C is 17 days old today and went to see the pediatrician for a weight check. She has only gained an ounce. She had regained all but an ounce that she lost after birth by ten days. Pediatrician seems to think I have low supply (I agree). I think I'm not eating enough (I'm down 24lbs since C's birth, five of which were in the past week). I'm not ravenous like I know other early BFers to be. It isn't that I don't have an appetite, I just don't get hungry often. Any tips on eating more? I'm now tracking calories but if anyone has any tips on getting more calories without eating a ton of junk I would appreciate it!
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I have not been hungry either, I force myself and constantly remind myself to eat and drink enough to keep my supply up. One thing I'm doing to help is making sure to have a large glass of milk with every meal. Easy way for me to get some calories and good fat in. Nuts would be another way to get a quick dose of healthy fats without having to eat a large amount of food.
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Milkshakes with protein powder or meal replacement shakes between meals.
What was your LO's lowest weight? Your wee babe is still establishing supply and weight gain is only one of the ways to diagnose low supply. Is your LO having plenty of wet and dirty diapers?
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@getjazzy: Glad to hear I'm not the only one. Everyone I talk to has always told me the first two months or so they could not stop eating. I love the milk idea especially since I can pour it and drink it while holding C.
@Kemma: I forget her lowest weight but know she had started gaining by five days old. She is 7lb 2oz now. Plenty of wet and dirty diapers and otherwise healthy, just not gaining. There are definitely a lot of signs that my supply is too low for her and I'm thankful she didn't lose since her last appointment.
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You could try eating oatmeal for breakfast. It's supposed to help with supply. I found I started to lose my supply once I got pregnant with #2 so I started eating oatmeal for breakfast and it helped.
Just try and snack more during the day. It doesn't have to be unhealthy, but things like nuts /trailmix or avacado will help boost your calories and are an easy snack.
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Aside from eating more, have you tried other things to increase your supply? Oatmeal, fenugreek/blessed thistle, etc.
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I was affected by ppd/ppa which severely affected my appetite. I dropped my pregnancy weight really fast. I literally had to force myself to eat, and it was not easy. I wasn't successful sometimes but I definitely ate more than I cared to, because I had bf in the back of my mind. I also drank Mother's Milk tea. I don't know if helped or not. I don't think I had a low supply per se, but I never had oversupply and never had a stash of bm in the freezer (I pumped when at work).
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@MrsB2012: @LindsayInNY: I think there have been only two days that I haven't had oatmeal since C was born. I take fenugreek but don't smell like maple syrup yet. I start mother's tea tomorrow.
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@Ms. RV: have you tried drinking at least one Gatorade? It always helps me out, plus you don't smell like maple syrup.
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@Ms. RV: Are you taking 3 capsules 3 times a day?
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@Ms. RV: the fenugreek could be the reason for your low appetite. That happened to me. It was really bad, I didn't want to eat at all but forced myself to so I could make milk. Maybe try not taking it for a week and see if your appetite comes back.
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@LindsayInNY: Only 2 capsules,3x a day. Should I start with 3x3?
@Mama Bird: I have only been taking fenugreek for a couple of days but haven't been eating enough since I delivered. Hopefully it won't compound the issue.
@MrsRcCar: Is the gatorade for hydration, or something else? I am pretty sure I am getting enough water (20 oz after/during each nursing/pumping session) but if the electrolytes do something else I will definitely try it.
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Besides eating & drinking more...My friend swears by fennel oil on the breast for supply but I read there's a possibility that it's carcinogenic so I won't do it. But my lactation consultant gave me herb lore nursing tincture. It's a liquid you take 3x a day. It tastes gross but it totally works. I went from pulling 1-2oz at a time to 4-5!! It gave me a huge boost.
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It sounds like you are trying a lot of methods. Mothers tea, fenugreek, etc. Did the pediatrician say anything about weight gain?
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@Ms. RV: I take 3 fenugreek and 3 blessed thistle each 3 times per day. Here are some other helpful ideas I got from a friend:
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You should be drinking 90+ oz of water a day.
I kept protein bars and fiber bars around for quick calorie punches. And things like hummus, peanut butter, protein shakes, etc.
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I don't have an appetite postpartum either, so I use protein bars. Low caloric intake for me doesn't really effect my supply, however. I was just hospitalized awaiting surgery for several days and I only got to eat one small meal a day while breastfeeding, and my supply was fine the whole time.
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GNC sells weight gainer shakes and they are yummy! It'd be an easier way to get some extra calories in
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Make some lactation cookies, they are high in calories! Also, full fat Greek yogurt, and easy snacks that can get you calories without making you feel too full. I'm really liking Kind bars right now, they are whole grain with oats, 150 calories each and easy to grab and shove in my mouth during a nursing session. I have also been adding homemade olive oil based salad dressing with a heavy hand to my daily lunch salads, as well as sunflower seeds to try to boost my calories. I'm also just not hungry!
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I would drink lots of whole milk and have a bag of trail mix next to you while you nurse. @Mrs. Microscope: lactaion cookies and greek yogurt are great ideas too! I have a cookie recipe if you need one.
Also there may be other reasons that you have a low supply. Can you see a lactation consultant to help figure this out?
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Lactation cookies, nuts, peanut butter spread on apples, cheese, avocados, Greek yogurt, beef jerky, roasted veggies with a little extra olive oil. I also would try to get more fluids in and power pump, as other have suggested.
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WHO studies show that even malnourished moms can provide adequate nutrition for their breastfed babies. Perhaps your loss of appetite is secondary to the real cause of your low supply. Have you had your thyroid checked?
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