Ok to call my WIC lady? What do I do?? Freaking out!

[tivaclare]

I'm pretty emotional at the moment. I tried talking to DH a few hours ago and he said, "everything will be fine...be patient", but that isn't helping.

Here's the scoop: DS is almost 5 months old. He weighs maybe 11 pounds. He lost weight and we are now working with the pediatrician to make sure there isn't an underlying problem. One of his blood tests for thyroid came back high, so we are having to retest.

To be honest, I think the problem is me. Just like with DS at round this age (who is now 2.5yo), my milk supply is drying up. It's seriously deja vu. She lost weight at 3 months and had horrible eczema/allergies start up. Same for DS only it took until 4 months.

I thought the supply was coming back and have been working to get it going again, but as of today I don't think there's any. Or at least, very, very little. I pumped each side last night for 15 mins each after nursing and only got 1 ounce!! DS gets very frustrated and will only latch on momentarily. I get him to nurse for a decent period, but it's a fight. We've started him on rice cereal, but it's a struggle to get him to eat it. He really wants momma -- not "food".

WIC is closed until Tuesday, so I can't go talk to anyone. Our counsellor is AWESOME and I've known her for about 3 years. She helped me through hell with DD and she knows our family history. I have her personal cell number, but I'm not sure if I should use it.

I'm really freaking out. I'm wondering if I should get formula to at least get me through the weekend while I still try to get my boobies working again. Sometimes I think maybe DS is getting enough to eat, but I'm terrified that he's hungry. My supply is not consistent at all. Some times it seems ok.

Here's our next and very large problem: DS is very allergic to dairy, nuts, eggs, and somewhat allergic to soy and wheat (according to blood tests). We went through 6 formulas with DD before we found one that didn't make her sick. We ended up with one that requires a special order (we live in small town) and is $45/can. Before I take that extreme of a step, I would like to consult with an allergist again.

I'm so upset. I don't know what to do. Do I just read labels and take my chances? I have two formulas in mind that *may* work that I can pick up at any store. I'm not sure they'd be perfect, but I don't think they'd make him sick like a milk or soy based one. (Although, I'm doubting the soy allergy since DD has always been able to eat soy and she has horrible allergies/eczema, worse than DS)

Do I call my WIC lady? It's a waste of time to call our ped. We're military and our healthcare here is a joke. I had to tell them what was wrong with me son!

Advice? Hugs? Thanks guys!

PS: For those interested, the ones "over the counter" formulas I'm considering at Nutramigen or Alimentum. Both are expensive, but nowhere near as hard to get or as costly as Neocate. I'm leaning toward Alimentum though because Nutramigen make DD extrememly ill when she was a baby.

[wavelizard]

First of all, . I know how hard nursing can be to begin with, but then coupled with allergy issues, it's so frustrating. DD, my first, was never a good nurser and it was an awful experience for both of us, because she wanted the bottle and she wanted to be fed now, now, now. She was a C-Section, so I didn't nurse right off the bat, so that may have been an issue. Luckily she didn't have any problems with formula. It has been 9 years since I last nursed (DS, a champion nurser....woo-hoo, my only good experience, lol) or had to deal with formula, but if you feel as if the regular formulas may cause a reaction in your son, then call the WIC lady and see if, at the very least, she has some samples of the type you fed your daughter or knows someone who does, at least to tide you over. If you think the soy formula may do the trick, then by all means, get some and give DS a small amount and see what happens. Stressing yourself isn't going to ramp up your milk production and this is a tiring and emotional time for you, even under the best of circumstances. Personally, I'd send DH to the 24 hour WM/Wags/CVS (if you have one) or go yourself if you need the "break", make do for tonight with the soy and call the WIC lady in the morning. Get some rest, if you can. I know it sucks right now, but it'll be okay, you can make it through!!

[Ggbwg]

I would call the WIC lady since it seems your very upset over this. She may be able to give you a piece of mind at the least.

As for starting the formula, i was told that if your frist child had allergies to the formula then most likely your second would too. When i had my 2cnd kid they put him on the same formula DD was on and it made him horribly sick.

It was only until later about when he was 2 months old that a NURSE not a dr. discovered he was a MSPI baby. (Milk, Soy Protein Intolerant) He then was put on Nutrimegen and later he could finally stomach Good Start.

Does your baby seem to act hungry a lot? I would think baby would be crying and fussy a lot if he wasn't getting enough to eat. Good luck on the feeding issue.

[VivaciousJewelz]

Call the WIC lady. You are stressing yourself out, which I'm sure is not helping your milk supply. Call her and tell her what's happening and ask for help. At the very least you will feel better after you talk to her.

[carisal]

Yes you can call your WIC lady. if it is like here, the WIC office is at the health department and they have very accurate scales available. you can ask to go in, have your baby weighed. Then nurse him. Then have him weighed again.

This is the best way to tell how much milk he is getting. This is only accurate though if done on the scales that are precise/accurate to the 10th of an ounce. don't change a diaper from the first to the second weighing, change it just before if it needs it.

If you do need the formula they should have some cans available for you to take right away, and then you can change off of BFing WIC to FF WIC and get the checks for the formula.

GOOD LUCK!

[deallover]

PLease call the WIC lady. She would not have given you her number if she dd not wqant it used. I have 5 of my own and although not near any of these problems I remember the totally helpless feeling. You will survive although I maynot as I now have three teenagers. Ha Ha!

[carisal]

about the pumping - I could never pump more than a few drops even when I was engorged. until I learned to tandem pump - which was pump one side and feed one side directly. try first thing in the morning (or when you read this) and let me know how it goes. It may be awkward, but you'll get used to it in no time. Iwhen I learned to do that, I was able to increase my milk by pumping a couple times a day.... (remember it is all supply and demand, if you dont demand the milk of your body, your body wont supply it.) I started out pumping 2-3 oz and after a month I could pump up to 6 oz (2-3 oz is a lot to pump, BTW.... babies do a lot better job than a pump)


also -...
is he showing any other signs of not getting enough milk, other than the weight loss? --sunken soft spot? not many wet diapers? jaundice?

[breezy2]

It has been many years since I nursed, and I never had any problems but did have a friend who did. But I will tell you that it is very rare to not have enough milk, that is a modern myth. I would suggest checking here for a local chapter http://www.llli.org/ of La leche . They know much more about nursing than even Drs. most times.

Weighing him will only tell you how much he got THAT time. Not each time. It is really worth it to try to get the true issue addressed.

Hope he begins to thrive very soon. Enjoy this time , even with the stress, because it will all be a memory sooner than you think!

Wendy

[MrsPinecone]

Your milk supply regulates to what they need. I have never been able to pump much more than an ounce at a session, so I don't think that's a reliable indicator. And to get an ounce AFTER he's eaten is great. Your baby gets more than the pump ever will. And I completely agree with breezy-- it's extremely rare to 'not have enough milk'.

If you are trying to increase your supply, adding formula to the equation is NOT the way to go. Your body makes milk based on demand, and supplementing with formula decreases that demand.

Take a 'nursing vacation'. Get into bed with the baby. Nurse, nurse, nurse. Drink tons of water, eat oatmeal (a galactologue that increases supply), take lactation support supplements if you feel you need them.

Good luck!

[aimeemarie]

Originally Posted by tivaclare . I pumped each side last night for 15 mins each after nursing and only got 1 ounce!!

First, if you do not pump regularly, the pump is not a good indicator of poor supply. The pump can't get as much milk out as a baby. Also-if you pumped after you nursed no you are not going to have any milk left honey! This is completely normal. 1 oz after nursing for me would actually be quite good, and I have nursed both my babies until after a year.

Babies, at all ages, can be distracted, finnicky and too busy to nurse. The best thing you can do right now is rest, drink lots of water, get yourself some fenugreek and do nothing but nurse and pump in between nursing to rev up your supply. So I would nurse at 8 am, pump at 9:30am and nurse again at 11am. Personally I have had negative experiences with WIC and breastfeeding so if possible I'd see a lactation consultant. I don't think formula is terrible, but it leads to weaning.

I hope you and your pediatrician can figure out why your DS is losing weight!

Biggest question for me was always: Is my baby happy, sleeping well and wetting and pooping?