BF - supply

Firstly really sorry I am asking so many questions and contributing much recently but struggling with Molly and Reflux so don't get much time to contribute.

Anyway, I am still having issues getting Molly to feed from my right Boob, to the point I am having some supply issues.  There is no fullness in the morning plus when I try to express I only get about 2oz off max, Molly will feed on there for about 5 minutes and then have a complete fit pulling off until she goes on the other boob. I know there is faster letdown on the left boob which could be why she prefers it but I am starting to look lopsided   I have ordered some fenugreek to start taking and I have been eating oats.  Plus I have been getting Molly to try and feed off the right as much as possible to try and encourage supply - is there anything else I can do?  would expressing more help?  I am expressing and freezing so even if I can only increase supplies for these purposes it will be worth it.  Oh incase it makes a difference I can easy get 8oz off the left boob in twenty minutes.

Nina

I'm not an expert, these are just things I'd try.  Skin to skin but with her head towards right boob so she hopefully finds the boob herself.  Positioning, so if you usually use cradle hold, hold her in rugby hold so she gets tricked into thinking it's the left boob she's feeding off iykwim?

Would breast compression perhaps help?  There's info on kellymom I think or maybe expressing of a small amount to start your let down reflex before she latches on so if there's milk there she might fuss less. 

I can't help with the supply, sorry although I do know pumps are less effective that babies so she'll be getting more than you think.

How old is she?  Supply tends to settle after a while which means you won't feel full all the time or maybe not at all.  It doesn't mean there's no milk there just that the supply and demand is settled and balanced.  Also expressing can become more difficult over time as you aren't oversupplying anymore.  I could hardly ever express anything so it really isn't a good indicator of supply.  If you feel there's an incorrect balance in which side she feeds on then try starting with the difficult side first at every feed.  As soon as she fusses then just swap her over.  You could always swap again later in the feed.

Hi Hannah

I normally feed her in the rugby ball hold as find it better with my big boobs, it hasn't helped though. Her current favorite position  lying down with me where she is in control (totally like her Mummy I tell you! ) and even if I latch her on to the "bad" boob she finds her way to the favorite one very quickly.  going to try expressing a bit before I feed her as that may help as the nipple on the bad boob seems to slip out of her mouth very easily (its completely different to my other one, strange but true!)

Nina

Just to offer another perspective... multiple mums can feed twins, triplets with 2 boobs, a detailed spreadsheet and plenty of helpers making dinnner.  IF it came down to it, and I'm not saying it will, but if the left one is coping well, it'll probably continue to do so and just regulate it's own supply.  I know there's someone here who BF from just one side for a fair old while (I have at least 6 months in my head).  You might end up a bit uneven though whlie you;re feeding, and possibly have one much stronger arm if you feed from the same side.  Am not an expert or BFC, so check that I'm not talking bobbins.

I should also add that mine has a favourite side and I do tend to mostly feed her on that side now.  Even one side will provide enough milk and so far I'm not looking lopsided (yet!)

Hmmm food for thought, think I am going to call and talk to a BFC  tomorrow from the local hospital.  I have no problem feeding her from the good side and supply is keeping up just thought I could express and keep from the other side?  do you think expressing from the bad boob whilst she feeds from the good one might help in anyway? The bad boob does leek whilst I feed her from the other!?!?

I would be thrilled to last six months, pleased with myself for getting to 7 weeks as I was so anxious in the beginning

Thanks ladies

Nina

1

quick reply sorry but have a look at these - http://www.drjacknewman.com/ I found them really useful.

Also kellymom link - http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html

Nothing you've said makes me think you have a supply issue. Let down might be slower though - so you could trying things like starting her on the good boob then transfer after she's taken the edge off her hunger.

Lady Falafel:

Just to offer another perspective... multiple mums can feed twins, triplets with 2 boobs, a detailed spreadsheet and plenty of helpers making dinnner.  IF it came down to it, and I'm not saying it will, but if the left one is coping well, it'll probably continue to do so and just regulate it's own supply.  I know there's someone here who BF from just one side for a fair old while (I have at least 6 months in my head).  You might end up a bit uneven though whlie you;re feeding, and possibly have one much stronger arm if you feed from the same side.  Am not an expert or BFC, so check that I'm not talking bobbins.

 

 

I was told my a BFC that it was perfectly possible to feed succesfully off one boob, I asked because I had my nipple pierced when I was younger and was worried one boob wouldn't work. She said it should be ok, but if it was a problem then one should do the job ok once the supply was settled. Hope things work out for you ok.

Hazels advice is very good.

Also wanted to say that a friend of mine successfully fed her child from just one boob and never had any problems, so if you want to, then pls be assured it is possible.

Isobel always had a favorite side, but I did find that even after 6mths of feeding that I was able to increase productiveness of the less favorite boob by asking her to feed from it more often.

Hth - sounds like you are doing a fab job x