Breast milk drying up!

Danielle - posted on 12/14/2009

First your milk supply will fluctuate...keep at it!! Your milk is the best thing you can be giving your little one!!! I use Fenugreek when I feel my supply dropping (3 Pills 3 times a day) you can find it at vitamin shops, whole foods, trader joes may even have it. Good luck keep at it your doing the right thing!!!!!

ESTHER - posted on 12/14/2009

i have tried garlic bulb chop it up and put in some juice drink it like that . when i did not have enough that always has helped me and also drinking a lot of water and rest and put baby on more often to help keep milk coming to hope it helps

Lindsey - posted on 12/13/2009

Just rest assured that your body WILL produce enough for your baby. If you think you need to add an extra feeding to his day.

Leanne - posted on 12/13/2009

Try not to stress too much about the supply as this can also affect it. If you are concerned that your son is not getting enough milk, get him weighed - that may help put your mind at ease. I have a very fluctuating milk supply and my son (14wks) has gone through quite a few growth spurts which has always caused me to question my supply (he is also a long, lean baby). Feeding as often as you can is best and if you do offer expressed milk to top him up, make sure it is milk that was expressed in the same 24 hr period so that your body responds and makes more.

Cheryl - posted on 12/13/2009

Quoting Kara:

Try Fenugreek 3 Pills 3 times a day.

I did this and had a horrible tummy ache and diarrhea! My doctor prescribed Reglan for me to assist with lactation.

Sharee - posted on 12/13/2009

I think it must be a growth spurt because my daughter is going through the exact same thing atm and she is 12 weeks. My breasts have been softer than usual even in the morning when they would normally be like rocks. I haven't been expressing so do you think as long as I feed my baby when she wants it (which is much more frequently than usual) my supply will increase to suit her? I thought perhaps my breasts are beginning to setlle also because they have been quite large and over producing for the past 12 weeks. when do they normally begin to settle and go back to their original size?

Michelle - posted on 12/12/2009

it happens with growth spurts. I have an 11 week old that is doing the same thing right now.
Its all about supply and demand. I have sat for an hour or 2 at a time letting him nurse and switching breasts every 15 minutes. By the next day the "supply" is there to the point where i have enough to pump and he gets full.

If you can do the switch game just try to pump after each feeding.
Good Luck please don't give up! It is a beautiful thing and its so worth it!

Ember - posted on 12/10/2009

I read in my breastfeeding book that when a baby seems to want to eat constantly it is because he is trying to stimulate milk production because he is getting ready for a growth spurt. If you are eating enough and nursing often you should have enough to feed him. I would nurse him as often as he wants and for as long as he wants and trust that he will get enough. I went through that too. I pumped after he nursed and got very little. I thought for sure I would need to start thawing milk. But I just kept nursing. Now I am back at work and pumping enough to feed him while I am gone and still have some to store in the freezer. Just my opinion but I hope it helps.

Theresa - posted on 12/09/2009

Fenugreek has worked well for me in the past. It makes you smell like maple syrup, though. Kinda funny but there are worse things to smell like. You can also try a special mothers milk tea. Its not exactly cheap so you may want to try a specialty tea/herb shop where you can buy it in the bulk. It can be much cheaper that way.



I would also suggest pumping about 30 minutes to an hour after your baby nurses for a day or two. This will encourage your body to produce more milk in general but still allow you to produce enough before the next feeding.



Don't get too discouraged. You can do it! (and your boobies can too)

Suzanne - posted on 12/08/2009

The Fenugreek has always worked for me, also don't supplement your baby with a bottle, let him nurse as often as possible to let your body know that it needs to make more, even if that means your baby is a little hungry for a day while your body revs back up the milk supply.

Ruth - posted on 12/05/2009

maybe its a growth spurt my son has weeks like thar when he is growing. the milk builds up to what he needs though.

Ericka - posted on 12/05/2009

Some other things to try are lactation cookies, and power pumping. For power pumping you pump 10 minutes then rest 10 min, continue this for 1-2 hours a night. It mimics baby's cluster feeding at night and encourages your body to produce more milk. I also agree that your baby may be having a growth spurt and after a few days your supply will adjust. Also with pumping after feeding. Another thing to try is eating oatmeal. The lactation cookies have oatmeal which can help you maintain or increase supply.

Britney - posted on 12/04/2009

Quoting Alicia:

I have questioned the same thing and been told that my daughter is going through a growth spurt, keep on trucking, offer the breast at all cost and less bottle if possible. Baby can always get more than a pump can.

This also could be a issue. They go through growth spurts at 3w, 6w, 9w, and 12w and so on. 

Just feed, pump, drink, feed, pump, etc. GOOD LUCK!

Britney - posted on 12/04/2009

maybe your getting ready to start your period? I am having the same issue. I just got my first cycle 5days ago and my supply was cut in half. He was hungry after I fed him around 3 in the afternoon (on my thanksgiving break) A friend told me to feed him and then pump after the feedings and make sure your drinking plenty of water.GL

Kara - posted on 12/04/2009

Try Fenugreek 3 Pills 3 times a day.

Tamara - posted on 12/04/2009

Popi,

I am an exclusive expresser and have been since we came home from hospital. after 2 weeks at home we tried to go to just breast but i had an issue with my milk supply also. here are some of the things i tried and got my milk flowing again.
1. as much rest as possible ( i know its hard with a new bub)
2. i expressed as often as possible - i would spend a day where i would express for about 5 minutes every hour. putting bub on breast more often may help your milk supply
3. drinking lots of water - some say this has no bearing on your breastmilk but if you are dehydrated you cant produce milk.
4. taking mutlivitamins
5. i tried a lactation milkshake which i found on the net recipe as follows
1 cup of aktavite (sustagen can also be used)
1 cup skim milk powder
1 litre of milk
this drink is sweet but it worked for me the only drawback is possible tummy ache and diahhorrea.

the key ive found to supply is demand the more you tell your body to produce the more it will produce. i sometimes express up to 300ml after a good rest.

Good luck and i hope this helps

Alicia - posted on 12/03/2009

I have questioned the same thing and been told that my daughter is going through a growth spurt, keep on trucking, offer the breast at all cost and less bottle if possible. Baby can always get more than a pump can.