Heart broken about supply 11 weeks pp
I know a lot of people say low supply is rare. Maybe that’s the case and I’m one of the few. From my baby’s birth to post partum everything was not how I expected which I guess is part of the transition into motherhood, having to accept things that are out of our control. It’s incredibly humbling.
I had to have an emergency c section after baby’s heart rate was lowering too much, pushed with the vacuum as I was fully dilated but everything was so fast.
I’m not sure if that’s where things went wrong or if I simply was never going to be able to make enough.
Maybe I didn’t do enough skin to skin or latch enough at first?
I didn’t feel particularly supported in the hospital post birth for breast feeding but I tried my best and kept going… until the pediatrician was concerned about his weight and said I had to supplement. This totally broke my heart.
I saw one LC who said it was fine and don’t supplement but then we saw another who raised the alarm that baby wasn’t gaining weight and said we had to triple feed. That was so stressful for me as I am alone with the baby the majority of the time and he won’t let me pump without fussing and crying the whole time plus, more washing stuff on top of all the bottles I never wanted to use was too much.
So I got a third opinion who evaluated my son a lot better, said he had a great latch and was a good pump, I just wasn’t making enough. At first they said to take torbangun (lactivist) and two weeks later I went back and barely produced anymore than I had at the first appointment (we know this from a weighted feed). They ran my labs and said my prolactin seemed low and while my A1C was normal it was in the higher range so they said to start taking moringa and I had the option of taking goats rue or getting on metformin. I chose to see how goats rue would treat me, but since it causes some gi issues I went with 1 pill 4x a day until I felt like I could handle it and then started taking 2 pills 4x a day (the bottle gives this option). Finally after 3 weeks I started noticing that my baby was feeding longer at the breast was more satisfied and taking less of their supplement bottle. The middle of the night feed and early morning he didn’t even need a bottle after either!
Then all of a sudden my supply totally started crashing. I have a follow up appointment that I made when it seemed like my supply was finally going up but it might just take me up being to face the music that I can’t make enough. Aside from all the supplements I am doing my best to drink tons of water, electrolyte drinks, eat tons of protein etc. Every single morning I have oatmeal with chia seeds, flax and brewers yeast. I buy body armor in bulk. Nothing seems to matter.
Now around the time my supply seemed to lessen I got some signs I might have ovulated (mucus discharge, light spotting, cramping) I thought I might get my period but haven’t yet. I have also taken a ton of pregnancy tests and they have all been negative so I don’t know what is happening. What a cruel fake out to start making more and then totally have a drop with no explanation.
If you’re still reading thanks for commiserating and those of you who have gone on metformin for milk supply did it help? I think that’s my only other option aside from just giving up on trying to exclusively breastfeed. It stinks because combo feeding turns it into a whole production and makes doing anything else besides being at home feeding him so difficult. I also feel so much shame and embarrassment.
I don’t think I have PCOS because I have never had any of the signs, my periods were regular, no problem getting pregnant, no mysterious weight gain, no extra hair growth or hair loss.
The only thing I had was really painful periods.
Alright that’s a lot… if anyone has anything they can share to ease my absolutely broken heart I’d appreciate it.