Low Milk Supply - Dunlap,IL

My sister takes some kind of a vitamin that helps her keep a good milk supply...I dont remember what it is called, but I know she gets it from GNC. I could ask her what it is if you are interested. Let me know.
D.

I only could breast feed for about 4 weeks because my body wasn't producing enough milk. No one, not even the two doctors or the lactation specialists I was going to, knew why I wasn't producing the milk. I drank tea called Mother's Milk, I took pills (phenegran), among other things. Nothing worked so I just had to stop. Sorry wish there was more I could tell you.

I was having issues with a decreased milk supply and Fenugreek worked for me. I defintely recommend it.

My first question would be why do you think it is low? If your baby is gaining weight and soiling enough diapers, then you should be good to go. I know sometimes it is hard to know how much is enough with breastfeeding because you don't know how much you actually feed to the baby at a time unless you pump and do it. Even then, most women cannot let down to a pump in the same way they can to their own baby. If your baby is eating more frequently it could be a growth spurt. Babies go thru these and end up nursing more frequently to build up your supply...supply meets demand. All that being said, if you really believe that your supply is too low, then Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle are wonderful herbs that are completely safe to try. I was fearful that my supply had dropped during a growth spurt and my lactation consultant recommended these to me. It was not even 24 hours later that my supply at more than doubled. I could go to work and fill 4 bottles from an electric pump (5 oz each) in my 8 hours of work. My son only would eat 2 bottles 5 oz each while I was gone. If ever I had trouble pumping at work (occasionally they would keep it cold and that just would not allow my let down to happen) so I would take my fenugreek at bedtime and wake up to feed my baby and then pump his bottles right afterward. Good stuff, though you have to not mind smelling like a pancake. HAHA. It truly gives off a maple syrup like smell that is excreted from your pores when you perspire.

Good luck, and don't stress! You'll do great!

B. :)

Talk to your doctor about a drug called Reglan. I was put on that and it boosted my milk supply. Also there is a herbal supplement called Fenugreek that helps. And they are both technically for digestive health and will not harm your baby. I talked to my doctor and a lactation consultant both before starting these. You can get the fenugreek at Vitamin World or GNC.

back in the day, they use to tell the mother to drink beer, the yeast builds your milk supply up, drink it when you know you have a few hours before breast feeding. the non alcoholic beer works well
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How old is your baby?

There are lots of things you can do to increase supply. Drink more water. Eat more food. Nurse frequently. Take fenugreek supplements. Drink a beer (that one works wonders for me). For personalized suggestions from someone with years of experience, contact a La Leche League leader.
http://www.lalecheleaguestlouis.org/

I had the same problem. Try pumping after each feeding. You won't get much of anything, but it will trick your body to think the baby is wanting more and your body will start producing more. Hope this helps.

Make sure you are feeding every two hours and or pumping! You can eat oatmeal and take Fenugreek also! That is supposed to help with keeping your supply up. HTH!
Email anytime ____@____.com
C.
In Due Time Birth Services

I am a doula, childbirth educator, and mom to 3 breastfed kids. Here are my ideas:
Drink more, sleep more, nurse more. Let your little one latch on every time he/she shows any interest at all, or even pump a couple times a day. If you are supplementing with a bottle, stop for a while. Your milk supply is tied to how often baby sucks, and also to your energy level. Also, try "mother's milk" tea, or fenugreek tablets. It's hard with a baby, but the more you relax, the more your milk will take care of itself.

Drink plenty of fluids, exspecially water & try to avoid dehydrters like soda & coffee. Our bodies can not create fluid without having fluids.

Healthy nursing tea by secrets of tea is the perfect home remedy to increase low breast milk. I was low at my milk supply and got it boosted through this tea.

There is a tea you can try called mothers milk.I drank that and also took fenugreek it helped alot.I bought them at GNC.Lots of water.

Have you been drinking plenty of fluids? Has your baby been ill and not eating as much? Have you taken anything such as benadril? All of these things will effect your milk supply.

Hi A.!

My mother-in-law is a lactation consultant and when I had difficulties with low milk supply she told me to power pump. Power pumping consists of this: pump for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, pump for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes-do this for an hour one time a day. The best time to do this is first thing in the morning after feeding the baby, although it can be done at any time. I did it in the evening because unfortunately I had to go back to work and was working when I had problems. If need be, this can be done for a couple days in a row. What it does is tells your body that the baby is hungry and requiring more milk than what your body has supplied, so it jumpstarts production. It will take a couple of days before you notice a difference. Just be patient and it will come. I wouldn't try supplementing with formula just yet as your baby's body is used to breastmilk which is easier to digest and formula is much harder on babies. Fenugreek also works and if that fails then you can ask your OB for a script of Reglan because that works as well. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me!

Try to pump whenever you get the chance to to keep your milk supply up. I started having that problem when my daughter was about 6 months old while we were on vacation. I didn't have a pump with me, so it was a week before I could do anything other than nursing the baby to keep my milk supply up. I wasn't able to get it back up, and I think it was because of that week-long break that I didn't get to pump between feedings. If you are able to express milk between feedings, it will also help to bottle feed your baby that milk if you feel that he/she isn't getting enough while nursing. Good luck to you!

There is an herb called Fenugreek that you can take it. It can be found at whole foods or wild oats in capsules, and if you take it 3 times a day it will increase your milk supply. I had to do this, and it helped a lot! (always take with full glass of water. it smells a little like maple syrup.)
also, the other advice for pumping is good, but sometimes you just need to combine it with an herbal remedy as well. Your doctor can also prescribe a medication (i think it's reglan) to help if the fenugreek doesn't work so well.

When I had my first baby my doctor told me to go to the health food store and purchase Fenu-greek. It is a natural pill that is fine for the baby and helps to increase milk production. I started taking it and with in 24 hours I had tripled my milk. It is completely safe for the baby and work wonders. Good luck, you should be able to find it at any health food store.

First what makes you think your supply is low? As long as baby is gaining weight and making enough et and poop diapers then your supply is fine. Don't judge it on what you can pump or what anyone might say (there are a lot of myths out there that are not accurate at all).

Second, if you truely have low supply the best thing you can do is nurse your babe. Milk is a supply and demand production. The more your baby is at the breast demanding it the more your breasts will supply. It will take a few days (2-7 on adverage) to get the supply up, so don't lose hope if things aren't perfect immediately. Frequent nursing and pumping between nursing can help boost a supply. Some foods, such as oatmeal, are also known for their milk increasing abilities.

Check out these website for more help and info. :)
http://kellymom.com/
http://breastfeeding.com/
http://promom.org/

And here is a great discussion forum where you can talk to other moms about everything. :)
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/

I had the same problem when my son was first born and the lactation nurse suggested after you breatfeed, pump in between to get it flowing again. If you don't think he's getting enough to eat (which was my case) you can supplement with forumla after breatfeeding and you can also mix what milk you got out of the pump with formula. So none of it goes to waste. Hope this helps you out.

Is your baby going through a growth spurt? Sometimes it can take your body a few days to catch up with your little one's new nutritional demands.

Try nursing on both sides at most feedings. This should prompt an increase in your supply. Also, are you drinking LOTS of water? Breastfeeding moms need a lot! When you think you have had enough, drink another glass!! And if you add in extra pumping this should help as well. If this does not help ask your OBGYN about fenugreek or a prescription that can help increase your supply. Good luck! Hope this helps!!

Hi, I'm a lactation consultant (IBCLC) and mother/baby nurse with 28+ yrs experience;I can send you information on what to do. Please email me, give me the age and weight of your baby and why you think your supply is low.
I'll be able to give you information that is specific to your situation.

D. B.

take a warm shower,while your in the shower massage your breast,right down to the nipple. let it spray, feed frequently. let the baby be the judge. Make sure to drink LOTS of fluids. tis is coming form curent experiance. I have breast fed all three of my kids and If i don't feed baby all the time and drink fluids then I feel difeent and the baby is more fussy.

www.leron-line.com This a very resourceful website. Mothers milk tea is what I had to use for awhile. I hope this helps. Just try to relax and don't stress. Keep smiling.

~S.

A.,

All the moms have had great advice for you and mine is similar. Sorry hun but milk supply runs along the lines of use it or loose it. Like everyone else suggested try showers, massage, LOTS of liquids, and the best thing I did for the five I nursed was pumping. It is a royal pain, in many ways but it works. If your little one is not gaining enough weight you might have to supplement with formula, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. I didn't produce enough nutrients in my milk and supplemented. It gave me a break and dad a chance to bond. I always nursed at night and the act of nursing while you are relaxed and not stressed out helps the breasts release their milk as well. Don't stress with not having everything perfect just enjoy that baby!

Kat

The more you pump/feed the more your milk supply should increase.

I have really bad low milk supply. My LC told me to try an herbal tea called Breastea. After the first day I went from pumping 1/2 ounce to 3 ounces. I'm now up to 5 ounces a pumping. You have to order it from their website at breastea.com but boy has it made a big difference. Just make sure you are breastfeeding or pumping alot.

I went back to work when my daughter was 8 weeks and by a month or so I just wasn't able to pump enough. I started drinking Soy milk. Plain was fine but I normally drank Vanilla. My milk supply came back and I think the soy made it a little sweeter so she drank alot more or it. Hope this helps.

All of the replies are great. I would also advise you to avoid fennel (found most commonly in pizzas and spaghetti sauces, dries up the milk) and to add alfalfa, hops, and flax to your diet as they also help to increase milk supply. I have not tried beer, but have heard that a beer a day in the evening also helps with milk production (likely because of the hops).