How do you produce more milk?

Ash-leigh - posted on 03/11/2010

dats great to hear marianna,your breastfeeding will take off soon and your baby will encourage that...yous are both still learning from each other and its early days still!you mentioned that baby likes a particular position,endure that position its comforting for bubz

Allison - posted on 03/10/2010

How much formula are you supplementing with? When?

Keep in mind that a nursing baby causes you to make milk...you don't have to have milk "ready" for her. Cluster feeding (nursing frequently in the evenings, like every hour or more) is normal and can actually help your supply. It's also normal for babies to nurse a lot throughout the day - I know it makes you feel tied down, but it doesn't last forever :-)

Christina - posted on 03/10/2010

PUMP EVERY 2 HOURS, DRINK LOTS OF HOT TEA WITH MILK, AND EAT LOTS OF CHICKEN SOUP. SOUNDS ODD BUT IT WORKED FOR ME. IN THE BEGINNING IT TOOK ALMOST A WEEK AFTER I HAD MY DAUGHTER UNTIL I FINALLY HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF MILK. 11 MONTHS LATER AND I AM STILL PRODUCING PLENTY OF MILK.

Andrea - posted on 03/10/2010

For a 2 month old, 2-3 oz is just fine! My 4 month old is still only on about 3oz if I pump :) Don't go by formula charts if you are, they are not made for breastfeeding babies. HOW MUCH formula are you supplementing with? and when are you doing it? The key to increasing supply is not just nursing more, it's making sure the breast is empty OFTEN. Try pumping after each meal, and then if you get anything, give her that instead of the formula. If she seems fussy after, it could be gas - make sure you are burping in between sides. Or, it could be a growth spurt, and if it is, you NEED to put her on the breast INSTEAD of give formula. You don't need much time to produce more milk, so give it 30 mins, then try again - otherwise your body will not know to produce more. Don't pump instead of nurse unless you have to - pumping never empties the breast as well as a baby. And make sure you are feeding every 1 1/2 - 2 hours - not every 2-3. Spend two days straight just concentrating on feeding her from the breast and the breast only. Even if you don't think there is milk in there, there probably is! And if there is not a whole lot, her suckling may tell your body to drop some more once she starts to suckle. When in doubt, put on the breast.

Jennifer - posted on 03/10/2010

Stick with it Marianna! You can to it! And when you feel frustrated vent on here and we'll support you! (:

Celeste - posted on 03/10/2010

Definitely drink more water! Without diaper counts, it's hard to know if you truly have a supply issue. Pumping is never an indication of supply, but having said that, your output is actually above the norm! Average outputs is about 1-2 oz.



Totally normal for one breast to produce more. When I was nursing my kids, I was "left breasted" LOL



Being fussy afterwards doesn't necessarily mean she's not satisfied. Check out those links, I'm pretty sure it addresses the fussy issue.



Honestly, it sounds like you're doing a lot better than you think!

Marianna - posted on 03/10/2010

Thanks so much for your support. I really appreciate it. To answer the questions, I think my supply is low cause when I pump, I only pump 2-3oz, she is very active after about 5 or 10 mins when I nurse and seems to not be getting enough and she is sometimes fussy afterwards as if she is not satisfied. She favors the left one more so the right one only produces about an ounce at a time. She is 2 months an seems to require a lot of milk, sometimes she likes to feed back to back and I don't have enough time to produce more. I can't determine with the diapers being that I do supplement with formula but I do realize that I am not drinking enough water. So I will definitely start drinking more and I will also try to unblock any ducks in the shower. Thanks again.

Celeste - posted on 03/09/2010

Can you tell us why you think your supply is low? How are the diapers? If she's getting enough diapers, around 6-8 or so, depending on age, your supply is probably fine.

Check out these links:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-su...
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/enough... (birth to 6 weeks)
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/enough... (After 6 weeks )

I hope that helps!

Lorie - posted on 03/09/2010

Well you should be drinking 7-10 glasses or water a day and if you have say juice or anything with suger in it then you need to drink more water.

You could also pump after or before everyfeed. I pump for 5 mins each breast after a feed and within a week I went from pumping 3oz to 5oz.

I hope this helps and good luck



Oh and maybe try pumping every 2 or 2 1/2 hours instead of every 4

Jennifer - posted on 03/09/2010

When I read your title, I thought nurse and pump more! But now I see that you're doing that. (: Are you eating enough? And staying hydrated enough? I drink a TON of water daily and I always notice a decrease in my supply if I'm a little lax with my intake (Food OR water). Maybe try to up your food and water?



Why are you thinking that your supply is low? Is your little one not gaining properly? Or not ever seeming satisfied? I read somewhere that many woman worry about supply problems but very few actually have a problem.



If there's a problem that you aren't able to remedy with more frequent nursing/pumping or changing your diet/water intake, I know there are herbal supplements and teas that your could try. Maybe those would help (:

Ash-leigh - posted on 03/09/2010

hi marianna,im ash-leigh and i have 2 ideas for you,stimulating the nipple weather it be during sex or in the shower expressing...i havent had a problem in the past with breastfeeding but its a little advice i have,also you may have bloked ducts unbloking them in the shower will do the trick and prevent you from mastitis.all the best:)

p.s drink heaps of water