Advertisement
Have any of you tried this herb for supply issues? My milk has suddenly disappeared and we are in the 8th month. All of a sudden I was only able to pump 3oz when before I could pump a whole 10oz. each time. I know my baby isn't eating it up because he is hungry and my boobs feel empty all day. I used to wake up to huge engorged breasts, now they aren't even firm. I am so frustrated, I am no where near my goal for breastfeeding :(
posted by:
|
Anchorage
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
it's normal for your supply to level off to a point where you no longer become engorged overnight. a pump is not a baby & i know in my heart that my boy gets far more out of my breasts than a pump could even hope to. i don't know about shatavari, but i took fenugreek when i thought my supply was low. as long as he's peeing & pooping normally, your boobs don't need to be engorged. have you started him on solids yet? that will help the hunger situation.
-
-
I have started him on solids, I started at about 6 months because my boy is really long and strong and he began asking for food when we ate in front of him. He eats a lot. He eats about 10-12oz of solid food 3 times a day. Then he really wants boobie milk too, and he loves to drink water. I swear, he always wants to be eating or drinking. Every single time I pick him up he wants to be on the boob. When I feed him it only keeps him full for 2 hours. He isn't usually a crier, but because he has a nasty little yeast infection and he is teething, he has been crying lately. Maybe that is why he is wanting to nurse more? He probably needs more comfort? Still, my milk supply is way low. He has also started biting and I always feel anxious about getting bit. Maybe I'm too stressed out?
-
-
just nurse him anyway, since you are probably right about the need for comfort. your supply will increase according to his demand.
-
-
Just a thought...might not have anybearing on things - but - perhaps you have had warmer weather and now it is cooling down a bit for you guys and your bub is not needing to drink as much but is still having all the 'food' feeds. Summer here for me can reach 50C and in winter I loved to visit the snow & was always amazed at the difference in the milk in different temperatures. I breastfed exclusively and didn't introduce solids until they were 6mths for 3 of them and 12 months for 1 of them. Hope your supply keeps up for you.
Cheers. -
-
I think around that time (8 months or so) I noticed quite a decline in my milk amount as well when I pumped. It made me really sad because I thought it meant the end of nursing, but it didn't. I'm still nursing him and he's 21 months old. For me at least, it seems as though when the baby is older you do not become engorged anymore. It sounds like the baby is still nursing a lot so your body should be getting the signal to continue making enough for his needs. But, hey I'm not a specialist I just remember going threw the same thing. After my milk declined I don't think I could pump a whole bottle full like I could when he was a little baby. There are things you can do to increase milk production such as acupuncture. Acupuncture helps all kinds of breast feeding concerns. Susan Weed wrote a great book called: Wise Woman Herbal For The Child Bearing Year. I found you a link that goes into detail about your concern, I think it should be helpful:
www.susunweed.com/Article_B...eding1.htm
Curing the yeast could help to, called thrush if it's in the babies mouth. Susan Weed's book says to coat the babies mouth with yogurt after each feeding as well as your nipples. She says homemade is best, acidophilus yogurt the second choice. Since your baby has teeth, you could freeze small cubes of yogurt and let the baby mouth them. She also recommends bathing your nipples in a vinegar solution after breastfeeding, 1 tablespoon vinegar in 1 cup of water. She goes on to mention something about plantain and golden seal, if you can't find the information online and if interested maybe I'll type the rest later.
Good luck! -
-
Also, fenugreek is a good thing. IMO the Eclectic Institute brand makes the best stuff--more pricey but you use less because there's less filler and more of the real stuff.
I do know that the longer your body gets more efficient with making milk on demand, so it doesn't store up a bunch. Engorgement and pumping are not the best indicators of supply.
-
-
-
-
-
-
I too had a dramatic drop around 8 months and yes I tried Shavarti that was brought back from India for me. It helped but only a little. I also took fenegreek and ate oatmeal. The whole grain oatmeal was probalby the best of the three for keeping my milk up and for my health.
-
Well, I think there is something weird going on here. I have been taking fenugreek regularly for some time now and the shatavari for one week and still no improvement. I am also taking fo-ti. I pumped 3 times yesterday and only got 6 oz, then this morning I only got 1/2 oz. The baby is definitely hungry all of the time and I can't feel my let down. I think I am going to go see my midwife and ask for some help. I already talked to a lactation consultant and she told me to do everything that I already was doing. Maybe something is going on with my body?
-
-
I remember reading your concerns in PPM about your personal life and how things have been really hard for you right now. I know stress can totally affect your milk making abilities. Maybe some meditation time, yoga, or a massage might help you relax. I know that when I was working and having a stressful day I most definitely made much less milk.
((((Adriana)))))
-
-
I remember FREAKING THE HECK OUT - I mean, full panic mode, at 10 months. Same thing - 10 or so ounces dropped down to barely pumping 3. At some point, your body just switches to on demand production (a other have said)
I was taking fenugreek, blessed thistle, etc. and it wasn't helping. I saw my doc, got a prescription, it helped but eventually I just accepted that it was time to stop pumping. I gave up at 11.5 months and I think it was the best thing for my sanity. I had a stockpile and when it was done, he had no problem switching to regular milk when mommy was at work as long as he got it on tap, whenever he wanted and I was around.
