My Milk Dried Up [emoji20]

[XXforhubby]

I've noticed that my 15.5mo old has been nursing for less time over the past 2 weeks. I've also noticed that I haven't been producing as much milk for him. Tonight while nursing him before bed, he didn't nurse for long at all, he popped off, and he began to cry [emoji22]. It took so long to soothe him. He hates cows milk- cold or warmed. I'm thinking of trying Vanilla Pediasure. He does eat well, broccoli, eggs, cheese pizza, Mac and cheese, asparagus, chicken, of course cereals, etc. He eats really well and LOVES water. I knew this would happen at some point, just not so suddenly [emoji20].

Thanks for reading. Any advice or suggestions are welcome!



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]EDD 9/30/2017 [emoji1317]for pink[emoji166]
https://lmtm.lilypie.com/Tub9m6.png (https://lilypie.com)

[DesiG]

I know it's hard at first, before swaying I stopped bff my daughter at age 2 and a half, I still cried, it's like that your special time with your child, its hard to explain. I hope you find something he likes, but its good he is eating good. Maybe mixed a little water with the milk.

[djmommy]

I'm sorry mama..No advice cause I'm in the same boat. I'm still nursing but have had to supplement a few time a day but thankfully I still do have some milk, just not enough. I prayed so hard for my milk to stay when I found out since she was so young. There are lots of other sources to get calcium and protein also and it sounds like he eats pretty good too. Yogurt?

[Shannshaff]

I have supplemented with formula when my kids refused milk. Then I would slowly water it down to wean them from the bottle. I know I will have to do this soon with my 20 mo. It is hurting so bad to nurse and I am pumping way less at work the past few weeks. :(

[Bane Harper]

It’s difficult to sway especially for the 15.5 months old but hope you find some formula that soothes him

[atomic sagebrush]

I tandemed with my 4th and 5th pregnancies and I found about right where you are at in my pregnancy, I went through a period of time where I didn't seem to be making a lot. I just kept on offering it, and let him switch sides as much as he wanted (he'd go back and forth and back and forth a lot) and then after a few weeks my body figured it out and made more milk again.

[djmommy]

Yes my girl goes back and forth a ton! It drives me nuts sometimes but thankfully I'm still nursing. My midwife said I should have colostrum now but nope, still milk!!

[XXforhubby]

Thanks ladies! It seemed to be only the feeding before bed that I didn't have much. I did get sick after dinner so maybe that contributed to it. He's also cutting his canines, and my two other boys went on nursing strikes around then. I think I'm going to keep offering and see what happens. I bought some yobaby yogurt that he can drink and Pediasure shakes to see which he likes best.



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]EDD 9/30/2017 [emoji1317]for pink[emoji166]
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[XXforhubby]

Atomic, did you breastfeed throughout your whole pregnancy, or did you wean before you went into labor?

I ask because my OB said I either needed to wean by 20 weeks or by 38 weeks.



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]EDD 9/30/2017 [emoji1317]for pink[emoji166]
https://lmtm.lilypie.com/Tub9m6.png (https://lilypie.com)

[djmommy]

XX, just curious why you needed to wean?

[XXforhubby]

I'm not sure- my OB didn't tell me. I just thought because it was close to labor is why she wanted me too later on.

As far as my DS3 goes, he cut back on his own to just 3 times a day after I was pregnant for 5 weeks. He's such a great eater that I won't be surprised if he does it on his own soon anyway.



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]EDD 9/30/2017 [emoji1317]for pink[emoji166]
https://lmtm.lilypie.com/Tub9m6.png (https://lilypie.com)

[Throwaway_panther]

Some OBs recommend weaning because too much nipple stimulation can trigger contractions (hence why nipple play is one of the go-to "bring on labor or speed up labor" moves doulas recommend) and they worry about preterm labor (even breast pumps have warnings about use while still pregnant). I think this isn't a for sure, so I'd get a second medical opinion or do some more research if you can!

I noticed you said your night feed is where it's wabing, and the end of the day is when supply wanes naturally anyway! I'm glad atomic said to keep offering, as I've wondered this myself. I'd like to nurse until my DD more naturally weans, ideally at least until 2, and tandem feeding is a big dream of mine. But with my second pregnancy, I had horrrible nursing aversion and nipple pain, so we'll see...

I know supply can do some weird things with the hormones and adjustment of pregnancy, but I'd be curious as to your calorie intake too. Have you been having any MS or aversions that might mean you're not eating enough, which could contribute?

[XXforhubby]

Thanks Throwaway! I've suffered from severe MS that even medicine couldn't help [emoji20]. It's gotten better, but I still can't eat more than 500 calories per meal without throwing up. In order to get my calories up, I have 2 snacks averaging around 200-250 calories. I cannot eat any fruit besides bananas- at best they taste horribly unripe/sour and at worst they taste like Vicks cough syrup [emoji20]. I do eat lots of veggies without any repercussions, which is a lovely change. Normally when I'm pregnant, veggies make me sick or give me horrid sour stomach!

I think what caused my night feeding to be nonexistent last night was me throwing up after dinner, because I over indulged. I haven't even gained any weight yet, which is also not normal for me. Usually at the end of the first tri, I'm up 5-7lbs. My OB is not worried. This pregnancy is so strange! Must be due to the Vanishing Twin! I'll know for sure about its status at my next scan this Friday.



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]EDD 9/30/2017 [emoji1317]for pink[emoji166]
https://lmtm.lilypie.com/Tub9m6.png (https://lilypie.com)

[kc15880]

I breastfed through my last pregnancy. My milk disappeared around 16 weeks & colostrum came in around 20weeks. DS1 dry nursed during this time but usually only for a few minutes at a time. Would you consider using a supplementary nursing system (like a medela sns) so he can still feed at the breast but get still get milk? It is something that I will consider using this time. Im only 6 weeks & I have noticed a huge drop already this time. Just to let you know that not all OB have good quality info about tandem feeding. My own OB cant understand why you would breastfeed past 6months! I ended up being induced with DS2 so I certainly didnt go into preterm labour with him despite bf 3 times a day. Generally if a woman is told to stop breastfeeding she should also be advised to stop having orgasms - as both release oxytocin - & you dont often hear that advice! Research shows that the uterus doesnt become receptive to oxytocin until the last few weeks of pregnancy, & as the hormones that control the pregnancy also affect breastmilk - you also release less oxytocin during pregnancy which is why you dont feel your letdown as strong or at all. You should be fine to continue breastfeeding. You may have a few strong braxton hicks towards the end of pregnancy when feeding but they stop as soon as you stop feeding at that time.

[Throwaway_panther]

I breastfed through my last pregnancy. My milk disappeared around 16 weeks & colostrum came in around 20weeks. DS1 dry nursed during this time but usually only for a few minutes at a time. Would you consider using a supplementary nursing system (like a medela sns) so he can still feed at the breast but get still get milk? It is something that I will consider using this time. Im only 6 weeks & I have noticed a huge drop already this time. Just to let you know that not all OB have good quality info about tandem feeding. My own OB cant understand why you would breastfeed past 6months! I ended up being induced with DS2 so I certainly didnt go into preterm labour with him despite bf 3 times a day. Generally if a woman is told to stop breastfeeding she should also be advised to stop having orgasms - as both release oxytocin - & you dont often hear that advice! Research shows that the uterus doesnt become receptive to oxytocin until the last few weeks of pregnancy, & as the hormones that control the pregnancy also affect breastmilk - you also release less oxytocin during pregnancy which is why you dont feel your letdown as strong or at all. You should be fine to continue breastfeeding. You may have a few strong braxton hicks towards the end of pregnancy when feeding but they stop as soon as you stop feeding at that time.

Yeah, anything I'd heard about weaning IS in those last few weeks. If you're being advised to earlirr with no history of preterm labor or other complications, I'd chalk it up to uet another OB stuck in old thinking (is your OB a man? Haha).

I think you might have some issues for your calories than XX, or hydration, especially if you're vomiting. I was just reading something that said that although conventionally no increase in calories is needed during the first trimestrt, if actively breastfeeding calories need to be upped even further... which is obviously difficult with MS :( I wonder if pedialyte or gainer liquids might help in the interim?

[XXforhubby]

I am pushing fluids quite well and increase my calories with a couple of snacks a day. I haven't gained any weight yet, but I'm sure I will soon.

I am able to breastfeed him 3 times a day and he is ok with that. Thankfully it was just a one off thing.



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]EDD 9/30/2017 [emoji1317]for pink[emoji166]
https://lmtm.lilypie.com/Tub9m6.png (https://lilypie.com)

[atomic sagebrush]

Atomic, did you breastfeed throughout your whole pregnancy, or did you wean before you went into labor?

I ask because my OB said I either needed to wean by 20 weeks or by 38 weeks.



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]EDD 9/30/2017 [emoji1317]for pink[emoji166]
https://lmtm.lilypie.com/Tub9m6.png (https://lilypie.com)

Yes, I did. It was fantastic for me as I tend to get horrifically engorged (it's seriously really really bad) and that problem went away completely.

The old school belief was that it caused contractions. But while this is true, I found them to be the kind of contractions that are like what I'd get from RRLT - like they were "exercising" my uterus, not causing me to go into labor (and both my babies I was pregnant with while nursing were late, just like all my other babies!).

I also know of a notion that the new baby won't get enough colostrum and won't gain weight as fast and may be more prone to respiratory infections. I 100% stopped making milk and started making colostrum and my babies were both very healthy and grew super fast with few illnesses, so I personally don't believe that. The study that supposedly found that was done in a poor country and with a very small sample size, so I'm pretty skeptical of that.

THere is really, sadly, not much data about tandem nursing. You'll come across old-school docs and new school docs and I've talked to so many gals who did it (like I did) with no seeming problem at all that I really, really have a very hard time believing that there is really anything risky about it at all.

[atomic sagebrush]

Throwaway - re the aversion and pain, I found that if I could push through it, it got better as the pregnancy progressed. Sometimes I had to stop and walk around for a little while before I could continue. Seemed to peak midpregnancy and then got better after that.