Update Regarding My Milk

Thank you everyone that gave me some advice! This is one of those topics that you hope no one else has to go through, but you're glad when you find out you are not alone...

First things first, the milk shop is back in business! I don't feel that we are 100% like we used to be; my milk does not seem as thick/fatty and there are still times when JB gets frustrated because it seems that we've "run out" but things have gotten better. Per your advice, I did several things:

1. I downloaded "The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide To Making More Milk" ebook. Only $10, and loaded with information.

2. I found Fen.ugreek at Wal.greens, buy one, get one free.

 

The book said to take the recommended dose from the bottle, which was 3 to 6 pills a day. I thought I'd take the minimum of three, so I started off with one. That jump started my body and its milk making abilities right away! Within hours I was feeling the difference! But, I wasn't prepared for what happened next: I went to pump and it was not the rich, fatty milk I was used to. It was very watery...soo watery that I could hardly call it milk, but I did get four ounces of it! SO....of course, I googled it. Turns out this is common (whew!). Then, I thought about a fellow blogger that discussed green poop as a result of a "fore milk/hind milk imbalance." I thought that would certainly happen to us given all the watery fore milk I was producing. I decided to not take another pill and see what happened. My body continued to make the watery fore milk in abundance, but the more fatty hind milk certainly followed. Again, it doesn't look the same as it did before (not as thick, looks more white than yellow), but at least I am making something.

3. I also started pumping more, especially overnight. I think this entire mess started because JB began sleeping all night and I wasn't pumping. I was enjoying the uninterrupted sleep! I regret that now and would recommend not going over 5-6 hours without pumping. The truth is; we have a pump, remember this? I just rarely used it. DH never really caught on to feeding the baby, and I was not complaining about it since I love nursing him. The pump was collecting dust, but not anymore. I keep it next to the bed so it is easy for me to grab it and pump during the early morning. I am pumping twice at night. Once at around 10pm (usually 1-2 ounces) and again at 3am (about 2 ounces). I combine them to make one bottle. I'm also trying to pump 15 minutes, but I usually make it 10 tops. It is 3am after all! One thing I did learn is that we have more than one let-down! Duh, right? But I didn't realize this for a couple of reasons: first, JB is a quick nurser and is usually done within 5-10 minutes and second, I never really felt a second let-down. But with pumping, I can see it. Ha!

4. This entire mess has interfered with JB's sleep schedule. He is no longer sleeping through the night anymore :(  The poor boy is hungry! He was waking up 2-3 times a night again (grrr) to nurse, but last night he woke up only once and the night before it was twice. I hope we can get back to once a night or even not waking up at all again, but until I feel completely back to normal, I'm okay with waking up to feed him, and/or to pump.

5. Like I said, I am still not 100%. I find that the "well runs dry" in late morning and I have to give JB three ounces from what I pumped the night before. I'm not really sure what that is all about, but I'm glad I have that milk! Poor kid gets soo frustrated! I don't blame him - he's hungry! The only problem is that I am not able to build a stockpile because he is eating what I've pumped the night before. Oh well...baby needs to eat! I'm thinking about continuing with the Fen.ugreek since I have all these pills, but I'm going to wait a little longer. If I'm still running dry in a day or two, I just might go ahead with the herbs, at least for a little while.

6. I was already drinking a lot of water, but I bumped that up too.

So, there you have it. Things are looking up, but I still have a little way to go. Thank you for your help! You gals are the best! I knew I could count on you!