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how do i get a better milk supply back?

Ronda - posted on 06/01/2009 ( 2 moms have responded )

95

17

i had to supplement with formula and don't know how to get the supply back that i had. any advice? thanks!!

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Megan - posted on 06/01/2009

359

5

make sure you are eating and drinking enough water. there are herbal supplements out there that can help. You could try drinking a non-alcoholic beer or two because hops can help increase milk supply. Also milk tends to work with supply and demand so try pumping often right after each feeding and feeding more often might help. definitely try to contact a lactation consultant soon if none of that stimulates your milk to come in.

Charlotte - posted on 06/01/2009

221

26

To really help you we need to know a few things. How old is your baby? How old was baby when you started suplementing, how much did you suplement, did you use a bottle or other method for giving formula, and why did you offer formula (ie how did you know you needed to offer formula)?



General things that can help boost milk supply: Eating oatmeal, taking Fenugreek and Blessed Thislte, a prescription drug called Domperidone (you'd need to talk to your Dr about this one obviously), eating and drinking enough, and getting enough rest.



You can also massage your breasts while and/or after nursing or pumping, pump after or btwn nursing sessions, and of course nurse/pump more often. Nursing more often is the very best way to boost milk supply, more important than how long you nurse or pump in a given session, and a properly latched suckling baby will give your breasts much better stimulation than any pump.



While you are still having to give formula you can really help bost your supply at the same time by using a Lact Aid or SNS (suplemetal nursing system) to give the formula because these devices allow baby to get the suplement at the mother's breast thus teaching the baby that food comes from mom not a bottle and most importantly giving mom's breasts plenty of production-inducing stimulation while baby is feeding at the breast. These devices both use tiny tubes that go into the baby's mouth allongside the mother's nipple and deliver formula (or pumped breastmilk) while the baby sucks at the breast. I would highly recomend investing in one.

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