Milk supply help!!!!

Aaliya - posted on 04/15/2012

thanks guys for ur responses. i have increased my liquid intake and trying to eat a more balance meal and have also tried the fenugreek and have gone out and bought a medala pump and trying to pump as much as possible.

Amanda - posted on 04/05/2012

Heres what I did.

Fenugreek-found at any health food store. 3 capsules 3 times a day.

Mother's milk tea. 2 bags a day.

Oatmeal-I make a batch of cookies every week.

I also rented a hospital grade pump but then bought a Medela pump in style double pump and it works just as well. I pump every 2-3 hours with the exception of night time. I try to pump at least once at night but I give myself a break and will go 4-6 hous without pumping.

Make sure you are eating enough and sleeping enough. I noticed that when I don't eat or sleep enough, my supply lowers.

I have been exclusively pumping since my son was 4 1/2 weeks old and he is now 4 months. I was only pumping 1/2-1 oz. at first (I also had to supplement at first) but I now pump the equivilent of 1 oz per hour and that has been enough for my son. I even have a small freezer stash. People say he should be eating more but his growth is 100% fine and he is healthy. Me pedi said that all babies are different and will eat when they are hungry and stop when they are no longer hungry. It's hard work but it can be done.

Katie - posted on 04/05/2012

I had milk supply issues too due to my son having RSV at 2 weeks old and not nursing alot. I was told to drink a lot of water, drink one beer in the evening (right after he finished nursing, so it would be out of my system before he was ready to nurse again), and to pump and/or feed every 2 hours. No matter when your son is nursing, still pump or nurse every 2 hours. During that time I would nurse first, then if he was still hungry, we would give him a bottle. Like everyone else has said, nurse nurse NURSE!! The best way to produce more milk is by more demand. That's how your supply works. If the demand increases, so will your milk. Good luck!!

Celeste - posted on 04/04/2012

"I am having the same issue with my 6 week old, who doesnt stay on long enough and i know his hungry and when i try to pump drops barely come out and this is even after he has only been on one breast and there have been a couple of hrs where he hasnt fed where as the other breast is still barely full when i try to pump. Has anyone else experienced this and does fenugreek actually work and if so what form is it in and where can i purchase it. all the information i can get will be really helpful, really stressed not feeding my son enough...Thank you"



None of what you've posted indicates a supply problem. How are diapers? Is he getting 6-8 diapers, no matter content?



What constitutes "not long enough"? You don't want a "full" breast. Floppy breasts are working breasts. Engorged breasts actually slow production. Supply works on supply and demand-the more you nurse, the more you'll make.

Aaliya - posted on 04/04/2012

I am having the same issue with my 6 week old, who doesnt stay on long enough and i know his hungry and when i try to pump drops barely come out and this is even after he has only been on one breast and there have been a couple of hrs where he hasnt fed where as the other breast is still barely full when i try to pump. Has anyone else experienced this and does fenugreek actually work and if so what form is it in and where can i purchase it. all the information i can get will be really helpful, really stressed not feeding my son enough...Thank you

Hope - posted on 04/03/2012

Just what the previous lady said- RELAX and drink lots of fluids and get that baby back on the boob! The pump will never work in increasing your milk supply- your child is the only one who can do that!

Diana - posted on 11/12/2010

Sit down, put your feet up (literally - off the floor now :), rest, relax, nurse and drink (then drink a little more). Enjoy your baby. Repeat. And repeat. And repeat... Avoid all non-baby care tasks for a couple of days. That's been my best strategyfor getting over supply blips.

Pumping volume is hard - I never could make it work well!

Ania - posted on 11/12/2010

low pumping output is not an indicator of milk supply, if your son is not fussy at the breast your milk supply is fine so don't worry. I have enough milk for my 9 month old but can't pump enough either. this information is a fact from www.kellymom.com

Jessie - posted on 11/12/2010

I used fenugreek and mother's milk tea it helped give me a boost. Nurse as often as possible. Le the baby just suckles for awhile even after the boob is "empty" to stimulate the breast. Have you started anything new recently? Work, birth control, work out routine, diet? all can effect your milk supply. I tried at your sons age to take the mini pill (the birth control that supposed to be safe while nursing) and I almost lost my milk supply entirely. Needless to say we haven't had an unprotected sex in the last 16 months.... try to ditch the formula it can only hurt. If you feel you must use it, nurse first from both breasts and then have someone else top him off with a few ounces of formula while you pump. Good luck

Roxanne - posted on 11/12/2010

My lactation consultant told me the best way to increase milk supply is by nursing continuously. Seriously nurse, nurse, nurse. More demand, more supply. But be careful not to over-demand or you could be facing over-production (happened to me, you dont want that). Also keep in mind that just because your pump only gets out an ounce doesnt mean thats all thats in there. Your babys sucking motion gets out more milk than a pump. When I want to put away some milk for an occasion where I wont be able to breastfeed I pump until only drops are being released and then breastfeed my son and he still gets full off the same breast I just expressed from. So if he seems to be content I wouldnt worry about it too much. Also theres herbs, teas and even an ocassional beer to help boost milk supply.

Kristen - posted on 11/12/2010

I was a lot concerned about my milk supply also, basing it on my pump output; however the lactation consultant said the pump is not an accurate depiction of what your really producing. I currently take mother love, an herbal liquid and drink 1 dark beer a night as recommended by the pediatrician, I have seen an increase in milk supply as a result of this.

Amber - posted on 11/12/2010

My son never latched and I pumped for 9 months. It is hard to work and be a mom and keep your supply. I used fenugreek and the tea that they say I think it is called mother's milk. I eventually used a prescription from the dr for a short time and that was what brought my milk back up the best.

Jessica - posted on 11/12/2010

I unfortunately have not been lucky enough for my twins to latch on so I have pumped for 10 months now and am now noticing my supply decreasing. I have been taking fenugreek (3 pills 3 times a day with meals) and I drink tons of water and eat a lot of protein. When my girls were younger I always let them nuzzle and that helped my supply a lot. Is your son latching on at all? If its for a good amount of time he is probably getting pleanty to eat.

Alecia - posted on 11/12/2010

unless ur pumping bcuz of work, i say stop. pumping is nowhere neat as efficient as BF and you can not usually pump all of what ur breasts hold. if u fear ur supply is low, ur best bet is to BF more. the more te baby is latched on to u, the more stimulation ur breasts get and the more milk they will make

Celeste - posted on 11/12/2010

How are you basing your milk supply? Are you basing it on your pump output? Pump output is *NOT* an indicator of supply. Having said that, normal output is 1/2 oz to 1 oz total so your pump output is fine.

Do you have to pump at work? Here is a link for some pumping links:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bf-li...