How can I increase my milk supply?

Lisa - posted on 11/20/2009

Drink plenty of fluids, eat regular meals and snacks, include oatmeal in your diet every day. also a combination of blessed thistle and fenugreek works better than either on thier own. there is a tea you can get called mothers milk tea that really helps. Prescribed meds should be a last resort but there is one called domperidone(not sure if that's the brand name) that is anti sickness with lactation being a side effect. when you're not in work encourage baby to nurse regularly and pump regularly. i found i got far more milk if i pumped one side while she nursed the other. Good luck, and well done for getting this far.



P.S. love the lactation cookie recipe. will def be using that one. xx

Carol - posted on 11/20/2009

well, milk thistle and fenugreek have been mentioned. i personally have not tried these. i have tried omega-3,6,9 [fish, flax, borage]. i bought my 60 day supply at target for $8, and i can say it has helped heaps, plus my skin and nails grow at an alarming rate, and grow in nice and strong. i also have found a recipe for lactation-boosting cookies, which i made for my sis and she was squirting, haha. they are also YUMMY:

Housepoet's Famous Lactation Boosting Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip & Flaxseed cookies
Ingredients :

* 1 cup butter or marg
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 4 tablespoons water
* 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal*
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups oats, thick cut if you can get them
* 1 cup or more chocolate chips
* 2 tablespoons of brewers yeast* (be generous)

Directions:

Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. Mix together 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and water, set aside for 3-5 minutes. Cream (beat well) margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mix well. Stir flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to the margarine mix. Beat until blended. Sift together dry ingredients, except oats and chips. Add to margarine mixture. Stir in oats then chips. Scoop or drop onto baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment or silpat. The dough is a little crumbly, so it helps to use a scoop.

Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies.

Serves: 6 dozen cookies

Preparation time: 15 minutes

*can be found at any local health food store.


credit goes to Noel aka housepoet of breastfeedingisnormal.org

Leah - posted on 11/20/2009

HEAPS of water & try fenugreek tablets. they helped me when I got my cycle back and my milk started to disapate, Im back to normal now =)

Also check with the lacation consultant as i THINK (very much could be waaaaayyy wrong) but I have heard that the nausea control drug maxalon can increast milk supply......

Jennifer - posted on 11/20/2009

One thing that helped me was to eat my 3 meals a day, drink plenty of fluids and nurse as much as possible when I could and pump in between if I could. Be careful on the birth control that you have chosen too as it can cause you to decrease rather quickly if you go on the wrong pill. Good luck!

Angie - posted on 11/20/2009

Drink a lot of water and nurse and pump as often as possible.

Sharina - posted on 11/20/2009

The only thing that I can think of besides pumping very frequently is to make sure to stay hydrated.

Tasia - posted on 11/20/2009

Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and eating on a regular schedual. Also try going to a herb shop and buy some "Fenugreek" capsuls. I used those when my supply started slacking off, and it worked great!!! Good luck! And happy pumping!!! ;)

Martha Alicia - posted on 11/20/2009

Make sure you eat your 3 meals a day...when I breast fed my Lily, my mom made me my 3 meals...big breakfast (if not big a bowl of oatmeal, regular lunch, and a complete dinner. Also, by drinking a beer everyday helps you produce milk...I didn't believe it at first, but it is true.

I was always hungry when I breast fed my daughter...it takes a lot out of you. Just make sure you don't skip any meals, and eat healthy.

Ashley - posted on 11/20/2009

you should try calling the lactasion nurse threw your hospital because there are two herbel pills you can take but i dont remember what there called. but there about 30 bucks for both of them, one of them is called something thistle or something like that, sorry i could not be of more help