I was very ill for a 24 hour period and did not breastfeed. Now my milk is VERY decreased. Any suggestions to get the level back up? Please help!!!!

Frances - posted on 01/16/2009

Glad that you seemed to have solved your problem.My advice would have been the drinking and nursing more.This book has been out for eons   The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.  It is put out my the LaLeche League.I got mine online but if finances are a question I am sure it would be available at your local library.I found it an immense help and a good support when others in my life might not have been so supportive.They have local chapters in many cities where moms just get together and talk.

Emily - posted on 01/16/2009

Thanks for the help everyone. I've been pumping a lot and the supply is coming back up fairly quickly. It's so nice to have other moms to talk to about this stuff!!

Laura - posted on 01/15/2009

Flax also helps!

Maude - posted on 01/14/2009

Buy mother's milk tea at like a health food store it does wonders, and drink lots of fluids

Kelly - posted on 01/13/2009

Just keep feeding your baby it will encourge your milk to come through and you can also massage your breast from the top of your breast down to the botton towards your nipple that help ive done that when i breastfed my children

Cristina - posted on 01/13/2009

You can try taking the mother's milk tea, or finding the herbal supplement equivelant. I think the tea tastes like black licorice. Also, just pump or feed the baby as often as you can. Remember, it is normal to go through phases where it seems as though you aren't making enough. Usually, you are making enough, so don't stress it too much. 24 hours isn't really long enough to really effect your supply!

Cristina

Amy - posted on 01/13/2009

Dr. Jack Newman has a website that offers a wealth of information including power pumping and manual breast pumping. Fenugreek typically is only effective if started within the first two weeks PP. You can get domperidone tablets as a RX from your OB or Reglan but Reglan has some bad side effects like depression. Domperidone has minimal side effects and you can order it online from outside the country. If you do try Fenugreek you should take it with Blessed Thistle (don't get the blessed thistle with Thyme). Newman's website has all this info along with protocols for how much and how often to take it.

Shannon - posted on 01/13/2009

Oatmeal for breakfast, fenugreek 2 pills three times a day, LOTS of water and nurse nurse nurse!!! The breast pump will help too.. even if you are unable to actually get anything the slight sucking type motion will help to restimulate your body into making more.

Don't do the alcohol thing... then it contaminates the milk for your child and there is no proof that a beer or wine will actually do anything... most alcohol actually dehydrates you more.



Good luck...

Leeson - posted on 01/13/2009

You can try pumping in between feedings, or there is something the doctor can give you... i took this pill, and it got my milk flowing back again!

Emily - posted on 01/13/2009

All of those suggestions are good - I'd nurse as much as possible and pump in between and try the herbals (fenugreek, mother's milk tea). You may also want to see your doctor for a prescription (Domperidone) that will boost your supply.  Finally, I know it's hard but try to relax! Have a drink, stay hydrated, good luck!

Crystal - posted on 01/13/2009

I have not tried it but I have been told that ovaltine will help with the milk level.

Lori - posted on 01/13/2009

Hi, with my daughter, I used feenugreek along with mother's milk tea, plus tons of pumping. However, your supply should not go away completely as it was only 1 day.  Granted my situation was slightly different with her. My son, who I am currently breastfeeding, simply suckles a lot so the supply kind of ebbs and flows every day as I never know what to expect from him. He was sick last week and while he eats baby food, he only wanted to nurse, so my supply kind of kicked in more to compensate for the feedings I was no longer doing. I'm sure you will be fine. If not, try getting in touch with a lactation consultant. They are wonderfully helpful people. Best of luck to you and your baby.

Nicky - posted on 01/13/2009

Definatley use your breast pump whilst breastfeeding, and make sure you eat & drink well.

Try drinking milk too and drinks high in vitamins, barley juice & pure fruit juices. eat lots of fruit & veg too.

Michelle - posted on 01/13/2009

It would be a good idea to pump in between feedings, but also when you are nursing your baby do it for shorter periods of time on each breast to stimulate more milk production until you are comfortable with your supply.  A tip from a La Leche mom/midwife that I learned with my 2nd child.

Jamie - posted on 01/13/2009

I would pump and drink lots of fluids

Kelly - posted on 01/13/2009

Drink lots of fluids and try mothers milk tea!  Since milk supply works by the theory of supply and demand the more you pump and feed your baby the more your body will produce.

Nicole - posted on 01/13/2009

Lots of water, good caloric intake, good nutrition and nurse like crazy! If you nurse a lot, even pump after each feeding (even if you hardly get anything) the stimulation will get you producing again in a few days. Even moms that have seemed to dry up can get going again w/enough stimulation.

Johannah - posted on 01/13/2009

Go to your local healthfood store and get Mother's Milk tea by Traditional Medicinals. Drink 3 to 5 cups daily- it will do wonders!!! And drink A LOT of water.

User - posted on 01/13/2009

Don't forget to drink lots and lots of water as well! If you aren't hydrated, your body has a more difficult time producing enough milk!

Shanyn - posted on 01/13/2009

Eat a bowl of oatmeal every morning for a couple of weeks, that should help a bit. You can also try fenugreek and I know there is a breastfeeding tea out there that has a mixture of herbs that are supposed to support breastmilk production. But the best thing you can do is to breastfeed, breastfeed, breastfeed! Your body will produce enough milk to meet your baby's demands, but the demand has to be there! Good luck!

Stephanie - posted on 01/13/2009

Do you have a breastpump? Offer your breast to your baby as much as possible, and then pump as well. You may have to pump a couple of days, every two hours, to get your milk supply up. Hopefully you are feeling better and can continue to breastfeed!!

Nicole - posted on 01/13/2009

You can drink an alcoholic drink, like a beer it would really help. 

Tonya - posted on 01/13/2009

My midwife suggested hops for me and my sister says that red meat and oatmeal help too.