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Breastfeeding Low-Milk-Supply

Breastfeeding:Low Milk Supply



How can I increase my milk supply?

Although some women may experience insufficiencies when it comes to milk production, medical professionals believe it is fairly uncommon. Low milk supply can occur if the baby is not nursing often enough, is not sucking properly, is not emptying the breasts during feedings or if the mother is sick, stressed or not eating properly. At some point or another, most breastfeeding mothers will genuinely wonder if their baby is getting enough milk during feedings. When once full breasts become lighter or milk stops leaking from the breasts between feedings, try not to assume the worst. More than likely, this is your body’s way of adjusting to the demands of your baby and only producing what is necessary.

How do you know if you are producing enough milk to meet the demands of your baby? Newborn babies should nurse every 2 to 3 hours, with approximately 10 feedings each day. Monitoring your baby’s weight gain is a good way to tell if breast milk is sufficient. Approximately two weeks after delivery, your baby should weigh what they did at birth and they should gain an ounce a day for the first 3 months of life. From 3 to 6 months, an average baby is expected to gain half an ounce each day. If your baby is not growing at the expected rate, you should consult your child’s pediatrician for a weight check and consultation. Ensure that your baby has a proper latch on the breast and listen for swallowing. Your baby should be wetting 6 diapers each day and should be soiling at least three diapers each day during the first month. Your baby will likely begin to have fewer bowel movements after the first month and some babies go several days between bowel movements.

If your baby is not getting enough milk or you do not feel that you are producing the required amount, there are some techniques that you can try to increase milk production. First and foremost, nurse frequently. Because milk production relies heavily on a supply and demand system, the more demand that your body has to produce milk, the more it will produce. Alternate between breasts during feedings and continue switching breasts until your baby stops nursing. You may also want to try breast compression when you notice that your baby’s suckling is slowing. To do this, start at the top of your breast and gently push downwards, encouraging milk to flow and drain the breast completely. Some women have better luck massaging their breasts for a short time before nursing to encourage let-down. When your baby is not nursing, use a breast pump to collect milk. If possible, use a hospital grade breast pump for best results. Not only will this stimulate the breasts to produce more milk, you can use the collected milk after nursing to better monitor how much milk your baby is taking in. It is critical that nursing mothers take care of themselves so that they can take care of their baby. Eating a healthy diet full of vitamins and minerals, including a daily prenatal vitamin, is important for milk production. Water intake is critical for milk production as well. Staying hydrated will help keep milk production strong.

Don’t wait until your milk has dried up to seek help. The longer that your milk supply has been low, the longer and harder it will be for your body to begin producing milk again. See the help of a lactation consultant or pediatrician if you feel that you need more assistance breastfeeding, obtaining the proper latch or producing more milk. Because your baby can sense when you are stressed, try not to become discouraged or frustrated. More than likely, there are a few changes that can be made to ensure breastfeeding continues.





Comments: Breastfeeding - Low-Milk-Supply

Comments 1 to 24 of about 25.
1


lovinggod1111 - 13 days ago.
I struggled through low milk supply with two children. I have found out that it's very important that you pump every 2 to 3 hours around the clock. Don't miss one pumping. At night, you can go up to 4 hours between pumpings. Herbs really make a big difference in milk supply. I have used Breastea (order online) with great results. I went from pumping an ounce at a time to 4 ounces.

momtobe2009 - 20 days ago.
im having problems with my milk supply,it seems to have decreased since i went back to work and also after having my tubes tied...i dont always get to pump 'on time' at work (i try to pump evry 3hrs - son eats 4oz evry 3hrs) cause i work in an or,so that coul b part of the decrease in supply cause the demand isnt there,but im about to have another surgery and trying to build back stock so i dont have to sub w/formula after surgery...was told to try mothers milk tea,but have also heard a lot about fenugreek on here...has anyone tried mothers milk tea &/or do u just recommend taking fenugreek?

CarolineTx24 - 67 days ago.
Yes Fenugreek really works! I put a couple of teaspoons in boiling water, let them steep for 5-10 minutes and drink up! The effects don't last very long, so you have to drink the tea everyday. Get ready for the maple syrup smelling sweat!

campimama - 67 days ago.
cee-cee- Absolutely! Breast size does not affect how much milk your body will produce...it's just fatty tissue. My sis is an A cup and nursed 3 kids...I was a G cup and struggled with baby #1 but nursed #2 just fine. Have the lactation nurses help you with your latch and stick with it through the tough spots in the beginning. The main bf forum is awesome for support too.

cee-cee20 - 67 days ago.
hi ladies. i know this is a little off subject but i know i could get an answer here. i am 7 mos pregnant and my boobs havent increased in size at all. With my first child they didnt either. and i got milk in them a day after my child was born...will i be able to breastfeed even though my breasts are not increasing in size?

JamieGarcia - 76 days ago.
LADIES!!!! I got my milkback :) FENUGREEK pills are amazing!!! # pills 3x a day, and 4 days later everything is back to normal :)

Heather12 - 88 days ago.
Man that does sound like hard work Jamie. Keep up the hard work. I think what your doing is great.

JamieGarcia - 88 days ago.
Hi girls! I posted a day or so ago about bf'ing issues and thought I would update. I have been pumping like crazy (every hour or 2), increased water & food, and I'm taking more milk plus. It's so nasty but I bought it online when I was pregnant just incase I had supply issues. I've also started the fermented oatmeal thing. She ran through all the milk I had frozen so we are having to supliment w/ formula *tears*. I'm refusing to give her a bottle because I don't want her to get lazy. I made my own supplimental nurser and it's great! I went to the medical supply section of a drug store and they had sitz basin baths & enemas that came with long skiny tubing. I cut a hole in the nipple of a bottle and stuck the tube into, making it look like a straw. The other end I tape just above my nipple. I leave just a tad bit hanging over the tip of my nipple. I carefuly put the tube/nipple in her mouth and she begins to suck as if she were nursing. She gets the milk from the bottle, and stimulates my breast at the same time. Once I feel my let down, I slip the tube out of her mouth and she continues to nurse. Once she starts to fuss I know she drank all of the milk in my breast. I slip the tube back into her mouth to keep her from getting to mad, and so she can continure to stimulate me. When the bottle is half empty I try to switch her to the other breast to stimulate the other one. I slip out the tube and quickly tape it to the other one, burp her, and swutch sides. Once she is done I pump for about 5 min on each side. Sometimes I have to wear her in the sling so I can be able to do it. Man it's a lot of work!!!!! I must say that I have nursed her 3 times without having to use the tube so I think I'm getting somewhere. I hope this helps anyone who is having issues. Sorry it was so long!

brandyq - 90 days ago.
I am trying malted milk to increase my supply...does anyone know how long it takes?

AngieP - 104 days ago.
Yes, Fenugreek is awesome. It has the same effect on me. If I forgot to take it I knew it.

promisedbygod - 141 days ago.
Fenugreek from a health food store works wonders. On the days I forgot to take it I felt empty and had to supplement, on the days I remembered to take it I was bursting. I only took one pill a day, and you can take up to 3. You don't need a prescription, it's all natural, no alcohol, and I absolutely swear by it. Ask someone at your local healthfood/vitamin store.

iamjustmeforme - 207 days ago.
Has anyone noticed a decrease in their milk supply?!?! I am breastfeeding ONLY and was producing quite a bit of milk!! I was freezing and feeding like crazy! Now all of a sudden my breast feel empty most of the time. I mean, I am still breastfeeding her, but they dont have that FULL feeling any more... Any ideas?!? I started on the mini pill a week ago, but I was told that would not do anything to my production! If you have noticed a decrease, can you please send me a message, I need some help! How do I get it back up?!?!

campimama - 216 days ago.
DulcianasMom-Yep, the malted milk powder works wonders to boost supply. I mix 3 Tablespoons into a glass of milk. Something else that has been working great for me is Brewer's Yeast tablets. I take two at each meal. They help me maintain a stable level. You can find those in the vitamin area. I was doing soaked oats for a long time but burnt myself out (same with the malt) so now it's nice to take a couple tablets and be done=) Good luck, the malt really works well for most people!

DulcianasMom - 216 days ago.
Hi girls:) I saw a post from a few days ago about using malt as a boost for your milk supply. Do you mean Carnation Malted Milk? And do you make a glass of malted milk and just drink that or do you prefer to eat the powder? Just wondering cause we already have a ton of that in the house and i like malted milk to begin with so if it really did work, that would be awesome!

Bri - 216 days ago.
Kaddy - I have taken it twice. My son wasn't latching so my doctor gave me some. I didn't see any effects that time. But around 8 months I tried it again because of a low supply and it was awful. If you have anxiety or depression issues then don't take it. I couldn't sit still. I took it for less then a day and I could help but cry. It spend my heart rate up as well.

hannahe - 217 days ago.
kaddy my friend took reglan because her daughter never latched on and she wanted to pump her bm into bottles for her. since pumping isnt as efficiant as nursing her milk supply went down but with the reglan she pumped for at least 8 months.

kaddy - 217 days ago.
Has anyone taken Reglan to try and get their milk to come in? My son is a little over 2 weeks old, and I have virtually no milk, so we have been supplementing with formula. When I saw my OB yesterday she prescribed Reglan and told me to call the lactation consultant and let them know she has me taking it. Does it work? The prescription info from the pharmacy says it is for severe heartburn..

lin - 217 days ago.
i cant find this malt you all were talking about...i have found ovaltine..which has malt in it..is this what your using to increase supply?

greenmommy - 217 days ago.
I am concerned that after I have my baby I will have a very short maternity leave and have to go back to work just three months after delivery. I will not be able to pump as I am a home health nurse and do not want to risk contaminating my milk supply by pumping in my car or at a gas station, as well as storing breast milk in a cooler in the car during tis summer, I am worried about it being at the proper temperature... SO my question is can I go 8 hrs during the day without pumping and then breasfeed at night and still produce enough milk for night feedings. I don't know if I will be able to do this, but maybe I could also pump when I get home b/c I'm sure I'll get engourged through the day. IDK? Does anyone know anyone who breasfeeds at night and supplements with formula during the day while the baby is at daycare? I posted this message here at 'Low milk supply' b/c I figured working 8hrs during the day and not being able to pump would make the milk supply lower.

michellelaughs - 233 days ago.
I want to recommend 'The womanly art of breasfeeding' by le leche league to every woman who wants to breastfeed. There are also le leche league meetings where women can go to get support. My advice to nursing Moms who are struggling is nurse nurse nurse, as often and as long as the baby wants and get lots of rest! Rest is very imortant in milk making. Nursing is a supply and demand kinda of thing. If the baby keeps nursing on an empty breast this signals the body to increase supply, so the baby is not nursing in vain.

michellelaughs - 233 days ago.
rachel~ Im so sorry to hear that! I can't imagine why that would happen. Sometimes our bodies just don't do what they are supposed to do I guess. I'll bet your body grew a beautiful baby though!

rachel alexandra - 237 days ago.
My milk never came in properly,i carried on trying until my son was about 3/4 months old but it still never came in.When my son was 2 weeks old he was passing stools so I took him to the hospital and they couldn't figure out what was wrong as he was latching on and feeding literally 24 hours a day.We then discovered I had a lack of milk.I was disappointed as i really wanted to breast feed my son and so many of my friends got their milk and never bothered to breat feed.x

michellelaughs - 257 days ago.
I also have had a successful time nursing so if I can help anyone let me know. My baby is 5 months, exclusively breastfed and I have always loved it. It is just the sweetest thing. I am blessed to have a very flexible work schedule (self employed) so I dont have to be away from her at all so anytime she wants to eat she can. I also don't give her a pacifier which may postpone feedings and lower supply. I also sleep with her and never let her 'cry it out'. She can eat all she wants whenever she wants. At 5 months she still eats every 3 hours but it doesn't bother me too much since I just nurse her laying down in bed and fall back asleep. Good luck ladies, let me know if I can help in your quest to breastfeed.

Heather-08-01 - 269 days ago.
I just want to extend my hand out to any woman who is going through low milk supply. I have dealt with and managed to overcome this problem through knowledge and persistance. If you are dealing with this problem please feel free to message my page. I am more than happy to share with others what I have been through and subsequently learned.

Mrs.Marni - 289 days ago.
I have enough milk to feed my daughter but I cant pump at...help?


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