After the past several months of being poked and prodded, I am having a lumpectomy this afternoon for breast cancer. Over the past two months my breastmilk has depleted and I'm now only pumping about 2-4 ounces a day. My doctor said the depletion is likely due to the stress I'm under and the needles and medications they've been sticking into my chest and there's not much I can do about it. For some reason, that's not acceptable to me and I am really more upset about losing my breastmilk than I am about the surgery this afternoon. I'm afraid that this will be the last straw. I have read through some other posts and bought the Mother's Milk tea and some herbal supplements, but they've only been helping a little bit, if at all over the past few weeks. Is there anything else I can do? Oh, I've also been eating oatmeal a lot. I'll try anything if it will help me give my baby what she needs.
I had this problem with my 2nd child. I had tried everything also. My mother-in-law told me to increase my dairy so I had milkshakes or ice cream everyday and it worked. I did gain 10 pounds though. But, I made it to a year w/breastfeeding! I have never heard of this before but since I love ice cream it did'nt hurt to try it.
This is a hard one Cati,
I have nursed all of my children and suffered many of these things, I went through a c-section and they told me to use Fenugreek, and keep hydrated I Loved it and my twins thrived even though I didn't think they were getting enough.
I would look into anything homiopathic to help when you are going through such a difficult thing as this. nature seems to be less dangerous and be more in sync with the human body.
I Hope you find your answer. your courage is amazing.
What helped me keep my milk for my baby is drink a beer (like fat tire or 90 shilling or any of those beers. I was concerned that the baby would get some of the beer but the baby doesn't get any of the beer and I was only pumping a couple oz a day, but by drinking a beer every other night I started producing more milk. My midwifes told me about this and it really works!! Hope this helps. It helped me a lot!
Hi Cati, First things first - you are a greater mother than you probably think trying to make sure your milk supply stays up after surgery and any other time..
I drink the tea and it helps but you need to have 2-3 cups of it daily. Put it in a travel mug to sit for about ten minutes then you will have 8 oz os tea instead of just a cup. It also makes the tea bags last longer. I also eat a lot of carrots and I can't bring myself to do it but Tuna fish is supposed to be really good for it too.
Good luck to you today and my prayers are with you. Kristin
besides the brewer's yeast, fenugreek and blessed thistle(all herbal remedies), there is also a prescription called reglan that can be prescribed . it increases the release of prolactin in the brain which helps with milk production. you take it 2x a day for 10 day and then tapper off after that(if i remember it correctly, so you don't have to be on it forever also, go to kellymom.com they have soem other helpful tips. best of luck
p.s. with the herbal rememdies you actually have to take 3 capsules 3 times per day for it to work, if you take the dosage on the bottle it is not enough.
i just remembered also that since the whole system is supply and demand start nursing or pumping both sides every 2-3 hrs for 15min. i will be alot of work but in a couple weeks you will know if you will be able to get your supply up or not
Cati,
YOu've been given some awsome advice, the only other thing I would suggest is to drink at least a gallon of water a day. I remember when I was nursing, My milk supply went down if I wasn't taking care of me. Good luck with the surgery.
Cati~
First, my heart goes to you with so much going on in your life. I truly wish you only the best outcome for your situation. There's something about being in control of your breastmilk. Being in the middle of breastfeeding my third, and always dwindling at the same time for each gives me such determination to decide when I'm done, not let my body decide. For me, none of the herbal stuff worked. What does work is drinking so much water you think you'll never want to see a drop again, and pumping all the time. That is, after you nurse, pump a little longer and then one time in between feedings. Even if nothing comes out, keep it going for 5-10 minutes on each side. This stimualtes your body to believe that the baby needs more milk and should stimulate more within a week. This has worked wonders for me. Now, I'm not gushing, but at least I have more than I had. Good luck with everything. In the end, your baby will be fine if you are fine. So, take care of yourself first.
Hi Cati!
Hang in there--you are right not to give up on your milk yet. I had a lot of problems breastfeeding and the best advice I got was first, not to give up, and second, to enlist some help from a lactation specialist. Those male docs mean well, but it's not their body and they really can't understand. Only you know your body, and you may not have control over what is happening with the cancer, but this is one area where you can take some control. And you'll rest assured knowing you did everything you could. Will your surgery be outpatient or inpatient? If you have to stay in the hospital, ask to see a lactation specialist while you are there. If not, the gals at La Leche always have great ideas and advice, so it would be worth it to at least give them a call. I've also heard a beer every now and then is good for your milk--you could do a couple pump and dumps and see if it helps. Keep the faith, Cati, don't give up, and know that there will be many of us out here praying for your health and recovery!
Something that really helped me was the nursing tincture from herblore.com. Pam Caldwell is very helpful and will be happy to chat with you about what is going on and how you can help your supply and even potentially your recovery from surgery since she specializes in women's health issues.
The other thing is to come to terms with the fact that despite what lots of people say, formula, if you have to use it isn't poison, junk food, etc. I have a 9 month old and it has only been in the last month or so that I've come to terms with it so it isn't easy. The important thing is that your baby gets the nutrients she needs...if it must come from an external source, it's much better than her starving. In addition to that, always remember that any amount of breastmilk provides antibodies and such...so don't give up!
I wish you the best with your surgery, recovery and breastfeeding.
I was never able to provide enough milk for my daughter, I tried medication, herbs, and all that. She was premature and could not nurse right a way so I pumped every 3 hours including waking up in the middle of the night to pump. When she could nurse I had to give her a bottle after each nursing because she was not getting enough from me. After 5 months of nursing and bottle I couldn't do both anymore. I had to realize I was not a bad mom for giving my daughter formula, and she I knew she was getting what she needed. My daughter is just turning 1yr and she never been sick beyond a runny nose, and she is strong, healthy and happy.
I pray your milk supply comes back but realize you are not less of a mom if you need to switch to formula
Hi Cati,
It might be time to let go of either the home-based business or take the job down the part time, if possible. I know finances or insurance can be a difficulty especially with the job. But what you need to do is take some stress factors out. If you can be home more, you can nurse your baby which is more effective at increasing your milk supply than pumping and is more relaxing.
That said, you cannot let yourself think that losing your milk will make you any less of a mother. Especially under the circumstances. You've already done a LOT. And now that your child is 7 months old and you have introduced other foods, the benefits of breastmilk are not as strong as they were when your little one was newborn.
And further, the best for your child is far less a matter of your biological abilities than it is your nurturing; your loving interaction and play with your child.
http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/prescript_galactagogue.html
I used Domperidone to boost my supply when my little man was born early. I was just not producing enough for him. There is some info on the above site.
Good luck!
Talk to your doctor about a medication called metoclopramide, also known as Reglan. It can be very beneficial in increasing milk production.
First of all, know that breastfeeding doesn't work for everyone and IT'S OKAY!!!! It doesn't work great for me and I'm sick of being made to feel like it's because I'm doing something wrong, it's not!
That said, when it does work for me, I overproduce. I have 140 oz of frozen breastmilk (about) that I can't use because of my son's milk allergy. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, it just was from while I was eating dairy before we found out about his allergy. You are welcome to it! I don't know how this site works, I'm new, but you can send me a message through here or at [email protected]
My own baby must have breast milk, but will not nurse. So I pump and feed. At first I pumped every 3 hours with a break at night. Then it was every 4 hours with a break at night. Now I Pump 4 times a day for about 30 min. And I have plenty for my hungry little guy. For a while, I was losing my supply. It was suggested that I pump for the 20 min. and then take a 5 min. break and then pump for another 5 min. This worked great at building my supply back up. I also keep a VERY large mug of water and my rule of thumb is before I'm done pumping, the mug must be empty. I also keep it there while I feed my little guy even if I'm not pumping and try to drink while he eats.
Sometimes we are stressed and don't realize it. My little guy has had 11 surgeries. This is very stressful to watch him go through what he has to go through. The stress can lower my milk supply without my even realizing I'm stressed. Your milk supply is an indicator of your stress without your admitting your stressed. Try some relaxing techniques and mentally tell your self that everything is ok and just breath deep and take some relaxing time for your self.
My little guy is now 11 months old and we are both working out great with the milk supply. He has another 3 or so surgeries to go through this year alone(that are planned) and he is in one Dr. or the other's weekly. It has taken me more than half this last year to realize that, for me right now the most important thing is the emotional support of my little guy. With 3 other kids, they also have learned to step in and they love him. This is the first time that I haven't had any jealousy from the other siblings. But everything (dishes and cleaning) take a back burner.
Good luck!
Nurse as often as possible. Don't suppliment with formula, if you can help it. If you do suppliment, pump during that feeding so your breast still gets the stimulas. I don't have experience with the surgeries that you are dealing with, but nursing often is the key for increasing your milk supply. Also call your lactation consultant at your hospital and ask their advise.
I think everybody who has responded has given you good advice! I just want to remind you to try to be good to yourself! You are dealing with a LOT so I think it might help if you took a deep breath every now and then and reminded yourself that you are doing a great job!
As others have noted, water intake is SO important. So is giving yourself time to relax and let down. Fenugreek is a good idea, so is alfalfa and any extra greens you can put into your diet.
Best wishes,
Cailin
Cati--
First, good luck with what you are about to experience. I wish you health!
Next, I had a miscarriage that messed with my hormones while I was still breastfeeding and began to lose my milk. One of the things that helped me, believe it or not, was acupuncture. You can try all the herbal supplements, but it depends on the reason you are losing your milk as to what will help. This is what I know:
- Too much vitamin C (more than around 2500mg a day), or anything that acts as an anti-histamine, will lower your milk supply.
- If it is stress causing the problem then your adrenal glands are out of balance. Things that help balance adrenals are vitamin C, b-complex vitamins, holy basil, and phosphatidyl serine, as well as homeopathics for stress. I like something called "calm drops" by a company called historical remedies. They have them at whole foods and vitamin cottage.
- If it is your pituitary that is out of balance then chaste tree berry, also known as vitex, will help your milk supply.
- Herbs to try include blessed thistle, milk thistle, alfalfa, red rasberry.
- Omega 3 fatty acids will help your immune system and take the stress off your body which could help.
- If you are open to alternative medicine I can recommend some practitioners that could not only help with the breastmilk, but with the cancer. I have a friend who uses a healing method called tong ren (it's based on chinese medicine, quantum physics, and anatomy) who has cured stage 4 cancer 4 times. If you are interested in speaking to him let me know and I will get you his information. He's in the Denver area.
Good luck with everything and good for you for looking for answers rather than giving up. You are a fantastic mother who obviously loves your baby. Please update us and let us know how things go. You'll be in my thoughts.
Jodi
Cati, Good for you for hanging in there and having the desire to continue breastfeeding. I suggest you talk to your physician about the following: Reglan (metaclopramide) and Domperidone are two medications by prescription used to increase milk supply. The herb Fenugreek is the one herb that has scientific studies behind it to evaluate its effectiveness. The book 'Medications and Mothers' Milk' by Hale states the dose used in the study. Perhaps you can see if your health care provider has access to this book and can prescribe accordingly. You have the right as mom and patient to exhaust your options before stopping. If by chance your supply does decrease drastically, consider using a Supplemental Nursing System to feed your baby formula at the breast. This way you can continue your breastfeeding relationship even if she needs a supplement.
Good luck.