What the heck. I woke up yesterday and my boobs had shrunk to about half the size they were the day before. They are no longer firm, they’re soft like “normal” boobs. I am not producing as much milk at all. Maybe half of what it was. Is this the breast feeding kind of “normalizing?” I know they won’t be engorged and hard forever, but this is seriously freaking me out. I’m pumping after feeding, now, and I am barely getting anything out. I have no idea what happened. Two days ago, I’d hook up to the pump and between both boobs I’d fill the bottle in five minutes. Last night, I got half a bottle in twenty minutes. This is completely freaking me out. Breast feeding is THE most important thing to me. I have a call in to the lactation consultant to try to figure something out. Any words of wisdom to help me not have a coronary??
I started taking Macrobid for the UTI after okaying it with my OB and Knox’s pediatrician… do you think this could have done something?
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I just did a quick google and it looks like it *could* have a side effect for BFing. Everything says check with your doctor. I'd let them know about your supply since taking it.
It could be that your body is regulating based off of Knox's "demand". My DD is almost 8 months and the first few weeks, I had the same problem. (However, her ped. told me she was gaining weight wonderfully and was obviously getting what she needed from me…)
I'm not sure about the Rx…but good for you for putting a call in to the LC.
Just wanted to say how precious Knox is. Thrilled he is home and doing well!
I would definitely tell the LC about the presription you are taking. Is you OB aware you are nursing? My Dr. wanted to prescribe me something… and when I told them I'm nursing… they quickly changed the meds.
Hopefully it is just your body evening out, though. From time to time, you will fluctuate….especially during growth spurts. Did he hit his 7-10 day growth spurt yet? If he is eating more, it will take your body a day or 2 to adjust…
Milk supply can be like that in the first weeks – WAY too much & then (we think) not enough. A pump is not nearly as efficient as a little baby at getting that milk out, so even though it's tempting, don't judge your supply by what you manage to pump out. i would be tempted to not pump at all & just watch baby – is he wetting his diapers? Does he look ok? Then your supply is likely just fine. i know *so* many women who started supplementing right away, then their supply dwindled, then they supplement more – & it's just a downward spiral to a quick end of breastfeeding.
My humble .02c (mama of 6)
ps. i have no idea about the possiblity of medications affecting your supply – but i would be willing to wager that if you just keep on keeping on, that things'll level themselves out. Fenugreek is a supplement that a lot of women swear by to increase & encourage supply…
I have no idea babe, are you eating enough? Good luck
PUMP * NURSE as MUCH as you can!
granted, you don't WANT to be engorged & you'd like the girls to regulate, but if you don't feel like you're getting enough then you're going to want to UP it.
eat oatmeal, drink plenty of fluids, eat ALOT (not crap…ok some crap), pump whenever you can, nurse on demand- whatever you can to keep the boob juice flowing.
there are suppliments if it goes way down- but you're probably ok still. also, being sick, fighting infections can mess with your supply (ie: tank it)- as long as you keep up the regime it'll come back!
I would say just keep up the pumipng and the bfedding regurlary, if not more than the usual 3 hours. they say oatmeal helps your milk supply so you may want to try tha. oh and plenty of water. Good Luck!
I would say just keep up the pumipng and the bfedding regurlary, if not more than the usual 3 hours. they say oatmeal helps your milk supply so you may want to try tha. oh and plenty of water. Good Luck!
The drop could be from your body regulating to what Knox is needing. And it could also be because of the infection. You may shoot right back up once your all healed. If you haven't tried it yet, you can try Fenugreek (I get it at The Vitamin Shoppe). And I will find the link to lactation cookies. (they're so good!)
Try not to freak out too much. This will not help at all. I haven't had a great supply to start with, but here I am at almost 8 months, and we're doing ok. I may have to introduce one bottle of formula a day at daycare, but we've made it this far and I'm ok with that.
you can PM me and I'd be happy to give you my e-mail and talk to you about it more if you'd like.
Fenugreek and keep pumping. They basically told me to *completely* empty every 3 hours. Also, if you're not getting as much sleep, water, protein, etc now it could really eff up your supply.
Oh, and hi. *waves*. I used to be on BOTB and now stalk your blog. I have a 6 month old who I just stopped pumping for, long story. I cried. I hope it all works out for you!
Ooh, also wanted to say that maybe he is getting that hang of it and taking more at each feeding? I guess it could be a combo. Sorry, just a lot of guesses!
I am almost thinking because you were pumping when Knox was in the hospital for someof his feedings and getting more out than a newborn eats, that your boobs are just going to what he needs and nothing more. Time to make some lactation cookies! I hope it fixes itself.
Are you taking fenugreek, 3 capsules, 3 times a day? Also try Mother's MIlk tea. The herbs in it can help tremendously. Kellymom.com has alot of other good suggestions. Good luck!
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether the Macrobid could cause it (I remember not being able to take it within a month of giving birth, I think because it can increase the baby's bilirubin level?). Also be sure you're nursing every couple of hours, including through the night. If you pump and someone gives him a bottle in the night so you can sleep, you're actually hurting your supply because your body isn't getting the message to have milk ready then.
The beginning is so nervewracking! Hang in there!!
Also, you may want to cut back on the pumping and go with nursing if that's an option–he will do a much more efficient job of removing milk and stimulating your supply than the pump will.
Paula
DON'T WORRY! Your body is getting used to having the baby express the milk instead of a pump, and the baby is way better at it than a pump, believe me. I was only able to pump 1 oz whenever I pumped, pumping just didn't work for me.
And since your body is starting to figure out the feeding schedule your boobs are becoming like a well oiled machine, like producing milk when it's closer to feeding time.