Reduced Milk Production

Try Fenugreek. The WIC breastfeeding support specialist told me about it. It worked for me. You can find it an GNC. You can research it on google before you go buy it or go to breastfeeding.com and get more ideas...Hope this helps...

When my patients need a galactagogue I usually recomend marshmallow root, blessed thistle and fenugreek, they are great at increasing the milk quanity and quality. They will also help disolve the excess mucous you have been experiencing.

This happened to me as well. Are you taking sudafed? I read that that can reduce milk production. I was taking sudafed when my milk production reduced. I took fenugreek pills for about a week, and my milk production went back up. I've since had another decrease in milk production though and am having a hard time bouncing back this time even with more fenugreek.

Are you taking any sinus medication like sudafed? I remember my lactation consultant telling me to never take that whilst breastfeeding as you have sinuses in your breasts as well as in your nose. Therefore the sinus medication dries up the sinuses in your nose by also the ones in your breasts which dry up your milk. This could well be the reason in your decreased production.

Hope this helps.
S.

Kuddos to you for breastfeeding!!!! It's such hard work & so worth it :) This happened to me last year about this time too & my son was also 5 months. My job was stressful & I wasn't sleeping that great. I increased my fluid intake & upped my calories a little bit each day. I also made sure to get lots of rest & took naps on the weekends when my son was sleeping. I felt like I was eating & drinking constantly, but I was able to go for 13 months. My son is now a healthy 17 month old who's never been sick, short of a runny nose :) Stick w/ it!! God bless & good luck!!

If you are taking any kind of decongestant, that could be affecting your supply.

Of course drink lots of fluids, and I have heard many moms swear by oatmeal in any form to boost supply.

A.,may want to look up breast milk production or foods to eat while breastfeeding. It may be what you are eating that is causing it to decrease. I have an 18month old now but when she was six months the same thing happened and I just googled and starting eating the foods and veggies that help to increase the milk and it worked. I am not sure but if I remember I believe green beans and sweet potatoes are key. Hope this helps.

Hi A.. When I was BF, I also had some issues with low supply. Have you checked out www.kellymom.com ? Great resource about all kinds of BF issues. When I felt like my supply was low I took Fenugreek. It is a natural supplement that you can buy at Sun Harvest and Whole Foods. Info about it at kellymom. Don't know what if any meds you are taking for your sinus infection, but some meds can also affect milk production (even if they say they don't). Hang in there and hope this helps some :)
A.

Dear A.,
I breast fed both of my boys, one for 16 months and the other for 12 months. I have chronic sinusitis and experienced what you are experiencing with my second son. Yes, your infection is probably the root of the problem. Your body is fighting this infection and along with the antibiotics, it's just not running at full speed. Also, the type of antibiotic can have a lot to do with milk production. In addition, decongestants can have a huge impact. Their job is to dry up fluids, and that includes breast milk. Your milk should come back to normal production; however, my suggestion is to take a couple of days off from your job and get all of the rest you can. Stress (including body stress from sickness) is the number one cause of low milk production. I would continue on the same pumping schedule and/or if you are staying at home for a couple of days, have your son nurse more. Obviously your body produces more milk when your child nurses vs. pumping.
If your milk supply does not return to normal as quickly as you would like, try Fenugreek from a health food store or ask your physician about Reglan. Both help to boost milk supply.

I hope this helps you. Kudos to you for nursing in the first place!

K. L.

If you are taking an antihystamine (spelling is wrong) but like Benedryl or Claritin, for your sinus infection it will dry up your milk just like it dries up your snot.

If you are, stop taking it and start pumping as much as possible so your milk will come back.

Good luck and God Bless!!

D. Mattern-Muck
The MOM Team
Raise your income and your rugrats at the same time!
www.formyrugrats.com

Fenugreek helped me and as an added bonus it will make you smell like maple syrup! Also La Leche League was always a great help!

LLLI | Home
... 7 women create an international organization providing information and support ... © 2008 by La Leche League International and those posting information. ...

www.llli.org

drink lots of water. that helped when i had a dip in production. also blessed thistle and fenugreek. i got them at sun harvest. boy howdy did things pick up after i started taking that combo. its been used by wet nurses since back in the dark ages to keep their supply up, and its safe to take while nursing, so give it a try.

Hi A.!
I am sorry you have been under the weather. My guess is that you are not drinking enough fluids. When you fight any kind of infection you body needs a lot more fluid. Try sipping on things like chicken broth which can help a throat irritated by post nasal drip...and of course orange juice and lots and lots of water!!

Hope this helps and I hope you start feeling better!!

If you are taking any over the counter or prescription medication I will probably stop using those. A friend of mine used Claritin while nursing and her milk reduced significantly.

Medications to help with your sinus infection can certainly work against your milk supply. Keep drinking plenty of water, keep pumping/nursing as much as possible and you body should bounce back. If it doesn't, there are other things you can do, up to and including medication, but try the basics first. Good luck!

Good morning A. M,

I have had a hard time feeding my son since returning to work. Here is what I was able to do after consulting both a lactation consultant and my OB/GYN.

The lactation consultant advised to picture nigra falls, or large bodies of water and think about milk pouring out of my breast. To find a quiet place to pump, and try to make yourself laugh or think about positive things. She suggested listening to soft music. They also suggested I consult my OB/GYN about taking Fenugreek...which is an herbal suppliment that stimulates breastmilk. They suggested I take 2-3 capsules a time up to three times a day. The pills kinda smell like maple syrup...and can have a funny taste on your tongue :)

So I called my OB/GYN and he agreed to have me take Fenugreek, and also a prescribed medicine called Reglan. Reglan is normally used to assist someone with nausea, but has a side effect that stimulates breastmilk.

I have also heard of people taking a suppliment called Blessed Thistle. I have heard of people "power pumping" Where you pump for one hour, every ten minutes you pump then rest for ten minutes. Some people said it did the trick. Hope all this information helps :)

I know that when you get sick sometimes your breastmilk will go down. Don't give up...you are doing a great thing for you and your baby!

Let me know if I can help you anymore
D. Mandry
San Antonio, TX

There is an herb called fennel seed that is supposed to help with milk production. There is another one but don't remember the name of it. You could ask at the health food store. Are you taking any thing with an antihistamine in it? This will dry up your milk. You probably already know to keep drinking water as much as possible. They say even stress can decrease your milk production. I also remember trying an herbal tea at one time that would help increase milk production. Best wishes!!

Have you taken any kind of decongestant, whether it be Claritin D, Sudafed, or anything of the sort? I had the same problem and I asked our pediatrician about it and and she told me that taking any decongestant could decrease the milk supply. She said that medicine is focused at drying up ducts in your body, and that is the same place milk is produced. Made since to me, and it seemed like after I quit taking it my milk supply came back up. Was not what it was before, but I did gain some back.

Good luck!

water,water,water. This happened to me just about a month ago. I have a 7 1/2 month old and my milk started to decrease and I upped the water. Around 64 ounces a day and it helped immediately. She nurses 4x a day so I just drink a 16 ounce bottle every time she nurses and I get my water in. :) Good luck.

increase your fluid intake, and nurse baby more when you can. the meds you maybe taking may be drying u up, anihistimines, do that. just drink more it should work. nursed 4 kids i for 3 years one for 4 years and one for 3 years and one for 5. and it was ok with my husband but he is from a different culture where nursing is done for a long time. i even nurse a grandaught when my daughter was ill. and just increased my fluid intake and had enought for 2. good luck, a happy mother who nursed .

all great advice...you can also get your ob to prescribe reglan...it can increase production as well and its cheap.

blessings!
M. m

WATER WATER WATER is the key to breast milk production. And illness takes a lot of water out of your system, try to drink 3 or 4 extra glasses of water a day. Maybe this will help!
A.

Let the baby nurse more often, pumping will take out the milk but not stimulate production. Then nurse only one side and pump the other. The next feeding let the baby nurse the other side and pump the other. Switch back and forth each feeding, always pumping every ounce of extra out, even running your fingers down your breast from way up under your arm and gently squeezing your breast for every drop. I have 4 girls, have nursed every one of them, even through very difficult situations. This is my trick for more milk and milk to store in the deep freeze for after they wean and for eye and ear infections. Yes, a drop or two of breast milk will clear up an eye infection better than an antibiotic b/c it is alive and will eat the infection. It is very cool.

Hi there. Drinking lots and lots of water will definitely help. you should be drinking half your body weight in ounces per day. So, say you weigh 120, you should drink 60 oz of water a day. it's tough, but you'll supply more milk. Also, at a natural foods store, they have vitamins that are just for nursing moms to help produce milk. good luck!

My milk flow went down when my baby was 4 months old. I tried him to put on formula but he was not taking any formula and getting fussy day by day. I got advice from a friend to try healthy nursing tea by secrets of tea and got my milk production back just in a few days.

The herb fenugreek really helped me. It does stimulate your appetite, however, so you might want to watch that. Good luck! :-)