I am a breastfeeding mom and also working. I do not get breaks to pump and this has slowed my milk production. I am still producing enough to continue breastfeeding and have no intention of supplementing formula. My daughter also eats other baby foods. I have tried nursing her more and pumping more on my days off to increase my supply with no luck. I have heard there are natural supplements you can take to help increase milk production. Anyone know about this?
Thanks so much! Happy Holidays :-)
Months ago I did research, and in SC there is NO law saying that employers have to give you a break to pump. Its not even mandatory that employers give employee's a break. Its considered a benefit. Trust me, I did hours of research and made lots of phone calls, including lawyers. There are only 7 states that HAVE to by law provide a place for moms to pump breast milk. I would love to start working towards passing a bill that will get this state to be one that has to do that.
I started taking fenugreek and blessed thistle about a week ago and noticed an increase in supply. I only take one of each 2 times a day. So thank you all for your responses, they were all greatly appreciated!
Ditto to everyone else! You definitely should get breaks to pump and Blessed Thistle (which can be found at www.vitaminshoppe.com) fenugreek, and More Milk by Motherlove herbals are all great herbal supplements. Hope it helps!
Try to start Healthy Nursing Tea secrets of tea;)
Blessed Thistle is great for your milk supply. I took Fenugreek, but it kept me going and it is inexpensive. But the Blessed Thistle sounds like what you need.
Also, drink lots of water.
This may not be how you want your nights to happen but night-feeding your child absolutely keeps up your milk supply.
A lot of mom's opt not to do night feedings and instead encourage their child to sleep through the night, but if breastfeeding is the priority this method would certainly help meet that goal.
We follow AP guidelines in our house anyway so night feeding fits right in with how we want to raise our child - I love the night feedings, they don't bother me or my husband (we all sleep in one big bed), and I go right back to sleep.
You can read about then on apparenting.com or kellymom.com.
Merry Christmas! I had problems with milk supply when I was breastfeeding and the lactation center at my hospital recommended taking a combination of Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle (not milk thistle), along with drinking LOTS of water. It worked really well at increasing my milk supply. Both are herbal suppliments--the blessed thistle is a bit difficult to find, but you should be able to find it at a health food store. FYI--I ran these herbs by my OB and my family doctor just to make sure they were safe and both said that, yes, they were. The only side effect of the fenugreek is that it makes your urine, sweat etc. smell like maple syrup:) Good luck--hope this helps!
WoW! You are an amazing breastfeeding mom. I am a SAHM that is also exclusively breastfeeing and my daughter, Phoebe was born on July 19th. I couldn't imagine having even a part time job let alone all the things you have going on. The supplement you can take is called fenugreek. You can find it in any healthfood store, GNC or the like. Also, as far as work, there are laws about pumping and employment. I don't know if they need to provide you with any extra breaks so you may have to consider pumping on whatever breaks you have and bring a lunch with you to pump on your breaks. You can take up to 3 or 4 fenugreek tablets a day and it can take 2-3 days but when it kicks in you WILL know it. You can then take it as often as you need to keep up your supply. Keep up the good work! You're giving your daughter the best.
I agree with the other ladies regarding making time (and ensuring your employer honors this) to pump. I used to pump during my lunch break! If you take the supplements, but don't either increase your pumping, or increase the time your child nurses, then it really won't help much. I think as long as your child is nursing, your milk supply will stay steady. I'm still nursing my 17 month old twins (2x daily), but my milk supply drastically started to decrease around 1 year when I got my period and when I started decreasing the feedings. One other thing, I would just make sure that your baby is getting at least 24 ounces of milk daily, as this is much more important than the solids. I'm with you, I hated to supplement with formula, but the milk is the most important nutrient right now, you may want to consider it, if she isn't getting the required amount of milk from nursing. Best of luck to you, and kudos to you for your commitment to breast feeding your baby! F.
Hi M.,
First of all, your employer is required by law to allow you a clean, safe place to pump as needed. And this does NOT mean go into a bathroom stall.
That aside, eat oatmeal a few times a day. It totally works. Mae oatmeal cookies for at the office. You can add dried blueberries, walnuts & dark chocolate chips to them as well to get your antioxidants in.
There is also a great tea called Nursing Time Tea. I love it. It tastes wonderful. One cup a day helped IMMENSELY! You can find it at:
http://www.fairhavenhealth.com/pregnancy-nursing-tea-info...
Good luck!
S.
I took Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle and it helped. Then I found a blend that also included other herbs which included those two as well as Nettle. It was a tincture (liquid) called Mothers Milk or More Milk. It's expensive, but it works. I got mine online, but you could look in your local health food store. If that doesn't work for you, then you could try a prescription called Reglan (sp?) but it has some nasty emotional side effects, so you have to be careful. Hope this helps, and good luck!
Hi M.,
Fennel and fenugreek are traditionaly used for increased milk flow. I have combined these along with other mineral and vitamin rich herbs safe for nursing mothers. I use 100% organic herbs in my handblended teas. You can check it out here http://lostrivernaturals.com/organic_pregnancy_and_postpa...
It's called "Balance Blend Postpartum Tea" and it's delicious~ a perfect blend for nursing mamas! Blessed thistle should be used with caution as it may bring on your period; it's an emmenagogue. also, drink PLENTY of water!
Love,
C.
www.LostRiverNaturals.com
Handcrafted Herbal Organics
M., let me praise you for nursing and working, I went back to work when our girl was 18mo. and she could still breastfeed at nap and bed time which was her favorite! She did not ween till she was almost 3yr. but I was fine w/ that. I work mid-shift at Palmetto Health so when my milk slowed down I would take a supplement called "Lactate Support" by Gaia, it is a capsule you can take w/ no side effects if you follow the reccomendations and you can find it at Earth Fare for around $20. Also you can try a teaspoon of Brewer's yeast in 8oz. of juice it tastes nasty but works well just be careful to much will make you flatulant! "Mother's Milk" tea is also helpful but not as portable as the supplenent capsules and you can find that @ Earth Fare as well. Finally you can request a break to pump milk for your baby( up to 2yr.) if you are employeed by someone other than yourself? This is S.C. state law and La Leche has all the details of this ammendment if you need them. Hope this is helpful, let me know if you have any questions...Happy Holidays!
