Hey Ladies!!

My baby girl is a week away from 7 months old. Recently I took a week trip to Dallas. I had brought all my pumped milk so that I would not need to breastfeed so that I would be able to visit with my family for the few short days without interruption. Well, I am totally regretting it now! My milk supply has diminished drastically and my poor baby is so hungry! I am on a pumping schedule, I pump every morning and every evening. I used to get up to 6 oz every time I pumped, now I am getting less than an oz! I started to take fenugreek and nurse my baby every hour to start to build it back up... but nothing seems to be working and my baby is still hungry even after every feeding. :(.. help!

Hannah - so sorry to hear about your disappointment. It sounds like your body and breasts are functioning normally & doing what they are supposed to be doing. When you aren't breastfeeding or expressing milk (especially for an extended period of time, like a week) then your breasts get the signal "we don't need to make milk anymore" and respond accordingly. If you send them the signal "we need to make milk again" they will respond in time. The best "milk boosting" advice is pretty simple:

1. Nurse. all the time, around the clock, no nuks or pacifiers.

2. Pump. after you nurse, express all you can - even if the breast are soft & feel "empty".

3. Rest. Make sure you are drinking lots of good fluids and lay around with baby as much as you can. And finally:

4. Nurse.

Supplements, herbs, meds, and magic potions may encourage your milk supply a little, but will never build it the way baby can. I don't have any advice for what to feed baby in the meantime if she is hungry - maybe you have a lactating friend that could donate some milk to you? Good luck! Breastfeeding is worth it & if you are determined I am sure you will succeed!

Great advice Shay. I just wanted to say that I am sorry you are going through this, sounds very frustrating. Just keep trying and you will find that it pays off. Try not to get too discouraged with pumping, I can never get much when I pump but when I nurse I know my baby is getting what she needs. Why do you think she is still hungry after feedings? Is she having lots of wet diapers? The more she nurses the better, if she is very fussy after feedings it could be other reasons than just being hungry...is she teething, gassy, or just starting solids?

When my daughter and I developed thrush she was 10mths old and so I was able to distract her from nursing by giving her more solids, juice and water. This cut down on the feedings (during the day anyway) so I could heal. Once I healed I took a couple "nursing holidays" I spent two days doing nothing but cuddling and nursing. I watched some of my favorite movies, ordered out for dinner, and enjoyed some much needed rest and bonding time with my daughter. After those two days my supply increased.

Next week is the LLL toddler meeting at Sherwood Park, you should come out and get some much needed support and encouragement, there are babies and toddlers of all ages that attend.

Your baby might be fussy for other reasons than just hunger. She might be upset and insecure that she didn't nurse and get the cuddly intimacy with you that she was used to over the week. Babies don't like change, and being away from home itself is hard enough, she might just be recuperating from that. That being said, I'm sure you are making less just from not nursing all week. I second Shay's advice. Breasts quickly respond to demand and increase production. The best you can do is breastfeed very often, eat plenty, drink plenty of water:)
Hope it gets better soon!

Once I healed I took a couple "nursing holidays" I spent two days doing nothing but cuddling and nursing. I watched some of my favorite movies, ordered out for dinner, and enjoyed some much needed rest and bonding time with my daughter. After those two days my supply increased.

Next week is the LLL toddler meeting at Sherwood Park, you should come out and get some much needed support and encouragement, there are babies and toddlers of all ages that attend.

Great advice, Amy!!!

I would add that using manual expression techniques after feedings will ensure that the breast is completely emptied, the signal the brain needs to send the "must make milk now" signal. Okay I went to public school; can you tell by that highly scientific response? HAHA!

Here's a link: http://video.about.co...

Water, water, water. Love, love, love. Look at your baby when she nurses. At her cute little nose, mouth and eyes...I find every time I destress and just enjoy the moment my milk flows like crazy. It'll come back, I promise!

Jennyb

I think everyone gave you great advice. Patience and determination will get you back to where you were before.

IT WORKED!

Got my milk supply back up a few weeks ago and I'm so relieved. :D
Thanks everyone!!!!

Good to hear

Yay!!!!!! Good job Mamma!