I am currently 6 weeks postpartum. My main goal as a FTM was to exclusively pump - I initially made normal amounts (1-2 oz total per session) in the first week or so postpartum but then my supply tanked. And I mean tanked. I went down to about .25 oz total per session around 2 weeks postpartum and it is still dwindling at 6 weeks postpartum (I now get .04 - .38oz total per session - sometimes no output. I typically can’t even get a full 1oz a day anymore.) I average 7-8 pumps a day, with at least 1 middle of the night pump. I use a spectra S2.
Worth noting I feel like it takes an excessive amount of time to see milk flow (sometimes upwards of 18+ minutes) and it’s always very slow dribbles. Am I just not experiencing a letdown?
I met with a lactation consultant at about 3 weeks postpartum and implemented her suggestions and still not seeing any results - my already pitiful supply unfortunately seems to keep decreasing.
I asked my OB today if it’s possibly hormone related and was told it wasn’t likely and that it’s because a pump can’t remove milk like a baby can and then gave me the typical advice that I’ve already googled/tried (full list below). I felt so dismissed as an aspiring pumper? I’ll also note I do not think my OB really heard me when I said my supply is ABYSMAL. They likely think I’m exaggerating and I didn’t push it.
My LC just suggested another LC practice that may let me run labs. I plan to reach out to them on Monday.
This is incredibly frustrating and I feel so defeated. What am I missing? I feel like such a failure. Like what if I haven’t done enough? If I just try this one other thing will it finally improve? Am I not trying hard enough?
Pregnancy/Birth facts that may be contributors listed below:
•Unexplained infertility (normal thyroid labs, no glucose issues, etc) •Low vitamin D •C section delivery •Gestational Diabetes •Baby latched well the first few sessions in hospital then began refusing the breast. Be Supplemented with formula to ensure her glucose test would be in range to avoid NICU. •Colostrum was present day of delivery. •Milk came in around 5-6 days postpartum •I discovered I am allergic to the antiseptic they clean you with. My entire stomach was covered in hives by day 4/5 postpartum. I wanted to crawl out of my skin as I was constantly itchy, and constantly in burning pain. Steroid given and the hives thankfully cleared up within 5 days.
Below is a list of things I’ve tried to increase supply:
•Water (lots) •Coconut water •Electrolytes •Oatmeal •Oreos •Lactation cookies •Pumping every 2-3 hours and at least one middle of the night pump •Switching back and forth between stimulation and expression modes •Sunflower lethicin (I have a milk bleb and hard lumps) •Warm shower before pumping •Warm compress before/during pumping •Lactation tea •Lactation supplements (liquid gold) (my LC judt recommended moringa as something to try. I have it ordered!) •Breast massage before/during pumping •Hand expression •Letting baby latch or just be at the breast once a day or more (lately been doing almost every feed. She typically doesn’t latch but sometimes she does) •Skin to skin •Looking at photos/videos of baby or in person baby while pumping •Smelling baby’s clothes while pumping •Watching funny videos while pumping •Deep breathing while pumping •New flange sizes (measured by LC) •Replaced pump parts at 4 weeks •Only using spectra pump instead of sometimes using wearable •Tried a manual pump instead