holding on by a thread - UPDATED

[deenass]

You may have read my post in feeding about my low milk supply - basically discoverd this when my son stopped gaining weight (this ROCKED me - as after he was born I had an OVERSUPPLY) so the last two weeks have been HELL - I've been pumping non-stop, supplementing with what BM I can pump out along with formula - I tried a supplemental nursing system but DS kept yanking the tube out and SCREAMING when I tried to slip it in his mouth.

I started taking fenugreek and blessed thistle a week and a half ago - and last night we added Zoloft to the mix.

I'm exhausted, overwhelmed, scared and a mess. We are going to see another LC today as the one I'm working with currently is out of ideas.

The good news is that DS has gained almost 2 lbs... but the guilt is eating me alive - along with the constant fear - right now we are feeding him every 2 hours by the clock (while letting him sleep at night - I don's sleep but that is another story!).

I just need to see a light at the end of this tunnel - I need to believe that my supply will go up enough to sustain him. I BF DS #1 for 20 months - I never would have dreamed that I would have difficulty with DS #2 as the result of a supply issue.

UPDATED - Maybe it's just the Zoloft kicking in, but I feel better (actually made it to the pediatrician and the grocery store today - more activity than I've had in weeks!) The meeting with the LC went well and my midwife wrote me an RX for domperedome which should help with my milk supply.

The ped gave me a big thumbs up about the weight gain ....

THANKS for your kind words - the mean a lot!

[Wife_and_mommy]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's unbelievable really.

Many hugs as you work on building your supply again.

DS needs me..gotta go.




I love them most when they are sleeping.--Me
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[buddyleebaby]

Aw, mama. Hugs, Hugs, Hugs.

You are doing what you can, and that is all anyone can ask you to do.

I hope you get your supply back. I understand how important it is to you. But you need to take care of you too. A healthy mommy is what is most important to your son.

Be gentle with yourself. Sleep when you can. Have some oatmeal chip cookies, and nurse your baby whenever possible. Even if he then has to have a bottle, the skin to skin time is so important. Lots of women battle supply issues and win.

At then end of the day, whethere or not he is breastfed, he will be the same amazing little boy he is now, and you will be the same amazing mama. It will be OK.

You are doing a wonderful job.

[Lolagirl]

I'm also sorry to hear that your having such a hard time. Please don't stress yourself out about this too much, you're obviously just trying to do what is best for your baby. I had low supply issues while BF my twins, and I ended up taking Reglan (Metoclopramide) on and off for about 4 months. I was a little skeptical, but it actually worked very well at increasing my supply and I'm so glad that I went ahead and tried it. If you haven't already, I would really recommend that you talk to your OB or internist to see if it's indicated in your case (and it sounds to me like it would be.)

Good Luck!

[scoop22]

ds is so lucky to have a mommy like you. i am sorry you are going through such a hard time. you care so much for your dc that you just don't want to give up. you are amazing for that. you do need to take care of yourself. i hope you get a break soon and i hope that your supply straightens itself out. best of luck


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[elizabethkott]

(((((HUGS)))))!

I'm sorry that you are going through this- but he's gained *2 pounds*!!!
That's wonderful! You're doing all the right things, Mama. Please take some time to take care of yourself, too. It's hard work, doing what you're doing.

I hope things will get better for you soon!

[gatorsmom]

Have you tried drinking a beer? I hear there is something in it that could help up your supply (a LC told me this!).

Just keep working at it and try not to be stressed. When DS1 was 4 months old, DH and I took a trip to Cancun for 5 days without DS. I didn't nurse or pump those days like I should have and came back with a very, very low supply of milk. I pumped like crazy and fed as much as I could and my supply was back up after about 7 or 8 days. You can do it!!!

Lisa
Mom to Gator July 2003
And Cha-Cha July 2005
and surprise! twins due 11/07!

[JoyNChrist]

(((((HUGS))))) Mama!

You are so great to be working so hard to take care of your little guy. I wish you the absolute best of luck, and however it turns out, you remain an awesome mama and your DS will be perfectly fine.

[kozachka]

(((hugs))). You are doing all the right things for you and your DS. And it shows, your DS just gained *2 pounds*. That's a huge gain for a baby his age! There is absolutely no reason for you to feel guilty or scared. Give yourself a break, you need it.

[aa2mama]

I'm sorry that you are having such a rough time right now. I have been in similar shoes and could very much identify with what you wrote. Please go easy on yourself. You are going the best you can and that's good enough.

A few months ago my DD was not gaining weight. I had to breastfeed her, supplement her, and pump every two hours around the clock 24/7. Believe me, I wanted very badly to throw my pump off a tall, tall building. What kept me going was a saying that I read, "Never quit on your worst day". I repeated this to myself many times. I would give myself permission to quit if it didn't get better but told myself that today wasn't the day that I would quit.

I'm going to find your other post and share with you a couple of things that helped us.

[denna]

((Hugs)). Your children are so blessed to have you as a mama. It is so great that he is gaining weight again. I hope the next LC can give you something that really works this time.

Big big ((hugs)) and lots of milk vibes coming your way.

[punkrockmama]

Everybody's pretty much covered it, but I wanted to give you lots of hugs. It's gonna be alright sister.

You are doing an awesome job, mama. You're doing whatever it takes to care for your babe. But you need to take care of yourself too. I understand the guilt, but you've got to fight it. It's hard to see, but the most important thing is that the BOTH of you are happy and healthy, by any means necessary.

[SnuggleBuggles]

That sounds great! I hope things keep improving!

Beth