Hi ladies

As most of you probably know by now, like Winsett I've also been having real problems with my supply.

I have also tried the herbal supplements, more carbs etc etc. I'm definitely eating enough and resting more as lo seems to be settling at night a bit better now but my supply is really really bad.

Tonight and one feed yesterday, I had to top him up with ff, which I have never had to do before. My boobs never feel anything but completely empty and he starts thrashing around because of no milk within 3-4 minutes of starting to feed.

I bought a medela swing pump yesterday and am trying to express after every feed, not getting much out though - in fact only expressed a total of 2.5 ounces all day today. This is what I'm doing:

7am - bf
9am - solids
11am - bf
12.30pm - solids
2.30pm - bf
4.30pm - solids
5.30pm - bf
7.00pm - bf
3.30am - bf
5.30am - bf(only sometimes)

As mentioned, I am using the pump after ever bf. Can anyone give me any other tips other than what I'm doing? I am so desperate to keep bfing as I have never managed it before and this is my last baby.

Reiss is 4.5 months btw.

ANY advice would be so helpful - I am desperate.xx

Hi hun, so sorry that you are still struggling. Not sure what to suggest tbh but I didn't want to read and run. Are you getting enough fluids? You probably are but that is the only thing you didn't mention and I am clutching at straws! Only other thing that I can think of is maybe give a bottle of formula for a couple of feeds in the hopes that you will fill up. If he then has a good feed without fussing maybe that will trigger you to produce more?
I hope you manage to find a solution but please don't beat yourself up if you don't. I know how important is was to you but you really couldn't have tried any harder to make it work, not sure I would have been able to carry on as long in the same circumstances.
Big hugs
Kerry xx

hey hun,i was gonna post a fao to you as we havent spoken in a while n i noticed your posts with winsett.I am so sorry your supply isnt v good.Have u tried switchin reiss onto the other breast when he thrashes about??Grace has had both breasts from about 3 mths.She does similar thing 2 what u say n thrashes about n keeps comin off so i switch her 2 the other side n shes fine,has a good feed from that one aswell.Im sorry i cnt be much more help m8.Have u spoken 2 a bf co-ordinator to see what they say?u know where i am if u need 2 chat either on here or facebook or if u want my mob number i'll send it u on facebook xxxx

hey Karen,

I know how you feel hon. Even though i said i had to stop I am continuing to give what I've got. Problably it is mainly lack of rest both mentally and physically. Try to see the experience more like providing the closeness that your baby needs (nursing) rather than just milk and that might take some of the mental pressure off, especially since lo is having lots of his nutrition from solids.

You know when i tried expressing on Saturday and Sunday and my breast milk took forever to build up; by Sunday night I was convinced it was not working but Yesterday I was able to bf for most of the day and just give one top up. I will see how today goes.

What I am trying to say is; yesterday you tried the pump for the first time so your body might need more time to adjust. keep going at it for another 2 days and things might be different. I spoke to a bf councillor on Monday and she reminded me that pumping can also be tiring mentally and physically cause we are looking at what comes out and we a re rushing about to bf, put baby to sleep, them pump cause we have not got anyone to take baby. Remember that lo has drained both breasts so you might not get much out. It is the stimulation that matters in our case.

If lo won't go to sleep after bf try topping up with 1 to 1.5 ozs of formula just so you can put him down knowing he has got some milk then express. Don't give too much formula so that he will be hungry soon again. After 2 more days your breasts might get the message and you could give yourself a break from the pumping.

Hope I am making some sense.

Love lots and hope you can keep going.

karen I know it helps to talk cause felt better after speaking to a very lovely bf councillor yesterday who took about 1/2 hr to tell me about her experience.

If you want to talk you can email me and I will give you my number.

winsettellis@hotmail.com

Hi girls

Thanks for your replies, and as ever, your support - just one more reason I don't want to stop bfing!

Well, as you may have seen on my post to Winsett, my supply seems to have improved a bit today. I think you are right Winsett - it has taken the extra day or so to sort itself out.

Won't write anymore on this post as I've covered it in Winsetts, just wanted to say thanks and big hugs to you.xx