Hello! My name is Jennifer, and I'm new to the boards. I've already posted on the low milk production forum looking for some help, and I have to say it has been so wonderful to find a place that I feel I fit in.

I'm not BFAR, however, I was recently diagnosed with IGT (insufficent glandular tissue), and even though it didn't come as a surprise, it has been difficult nonetheless.

I gave birth to my fifth child on Feb. 1st. A baby girl. She will be six weeks old on Monday, and I'm having the same breastfeeding experience I did with my third and fourth child. Unable to get a full supply. For years I thought is was something I was doing, or that the baby was doing.

I did not breastfeed my first two children, and my second child actually ended up at Children's Hospital in Washington, DC at ten days old due to FTT. After trying so hard to breastfeed him, he was on a bottle from then on.

With my third, I supplemented a bit, then more and more, until we almost lost our nursing relationship. We were blessed that my DD loved to nurse for comfort...a lot. As did my son, my fourth child. By the time they reached five months, I started DPD with both of them, and in a few weeks we were on solids and no more bottles and formula. I only had to take the DPD for a short time too before I was able to stop. It was like my body "clicked" and so did the babies, and my body got the little jump start it needed, then we were okay.


Now, I'm using the SNS for my little DD, but she is still getting a good amount of formula. About 14 oz a day. She's gaining well. Her birth weight was 7pds 2oz, and she dropped to 6pds 6oz, but now at 5 weeks she's 9pds 5 oz. So, the bigger she gets, I hope the better she'll nurse.

I tried taking the DPD again for a few weeks, and I had a weird side effect of what I thought was horrid reflux, but my LC and I were worried that it might actually be chest pains. The pain was so bad, and started after I had been on the DPD for a few weeks.

So, I stopped that and my supply took a huge hit.

Then, I came here. And my hope returned.

I started Shavarti today, and have added a few extra herbs in. I'm praying for a better supply. I will never give up on nursing, because I nursed my other two for over two years, and I know how important the breastfeeding relationship is between mommy and baby.

Thanks for having me here!

Welcome! Sounds like you are doing great. Hope the Shat kicks in quickly for you. What about some other herbs like fenugreek, blessed thistle, marshmallow root and alfalfa (just to name a few)?
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I've got alfafa and fennel for now. I'm getting my Goat's Rue tincture in a few days from my LC. She put it in the mail today. That worked really well for me combined with the DPD, so I'm hoping it will work well with the Shatavari, since they are supposed to work similar.

I stopped taking Fenugreek because I have Hashimoto's disease and it was suggested to me to stop, because it can cause your thyroid to become hyperthyroid. Which it actually is per my endocronologist. I see him on Wednesday and will tell him about the Fenugreek and how it may have affected my levels.

I couldn't find Marshmellow at the store I was at today.

Perhaps I could order online.

And, can all these herbs be taken together, say at breakfast/lunch/dinner, since a lot of them are taken three times a day?

I have Hashimoto's disease as well and Fenugreek caused me to go hyper. Once I stopped taking it and decreased one of my thyroid meds I got a lot better very fast. I thought at the time I was suffering from post partum depression, but in the end it was my thyroid. Meg who is along time BFAR warrior around here is the one who clued me in on the Fenugreek and hyperthyroid connection.

You can marshmallow online at www.swansonvitamins.com. They have the cheapest price I found online.

Yes, all the herbs can be taken together three times a day. No problem.

Jillian, your story sounds a lot like mine. I was almost ready to quit breastfeeding, and was experiencing what I thought was PPD.

I'm happy that I'm seeing my endo next week. He's going to lower my dose, and I stopped the Fenugreek yesterday, and already feel a bit better. Actually, my baby seems a bit more satisfied at the breast than she did just a few days ago. That could be the stopping of the thyroid meds and the Fenugreek, or the Shavatari. Who knows.

My endo had me stop my meds for a few days because I was so hyper.

They thyriod can be such a tricky, and delicate, thing.

You ladies are awesome! I can't tell you how happy I am to have found this place!