Does water help?

Lorelei did this, and it WAS because she was not getting enough. At
times, she would just want a pacifier because she was so frustrated
about trying--and failiing--to get as much milk as she needed.

You've gotten a lot of good advice on improving supply already.
Blessed thistle is another supplement you could try--check
www.kellymom.com for other suggestions.

There are also medications that could help if it turns out you have low
supply and these other measures don't work. Or you could rent a
heavy-duty hospital grade electric pump. I bet you won't have to go to
such lengths, though. Once baby has another check up and you are
assured that weight gain is on target, you'll probably find it was gas
all along. :-)

Leslie

Pologirl wrote:

Re fenugreek, O Experts please tell me: can you use the seeds or do
you need the flower or leaves? (Fenugreek seeds are a common spice in
India and are available at many Asian groceries. Their odor reminds me
of maple syrup.)

Yes, you can use the seeds. It doesn't take many. When you take
fenugreek to increase milk supply, you tend to start smelling like
maple syrup when you sweat. Fenugreek is also used in artificial maple
syrup flavoring.

--Betsy

"Nikki" wrote in message
...

"xkatx" wrote in message

Oatmeal? I might have heard something about that... DD1 has a bowl of
oatmeal and a bowl of yogurt for breakfast every morning... Maybe I
should try that?

Oatmeal works really good for me if I eat a *big* bowl of it every
morning. I love oatmeal so it is easy to do

In my rush yesterday, that's the one thing I forgot to pick up while I was
out. I'll have to try again today

The behavior you describe is fairly common I think. It could be a growth
spurt, or baby just sort of 'waking' up etc. I also did some super
switching with my singletons when they did that, mostly because it
irritates me. That resulted in a very abundant supply. Luke did it
sometime when he wanted to suck but wasn't actually hungry. If I offered
him my pinky he'd be happy with that if he wasn't really hungry. A paci
would do the same thing if she takes one. Make sure you aren't taking any
cold medicines or birth control pills (I think the mini pill is OK) as
they may dry you up a bit.

She takes a soother just fine, and right now, I'm on no medication or bc
pills.
I was thinking maybe a growth spurt, and she definitely seems to be growing
like a weed all the time.
I have been trying out those fenugreek capsules, so with that, I guess I'll
have to see where it goes.

"Leslie" wrote in message
oups.com...
Lorelei did this, and it WAS because she was not getting enough. At
times, she would just want a pacifier because she was so frustrated
about trying--and failiing--to get as much milk as she needed.

DD1 did this, and I didn't know why, but she then started to lose quite a
bit of weight. It was a concern, and as always, I *think* it was around 5
months? As always, I can't remember... Could have been 3, maybe 4.
Anyways, I don't think DD2 has this problem, but then again, DD1 didn't lose
weight until later on. I don't want to have to go through that all again.

You've gotten a lot of good advice on improving supply already.
Blessed thistle is another supplement you could try--check
www.kellymom.com for other suggestions.

There are also medications that could help if it turns out you have low
supply and these other measures don't work. Or you could rent a
heavy-duty hospital grade electric pump. I bet you won't have to go to
such lengths, though. Once baby has another check up and you are
assured that weight gain is on target, you'll probably find it was gas
all along. :-)

Leslie

Tried the perscriptions that are supposed to help. Tried about 3 different
breast pumps (manual and electric), tried expressing on my own (with hands)
as I did with DS, no go. Went to see a breastfeeding specialist and the
breastfeeding clinic - run by the other pediatrician in our ped's office,
once again, no luck. I finally bent and rented the Medela Symphony pump, I
think it was? It was a crazy $100 deposit on a credit card only, then it
was something like $57/month to rent it, oh, and you also had to buy your
own attachements that are required for the pump... Yea, so, right off the
bat, that pump ran me about $180ish. That was a big expense for me, and
by that time, I just think it was too late. With DD2, I'd rather just try
and see what I can do to avoid all the extra expenses (all the pumps,
perscriptions, whatever) and maybe the oatmeal and fenugreek stuff will
help! As always, there's always such great advice, both from people who
have BTDT and people who are more of the 'experts' through work or
something!

There are also medications that could help if it turns out you have low
supply and these other measures don't work. Or you could rent a
heavy-duty hospital grade electric pump. I bet you won't have to go to
such lengths, though. Once baby has another check up and you are
assured that weight gain is on target, you'll probably find it was gas
all along. :-)

Leslie

Tried the perscriptions that are supposed to help. Tried about 3 different
breast pumps (manual and electric), tried expressing on my own (with hands)
as I did with DS, no go. Went to see a breastfeeding specialist and the
breastfeeding clinic - run by the other pediatrician in our ped's office,
once again, no luck. I finally bent and rented the Medela Symphony pump, I
think it was? It was a crazy $100 deposit on a credit card only, then it
was something like $57/month to rent it, oh, and you also had to buy your
own attachements that are required for the pump... Yea, so, right off the
bat, that pump ran me about $180ish. That was a big expense for me, and
by that time, I just think it was too late.

I did the pump thing too--slightly less expensive, I think $100 for one
month, but we sure didn't have it. And I hated the thing, seemed like
all I did all day for a week was pump or nurse. It was a nightmare.
Plus I don't let down for a pump, so I was putting in all this effort
and getting 4 ounces AT THE MOST. Domperidone ran me $80 more, and it
did help, but given her issues, it wasn't enough.

With DD2, I'd rather just try
and see what I can do to avoid all the extra expenses (all the pumps,
perscriptions, whatever) and maybe the oatmeal and fenugreek stuff will
help! As always, there's always such great advice, both from people who
have BTDT and people who are more of the 'experts' through work or
something!

I know a lot of people here swear by oatmeal!

Leslie

On 2006-12-01 13:57:51 +0800, "Engram" said:


" wrote in message
oups.com...
It's the seeds -- you can boil them up to make a tea. Not too bad if
you don't make it very strong, and far cheaper than the pills. The
seeds are used to make artificial maple flavoring, and the odor does
linger if you are using much of the stuff. But I didn't mind the smell
-- pancake syrup seemed to me to be a perfectly pleasant, motherly
thing to smell like.


I might have to give this fenugreek stuff a whirl as well. I seem to
have quite a bit of milk, so that's not a real problem, but I don't
seem to get really full in the morning like I used to with DS. Any
Australians/Sydneysiders out there who know whether it's available here
and in what forms?


I've just gotten it from the supermarket vitamin shelves. It's not
uncommon in WA, but I've not looked for it anywhere else.

Jo
--
Woman, Wife, Mother, Midwife

On 2006-12-01 13:57:51 +0800, "Engram" said:


" wrote in message
oups.com...
It's the seeds -- you can boil them up to make a tea. Not too bad if
you don't make it very strong, and far cheaper than the pills. The
seeds are used to make artificial maple flavoring, and the odor does
linger if you are using much of the stuff. But I didn't mind the smell
-- pancake syrup seemed to me to be a perfectly pleasant, motherly
thing to smell like.


I might have to give this fenugreek stuff a whirl as well. I seem to
have quite a bit of milk, so that's not a real problem, but I don't
seem to get really full in the morning like I used to with DS. Any
Australians/Sydneysiders out there who know whether it's available here
and in what forms?


I've just gotten it from the supermarket vitamin shelves. It's not
uncommon in WA, but I've not looked for it anywhere else.

Jo
--
Woman, Wife, Mother, Midwife

On 2006-12-01 13:57:51 +0800, "Engram" said:


" wrote in message
oups.com...
It's the seeds -- you can boil them up to make a tea. Not too bad if
you don't make it very strong, and far cheaper than the pills. The
seeds are used to make artificial maple flavoring, and the odor does
linger if you are using much of the stuff. But I didn't mind the smell
-- pancake syrup seemed to me to be a perfectly pleasant, motherly
thing to smell like.


I might have to give this fenugreek stuff a whirl as well. I seem to
have quite a bit of milk, so that's not a real problem, but I don't
seem to get really full in the morning like I used to with DS. Any
Australians/Sydneysiders out there who know whether it's available here
and in what forms?


I've just gotten it from the supermarket vitamin shelves. It's not
uncommon in WA, but I've not looked for it anywhere else.

Jo
--
Woman, Wife, Mother, Midwife

In article ,
"Engram" wrote:

I might have to give this fenugreek stuff a whirl as well. I seem to have
quite a bit of milk, so that's not a real problem, but I don't seem to get
really full in the morning like I used to with DS.

You aren't SUPPOSED to be really full! Engorgement is a sign of
overproduction. You are about 6 weeks pp and your body sould settle down to
making about the right amount of milk now.

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"Parenthood is like the modern stone washing process for denim jeans. You may
start out crisp, neat and tough, but you end up pale, limp and wrinkled."
Kerry Cue

xkatx wrote:
...Just wondering...
DD2 is 5 weeks. So far, weight gain has been great, she does seem to be
eating enough, but lately, maybe the last week or so, I've noticed that
she's doing the same thing as DD1 did... She'll eat, and then it's almost
like she gets angry and frustrated. She'll try to suck a bit, but then kind
of shakes her head around, but it's almost like she's looking for a nipple
to suck, even though it's right there. DD1 did the same thing, which is why
I'm now getting a bit concerned.
I've heard, though, that breast milk is something like 90% water. I do try
and drink as much water as I can, but I have to admit, I'm a Pepsi junkie.
I do, however, *try* and drink a big glass of water, at least, before I
drink anything else (like before a glass of milk, glass of juice, and I try
2 glasses of water before cracking open a can of Pepsi...)
Would drinking A LOT of water help with milk supply? Like, grab a glass of
water before AND after each glass of milk or juice, limit the junk (like the
Pepsi) to one can every 2 or so days, with 2 glasses before and 2 after each
can? Each time I walk into the kitchen - grab a glass of water... Carry
around a water bottle...

Would this help at all? I'm just getting scared that what happened with DD1
will happen with DD2 - and I don't want that. DD1 started to lose weight
around 4ish months - although I really can't remember now, exactly... And I
really do think that with DD1, the supply just wasn't there for some reason.

So, does or will water - and lots of it - help?



DS is 3 months now and he also did this. With him though I noticed that
once he'd fed he'd want to keep sucking but no longer wanted the milk.
If he triggered another letdown he'd let go and would be frustrated. I
think he has a strong need to suck but doesn't want the milk with it
once he has a full tummy. A soother did the trick in our case.

Melanie