Hello! I have been breastfeeding my 4 month old daughter all along and just recently I am running out of milk by bedtime. I can tell she is not getting enough to satisfy her because she just pulls away from me and cries and normally she doesn't do that. I am on Reglan which is supposed to help produce more milk and I just started the herb Fenugreek. I will do anything to get more milk. It is making bedtime a nighmare and is so upsetting to me. I have thought about supplementing with formula but I really don't want to.
Hi Jennifer,
With my first daughter I had a great deal of support from a lactaion consultant though El Camino Hospital, which was very helpful (my daughter was two months premature and I had to pump for three months. I was able to stop pumping and nursed her well over a year). Can you contact a lactation consultant through your hospital or laleche? If you pump after your last feed of the day, your evening supply will increase. You wouldn't need to continue pumping once your supply increases and she seems satisfied. Letting your daughter nurse more frequently in the evening will also help increase your supply.
Your daughter may be hitting a growth spurt, which would explain her need to nurse more right now. By letting her nurse often, your supply will increase and she'll eventually not need to feed as often. You probably already know that if you give her a bottle, your supply will actually decrease.
I've never taken Fenegreek, but have heard it helps. I also have heard of something called "mother's tea," which is sold at Whole Foods. I've been told to drink plenty of water and to be sure to eat enought throughout the day to keep supply up.
Hope things get easier for you!
Marcia
Hi Jennifer,
I just read Marcia's advice to you and it was a good one. I couldn't have said it better myself. Like you, about 5 months my milk supply started to slow down. But the only difference was I had to pump and nurse for certain reasons. When I was pumping I was getting alot of milk then it just seemed to slow down after awhile. I actually found it exhausting to nurse, but I wanted to do everything I can like you to get milk for my daughter. In the end I did end up supplementing with formula but I did half and half since I was pumping. I also tried the fenugreek and it did seem to help in the beginning but then it seemed like it didn't help at all. My sister in law took it and she said it worked for her completley. Drinking alot of fluids and eating frequently as Marcia mentioned is what I was told also plus getting alot of rest too. Nursing more often will help too I was told. Eventually I ended up doing mostly half and half and switching to formula one feeding then breast milk the next. I was only able to last 7 months then at that point I just went completely to formula. I had to be okay with the fact that at least I got to breast feed her as long as I possible can and I am, I have no regrets and my daughter is doing great. I feel that nursing can either be an easy thing for some and harder for others. I think you are doing the best you can and if it ends up that you don't nurse all the way through her 1st birthday don't be hard on yourself. At least you know you tried and that she was able to have some of your breast milk.
My suggestion is try getting some help from a lactation nurse, use all the resources you can then if in the end like I said it doesn't work out don't be so hard on yourself. Good luck.
Irene
The Chinese will make catfish soup with papaya and a little ginger (add raw peanuts optional)- it is a traditional soup to boost milk production for new mothers.
Choose a yellow ripe papaya, but into chunks, boil in soup. The ginger will take some fishy smell/taste away, and add some heat to the soup. If not catfish, maybe other white fish. the soup may taste strange, but it works.
Otherwise, try to eat papaya as fruit or make into smoothie and see if milk production goes up.
DRINK WATER!!! 10 or more cups a day.
Good Luck!
malt is supposed to help - non-alcoholic beer or Ovaltine... Sounds like you need to drink more in general.... Sounds silly, but drink more water all day long too... if not you can increase your milk supply by pumping.
Hi Jennifer - First, I'd suggest contacting a local hospital and consulting with a lactation consultant. In most areas you can find a free breastfeeding support group offered once or twice a week. You can go there, ask your questions, weigh your child on a very sensitive scale just before feeding and again after (to see exactly how many ounces she's getting) and generally get some reassurance that she's doing OK.
If you can't find something like that, try to find a Le Leche League group or leader you can phone.
My sons are 3 & 6 now, but I remember those early days of breastfeeding clearly. It can be scary not knowing how much food your child is getting and it seems that there are a lot of people (even doctors) out there who are quick to recommend formula. Beware. Once you start on formula, the delicate balance of supply and demand is compromised and your body will not make enough milk for your child any longer.
At 4 months your daughter may be going through a growth spurt. This happens at regular intervals. You can tell it's happening by the signs you mentioned in your posting. She doesn't seem satisfied. She wants more. It feels like you don't have enough milk. She wants to nurse CONSTANTLY for a day or a few days. This is all NORMAL. It's nature's way of "priming the pump" so that mom makes more milk for baby's growing body.
If you have a breast pump, and you are really concerned and want to do something else beyond the lactogogues you are using, try pumping (both sides at the same time) for 10 minutes immediately AFTER she is finished nursing. It's likely you will not produce much. But your body will think you have a very hungry baby and will work harder to make more milk.
Another thing to try would be a "nurse and nap." Rather than trying to nap when you don't feel like it, "give in to your urge to sleep" in the afternoon. Lie down with your daughter and nurse and nap together. This will give her extended nursing time, you can rest, and it will be easier for your body to produce the milk she needs.
Also, as others have mentioned, drink lots of water.
Good luck. You are doing a wonderful thing and giving your daughter a great start on life.
Hi Jeniffer, I read your posting and I wanted to let tou know of a possible solution to your problem. I hope it will help, first of all you need to increase your fluid intake and you might want to try having a cup of non-alcoholic beer, yes beer! My mother was an old fashion mexican lady that had all of these old-wives tales,but it works. There is something about the beer (the yeast) that for some reason it helps with milk production. She also made us eat a lot of oatmeal with lots of milk, it seemed to work for us. So, I guess it wont hurt you to try it. Back in the days they use to drink the real thing with alcohol, thank God they now have non-alcoholic beer which still has the yeast in it. GOOD LUCK! And I hope this helps.
Agustina
Hi Jennifer,
You already have excellent replies on this subject. I just wanted to echo what others said and tell you what worked for me.
I too felt like I was running out of milk by the end of the day with my second child. I ended up pumping and moving around my feeding schedule. Seemed my daughter wasn't that hungry in the morning, so I would pump what she didn't eat and save it until nighttime. After a while I had at least a couple of extra bags of milk for her. The quality of the pump really matters. I had a Medela that pumped both sides at once, I would recommend plunking down more than $150 (more like $200+) and get a really good pump.
Also, drink tons of water.
Good Luck!
Hello Jennifer B,
I am a third time mom with a 4 month old girl. This was my first time breastfeeding and my milk supply. I thought was low too. I used mother's tea. You can get it from any natural whole food store. I drunk 8-10 glasses of water a day, plus the tea and I felt my daughter still didn't get enough, but I called the advice nurse who told me as long as she has wet diapers, then she is getting enough for her. They just drink more frequently. My concern was her feeding when I started back to work. I wouldn't pump more than 6oz a day. So I was advised by many mother's who breastfed, if you decide to supplement, to use Good Start by Nestle formula. Most breastfeed babies take to this much better and not to hard to digest for them. My daughter took onto it quickly. So I hope this works and makes you feel some comfort, but we will stay sleeped deprived for a while.
Fornicha J.
I had a similar situation. I had a low supply the entire time. My son, who is now 2, just had a large appetite. I had to supplement with a bottle throughout the day. I loved breastfeeding him, but I could not do so throughout the day. I tried pumping and everything I could think of, without taking herbs or pills. I finally, just one day did not have any milk. He ate so much that he would get frustrated, just like your little one. So, I just started giving him the bottle. I used the platex bottles, with the liners and the silicone nipples. Not the yellow ones. Hope this helps!
Melanie
I went through the same thing and was determined to not supplement. But, in the end, I did introduce formula and stopped breastfeeding by five and a half months (I had planned on nursing for at least a year) because I was making both my daughter and I miserable. Some of the other things I tried was pumping every 2 hours if I hadn't nursed and I drank Mother's Milk tea nonstop, I ate brewer's yeast (the effective part of beer,) ate from a list of foods recommended for nursing mothers all to no avail. My advice it not to make yourself crazy trying to increase your milk production and not to beat yourself up if it doesn't work. Good luck and my you not have to supplement.
My youngest was a terrible nurser as a result of lack of muscle control in his mouth (not diagnoses until he was two when he went to a speech therapist). I was exhausted nursing every hour and a half and he was still hungry! I'd pump to get my milk going and pump after he nursed to keep them stimulated. Eventually I added formula to the mix which helped him out. He didn't have problem going between bottle and breast, and was much better when I stopped the breast feeding at about 8 months. I've heard often about the "beer" suggestion. Good luck
my baby was like that.. shes still like that now. she likes to take breaks from eating to look around n breathe and then go back few mins later. its a hassle but WORTH every pore!
Hi Jennifer,
I had the same problem. I did two things. In the morning after the first feeding I would pump. Usually my son would only eat on one breast, so I had a full breast to pump. My husband would then give my son a bottle at night. I would be on standby just in case he needed more milk. I also took an herbal supplement - More Milk Plus by Mother Love. YOu can buy it on line or at Sunrise Natural Foods. I noticed a difference within a couple days after I took this. The only drawback was that after taking it as recommended for a month I think it was upsetting my son's stomach. I would also recommend talking to a lactation consultant at your hospital. They might have some good tips. I have not had to use formula and am not using the herbs anymore. My milk supply rebounded. Also, if you are taking birth control this can lower and even deplete your supply. I had to stop taking the pill and within a couple of days I also noticed a difference. If you are taking the pill I would stop taking it immediately. Best of luck to you!!!
Are you sure the milk is running low, or is it just your let down is slow? She couls also be pulling away for other reasons: she's teething, she's got gas, she's just plain tired... If she's gaining the proper weight and having all the wet diapers, then I would hold off on formula (since you don't really want to do it anyway)!
As for more milk... drink lots of water (If you drink through a straw you tend to drink more- plus you don't spill as much down your face when the baby grabs it (ha ha). Also eat lots of healthy food and especially fruits and veggies and skip the empty calories. And my final advice is to getyour spouse to rub your shoulders a little bit before you do the final nursing. I know by the end of the day I was so tired and so wound up worrying about my first baby getting enough milk that my let down was inhibited. You can also try pumping a little milk before the baby latches on... I think someone else suggested that, too. Good luck! It's something to be proud of if you can keep on nursing- it's darn hard work for some of us!
Hi I am a mom of a 16 month old who is still breastfeeding. Make sure you are drinking a lot of water. If you don't drink enough you won't make enough. I drink water constantly all day long. You can also go to a good Health Food store and a supplment called Lactation Easy it has herbs to help with producing more. I don't know where you live but I have a great Health Food store in Redwood City in the Sequia Station called Apple Health. They are great there. Full of information. Give them a call and try the herbs. My hair dresser has a son just younger than mine and she was having the same problem. I gave her the same advice and she starting producing more and had enough. Try to stay away from formula unless you don't have enough cream in your milk.
Good luck
Raelynn Osinek
Hi Jennifer -
Your baby may be doing that (annoying) behavior to tell your body to produce more milk. That's what I learned at La Leche League.
If you're already drinking plenty of liquids, eating a healthy diet, and taking fenugreek, I'd hesitate to do more. I think you should give your body a few days to catch up, and try to accept that the baby and your body are re-negotiating the milk supply. She's probably got a growth spurt coming on.
Best luck to you and baby girl!
Hi Jennifer, I had the same problem with milk supply. My son never latched on so I pumped for 5 and half months until I got the flu and decided I was done. So what I did to help increase milk supply was drink lots of water. Ate oatmeal everyday, drank mothers milk tea and tried to get a much sleep as possible, try to relax when she is latched on and that should help with a "let down" Some mothers swear by eating lots of ice cream. Also I don't think that is the healthiest option. I recommend finding a group on Yahoo groups to join that is specific to milk supply. I used "Pump Moms" and I learned a lot from the group. They also have good advise on storing breat milk if you find you need to do that. I wish you the best of luck!
Hi Jennifer,
I have 4 month old twins, and I do give them a couple of bottles a day; bedtime is one of them. It helps w/ sleeping through the night, and makes the first feeding (breast) in the morning fasy and easy because they sleep so long they're pretty hungry when they wake up, no playing around, they just get straight to it. So it's really not the end of the world if you decide to give her a bottle at the end of the night. You could also try pumping throughout the day to get enough to have a bottle of breastmilk at bedtime.
I also just started taking fenugreek because my supply was getting a little low, and after 3 days have noticed a huge difference. I'm taking 2 caps, 3 times a day, along with 1 cap, 3 times a day of blessed thistle which is another herb to help milk supply. You might want to look into that. One other tip I've recieved is to do a little shimmy (shake your boobs, basically) before feeding). Good luck!