HELP! I Think My Milk Is Drying Up. =0(

+ 1 on just about everything S.H said...

but also - are YOU well hydrated? this can cause a lack of milk - so be sure to drink lots of water!

As for the sleep issues - that sounds normal to me for this age. Some babies sleep well from day one, others can wake up a lot and (usually) need to be fed before they can fall asleep again at this age. My daughter used to wake up about 8-12 times a night (from birth till about 9 months) and I would nurse her back to sleep every time. It kinda sucks, but you just gotta do it!

Oh and the gas - it may actually be caused by something in YOUR diet... you may wanna look up what foods can cause this (I can't remember all of them off the top of my head... but one thing I remember is to try cutting out dairy from your diet....)

Good luck! :)

contact a local la leche league leader. find a group local to you, search on llli.org, and call them if a meeting has already passed. they love to help new mommies!!! they helped me alot!!!

If you are nursing on demand, your milk will not dry up. I breastfed both of mine around the clock (at this young age, they nursed every hour or so) never 6 hour stretches. Mind you every baby is different but if nursed on demand, they will eat more often. That being said, you cannot use a pump to judge how much milk you are producing. Some woman pump a lot, some hardly any. It doesn't mean one is making more milk than the other. My babies thrived on being nursed on demand, mind you they were at the boobies often but that is what babies do! When I attempted to pump with a hospital grade pump just to have some in the freezer (just in case) I couldn't get more than 1 oz after pumping for 30 minutes on both boobs! I tried to pump for the 2 weeks I had rented it and it was a joke. So, please don't think your milk is drying up just because of what you pumped. It will dry up if you aren't nursing your baby.

I know you want her to sleep longer stretches, I so remember being there with my first. With my second, I was able to enjoy this time so much more and hopefully with a 3rd, I'll get to as well. I'd love to be up with a baby every hour or so right now! Call me nuts!

Gripe water seemed to work for gas with my second baby.

I know you've heard this a lot, if not than you will.. this time is going to go so fast!! (it's just hard to believe when you are in it). So hang in there.

Congratulations on your new baby!
M.

Keep drinking water! It helps. Talk to your doctor about your concerns, that is what they are there for. Also, your baby may just have colic...which sucks, but you get through it. The sleeping at night thing is hard. My baby is almost 6 months old and is still getting up. It about personal hard choices you and your baby have to make. I've read so many books and every single one suggests something else to do. Hang in there...9 times out of 10 you're doing just fine.

1) you need to see what the Pediatrician says.
2) IF you don't have enough milk... baby is basically always starving, thus not satisfied and always hungry...thus, they will not sleep well. Anyone who is starving, will not sleep well.
3) IF you don't have adequate milk supply....she will not be growing, gaining weight, or having enough wet or poopy diapers.
4) IF she is not getting enough intake, she can become dehydrated which is very dangerous for an infant....CHECK her fontanel (soft spot on her head), if it is caved in, then she is probably dehydrated.
5) TAKE your newborn into the Pediatrician.

6) Suspicion of not having enough milk to feed your baby, HAS TO BE taken care of or looked into right away... or your baby will not develop properly and will be starving.

7) The amount you "pump" is not always what you have in your breasts.

8) You NEED TO FEED HER ON DEMAND... and frequently, if you want her to be content, satisfied, and full. AND, by feeding her on demand, you are thus, helping your breasts to produce milk.

9) Each baby is different.... just TAKE your newborn into the Doctor and/or check with a Lactation Consultant.

10) You cannot feed a baby according to a "schedule." You MUST feed your baby according to 'THEIR' hunger needs. Like any human or adult... appetites and intake needs vary... each day. The same for a baby. Some babies even have to "cluster feed" which means they need to feed practically every hour. This is ALL "normal."

I would really take your Baby to the Doctor and check. You cannot wait... if she is "not" getting enough intake, she is constantly starving. Any baby will cry if they are in this situation. You MUST check your breastmilk supply....

For gas, tell your doctor this as well... so that you can be extra sure it IS gas, and not simply something else like hunger. You also want to be sure you are nursing her long enough... a baby has to get to the "hind milk." This takes at least 15 minutes of nursing.... then nurse her for as long as it takes... some babies take at least 1/2 hour or more, per nursing session. This is also normal.

Take care, I hope baby will feel better,
Susan

Drink a lot more water (even if you are already drinking a lot) and put the baby to your breast longer, and more often.

These two tips helped me to build and maintain my supply when I was having supply issues when my son was born. It really worked, before I knew it, I had "extra" - seriously - a lot of heavy leaking and a lot of extra stored in the freezer.

Also, you may want to eat a bland diet for a week and see if the baby is less gassy. Onions always bothered my kids a lot when I'd eat them.

I know it is so hard to know if your baby is getting enough to eat, but if she is peeing and pooping and gaining weight, you are making enough. Maybe take her into the dr. to get her weighed so you can have peace of mind. Try to avoid giving into the fear and giving her formula, your supply will be dramatically reduced if you do that. My son (3 now) nursed every 2 hours for the first 5 months around the clock, and then went to every 3 hours, etc. My daughter (1) is currently nursing, and she never ate as often as my son did...so keep the faith, different babies just want different things.

Also, she may be just wanting you close a lot. Have you considered using a sling? I use one with my kids and we all love it.

Hang in there, I know you probably feel like a milk machine right now, but it gets much better and easier before you know it.

I know what you are going thru as I went thru the same thing when my son was born. Remember that whatever you are eating she is ingesting. Try eating food that is less "gassy" and hopefully that will help her. Also, if I had not used gas drops with my son I would have pulled a chunk of my hair out. He was a very gassy infant and they were a life saver!!! Use as directed and you're life will be easier. Stress is the #1 cause of your milk drying up. Hopefully once your precious daughter is more at ease you will be as well. There is a great tea called Mothers Milk that I got at my local health food store that was great to help increase milk production. Also, miso soup works wonders. Drink at least one cup/bowl per day if not more. You can get miso paste at a local asian market and make it yourself. Drink LOTS of water (the lacation specialist that I saw told me to try to get a gallon per day). Everything will be fine. Try to relax and know that you are doing a fantastic job!!

When my twins were 6 months old I went on the pill and noticed that I had less milk. My lactation consultant suggested holding off on the pill and taking the herb Fenugreek. It really worked. This was 7 years ago so you might want to check into it first to see if it is still suggested. I continued to nurse and pump for 6 more months. They say nursing is based on demand, the more you do it the more milk is produced.
Good luck.
J.