Low milk production

Margaret - posted on 03/24/2011

You have not mentioned the age of your baby! But having read what you have written in reply to Andrea below, have you thought about allowing Baby to take just 5 minutes from each side and then pumping afterwards.? Only when I was breastfeeding, I used to have to hold a bowl to the breast that my baby was not feeding from, and I was a 34B back then!
The baby's mouth as you may or may not know stimulates the nipple which allows the milk to be 'let down' as the baby massages the nipple of the breast.
By allowing your baby five minutes on each side, you could then pump the side that you have just taken baby from, thereby stimulating more milk from that breast for the next feed.
Another question that springs to mind is this:- do you always start the next feed on the breast that you last fed Baby on?
I did when I breast fed both of my two children, and I had no problem when I did that!
I also used to drink half a pint of diluted fruit juice ( 250mls of cranberry juice or raspberry juice) Not only was it refreshing, but it also replaced the body fluids that I may have lost while breastfeeding.

Ashley - posted on 03/02/2009

I found the More Milk Plus on Amazon.com or you can just do a google search for it.

Aimee - posted on 03/01/2009

I found this website helpful.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-su...

Rachel - posted on 02/28/2009

Quoting Andrea:

Your milk supply won't increase if you keep supplementing. And, your pump is not a good indicator of how much milk you have. Your baby gets a lot more milk from you than a pump will. If you take Fenugreek, take 3 pills 4x a day. More Milk Plus is better- it's a combo of Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, Nettle Leaf & Fennel. You can pump for 10 minutes after you nurse- this will tell your body to produce more milk. Eating oatmeal everyday can also help (not instant).

Are you pumping for a supply because you work? A good way to collect milk is to nurse on one side & pump on the other.

You could also call the lactation consultant at the hospital.

Why do you think you have low milk supply?
What is your baby's output? How many wet & dirty diapers?
Check out kellymom.com. They give you indicators of actual low milk supply & other tips.

Hi Andrea, I'm currently taking Fenugreek 6 caps 3 times a day would that be ok? Also u mentioned about MilkPlus....this is not being sold in S'pore....do u know any website which i can order it from?

Nope im pumping cos my baby son doesnt latch on properly..im lucky if he is willing to latch on for 20 minutes but when i try to change to another breast he doesnt want anymore...so as times goes i rather pump it out and feed him from a bottle....

I guess the reason why im having low milk supply is becos of the size of my breasts. Kelly mom says that although the breast size has nothing to do with the milk supply, it decides how much each breast gets to store the milk....so i guess thats my case..sigh.....my friends who have large breasts seem to have endless milk supply, but i know they put in hard effort too....

Mandy - posted on 02/27/2009

Quoting Erika:

I had my daughter early, and my milk didnt come in til about 6 days after she was born. So she had formula to start. I pumped and tried her on the breast. But she liked the instatnt gratification a bottle gave. So I pumped everyday, every few hours until about 6 weeks. I was lucky if I got 2 oz out of both breasts after like a half hour. So I gave up, atleast I tried right? I know there was remedies and drugs I could have tried. But my baby was happy and getting what she needed from her formula. As long as she was growing and healthy, thats all that mattered.

Exactly.

You're feeding her and she's healthy. I really hate when people get all higher than though because they breastfeed exclusivley..some of us aren't able to do that..My baby only had formula the first 4 days, but still people tend to go off when they find out that I feed my baby breastmilk through a bottle..the point is he's fed and healthy and at least I'm trying. Only unlike you my production seemed to only go up over time. I'm not sure how long I will continue to pump because to be honest it's kind of painful and the bigger he gets the harder it is to take the time out and pump.

Erika - posted on 02/27/2009

I had my daughter early, and my milk didnt come in til about 6 days after she was born. So she had formula to start. I pumped and tried her on the breast. But she liked the instatnt gratification a bottle gave. So I pumped everyday, every few hours until about 6 weeks. I was lucky if I got 2 oz out of both breasts after like a half hour. So I gave up, atleast I tried right? I know there was remedies and drugs I could have tried. But my baby was happy and getting what she needed from her formula. As long as she was growing and healthy, thats all that mattered.

Mandy - posted on 02/27/2009

I don't actually breastfeed, my son wouldn't latch. I pump and then feed it to him in a bottle..and I have had no problems with milk supply. Like, I said before I pumped every two hours and it went up. Also, any time I feel like it's getting low I just drink a few glasses of Mother's Milk Tea that day and I'm fine.

Amie - posted on 02/26/2009

I was the same way.  My dr. told me to breastfeed and if in a couple of hours she was still hungry, to breastfeed.  No bottle.  The more you breastfeed, the more your milk prod. increases.  Needless to say, I felt she wasn't getting full and progressively went to the bottle.  I'm sad about it, but I felt like with the breast only she wasn't getting enough. 

Andrea - posted on 02/26/2009

Your milk supply won't increase if you keep supplementing. And, your pump is not a good indicator of how much milk you have. Your baby gets a lot more milk from you than a pump will. If you take Fenugreek, take 3 pills 4x a day. More Milk Plus is better- it's a combo of Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, Nettle Leaf & Fennel. You can pump for 10 minutes after you nurse- this will tell your body to produce more milk. Eating oatmeal everyday can also help (not instant).

Are you pumping for a supply because you work? A good way to collect milk is to nurse on one side & pump on the other.

You could also call the lactation consultant at the hospital.

Why do you think you have low milk supply?
What is your baby's output? How many wet & dirty diapers?
Check out kellymom.com. They give you indicators of actual low milk supply & other tips.

Mandy - posted on 02/25/2009

Mine was low at first, so I just pumped every 2 hours and now I have more than I know what to do with.

Laura - posted on 02/25/2009

Hi I had that problem too and was told to have him eat when he wanted if it was every two hrs or every hour it takes about 36hrs for the milk supply to catch up. I personally didn't feel like to be hooked up all the time so I just feed off the breast when it is full(almost hard) plus my 10 wk old daughter started sleeping through the night 8-10 hrs each night, two weeks ago, so trying to get the supply up during the day was hard, have a 3 yr old to look after as well, so bottle feeding the 6oz she requires from formula was the only option. Hope this helps.