Intro and ???
Question:
Hello everyone! I am so glad that I found this NG! I am hoping that someone may be able to give me some answers to my questions. I will start with a little intro. My name is Rachel and I have a dd who is almost 3 months old! We had some problems with bf’ing at first which led to me pumping for almost every feeding. Now I am so HAPPY to say that she has been nursing like she has been doing it forever! Well, I guess she kinda has but oh well! LOL She is not my first child, but she is my first living child. I was pg with quads in ‘98. I lost the first one at 10 wks, then proceeded to carry the remaining 3 to 26 wks. After fighting a LONG battle with pre-term labor I gave birth to 3 beautiful little girls. Madelyn and Morgyn were born angels and Mya (my little fighter) lived in the NICU for 7 1/2 wks. She died after developing an infection in her heart and I was forced to make the worst decision of my life. I chose to let her die without all the machines that she hated so much. About a year after she died dh and I decided that we were ready to try again. We went back to the RE and did the same course of meds. On our 2nd cycle we found out that we were pg with a singleton. Our dd was born at 36 Lately it seems as though dd is not getting satisfied in the evening. I nurse her and after about 5-10 min. she is ripping and pulling at my nipple because very little is coming out. I let her do this until she is so frustrated that she is screaming. I then offer her the other side and the same thing happens again. Not all of her feedings are like this. She is sleeping through the night, so by morning I am engorged and she feeds really well! I can even pump about 3 oz. after she is done feeding. Her noon and 3 pm feedings go pretty good too! It is usually around her 5-7 pm feeding that I notice her not being satisfied. Is it common for this to happen as they get older??? I realize that she could be "spurting", but I would think after doing this for a couple of weeks my body would start to produce a larger supply. I have started supplementing with a bottle of formula in the evening before bedtime. This is of course after I let her nurse to the point of her screaming from hunger. After all, we have to get that nipple stimulation in! One thing I have been wondering is could my hyperthyroidism and pco’s be affecting my milk supply??? I thought that I had read somewhere that they could cause a problem, but now I can’t find where I read it. I am really hoping that someone on this NG might have an answer to that question. When Mya was in the NICU I pumped for her and got over 8 oz. each time. I had way more than enough! But I wasn’t diagnosed with poly-cystic ovaries then either. I only had the hyperthyroidism. I have been trying some fo the common ways to get your supply built up……. drinking more water, nipple stimulation, etc. but it just doesn’t seem to be working. Another question I have is is it common for bf babies to be very gassy??? I have to give her Mylicon drops after every feeding in order for her to be comfortable. If I forget a dose she gets VERY gassy and screams until the next dose kicks in or something comes out! Is that common??? Sorry this is so long. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have! Rachel Mommy to 4 Precious Angels ^i^ Madelyn Maree – stillborn 6/2/98 ^i^ Morgyn Jayen – stillborn 6/2/98 ^i^ Mya Leigh – (b)6/2/98 – (d)7/24/98 ^i^ "Baby D" – heart stopped beating 2/98 and Mykenna Leigh Ekhoff 1/6/00 5lbs 12oz 18 1/2 in.
Response:
Rachel, Conratulations on your daughter. I admire your ability to perservere in the face of hardship to finally have your child. Lately it seems as though dd is not getting satisfied in the evening. I nurse her and after about 5-10 min. she is ripping and pulling at my nipple because very little is coming out. I let her do this until she is so frustrated that she is screaming. I then offer her the other side and the same thing happens again. Not all of her feedings are like this.
This is very common at this age. The fact that she seems satisfied at other feedings is a good sign that your milk supply is not ther problem (although some women to experience lower supply at night). If possible, it is better to avoid supplementing because it always introduces the danger of early weaning (although it does not *have* to lead to that–I am an example of someone who supplemented without weaning). You rea doing the right thing to keep nursing her from both sides repeatedly. If you get to the point where she refuses to continue, take a break and try to distract her. Let your dh hold her a while while you rest and drink some water. Try agian in a little while. IF you have to give some formula, give ony 1-2 oz. at a time and try to nurse again. If you continue to do this all that nipple stimulation should help increase your supply. I realize that she could be "spurting", but I would think after doing this for a couple of weeks my body would start to produce a larger supply.
Yes, but I have found that the first 3-4 months are pretty much one growth spurt after another. I have always heard that the increased nursing for a growth spurt lasts a few days, but for me, it was always a couple of weeks. And just when one ended, another began. And I dound myself using some supplemental bottles in that period. When the baby is screaming and is clearly hungry and you have been feeding him for a couple of hours, you do what you have to do. But I found that by trying hard to use it only as a last resort, I was able to minimize it. Things were settled down by the 3rd or 4th month. One thing I have been wondering is could my hyperthyroidism and pco’s be affecting my milk supply??? I thought that I had read somewhere that they could cause a problem, but now I can’t find where I read it. I
I don’t know about this, but since she seems fine at other times, it probably is not that (but you shoudl ask your Dr.) I have been trying some fo the common ways to get your supply built up……. drinking more water, nipple stimulation, etc. but it just doesn’t seem to be
working. Nursing is #1 for building your supply in the early weeks. Driking water and getting lots of rest is also important. Beyond that, try eating oatmeal (in any form) and taking the herb fenugreek (2 capsules 3X a day). Another question I have is is it common for bf babies to be very gassy??? I have to give her Mylicon drops after every feeding in order for her to be comfortable. If I forget a dose she gets VERY gassy and screams until the next dose kicks in or something comes out! Is that common??? Sorry this is so long.
It can happen. My ds#2 was also gassy (I never used the mylicon though). If it helps him, there is no danger in using it often. It works by a chemical reaction and is not absorbed by the body. I could be something in your diet, but if the medicine works, I’m not sure I would go on an etensive search to find the cause. That is up to you, –Greenbriar
Response:
Lately it seems as though dd is not getting satisfied in the evening. I nurse her and after about 5-10 min. she is ripping and pulling at my nipple because very little is coming out. I let her do this until she is so frustrated that she is screaming. I then offer her the other side and the same thing happens again. Not all of her feedings are like this. She is sleeping through the night, so by morning I am engorged and she feeds really well! I can even pump about 3 oz. after she is done feeding. Her noon and 3 pm feedings go pretty good too! It is usually around her 5-7 pm feeding that I notice her not being satisfied. Is it common for this to happen as they get older??? I realize that she could be "spurting", but I would think after doing this for a couple of weeks my body would start to produce a larger supply. I have started supplementing with a bottle of formula in the evening before bedtime. This is of course after I let her nurse to the point of her screaming from hunger.
It isn’t uncommon for women to find that their supply is a little low towards the end of the day. It also isn’t uncommon for babies to be extra hungry in the evening. Since you mention being able to pump 3 ounces after her first morning feed, if you do feel the need to supplement, why not give her THAT milk, rather than formula? You might also try nursing her more often during the rest of the time (even … god forbid … waking her during the night for a feed.). Offering the breast every 2 hours during the day, and once or twice during the night would not be too much for a 3 month old, and would stimulate your milk supply. It also occurs to me that maybe there is something else going on besides hunger that is making her so fussy. If she is sleeping the night, then CLEARLY she is getting enough to eat in the evening. (Or has she only started sleeping through since you’ve been giving her formula at bedtime.) After all, we have to get that nipple stimulation in! One thing I have been wondering is could my hyperthyroidism and pco’s be affecting my milk supply??? I thought that I had read somewhere that they could cause a problem, but now I can’t find where I read it. I am really hoping that someone on this NG might have an answer to that question. When Mya was in the NICU I pumped for her and got over 8 oz. each time. I had way more than enough! But I wasn’t diagnosed with poly-cystic ovaries then either. I only had the hyperthyroidism. I have been trying some fo the common ways to get your supply built up……. drinking more water, nipple stimulation, etc. but it just doesn’t seem to be working.
I have PCO and had no difficulty making enough milk for my baby. I’ve read here on the group that some mothers with PCO or other anovulatory fertility problems are more likely to have difficulties with bf, but I would think that if that were the case, the problem would be evident from the start, and affect all or more feedings, not just one or two in the evening. Another question I have is is it common for bf babies to be very gassy??? I have to give her Mylicon drops after every feeding in order for her to be comfortable. If I forget a dose she gets VERY gassy and screams until the next dose kicks in or something comes out! Is that common??? Sorry this is so long. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have!
All babies are different. Some babies, bf or ff are gassy. If you haven’t yet tried it, you might try eliminating some foods from your diet that are likely to cause gas/upset stomach in the baby. Milk products are the most common offender here. (You’ll need to eliminate it for at least a week ifyou want to see if it makes a difference.) Naomi
Response:
Filed under: PCO
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