Breastfeeding Supply

Katie - posted on 02/14/2009

My ob suggested pumping after each feeding as a way to increase your milk supply

Carmen - posted on 02/14/2009

Same thing happened to me. And this is what I did... Go to Whole Foods - or any health food store and get Mother's Milk Tea. WORKS WONDERS!!! Then - be sure that you are eating 2000 calories per day. You have to have breakfast before 8 am and you have to try and get a nap in each day. Your milk will SHOOT out of your breast. Take it from me - the tea works! and if you can work in the other stuff, it works even better!

Donna - posted on 02/14/2009

Narelle,  I had the same will all three of my kids and i got a really good midwife that told me if you go to the chemist or health food shop and get Fenugreek tablets & Blessed Thistle tablets and take them then they will improve you milk supply.  It worked for me to great success.   Good luck and hope it works for you.

Hayley - posted on 02/14/2009

As long as u r nursing you are fine. im still nursing now and my son is nearly 8 months old. your supply will continue as long as u stay health and continue 2 feed.

Abra - posted on 02/14/2009

 I nursed my son for a year even after  I went back to work.  Fenugreek and water are what I used.  I also struggled keeping my supply up especially after he started solid foods.  After each time I nursed him I would pump for a few minutes more.  Then half way between his next feeding I would pump again.  I also would wake up 1/2 way through the night to pump, that way I would make more milk before his next feeding.  The more you feed/pump the more milk you will produce ;)

Abra - posted on 02/14/2009

 I nursed my son for a year even after  I went back to work.  Fenugreek and water are what I used.  I also struggled keeping my supply up especially after he started solid foods.  After each time I nursed him I would pump for a few minutes more.  Then half way between his next feeding I would pump again.  I also would wake up 1/2 way through the night to pump, that way I would make more milk before his next feeding.  The more you feed/pump the more milk you will produce ;)

Jennifer - posted on 02/14/2009

I don't have any advice for you since I was never able to produce breast milk no matter what I did. None of the women in my family have ever been able to do that. So my at is off to you for being able to do it and wanting to do it! I envy you!

Christine - posted on 02/14/2009

Pumping, oatmeal, staying well hydrated and fed, and you could try drinking mother's milk tea.  You can find it at your local health food store, or most grocery stores have it too.  Make sure you brew it properly to get the maximum effects.  It took me awhile to aquire a taste for it, but now I enjoy it.  I used to put a bit of honey in it.  Sometimes the occasional dark beer helps me too.  Happy Nursing!!! :)

Stephanie - posted on 02/14/2009

one thing that helps is to use warm compresses on your breast. It helps your ducts release milk from your glands and also remember if your baby is still gaining weight and acting satisfied between feedings that he/she is getting enough. :-) Also remember do 10 min one breast then switch that way you are giving each breast enough time to replenish and it helps in the stimulation.

Jessica - posted on 02/14/2009

When I was breastfeeding, I wanted a supply in my freezer for when my son started daycare.  After feeding him, I would immediately pump the first side I fed him from.  I would pump for about 10 min.  The first few days there was no milk, but pretty soon I could fill a 4 oz bottle after nursing him.  I also ate oatmeal, drank lots of water, tried to avoid onions and green peppers and limited my dairy intake.

Kim - posted on 02/14/2009

Fenugreek, Nursing moms tea(which is soothing too!), lots of water --- I'm nursing  as well and will try the green veges and oatmeal.

Sarah - posted on 02/14/2009

I struggled with this, though I had to mostly pump and feed bottles because of other issues I had. I did Fenugreek, oatmeal, and drank lots of water, all of which helped.

Kathy - posted on 02/14/2009

The more you nurse, the more milk you have. . .but be aware that as your body gets used to supplying milk, your breasts don't 'feel' as full and hard as they did when you first started nursing. Unless, of course, it's during that growth spurt where the baby is nursing every two hours again even at 9 months old!

Hollie - posted on 02/14/2009

remember that the more you feed the more milk you make i wouldnt advise expressing in between feeds as whilst this will help nothing is as good as ure letting your child suck on you at regular intervalsin between feeds its far more effcient, also have you thought that your child has just become an effcient feeder??  my youngest would do a feed both sides in 20 mins by the time she was 3 months just because you she got good at?? or does your child not seem satisfied after a feed??? hope this helps xoxo oh and the green veg works wonders as well xoxo

Carrie - posted on 02/14/2009

I bf my daughter for a year and now I am bf my son that is 7 months.  With my daughter my supply seemed to be getting lower.  My doctor suggested pumping after she went to sleep just to get my supply up.  It really helped and I have had to do it a few times with my son.  I only had to do it a few times.

Maggie - posted on 02/14/2009

pump in between feedings and see if that helps.

Joanne - posted on 02/14/2009

Quoting Narelle:

Breastfeeding Supply

I am a breast feeding mother of a 4 month old and I really want to continue breastfeeding but I am worried my supply is not good, I don't seem to have the quantity I did for the first 3 months. Any suggestions as to hw to increase my supply?

Hi Narelle,

I breastfed my son for 9 months and i'm currently feeding my 3 month old daughter. I had the same worry that my supply wasn't meeting her demand so i asked a midwife friend and she recommended that i increase the amount of green veg into my diet, like brocolli, spinach, cabbage etc as it improves the quality of your milk so baby will be satisfied even with small amounts. Also lots of water, about 750ml every time you fed and rest/sleep. Your body won't produce much if it's tired.

Hope that helps you out.

Joanne :)