Hair loss and low milk supply.

For the last couple weeks, I have been a pretty bummed out mama! Not only have I noticed that my milk supply is decreasing, but my hair is starting to fall out! Talk about a bad combo.

I've heard that nursing moms can experience hair loss around month four or five after baby, but I didn't think it would happen to me. I've always had thick hair, but lately I've noticed that I am "shedding" ALL the time, and my hair is falling out in greater amounts in the shower and when I brush it. Not only do I feel like I'm going to go bald, but I'm constantly pulling hair out of my daughter's hands, off my clothes, and yes... even out of food (so gross)! You should see the amount of hair I sweep up on the floor... woof! I know that this is a temporary thing, but I need to find something to help with my new shedding issue.

Also, in the last few weeks, my milk supply has been pretty much cut in half! When I first started pumping, I was like a milking cow... producing triple the amount that Linna was eating. This was great, because I was able to store a lot of milk in the freezer. But then I got lazy. Knowing I had an ample supply of breast milk, I went from pumping 5 times per day, to pumping 2-3 times per day. Now I'm only pumping the EXACT amount (maybe even a little less) that Linna eats in a day. I've tried pumping more and taking Mother's Milk Tea, but I still haven't seen an increase. I'm trying to drink a lot more water, continue my prenatal vitamins, and I'm exploring some other methods... so we'll see.

I'm just bummed because I have a goal of exclusively breastfeeding Linna for one year, and now I'm not sure I'll be able to do it. I know there's nothing wrong with baby formula (heck, I was a formula-fed baby), and if we have to go that route I will. It's just disheartening to know that my baby relies on me for her food, and I may not be able to provide that for her much longer. She's started eating solids, and she's eating really well, so I'm hoping between the amount of milk I'm producing, the frozen milk we have stored, and the food she's eating, we'll make it to a year. I guess only time will tell. And who knows, maybe I will find something that actually makes me produce more milk! Wish us luck:)