am I losing my milk?

[linny]

Everything had been going fine up until this last weekend. My daughter is two months old and nursing has gone great. This weekend suddenly she started crying and refusing the breast. I tried and tried to the point of hysteria (on both our parts). So I gave her some breastmilk from the bottle and pumped...except I didn't get anything out. I then upped my water and food intake and things seemed to be back on track, until this morning. Again, I could tell I didn't have much and she had the whole refusal thing again. I don't know what to do? Any suggestions, I'm afraid I'm losing my milk. HELP!

[RedheadbyChoice]

Well, it didn't disappear overnight, momma, unless you're pregnant.

Do you normally pump? Some mommas don't respond to them well or quickly. Panic and stress don't help pump output either. Does the pump need tweaked?

Did you try switching positions? Lying down rather than cradle? Cradle rather than football?

Have you used anything new, like perfume or deoderant or lotions?

Could babe's ears be bothering her?

What about her earlier refusal and this morning are similar? Do you have a very strong letdown and that bothers her? How often does she normally nurse, could she have been super super hungry and then really ticked off because it wasn't coming fast enough for her?

Does she normally get bottles of EBM? How often?

Hang in there, linny, we'll help you get it sorted out. :hug:

[intokermit]

I haven't been BFing that long, but I really don't think that you are losing your milk, not that fast. You may have dips during the day, when your daughter may go longer in between feedings, but I don't think you're losing it. Do you take Fenugreek? Also, my ds refuses the breast when they are to full, cause he gets to much to fast. It could be a nursing strike, which she will get over soon. In the mean time, keep pumping, even if you don't get much out. Some moms don't respond well to pumps. The stimulation from the pumps will keep you producing during the nursing strike.

[Nipple_nectar]

Baby refusing the breast is normal newborn behavior at times: reading Happiest baby on the block by Dr. Harvey Karp can explain a good deal.

Also, what your pumping output is, is never indicative of your supply. I never could pump a drop with my firstborn I just couldn't emotionally let down to a pump, it is an acquired skill.

Welcome to the boards!