hi, i posted this in infant issues?? maybe this needs to be in this forum....so i copied and pasted my Q...


#1566, "Breastfeeding, getting more milk ?? is it too late to g..."


Hi, i have not posted in some time,,,
I had healthy triplets at 35 weeks BGB, 4.7, 4.11, 5.2 ! July 8 2011
Joseph, Rachel, and Benjamin

after my c section i pumped every three hours, and initially there was no milk, but i didnt give up, after one week i had my milk.. (colustrum initially)
and after two weeks my supply was great, i pumped and gave babies, and used formula and breast fed....
however rachel was having issues and my doctor decided to put her on alimentum special formula that is digested.
and the boys needed to gain weight and were on high calorie enfamil 22
so i only breast fed them once a day...and kinda fealt guilty if they needed more calroies and tried to pump and save...
but before i knew it things got busy, i didnt get the push and support to continue, everyone kept saying stop the breastfeeding its too much
and i slowly didnt realize i stopped pumping and only breast fed once or twice a day but because i didnt pump in middle of day i must have only had little milk...
now i really want to build up my supply and pump... but is it too late??? i just got my period last night and i pumped and only one or two milk drops came in....
i was wondering....getting to the point of my question

if the milk stops...and u got a period...can u go back to getting your milk or is it too late????when (i have been nursing once a day consecutively but i didnt have enough milk,....)

i feel that i wasnt ready to give up breastfeeding....
i also had a lot of stress past three months...
moved into a new house when babies were one month...
and i have three other kids age 8,5,3

all the internet Q&A address how to build up supply during breast feeding, but what happens if it stopped? or u stopped? and changed your mind? is it too late??? i think it is but im no expert???
in my case i nursed once a day, and always thought when im ready i can build it up...but freaked out when i got my period last night and today tried to ump and nothing came out..but a few drops....

help!!!
i guess if im forced to stop and feel like i got cheated out of this experience ill want to have more kids...
this is too much of an ending....

help.
sheerlee itzhaki
sheerleeitzhaki@gmail.com

My supply ALWAYS dropped while I was having my period, but bounced back afterwards. It kind of depends on how long you've been producing the lower amount of milk. Most people have found it takes at least 2 weeks for your supply to truly go down (I found this too, when I tried to wean.) Basically, if you've gone more than 2 weeks breastfeeding or pumping just once a day, it'll be a harder struggle.

BUT there are so many things you can try before giving up. Your prolactin levels are highest in the middle of the night. If you do want to try upping your supply, add a pumping session in the middle of the night.

Be sure to drink lots of water throughout the day. You could also consider taking supplements (herbal or prescription), and try a marathon pumping session where you dedicate an hour. You pump for 10 minutes, stop for 10, pump for 10 minutes, stop for 10, etc. until the hour is up. Do this very late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. It mimics cluster feeding and stimulates supply. Continue even if you only get a few drops. Obviously, if it hurts, stop, and try again the following day and night.

There's a wonderful supportive forum for moms who exclusively pump, and there are TONS of specific strategies and ideas you could try. Ask your question there, and read their archives for more details on supplements and how to stimulate supply:

http://forums.ivillage.com/t5/Exclusively-Pumping/ct-p/iv-ppexcluspump

Thank you for all the advice. It's very helpful!!!!
I was also surprised I got my period I didn't know you can get it while breastfeeding...
I'll try to see what I can do. ...
Sheer lee

You don't have to be done with breastfeeding if you don't want to. I would suggest contacting a lactation consultant to get their advice on relatctating, also www.kellymom.com has a lot of great information on just about any breastfeeding issue. You don't have to breastfeed at every feeding (or even every baby at a feeding) if you don't want to, start slowly and give your body a chance to adjust. You could maybe start by breastfeeding one or two of your babies first thing in the morning, or during a night feeding - the PP is right that there is usually more milk supply after you have had some rest. Also, if you pump for a short time throughout the day (15-20 minutes), your body will start to recognize that there is demand for milk.

I'm not sure how having your period affects breastfeeding since I never got my period till after I was done nursing. Seek the support you need, and don't be discouraged if it takes a while to get your body and the babies back on track.

Good luck!

DS 03/06
BBB 03/09 @ 35 weeks, 1 day
Baby A - 5 lbs 1 oz
Baby B - 6 lbs 8 oz
Baby C - 4 lbs 5 oz

I don't have answers for you. I just feel for you. With my baby othat I had after our triplets I didn't get to breastfeed as long as I would have liked it. We barely got our babies out of the house when there was a flood in our area. We ended up losing our home and all of our savings due to the flood ruining our house. The stress of all of this dryed up my my milk. This was so sad to me for months afterwards and one of the saddest things about the flood for me was not being able to breastfeed our baby. Anyways, sorry that you are even going through this. I hope others can give you assistance in getting your supply up and if not, I understand your saddness. Sometimes life is just not as we expect and can be sad. Thinking of you and congratulations on your triplets. It sounds like you have a lovely house full of kids. Never a dull moment at your house

http://tripletmomplusone.blogspot.com/

Mom to BBG Triplets and singleton boy. Charlie, Jake and Kaylee are three years old and Sam is one.


http://tripletmomplusone.blogspot.com/

Mom to BBG Triplets and singleton boy. Charlie, Jake and Kaylee are three years old and Sam is one.

Wow. Dealing with a flood and loosing a home is very difficult to cope with especially with kids. However in light of other things...having healthy kids is the most important and best gift we have.
Wow...your triplets are three! And you have a one year old...
I have an 8,5,3, and three month triplets.
My three year old gives me the hardest time... Terrible twos...going into threes...
Wonder what that is like times three...
Thanks for your support and advice
Sheerlee

There is a book called "The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk". It deals solely with supply, not with the act of breastfeeding like so many other books. It's worth a look, particularly for foods and drinks to help your supply and what foods and drinks will negatively affect your supply (sage and peppermint, among others).

Good luck! Hopefully you won't have to completely stop before you're ready to.

Mom to GBG born in July 2009 at 30w6d: 3#10oz, 3#12oz, 3#2oz

Also try asklenore.com for info about re-lactating if the supply is totally gone. Also lots of info there on increasing supply.