Supply question

[istacy]

My milk supply has recently dropped way down. I have been pumping and nursing and it still hasn't come back. I was getting 3 to 5 ounces every time i pump and now I am down to less than an ounce. I had an infected tooth, would that affect my milk supply?

[AnaSola]

Greetings, and thank you for your question. before giving you any advice, I'll need to know a little bit more about your especific situation.

How old is your baby?
Are you breastfeeding full time or doing some formula as well?
Are you working parttime/full time or are you at home with the baby full time?
Are you taking any medication to treat your infected tooth?

Thanks
Ana Sola

[istacy]

He will be 3 months on the 17th of this month
I was breastfeeding full time until this past sunday, I had run out of the supply of breastmilk I had in the freezer and the poor little guy was so hungry and getting dehydrated because he wasnt getting enough milk and he wont drink plain water, so I broke down and bought a can of formula.
I work full time, 10 hours a day and pump 3 times a day at work
I was taking zithromax antibiotic

[istacy]

I was also wondering when is a good time to introduce juice?

[AnaSola]

Ok I see. Well first my friend, let me congratulate you for making the wise decission of breastfeeding your baby, as it is the best gift we mothers can give to our children.

I know having to go back to work can be very difficult and challenging for many women, as nothing you'll enjoy more than staying at home with your precious baby. But we must work, especially now that the economy is at it's worst.

First thing I'll like to share with you my friend, is that you need to understand that coming back to work, create some changes you and your body must adapt to. During the first two to three wekks the body is going through some changes, as it did pass from breastfeeding exclusively and developing enough breast milk according to your baby's needs, to not nursing on demand any more. There are some hormonal changes going on as well, on top of that many mothers find themselves having many "emotional feelings" sadness, stress, fustration and the list go on and on.

First you need to do is to try to control your stress levels and stop worrying so much Mommy.:) your body is going through a trasaction and it will get acostumed to your new situation. The great thing you are doing is to use the breast pump at work as often as you can, as this will continue to stimulate your mamary glands and send a message to your body, that it needs to continue producing more breast milk for the baby.

The other thing to consider is that many time using medication can affect our bodies and temporarily decrease the milk supply. However, thsi will be only temporarily.

Remedies:

This is what I sugest for you to do my friend.
1- try to not stress yourself and stop worrying so much, trust your body's ability to produce enough breast milk for the baby.
2- continue using the breast pump as much as you can.
3- make sure you are drinking a lot of water during the day and have a healthy diet focusing on whole foods.
4- try to use a natural product that will support your body and help you to increase breast milk supply.

On another note, if you like many Moms don't like using formula ( and I don't blame you) I'll sugest you to read an article I wrote about using other "natural alternatives" to formula to supplement your baby while you are healing and working on increasing your breast milk supply. The link to this articlew is this
http://www.breastfeedingwomen.citymax.com/articles/article/3961332/100066.htm

many women don't know this, but there are wonderful and natural alternatives to formula that your doctor and the media don't want you to know. Check that article and if you have any fuirther questions please let me know.

Hope this helps and excuse me for the misspelling but I'm tryng to write as fast as I can to respond to all of your questions and the ones comming from other members of the forum.

Much love always
Ana

[AnaSola]

The best time to introduce juice as well as solid foods I'll sugest to be once the baby have reached 6 months. make sure to give only natural juices made by you or the ones that does not contain any artificial ingredient.

[istacy]

Thank you very much :) <3