Increasing Milk Supply

Good for you for doing everything you can to keep up with breastfeeding! This may be too simple, but I've found my milk supply drops drastically when I'm not drinking enough water. On busy days (such as now that I'm back to work), sometimes I don't take time to refill my water bottle throughout the day. By the end of that day or by the next, it seems like I don't have enough milk no matter how often I feed my baby to stimulate milk production. But once I get back up to drinking 80-100 ounces of water per day, I have plenty of milk again. And the older my baby gets (and therefore the more ounces coming out of me to feed her), the more water I need to drink to keep up. I hope this helps! It's been a really simple solution for me!

When I get really stressed, my milk supply drops. Fenugreek alone did not help me very much at all - and I did take enough to smell like maple syrup :)

I tried More Milk Plus, which has Fenugreek in it, along with other things. You can get it at Whole Foods or online. I mix it with a little bit of apple juice, and usually within three days I'm back to 'normal'.

Good luck. Keep pumping when you're not around him.

The Fenugreek works great, but you have to take a LOT. I did 3-4 pills 3-4 times a day, and saw a big increase. Good Luck!

Are you eating enough? If you aren't getting enough nutrition or are trying too hard to loose the "baby weight" you won't be able to produce enough milk for your little man.

I know you want to know if there is anything you can do beside increasing the amount of times you pump but honestly, if your eating enough and not working out like crazy, you probably will have to increase the amount of times you pump in a day to increase your milk supply.

I would also suggest pumping in between feedings with your son to try to help boost your supply.

I pumped for 7 months with my first daughter and noticed a dramatic decrease in production when I went longer between pumpings. With my second daughter I was able to nurse and she was "on the boob" until 17 months-the only way I was able to wean her was leaving town for 4 days!

Good luck and post an update to let us all know how it goes!
Sincerely
A.

Eating oatmeal helps. Are you being sure to drink plenty of water also? The fenugreek takes 24-72 hours to kick in. The oatmeal can be in anything from cookies to your morning breakfast. I also found I had more milk if I remembered to take my vitamins. I always took them with supper. One thing I know that helped me was to be sure I pumped after the first morning feeding before I went to work so I was "empty" before I got to work. Also do a google seach for the La Leache League website. Lots of great info there as well as kellymom.com.

J.,
I too was having trouble with my supply and my son's pediatrician recommended the Fenugreek. I've been taking it (4 caps, 3 times/day) and it has helped. I noticed my milk went down significantly during "that time of the month" and the only way to get enough was with Fenugreek. However, recently we've put our son on a sleeping/eating schedule instead of letting him "snack" all day and that has really helped my supply. It's also changed his stools, so I know he's eating more at a time and my body is making more. This has made much more of a difference than when I was trying to feed on demand, etc. If your baby isn't on an eating schedule, maybe it's worth trying. We feed at 8, noon, 4 and 8.
Hang in there!

I also was having some issues with milk supply when I was nursing, a med that helped me was Reglan...I took it for two weeks along with the increased feeds, it helped. The only bad side effect that I had was that it really made me dizzy and tired, more tired than I was already with 3 kids. Anyway hope that this helps. Good Luck

one other suggestion that i had not seen already posted:

i pump BEFORE baby nurses in the morning; that's when i'm fullest, then she can always nurse and find more milk even after the machine seems to have stopped finding milk. i'm sure she gets less milk at that feeding than she would if she nursed before pumping, but this ensures a full bottle for her at daycare.

other idea: now that it's summer, ask your dr. about giving him a few ounces of water in a bottle. he may just need to suck, and not need the extra 3-5oz. he's currently demanding.

best of luck, i know it's hard, i'm dealing with the same issue with my girl.

I agree with drinking plenty of water. What is working for me right now is when I am done pumping is to wait about 10 seconds and pump again for about a minute, doing this about 4-5 times before being completely done. I have gone from getting 6oz to 8oz per pumping. I only pump twice a day at work and nurse when I get home until he goes to sleep then I pump 1 last time before going to bed. Good luck!!!

hi J., i have a 6 month old and i pump at work. this works but it takes @ a week. PUMP LONGER, at your normal pumping times at work, even if you don't produce anything more. the stimulation will naturally make you produce more. eventually. good luck and hang in there.
mgood

Hi J.,

If you plan to give him solids soon, I wouldn't worry too much. My son is just over 5 months, and we've been giving him solids for about a month (fruit and oatmeal). His milk and formula consumption has dropped.

You pump 3 times/day which is great. You said you can't pump any more than that, but I am wondering if you have given expressing by hand a shot. You could do it discreetly in the bathroom a couple of times between your pumping sessions. (I know, I thought it was crazy, too, until I tried it.) I have a lactation book and it says expressing by hand is the best way to empty the breast. I can get an ounce or two in just 5 minutes.

Lastly, if you are feeling guilty or unsuccessful because you have to supplement with formula, DON'T!! There is nothing wrong with supplementing with formula. My son has always been a "hybrid" baby from Day 1, and I am proud of the breast milk I do give him. Breastfeeding is not an all or nothing deal.

The fenugreek is definitely a good idea. I did it and I still have enough milk for my extremely hungry 5 month little girl. However, the dosage on the bottle is not enough for increasing milk supply. My lactation consultant and doctor told me to take up to 5 capsules 3 times a day. This can get expensive, so I took 3 capsules 3 times a day and noticed great results. The best was taking them before bed. I had enough to feed and pump several ounces after feeding in the morning. You do start to smell a lot like fennel but the results are worth it. The good news is soon you get to start solids so you won't need quite as much milk anyway. You will still need to pump to make sure you don't lose more milk due to the decreased demand, but it will be a little bit of a break. Good luck!!! Milk supply can be really tricky, but the benefits of continuing are SO worth it!!!

When you take fenugreek, make sure you are taking 3 capsules three times a day. Also, you will find that supply does drop as time goes by. When I pumped for my baby boy, I'd also have to pump once before leaving in the AM and once before bed, in order to have enough for the next day.

Also make sure you get plenty of fluids during the day, that definitely makes a difference.

Healthy nursing tea was the one that helped and boosted my low milk flow with maximum output.

Hi J.! I could have written your post word for word a few months ago. I had the same problem when I went back to work, and I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to continue breastfeeding, but I've made it to nine months without having to supplement with formula. The fenugreek is great and I would continue to take it, but there are a few more things you can try. There are some teas that also contain fenugreek and other milk-inducing herbs, and I try to drink 2-3 cups/day. I buy the YogiTea brand, but there are a few. You can find them at Whole Foods, but it's cheaper to order a case from Amazon. I've also heard that oatmeal can help with milk production, so I usually have a packet for breakfast. I've heard even oatmeal cookies count! Also - and this is tedious when you're already pumping three times a day at work - you can add a fourth pumping session at the end of the day right before you go to bed. I found that this helps a lot because 1) I produce more milk in the morning when my breasts have been "emptied" right before bed, and 2) those extra 2-4 ounces I get help make up for what I don't produce during the day. My son usually eats 18 oz. at day care, but only my first pumping session at work usually yields 6 oz., so I need those extra ounces at night to keep pace with what he eats. I also pump right before bed on Saturday and Sunday nights - I consider those ounces to be "bonus" because my son doesn't required pumped milk on the weekends, so I get to bank the extra toward the week's supply. So far, it's worked - my supply took a big dip at the beginning of February, but I've been able to keep pace since then. But if you do have to supplement, don't beat yourself up about it. It's very hard for our bodies to keep up when we're pumping more than we're breastfeeding. And any amount of breastmilk your son gets is beneficial, regardless if it's what he drinks exclusively. Hope this is helpful!

J.,

Congrats on your son first of all!! In addition to the fenugreek take blessed Thistle. If you are like me put them in a spoonful of applesauce to get them down. Recently a friend of mine who is a lactation consultant told me that you know you are taken enough when you start to smell sweet like a food( I have blanked on it). I am not fortunte enough to have much luck with pumping so, I can't help in that regard just remember that your son will get more when nursing vs. what you pumped.
You can also try talking to your local latation consultant. I would suggest contacting the nursery where your child was born and they could inform you on getting in touch with one. There are some great web sites as well out there in regards to nursing.

I wish you the best!!

A.

if you're taking enough fenugreek, you should start to smell like maple syrup. :)

you could also try mother's milk tea or the tincture (available at natural food stores), but i've heard it tastes terrible if you don't like the taste of black licorice.

also, you could try googling for "lactation cookie recipe." they are the most delicious cookies - oatmeal chocolate chip - but have milk boosters like brewer's yeast (also available at natural food stores) & flax. anyone can eat them, but they help boost supply in lactating moms.

good luck! i know i'm going to be in the same boat, so i've been polling all of my working & pumping friends for supply boosters! :)

good luck!
J.

Have you tried mothers milk tea or lactaid to help build supply? Also try eating oatmeal (not the instant kind) and drinking extra water. You could also give reverse cycling a try if you're willing to feed alot at night. Co-sleeping is an option as well so babe has access all night and you'll be able to sleep through most feedings, co-sleeping would work well if you reverse cycled.

hope this helps

Are you getting enough calories and water throughout the day?

This may not be the same thing but.....
My daughter drank part of a Shaklee Soy Shake - http://www.shaklee.net/helpfromlinda/product/Protein2 - each time she nursed her babies.
They were very satisfied and slept through the night within a couple of weeks. Maybe the "quality vs. quantity" comes into play here. She could tell by the behavior of the baby whether she had skipped a shake.
She has three children and it worked with each one.

J.,

I had a lot of luck with Domperidone. It's actually not approved for increasing milk supply, but it seems to have that affect on women. Some women use it if they are adopting to jump start a milk supply so they can nurse their adopted child.Your doctor can prescribe it, although I had to go to a special pharmacy which created it from scratch. I think most doctors know about it. I had no other side effects from the medication and it really worked.
Fenugreek worked pretty well too. I think it took a few days to show though.
good luck.
A.

I also took the fenugreek to increase my milk supply. In addition, I also drank the mother's milk tea (they sell this at Cub). At daycare you may want to try to use a bottle with a slow flow nipple. I think a lot of times babies eat a little more than they need when being bottlefed. I applaud your efforts!

i dont know much about this as i have always had an abundant supply, but try not to stress out, and maybe if its possible, have a cd recording of your son crying, that always let my milk down like a charm when i was pumping... LOL. or a video or something on your camera... maybe?

i know with breastfeeding it is mostly about supply and demand. the more that is demanded (nursing) the more is supplied (more milk production!) this even means at certain times of day you will make or let down more than at other times of day. i would think then that you arent pumping as much during work, and then when your son is nursing there is more being let down or made... so... maybe even if you arent getting any milk out continue pumping anyway... to maybe encourage your breasts to give more at that time... i know that stress will not help your milk to let down, so try to make yourself as relaxed as possible...

I would guess that most lactation specialists would tell you not to supplement with formula. Babies don't have to work as hard for it, so he may not be working as hard as needed when he is nusing.If your little one is still hungry, maybe it is time to start with cereal!Being old-fashioned and very cautious-I am not sure that any kind of supplement-herbal or otherwise-would be good for your little one.

Hello J.,

When I had my son, I had to go back to work for about 6 weeks after my maternity leave. I was a teacher and only had a few weeks left of school. The following are the tips I have...

1. Make sure that your child is actually drinking all the milk they are giving him. My babysitter was wonderful and suggested that I start freezing my milk in icecube trays, as my son wasn't actually finishing all the milk in a bottle at one time and she was having to dispose of some of it. That is aweful when you are deserately trying to save enough milk for your child. Each ice cube is 1 ounce of milk, so they can warm only a few at a time and actually determine what it is your son needs. Hopefully that will help.

2. Are you taking a picture of your child with you when you are pumping. Having a photo of your child when you are pumping will greatly increase the amount of milk you get. As well as making sure you put your feet up and play some relaxing music, possibly your favorite lullaby cd.

3. Finally, I made sure that I pumped as often as possible on the weekends as well. Often even after you have feed your son, you will have some milk that can be pumped and this will greatly increase your milk flow.

Keep in mind that once you increase your flow, you will NEED to pump when it is time, so don't delay or you will have some leakage issues.

I have many more ideas if these don't help, but I have a felling they will. My son was born 10lb. 12 oz., so as you can guess, I needed to have plenty of milk on hand for him and he actually breast fed for a few years. We were very successful with a little help from friends.

Again, I hope these ideas are helpful for you and if you need more ideas, just let me know.

Oh, and finally, it will take a couple of days for anything to take hold, so please give it time and don't give up. Your baby will love you for it.

A.

J.,
Any supplement or anything you start taking will take 24 hrs to change your milk supply. With Fenugreek your pee should smell like maple syrup. If it doesn't, you need to increase the dose. There are also "mother's milk" teas out there that help increase supply. My son also drank more milk than I could pump in a day, but I just pumped once or twice a day over the weekend to get the extra milk he needed so we didn't have to supplement. Pumping at night will likely get you the most milk although it's a pain to wake up and pump.
Good luck! You are doing a great job!!

Are you taking the liquid fenugreek? It works better than capsules.
Eat oatmeal everyday, the slow cook kind if possible.
Drink plenty of water, pump more or nurse more.
Good luck! Its really worth it to stick it out-we went through dry spells too but got through them :)

J., Good for you for wanting to nurse your son until he's 1! You deserve a big pat on the back for breastfeeding.
I have nursed all three of my children. I can tell you from my experience that it is purely supply and demand with milk supply. You mentioned that you are nursing on the weekend on demand to increase, but are you nursing every evening also on demand? If you are then I see no other alternative than to pump more during the day. Think about your son's weekend schedule of nursing. How often does he eat? If that is more than 3 times a day, then there is your answer.
Another old wives tale says that one beer on occasion increases milk supply. Google it and see if that suggestion is something of interest to you!
Best of luck to you in finding the best schedule and increased supply.

You are going to have to pump more so your body thinks baby is nursing more. Also might want to make sure you are drinking about 8 glasses of water a day as well. I had your problem and I had to increase my pumping to every 2 hours to get where i needed to be. Good luck

It is normal for you milk supply to dwindle with pumping because the pump doesn't know what your baby's needs are. But that doesn't mean you're doomed.

When you pump, continue to pump for a couple minutes after the milk stops. Sometimes repositioning the pump will help reach the ducts that still have milk in them. Sometimes stopping for a couple minutes and pumping again may help as well. Try to mimic you baby's eating as much as possible. Some people find it helpful to see something of their baby's like a toy or picture.

Are you taking enough Fenugreek, you need quite a bit. If you are, it may not work for you. My understanding is it doesn't work for everyone. If you're one it works for you will know within 24 hours.

I haven't heard of the other herb mentioned by other people. I also haven't heard of using acupuncture.

When you are with your baby, breastfeed, breastfeed, breastfeed. On the weekends, don't use formula. Every time you give him formula instead of feeding, you are telling your body you are making more than your baby needs.

Contacting a lactation consultant is a good idea.

J.,
You've heard "your body makes what you need to feed the baby" (and I'm sure you are groaning and saying "yah, right". This is a way to try to trick it into knowing that you need more. Try pumping an extra time a day. Make sure you are using the highest suction and even if it doesn't seem to be working, give it at least 10 min. per side. It may take a few days, but you should have success in bringing your milk level back up.