Breastfeeding - Bridgeport, CT

I had not taken any of the items you mentioned, but what did work for me (and was recommended by my lactation consultant) was Mother's Milk Organic Tea, made by Traditional Medicinals. It worked so well, the day after I started drinking it I swear I got at least 10 more ounces of milk from pumping that day. I used to buy it at Sunwheel Health Foods on route 25 and 59, but they closed. I work in Branford and was lucky enough that the Stop and Shop there carried it as one of their regular items. The Newtown and Trumbull Stop and Shop carry that line of teas, just not that particular one. It may be worth it to ask them at customer service to get it for you, and give it a shot. Good luck!!!

I haven't tried either, but what I have been taking to help boost my supply is Fenugreek. It has worked wonders!

Hi! I had a low milk supply with my daughter, and I used Fenugreek and the mother's love goat rue. They worked really well for me. Good luck!

What worked for me, and what has worked for some of my friends is Fenugreek (tablet or herb used as tea). It took anywhere from 2-4 days for it to work, but then voila. It was great. For more info check out: http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/fenugreek.shtml

I used goat's rue as tea and it did help increase my milk supply, which was low from the get-go and was never enough to solely breastfeed. We had to supplement from the second week, because our son wasn't gaining. Also found brewer's yeast to improve my supply, but I really couldn't stand the taste. I'm pregnant with #2 now and plan to start drinking goat's rue tea a month in advance.

Mother's milk tea is different from the herbs you are talking about. I have used the "More Milk Plus" and The "Goat's Rue", both successfully. Goat's rue is generally used for women who are already lactating who need a boost. More milk plus is generally used for women who are inducing lactation for an adopted baby, or a mother trying to relactate for her current baby, but it woeks just as well for an already lactating woman. I used it to pump up my supply so I could donate milk for my sister to give to my niece, so I sustained 2 babies using this herb! Also, for low supply, try getting brewer's yeast and adding it to your normal meals. Just sprinkle a little in. Those should help! Good luck!

Call a lactation consultant. There is a vitamin called Fenegreek -- comes in tea too, but while it increases your milk it is also a legume I am not sure if it could contribute or be the same as exposing an infant to peanuts. Best to check with a professional. I had good results with the fenegreek, but once I found out it was a legume I stopped it do to a nut allergy in the family. I did not wat to take the risk. I am glad I did as it turns out my youngest is peanut allergic.

i just gave birth a month ago and into breastfeeding as well. as for me , yes, i tried milk pills and so it worked for me. with a help of course of much intake of fluids, soupbased meal, and milk (especially those meant for lactating mothers).

I use Mother's Milk tea and notice a huge difference. I drink about 4-5 cups a day. When I slack off with drinking it, I do notice I pump less. Also, drink A LOT of water! Good Luck!

Hi M.,

A few other things that they say can help w/your mild supply is the herb Marshmallow Root, and though not the greatest thing, but placing a cabbage leaf inside of your bra, and lastly drinking a beer.

Good luck!

R.

Sleep sleep sleep, water and snacks that were sugary helped for me.

I took the pills that are supposed to increase your supply and I didn't see an improvement (at least I didn't see an increase in the amount I was able to pump). Someone suggested Mother's Milk Tea but I never tried it. Good luck!!

I had a low milk supply with my second child and he was huge and hungry, I found acupuncture an amazing help to increase my milk supply.... nothing else really seemed to work for me, anyway...

S. b

Try talking to la leche league, these are the names and numbers of some women that are part of the group in your area. the website is www.lalecheleague.org Marla ###-###-####
Joanne ###-###-####
Ellen ###-###-####

I hope they can help you with your questions and concerns

M.,

Yes, I use Mother Love More Milk Plus (tincture) and fenureek capsules. The former tastes awful but does work. It is supposedly more effective than the More Milk capsules.....

Hang in there--I know just how you feel. My period changed my supply dramatically; you just have to remember that you've done your best :-).

A.

hi! i am not an expert to any extent, but i am studying to be a pharmacy technician. i can only tell you what i've learned about vitamins. when you take a vitamin, you never know how much of what you take is in the product. vitamins are not like prescription medicines. on a prescription med, you know right away how many milligrams of the product you are taking. vitamins do not support that. you also have to be careful on certain vitamins that a lipid soluable. that means the fat in you body attracks those vitamins. with those types of vitamins you can have an adverse reaction by taking too high of a dosage. and with herbals, you never are completely certain how much you are taking. don't get me wrong i take quite a few vitamins myself. but you have to do it with a certain amount of education. certain vitamins will have adverse reactions to certain presription medicines. be carefull, good luck. personally i have never tried the vitamins you mentioned. i hope my message was a little helpful...

I found when I was breastfeeding that I would pump after my son went to bed or one extra time a day. This kept my supply up since I was a working mom and always needed extra breast milk in the freezer. I couldn't alway breast feed during the day but he always had his breast milk to drink.
Also drink plenty of fluids.

Drink malata is spanish drink it is very high in calories. Good luck.

L.

I TRIED EVERYTHING...except those vitamins. The Tea gave me mega gas!
Water, water and more water.
Also, sleep. I know, sleep it tough, thats why I co slept with my daughter so I could get more! (Transition to her bed was easy fyi.)
I also ate oatmeal, but water and sleep are the most important things you can do to increase your milk.
Oh - sleeping from 12-6am, this is when most of your supply is made. It is important to sleep then. Co-sleeping and/or a relief bottle given at this time is helpful too. Trust me. I tried it all!
Good luck.
PS - getting your period? be careful, you are fertile even though you are breast feeding. Trust me on this one, Im 8 months along with number 2 because of that theory.

One word.FENUGREEK! And yes it works, just double check with your Dr. like all vitamins and supplements.

HI. I haven't tried these but my dr. recommended fenugreek, a natural herb, that seemed to help as my milk supply was low as well. I also rented a hospital grade pump. I had to be a little more diligent to get rest and drink fluids as well. Best of luck to you!

Hi!
I also reccommend the TRADITIONAL MEDICINALS Mother's Milk tea.
It really helped me produce more milk when I was nursing and it tastes delicious and is safe for the baby!

Laura~

I am 28 years old and a mother to a 15 month old boy. I breastfed for a couple of months. The first week after I gave birth my supply of milk was low but after that I had so much milk. I think you don't need to take any special vitamins but continue taking whatever your doctor gave you when you were still pregnant. Folic acid, iron, calcium etc.. And drink lots of liquids, also I always have soup during lunch and dinner. Eat veggies and fruits high in water content. I tried to eat healthy because as they say whatever you are eating will be absorbed by your child since he is drinking your milk. Have your child suck your breast alternately because it helps the production of milk as well. Don't give up! breastmilk is the best that we can give to our babies.

Hi M., I have not heard of these vitamins but I myself use(d) fennugreek to help bring in my supply. I have three boys ages 4, 3 and 6 months and I nursed the two oldest and am still nursing the baby. This always worked for me when my supply dropped. I did try the mother's milk tea as well which worked but you have to have 3-4 cups per day to really bring it in and I just did not find time to do that. Start the fennugreek with 2 pills in AM and 2 at night. Your milk will come in fast and strong and then you can adjust the pills as needed. Good luck, oh and I should warn you - for some reason they make your sweat and urine smell like maple syrup (not such a bad thing)! :)

Drink LOTS of water, like many people suggested.

Also, if none of the other suggestions work, you might ask your health care provider to check your thyroid level--thyroid disease is very common postpartum and can drastically affect milk supply. It can also cause LOTS of other symptoms that affect all parts of your body. Treatment is simple with medication.

Yes, I have been using both products and they work. I had low supply issues too. I was nursing and pumping constantly in the early weeks.

My lactation consultant recommended the herbs. She also recommended sesame milk (which you make yourself by mixing toasted black sesame seeds with milk) but that caused digestive problems for me. If you want more info, her website is www.postpartumplan.net.

About the Motherlove herbs, I only recently learned, from their website, that you should avoid drinking any liquids within 20 minutes of taking them because it reduces the effectiveness, although you can mix the herbs with a little liquid to get them down. Also, the website says that fenugreek is the dominant herb in More Milk Plus, and others have said that herb works well, so maybe you can save some money buy trying the fenugreek, as the Motherlove products are about $50 for 8 oz. Good luck.

How old is your baby? You mentioned that you have had your period since day 1 after giving birth. It is normal to bleed for weeks after birth because your uterus is "cleaning" itself and healing. I bled for almost 8 weeks after giving birth and then didn't actually get my period until my baby was 11 months old. After I got my period, it did nothing to change my milk supply, so I wouldn't worry about that. How do you know that your milk supply is low? I was always afraid of that mine was low, too. I think that is a fear that I had as a new mom, but my son grew like a weed. I don't think there is a real way of knowing that your supply is low unless your baby isn't gaining weight at a good rate. Then, I would ask your pediatrician for some advice. If you are pumping, don't think that it is a good gauge of how much milk you are producing, because I always had trouble getting a lot from pumping. But, my son was about 21 pounds by the time he was 5 months old, so obviously, things were working right. Talk to your pediatrician or contact the lactation consultant at your hospital or even contact your local La Leche League chapter for some help and advice. Good luck!