Never thought I would be asking this. I have an almost 3 year old and an 8 mo old. With my 3 year, I over produced milk, as was the case in the beginning with my 8 mo old. I could've sworn I was a wet nurse in a previous life (ha!). Now, it seems that my milk supply is low, or that's what I think. I don't seem to be producing as much as I did with my oldest. My baby is fussy, and will not not sleep lately (as of this week; last night in a span of 11 1/2 hours I got about 4 1/2 hours of sleep and she didn't get much more). My husband and I are racking our brains trying to figure out if it's because my milk supply is low. I've exclusively breastfed until we started introducing solids about a month ago. She never took a bottle, only breast, and now she takes a sippy cup with water once or twice a day, usually after lunch or dinner. The sippy cup is more for her to chew on really, she never drinks more than 1/3 cup. She's always been well above average in weight/height. She's 20 lbs right now and almost as big as her brother, so she doesn't look like she's suffering. I just wondered if this was "normal" as I haven't experienced this before. She also doesn't eat as much (or as often) as my oldest did at this age, of either solids or breastmilk (but she's way bigger than he was!) I have made lactation cookies before and I plan on making some more tomorrow, and those did help a little bit.
I'm convinced it was all a mental block. The day after I posted this, I seemed to feel fuller and baby girl didn't seem to fussy. I was even getting a little blocked this weekend. The human body is wonderfully complicated thing! Thanks to everyone for the advice! We're thinking she's going through a "wonder week(s)", combined with teething. My husband changed jobs a couple of weeks ago, so we realized she might just now realize she's not seeing her daddy as much as she used to.
Read the le leche league site, there are helpful tips on there. There is a supplement called fenugreek and a tea called mothers milk that can help. YOur ob can also prescribe reglan, which helped me. There is another prescription you can get but you have to find a pharmacy that will compound it for you.
Hi, Corylee! If you're concerned that she's not getting enough milk, then you may want to pump after she nurses. That should send a signal to your body that you need more milk. Good luck!
You're probably making enough for her since she's a healthy weight and size. Does she seem hungry or non satisfied after nursing?
If she does seem hungry or still wants to suck after you can tell all the milk is gone, start drinking a lot more water throughout the day. That combined w/ her sucking once the milk is gone will trigger your body to start making more.
I had a bit of a supply issue too but by eating a little more frequently and drinking lots more water it went right back up. :)
Good luck, you can do it!
FENUGREEK!!! Get some it works!
She isn't asking for food at night because she's hungry, she's asking cause she wants her momma. If she is thriving, which she seems to be, then it isn't a milk issue. It may be a wonder week --google it.
Could be teething? My 15 month old wakes constantly when he is teething.
In all honesty, would skip the water and put her to the breast for ALL of her fluid intake for now. OR, if you like her using the sippy cup and want her used to doing that, then I would pump milk for her little cup. Put breastmilk in her rice cereal if she eats it, in her cup...and let her drink from you as often as possible to get more milk flowing. Remember, the more she nurses, the more your body will make.
