Diaper Swappers

Bekki · 10-10-2010, 08:24 AM

Shikoba, out of curiosity - how old was your DD when you were able to stop supplementing?

DS is almost 2 weeks old now. BFing is going a bit better, but not as well as I had hoped. One issue is that I had an over-distended uterus that wouldn't contract after delivery. Pitocin didn't work, so they had to give me 2 doses of methergine to slow the bleeding. Unfortunately, methergine is a vasoconstrictor, and resulted in my colostrum completely drying up on day 2. It came back about 24 hours later, but it sure did throw a wrench in things.

Anyway, I'm taking lots of herbs: alfalfa, goat's rue, more milk plus, malunggay, saw palmetto, red clover, fennel and shatavari.

When and how did you take your herbs? Are they capsules?

I am already seeing a slow, but noticeable increase in my supply. We still have to supplement about 10-12oz/day, though (still experimenting on that one, all we know is that DS needs to wet more diapers!).

I'm just curious to know how old your DD was when you were able to do away with the supplements. I'm having a hard time being patient, but I constantly have to remind myself that most IGT moms who go on to have a full supply need to supplement for the first few weeks.

Datamum · 10-13-2010, 10:37 AM

I just joined DS and want to chime in here. I also have hypoplasia and wanted to share where my DS and I are at.

It was one month after DS was born that the LC diagnosed me. He had almost recovered his birthweight by three weeks but started dropping again thereafter. I knew I had hypoplastic breasts but didn't realize it would affect my ability to BF since everyone can BF, right?? Everyone except those with IGT... Anyhow, I started supplementing with an SNS and formula right away, and DS was content for the first time in ages. My nipples have had a chance to recover from DS trying so aggressively to nurse, although I have vasospasms now that are, I figure, a result of nipple trauma. It's getting better, hopefully before winter really shows up!

Once I got home from the LC I spent some time researching what to do that could help, and started making tea with alfalfa, red clover, fenugreek and fennel, with goat's rue tincture added in. I had tried taking fenugreek capsules earlier as a public health nurse suggested, but that aggravated my colitis. So no more capsules for me

But now, a month later (DS is almost 3mths, and 11lbs!!), I've had success.

I guess it's how to define success. For one, we are still BF, and I figure DS gets ~50% of his milk from me (yay). Two, thanks to the SNS and herb combo, my right breast is beginning to function properly!! It's grown several sizes over a few weeks (never thought I'd be so happy to have so many stretch marks) and is producing close to several minutes worth of good gulps of milk for most feeds, sometimes I only use the SNS for a 1/4 oz more at a feeding. And DS is satisfied and I'm happy. We co-sleep so DS can nurse as much as he wants at night, and the last few nights I've only used a small amount of formula by the time we wake up and DS is still smiling. Another yay. My left breast is still very much the same as it was when DS was born, but seems to be producing more effectively. But that leaves me quite lop-sided.

I feel very pleased with the results, all in all, and want to thank you ladies for these threads here cause they definitely helped me get where I am now. I'm looking forward to continuing to BF where a few weeks ago I was ready to quit.

I expect to need to continue to drink the tea every day and to continue to supplement with formula, but I know my supply is increasing and DS is getting all I have for him
and every bit counts.

Callie

Bekki · 10-13-2010, 10:56 AM

Callie, thanks SO MUCH for sharing your story! What an inspiration!!!

I'm so glad you didn't quit! I have to admit that I have had moments when I feel that it would be SO MUCH easier to bottle feed. I have to keep telling myself that it will get easier. He's only 2.5 weeks old now, but I made it to 8 months with DD when she decided to wean.

Datamum · 10-13-2010, 10:59 AM

It *might* be easier, but I wouldn't be happier. If we get to 8 months I'd be thrilled, that's awesome!

Bekki · 10-13-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datamum

It *might* be easier, but I wouldn't be happier. If we get to 8 months I'd be thrilled, that's awesome!

That's what stopping me from throwing in the towel - I know that I would never forgive myself if I were to quit. it's REALLY hard to do this with a toddler to care for, but it's so worth it.

We could have made it longer than 8 months, but DD had an undiagnosed upper lip tie, and we were using a nipple shield (bad advice from an evil pediatrician who tried to intentionally sabotage BFing for us). Lots of IGT moms I know who make it past the first couple of months go for 1 year +!

Shikoba · 10-13-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bekki

Shikoba, out of curiosity - how old was your DD when you were able to stop supplementing?

DS is almost 2 weeks old now. BFing is going a bit better, but not as well as I had hoped. One issue is that I had an over-distended uterus that wouldn't contract after delivery. Pitocin didn't work, so they had to give me 2 doses of methergine to slow the bleeding. Unfortunately, methergine is a vasoconstrictor, and resulted in my colostrum completely drying up on day 2. It came back about 24 hours later, but it sure did throw a wrench in things.

Anyway, I'm taking lots of herbs: alfalfa, goat's rue, more milk plus, malunggay, saw palmetto, red clover, fennel and shatavari.

When and how did you take your herbs? Are they capsules?

I am already seeing a slow, but noticeable increase in my supply. We still have to supplement about 10-12oz/day, though (still experimenting on that one, all we know is that DS needs to wet more diapers!).

I'm just curious to know how old your DD was when you were able to do away with the supplements. I'm having a hard time being patient, but I constantly have to remind myself that most IGT moms who go on to have a full supply need to supplement for the first few weeks.

I take all capsules, but I take a lot of them! I supplemented her between 2-4 weeks, then she was gaining okay until her 2 month visit. I'm supplementing her again (about 6-9 oz a day), her weight completely stalled at 8 lbs :/ But it's okay, I'm just glad I'm able to provide milk at this point. Idk what happened, unless the mini pill caused me to produce less, I started taking it when she was about 6 weeks. It's definitely an uphill battle.

My herb routine is:
morning take two goats rue (motherlove capsules)

30 minutes lates: 4 fenugreek, 2 saw palmetto, 3 alfalfa, 1 milk thistle

(repeat 2 more times through out the day)

I also take a prenatal, flax seed, EPO, fish oil, pre/probiotics and dandelion once a day

I think not pumping decreased my supply too, but the pump was not extracting milk, so it was stimulating more milk production but only getting about 1/4 of an ounce out. I got mastitis from it! I just never really recovered my supply after that. :/

How are things going, I missed this thread when you posted a few days ago

Bekki · 10-14-2010, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shikoba

I take all capsules, but I take a lot of them! I supplemented her between 2-4 weeks, then she was gaining okay until her 2 month visit. I'm supplementing her again (about 6-9 oz a day), her weight completely stalled at 8 lbs :/ But it's okay, I'm just glad I'm able to provide milk at this point. Idk what happened, unless the mini pill caused me to produce less, I started taking it when she was about 6 weeks. It's definitely an uphill battle.

My herb routine is:
morning take two goats rue (motherlove capsules)

30 minutes lates: 4 fenugreek, 2 saw palmetto, 3 alfalfa, 1 milk thistle

(repeat 2 more times through out the day)

I also take a prenatal, flax seed, EPO, fish oil, pre/probiotics and dandelion once a day

I think not pumping decreased my supply too, but the pump was not extracting milk, so it was stimulating more milk production but only getting about 1/4 of an ounce out. I got mastitis from it! I just never really recovered my supply after that. :/

How are things going, I missed this thread when you posted a few days ago

The mini-pill could DEFINITELY be what hurt your supply! Progesterone can supress prolactin, and while the small amount in the mini-pill often is no big deal for moms who do not have BFing issues, it can be a big deal with IGT.

6-9oz/day is still really good, though! We're actually cutting down on supplements because DS's diaper counts have been through the roof! We were supplementing 12oz/day, today I brought it down to about 10oz and tomorrow I'm going to see how he does with 8.

I'm actually considering taking domperidone again. I was hoping to avoid it, but if that can make up the extra boost that I need, it will be totally worth it!

Megs83 · 08-16-2011, 10:25 AM

I know this is an older thread but, thank you so much for posting this! Its so encouraging!! Like the rest of you, I had planned to EBF and was heartbroken when things weren't going according to plan. I am fairly certain that I have IGT but there were so many postpartum complications, I can't be sure (possible retained placental fragments resulting in a secondary post partum hemorrhage at 6 days PP. Followed by a d&c, 2 units of blood and various meds that can hurt supply such as methergine and lasix.). But I have never produced more than about 10ish ounces a day(with nursing every 2hrs around the clock) and have never even pumped enough to cover the bottom of the medela bottles. From birth, DS was never satisfied and only produced 1 wet diaper a day. No bowel movements at all aside from the one seconds after he was delivered. As soon as we began supplementing, things changed instantly.
I am currently TTC again and hoping things will go much differently. Your post has encouraged me so much!
I estimate that I currently produce 1-3oz a day. DS has been supplemented with formula via bottle since he was 5 days old. He is 14 months now and we are still going strong!! He looooves to nurse. It was my original goal to get to 3 months, then 6, then 1year. Now I am hoping to make it to 2 years. We have had a few times that I was certain he was self weaning, but happily, I have been wrong every time. Now that he is a toddler, he shows me he wants to nurse by rubbing my side or going to our nursing chair. It blesses my heart so much and makes me so glad I hung in there for the fight.

Zoethink · 08-16-2011, 11:17 AM

I, too, want to say thank you for your inspiring story. I have suspected hypoplasia and was only able to pump 4oz a day. Due to a two week NICU stay DS was already on a bottle so we continued to supplement that way. At 4 months, because he was so frustrated by not getting enough from me, he refused to nurse. I was so exhausted from pumping that we weaned at that time, but in the last two months (Ds is 6mo) I have been kicking myself.

I am so glad to hear all these stories because if I have another child I would like to know what to put into place to make the whole venture more successful and long term.

Thank you so much for sharing your efforts!!

TryingHard · 08-16-2011, 03:35 PM

Thank you for bumping this thread. I started a similar topic before I saw this one and I'm so glad to see this. It is so comforting to read some good words on this topic!!

10-10-2010, 08:24 AM	#21
Bekki Registered Users Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dutchess County, NY Posts: 2,034 Ratings: 43 Feedback: 100%	Re: success story: overcoming insufficient glandular tissue Shikoba, out of curiosity - how old was your DD when you were able to stop supplementing? DS is almost 2 weeks old now. BFing is going a bit better, but not as well as I had hoped. One issue is that I had an over-distended uterus that wouldn't contract after delivery. Pitocin didn't work, so they had to give me 2 doses of methergine to slow the bleeding. Unfortunately, methergine is a vasoconstrictor, and resulted in my colostrum completely drying up on day 2. It came back about 24 hours later, but it sure did throw a wrench in things. Anyway, I'm taking lots of herbs: alfalfa, goat's rue, more milk plus, malunggay, saw palmetto, red clover, fennel and shatavari. When and how did you take your herbs? Are they capsules? I am already seeing a slow, but noticeable increase in my supply. We still have to supplement about 10-12oz/day, though (still experimenting on that one, all we know is that DS needs to wet more diapers!). I'm just curious to know how old your DD was when you were able to do away with the supplements. I'm having a hard time being patient, but I constantly have to remind myself that most IGT moms who go on to have a full supply need to supplement for the first few weeks. __________________ ~Bekki~ married to Josh, mommy to Evelyn Joy (3/18/09) and Jacob Allen (9/27/10)

10-13-2010, 10:37 AM	#22
Datamum Registered Users Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Alberta Posts: 80	Re: success story: overcoming insufficient glandular tissue I just joined DS and want to chime in here. I also have hypoplasia and wanted to share where my DS and I are at. It was one month after DS was born that the LC diagnosed me. He had almost recovered his birthweight by three weeks but started dropping again thereafter. I knew I had hypoplastic breasts but didn't realize it would affect my ability to BF since everyone can BF, right?? Everyone except those with IGT... Anyhow, I started supplementing with an SNS and formula right away, and DS was content for the first time in ages. My nipples have had a chance to recover from DS trying so aggressively to nurse, although I have vasospasms now that are, I figure, a result of nipple trauma. It's getting better, hopefully before winter really shows up! Once I got home from the LC I spent some time researching what to do that could help, and started making tea with alfalfa, red clover, fenugreek and fennel, with goat's rue tincture added in. I had tried taking fenugreek capsules earlier as a public health nurse suggested, but that aggravated my colitis. So no more capsules for me But now, a month later (DS is almost 3mths, and 11lbs!!), I've had success. I guess it's how to define success. For one, we are still BF, and I figure DS gets ~50% of his milk from me (yay). Two, thanks to the SNS and herb combo, my right breast is beginning to function properly!! It's grown several sizes over a few weeks (never thought I'd be so happy to have so many stretch marks) and is producing close to several minutes worth of good gulps of milk for most feeds, sometimes I only use the SNS for a 1/4 oz more at a feeding. And DS is satisfied and I'm happy. We co-sleep so DS can nurse as much as he wants at night, and the last few nights I've only used a small amount of formula by the time we wake up and DS is still smiling. Another yay. My left breast is still very much the same as it was when DS was born, but seems to be producing more effectively. But that leaves me quite lop-sided. I feel very pleased with the results, all in all, and want to thank you ladies for these threads here cause they definitely helped me get where I am now. I'm looking forward to continuing to BF where a few weeks ago I was ready to quit. I expect to need to continue to drink the tea every day and to continue to supplement with formula, but I know my supply is increasing and DS is getting all I have for him and every bit counts. Callie

10-13-2010, 10:56 AM	#23
Bekki Registered Users Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dutchess County, NY Posts: 2,034 Ratings: 43 Feedback: 100%	Re: success story: overcoming insufficient glandular tissue Callie, thanks SO MUCH for sharing your story! What an inspiration!!! I'm so glad you didn't quit! I have to admit that I have had moments when I feel that it would be SO MUCH easier to bottle feed. I have to keep telling myself that it will get easier. He's only 2.5 weeks old now, but I made it to 8 months with DD when she decided to wean. __________________ ~Bekki~ married to Josh, mommy to Evelyn Joy (3/18/09) and Jacob Allen (9/27/10)

10-13-2010, 10:59 AM	#24
Datamum Registered Users Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Alberta Posts: 80	Re: success story: overcoming insufficient glandular tissue It might be easier, but I wouldn't be happier. If we get to 8 months I'd be thrilled, that's awesome!

08-16-2011, 10:25 AM	#28
Megs83 Registered Users Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 177 Ratings: 16 Feedback: 100%	Re: success story: overcoming insufficient glandular tissue I know this is an older thread but, thank you so much for posting this! Its so encouraging!! Like the rest of you, I had planned to EBF and was heartbroken when things weren't going according to plan. I am fairly certain that I have IGT but there were so many postpartum complications, I can't be sure (possible retained placental fragments resulting in a secondary post partum hemorrhage at 6 days PP. Followed by a d&c, 2 units of blood and various meds that can hurt supply such as methergine and lasix.). But I have never produced more than about 10ish ounces a day(with nursing every 2hrs around the clock) and have never even pumped enough to cover the bottom of the medela bottles. From birth, DS was never satisfied and only produced 1 wet diaper a day. No bowel movements at all aside from the one seconds after he was delivered. As soon as we began supplementing, things changed instantly. I am currently TTC again and hoping things will go much differently. Your post has encouraged me so much! I estimate that I currently produce 1-3oz a day. DS has been supplemented with formula via bottle since he was 5 days old. He is 14 months now and we are still going strong!! He looooves to nurse. It was my original goal to get to 3 months, then 6, then 1year. Now I am hoping to make it to 2 years. We have had a few times that I was certain he was self weaning, but happily, I have been wrong every time. Now that he is a toddler, he shows me he wants to nurse by rubbing my side or going to our nursing chair. It blesses my heart so much and makes me so glad I hung in there for the fight.