afraid of it happening again.

[sreichelt26]

Reduce the formula and give it in an SNS in the mean time so your breasts get the stimulation.

[MonicaV1982]

supplement only when diapers are low starting with the minimum amount of formula. dont let bf become the supplement. i was in this situation before having to supplement.

[MonicaV1982]

give 10ml of formula by syringe, and nurse before AND after! If diapers are really low start with an ounce. Start low and increase until you see at 6 diapers. Most importantly put baby to breast as often as possible. The other option is the finish at the breast practice. give baby just enough supplement then put to breast. Work on reducing the supplement and increasing the time nursing.