Breastfeeding Support Desperately Needed

My baby girl is now 5 months old. I recently contracted RSV from her while caring for her during her illness, which turned into a nasty sinus infection. That, along with taking birth control, stress at work and a couple doses of Sudafed, seems to have totally depleted my milk supply. I used to be able to feed her 6-8 times a day AND pump 30 ounces a day. Now I am not even able to pump out what she is eating at daycare (about 18 ounces).

I started a Fenugreek regiment Saturday (3 capsules/3 times a day) but I still am not getting alot of milk. I also stopped the birth control pill last wednesday and have been doing a saline nasal rinse vice any kind of decongestant.

Has anyone else experienced a serious milk depletion about this time (baby about 5 months old)?

I am so upset with myself for not being able to produce more milk which I am sure is also not helping my supply issues. She needs so much milk right now. I just can't seem to keep up and I feel like a complete failure.

PS Please do not flame me for the medicine, herbs, I have used. I have a lactation specialist at my daughter's pediatrician's office who ok'd everything.

One of my coworkers recently went through a decrease in milk supply after a sinus infection/cold. She drank half a dark beer (Newcastle) before she went to bed. It did the trick for her!

(If you're concerned about alcohol content in your milk, they sell test strips at babies r us where you can dunk them after you pump and make sure the content is at a safe level.)

Thanks! I hadn't done that yet...not concerned about alcohol content...my lac spec told me 2 hours after one beer is fine to breastfeed. She also recommended the dark beer. I will pick up a six pack on my way home...lucky for me dark ale is my favorite.

Stacy,

How often are you pumping? I find the best way to bring up your "demand' in your milk supply is pumping more often. I'm very inexperienced with regards to knowing if the drugs had any effect on your supply, but I had to almost become a slave to pumping around 5 months into breastfeeding. In order to keep up my supply that was decreasing I pumped every 2 hours no matter where I was at. I was pumping about a good 64 ounces a day. Not sure if this will help. Good luck sweetie.

~~Gina

Since the baby eats about every 3 hours, I started pumping after her feedings a few times and then after I put her to bed. I pump in the morning after she first eats, then I try to get 2-3 times in during the workday.

Gina, once you did the pumping every two hours, how long did you have to do that until your supply came back up?

It took about 2 days of the every two hours things and I was back in business!!! I know every 2 hours is excessive and it was. I mean I would literally get up in the middle of the night and sit in bed and pump, I used the lactation room at work (thank god my work had one), I would get up out of business meetings, etc...,  I was very much sleep deprived, but I wanted that supply up. so I dedicated myself to it until I felt that the milk was a PLENTY. In 1 week I went to every 3 hours and still was able to get a good amount, so needless to say..The supply is going to come if the DEMAND is there and that's by you constantly pumping between feedings.

~~Gina

 Stacy first off hugs, losing milk supply is very disheartening.

here are some tips.

Oatmeal every morning :)
Skin to skin contact
have her on the breast, to stimulate the milk

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#increase

Thanks! I do eat oatmeal twice a day. I try to breastfeed as much as I can in the evening when I get home from work.

I never seemed to produce very much, but I got the H1N1 virus when Tristan was about 3 weeks old. The medication that they put me on required me to pump and dump and suppliment. Even with Fenugreek, my milk never really came back.

Remember, you have to be healthy to keep her healthy and try to remember that she has atleast gotten the benefit of your milk for 5 months. That's all that you can do, besides just keep trying. Remember to stay hydrated (sometimes decongestants can dehydrate you) and to eat enough for both of you.

Good luck, remember you are not a failure. You are doing all that you can.

Yes I totally agree about keeping the self healthy. I am hungry so I went out and got a 2nd lunch. I have been really losing weight like crazy from stress and being sick (my band is at 2 cc's right now because I had a stomach bug a few weeks ago so I can eat ANYTHING). I am going to try to up my protein intake and carbs and see if that helps too.