More Milk??

Hi A.,

I had an issue with getting my milk supply up so I could pump to build up a back stock when I went to work. I used a product called Blessed Thistle. It is an herb that I could only find at the Vitamin Shoppe in Citrus Heights (across from Sunrise Mall).It is about 8 dollars a bottle. It did increase my milk supply. The only thing I would watch for is it made my daughter a bit gasier. But since it did inrease my milk supply I did have to pump more because my breast would fill up so much.

I hope that helps....
J.

I am having this same problem with my 10 week old also! I heard about this tea that promotes healthy lactation. I talked to our dr. about it on the phone and he says that it is completely harmless to try! I have been trying it for a little over a week now and have seen a difference. It is called Traditional Medicinals Organic Mother's Milk. My tip if you do decide to try this is to follow the directions exactly (otherwise it doesn't work)! You need to drink 5 eight ounce glasses of tea a day (it is caffeine free). This gets kind of spendy because you are using 5 tea bags a day but to me it is totally worth it (and still cheaper than formula)! I was buying it at a health food store in my area but was shopping at Safeway last night and saw it there on sale! $3.99 for a box of 16 - cheapest that I have seen. Stock up if you do decide to try it!! Good luck!

I just want to make sure I have the problem right before I respond but sounds like your daughter isn't interested or latching on well? This is just my opinion of course, but I would still try to get her some breastmilk whether its by her nursing or by you pumping. Also, if you are going back to work soon, she will need to be completely used to the bottles (if she is not yet). I went back to work after 2-1/2 months and actually had a hard time getting my daughter to take a bottle. We just barely got her to just in time for me to return to work. My work is pumping-friendly, hopefully yours is too. I pumped 3 times a day at work at first then went down to 2 and after a year i was down to pumping once a day until i stopped pumping all together. My daughters bottles at daycare were always 1/2 formula and 1/2 breastmilk. If pumping works better then the actual nursing then maybe just exclusively pump for awhile? This all might not be too helpful but my best advice is to do what you think is best and will work. Don't beat yourself up if it is not working out...you gotta do what works with these little babies and what is comfortable for the whole family. Wishing you the best!

I have a 5 month old and have been back to work 4 days a week since he was 10 weeks old. I have been taking Fenugreek (2-3 pills 2x a day) on the advice of my lactation ladies and notice if I forget 'em that it seems to make a difference in my supply (the story I heard was if you smell like maple syrup, you're taking enough).

We had to use a nipple shield for the first 5 weeks because of swelling due to toxemia = poor latch. I have struggled to feed our baby only breastmilk and so far have been successful - pumping 3 - 5 times a day when I work, to keep up with his intake.

It is a BIG commitment and without the help of my VERY helpful and supportive stay-at-home hubby, I think I may have given up. I've also been sure to keep up on my prenatal vitamins and downing as much water and fluids as I can. I'm glad I've kept with it but am struggling to keep a positive spin on my love/hate relationship with that damn pump! :)

Some of us have VERY high expectations of ourselves, which is good - to a point. Don't make yourself totally nuts, bottom line is your baby needs to eat, grow, be happy and know you love them. Enjoy this time with your baby - they grow up SO fast! :)

Dear A., I'm so sorry you've had such a difficult time of things, my first baby was difficult too. My second one was turning out to be difficult too,she would start nursing then pull off, it was frustrating and painful like the first one. But this time someone suggested a visit to the chiropractor. CHIROPRACTOR?! I thought thhat was a ridiculous suggestion, All I could think of was someone yanking on her neck and such, but I was desperate and as it turns out dead wrong about my preconception of what it was all about. The chiropractor barely touched her and afterwards she nursed great, it turned out she had some neck trauma from the birth, and now she nurses like a champ even though she has downs syndrome, also I drink milk maid tea from earth mama angel baby and it works great! Good luck, I 've got more suggestions and products that might help at the store, call me, I'd love to hear from you, G. ###-###-####

I dont know enough about it to really say if it is ok or not I just worry that taking anything like it may not be good. I assume this is one of the herbal remedies suggested to increase milk production. The problem I have is that there just isnt enough information about alot of these and the possible effects that may pass through to your child. If you cant make more milk supplementing with a good formula will not harm her. If she is getting 50% of her feedings from breast milk then she is getting the antibodies she needs so you are doing well. I had a lot of trouble breastfeeding my first child and did about 50 % bm 50% formula and he was fine. Dont let people bully you if you are trying everything you can then you are doing everything you can and guilting yourself is not going to make anyting easier for you or your child.
Good luck.

I just wanted to tell you that I had the same problem and I drank organic mother's milk tea which tastes ok but add some honey and you'll be golden and also a natural supplement called fenugreek which is used for increasing lactation. Hope this helps.

A.,

As you know, if you aren't emptying your breasts completely enough and often enough, nothing else you do will really compensate and your milk supply will likely continue to decrease. Things that are worthwhile are rarely easy. I pump a lot while my son is in his swing and while I'm doing other things like eating. I've even been known to prop my son up in his bouncer and give him a bottle while I'm pumping. I have a Medela Pump in Style Advanced and an Easy Expression Halter (I got it off ebay for less than $20 from Elite Breastfeeding Supplies) so I can double pump "hands free" and do other stuff at the same time. It makes it much easier to be able to actually pump and being able to double pump makes the time I do pump more efficient.

The reason that More Milk works for some women is because it contains an herb called Fenugreek that can boost lactation. You may have better luck just taking the fenugreek by itself. The idea is that you have to take enough of it that you smell like maple syrup to get the real benefit from it. I believe it comes in tablets and you can get it from health foods stores or on line. Keep in mind that Fenugreek is a legume so if you have peanut allergies or hay fever (alfalfa is also a legume) you probably shouldn't take it. It can also alter your blood sugar levels so if you are hypoglycemic or diabetic, talk to your doctor before you consider it.

But, a few resources that may help you are

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PumpMoms/

and

www.kellymom.com

The first is a yahoo group of moms who pump, many who EP (exclusively pump like you are doing) and the second is a great breastfeeding, pumping, breastmilk information type site.

Good luck to you.

T.

P.S. Fenugreek can make babies really fussy too. There are lots of other "tricks of the trade" too so I highly recommend the PumpMoms group. There is nothing that replaces the advice of lots of women who have been there and done that.

A.,

I don't know anything about More Milk, but I had the same troubles with my son...I pumped and gave him my milk for the first four months and then...like you, he was just too active and would not sleep. I had a "home health nurse" from the county (free of charge) come to the house and try to help us get that "natural" breastfeeding thing down...to no avail. She, at last, agreed that he just wasn't into it! :) So, I moved on to formula after my reserves of breastmilk were used. And now, at 11 months, he is just as healthy and active, okay, and brilliant! :) as any of his counterparts!

It has been said to me numerous times that ANY breastmilk is better than none...but I am a VERY healthy 37 y.o. mom and I never had breastmilk.

So, do not worry. Do the best you can and love your baby...that's really all any of us can do. Don't beat yourself up about giving your daughter formula, she'll be fine.

Hope it helps knowing you're not alone in this! :)

I may get slammed for saying this, but do you think you and your daughter would be happier if you just let yourself off the hook. I am all for breastfeeding,and with my 2nd now on the way I am planning on breastfeeding again, but when my son was 3 1/2 months old I too started having trouble. I tried everything. Finally after him feeding on the breast for 10 minutes each side he was still screaming. I gave in and gave him a bottle, he slept happily and peacefully for 4 hours.
There comes a point when your mental health and the mental health of your baby become more important. Yes breast milk is obviously healthier.....but really it sounds to me like your daughter is having the same problem my Son did...she is still hungry! Good luck and don't let anyone suggest you're a bad mother if you do start to bottle feed, you know what is best for you and your daughter.

Hi, you sound like you are giving 100% of your heart trying to figure this out. I know it's hard, your friend is right the more you feed/pump the more you will produce. I was worried about giving mine formula at first. My mom was the first to do it(she and my father were babysitting), and she thought she would just give it a try, It worked. I still pumped and used formula, it actually made me feel more secure knowing she would take both. Good luck and keep up the good work!
Steph:)

Hi A.,

First let me introduce myself. I am probably one of the lactation consultants that you spoke with. I can whole heartly nderstand how you feel. I was a breastfeeding natzi and believed that everyone should do it. Well, after teaching it for 2 years, I had my first child. Low and behold, I knew nothing. I sat in my coworkers office crying, feeling like an idiot. I work for WIC and we promote breastfeeding. How would I feel if I couldn't do what I recommended and how could I expect others to do the same. I believe everything happens for a reason. We might not understand the reasons at the time but usually figure them out later in life. Obviously mine was to stop bulling women into making a decision that they may not be happy with. I know that none of this helps you now, but I also had to use formula. By the age of 6 months, my baby was half breastmilk and half formula. I did not have the problems with latching on, after I fed her with a medicine dropper for 4 weeks, no bottles, no pacifiers and thru the growth spurt. Not something I would expect a postpartum, tired, unregulated hormaonal person to do. I could only pump 1 oz. if I pumped 20 minutes or an hour. It wasn't the pump. I had a hospital grade pump. My body just said no way!!!! So, she did fine on formula.

I have not heard alot about mothers milk tea. I prefer to use fenugreek. There is even medication that could increase your milk supply. Fenugreek should be taken according to the instructions and you could smell like maple syrup. Unless you can swallow anything, than I would recommend the pills. I could not swallow that tea to save my life. One side effect of fenugreek is it can cause a decrease in your sugar levels, so, if you are prone to hypoglycemia, I might not recommend it.

If you would like more info on the medications, I can help you with that. But, please do not beat yourself up. Alot of mothers can't make it as far as you have. I know how medicinal and beneficial the breastmilk can be but is it worth your sanity. If you hate pumping and hate the whole process, thta alone will decrease your milk supply.

I wish you luck! Make the decision that works best for you and your baby. As a parent, listen to everyone's advice, but decide for yourself what you want to do.
FYI: My second child nursed like a charm, so maybe next time.

send me a personal message if you need specific questions asked of me.

H. B.

I couldn't pump to save my life and I never leaked breastmilk I was certain that I was not producing enough milk however my daughter refused any thing other than my breast and she grew healthy and was very healthy my point is that it may not be you don't have enough milk it may just be that you can't pump and if your daughter won't breast feed than you may just need to go with formula.
But if you want to keep trying just remember to relax and take it easy I have heard of pumps that act more like a babies mouth but I was never able to find it. also if you have larger breast you may just be having trouble with the weight of your breast in her mouth it could just be pulling away from her and you just need better support. good luck and don't beat yourself up if you have to use formula just hold her close while you do and the bond will still be there

Congrats on trying so hard, more parents should have your dedication for health!!! If you still want to continue the self induced torture (I too had to pump with both of my children for different reasons) I would just clear the med with your doctor. A simple phone call should do, theyshould not need to see you for this. If the doc ok's it, then try it. The doctor or nurse may have another recommendation?? Keep up the hard work!!! Good luck!!!

With my first son I took Fenugreek and also Alfalfa. Both are OTC and are inexpensive. I took them both according to the package, three times per day. I had amazing results, at least doubling my output, and was able to continue nursing my son well after I went back to work. I was able to produce so much milk that when I stopped nursing him I was able to tap into literally dozens of bags of milk I had in the freezer.

You are doing so much for you baby. You should be very proud of yourself and realize you are doing all that you can. Good luck!