increase milk supply

Terri - posted on 05/04/2009

hi debbie i tried the fenngreek herb tablets and milk thistle as i was told this help as well but ive only just got enought and some days even have to top her up with formula as im a bottle or two short im not sure if it because she a big eater or what one thing i did that i found really work was nursing tea from at naturalpath the only problem is i cant buy it in my town i have to wait for someone to got to the city before i can get some more which is a pain but yes thats what works the best

Debbie - posted on 04/27/2009

Terri, have you tried any of the suggestions? Just wondering how you're getting on? x

Melissa - posted on 04/27/2009

pumping and fluids. lots of fluid intake. if you are dehydrated then you will make less milk.

Ashley - posted on 04/27/2009

pump after your baby feeds it will start to build up more or pump in between your babies feedings!

Georgina - posted on 04/27/2009

have u tried expressin every 20 mins? apparently that works

Jackie - posted on 04/27/2009

A Lactation Consulatant told me that drinking a can of beer would increase milk supply. I always had way too much milk, so I never tried it. Drink lots of water, and nurse more (that will work better than pumping). Good Luck!

Debbie - posted on 04/27/2009

If you're going down the route of drinking yeast or beer, the only alcohol I would recommend whilst breastfeeding is stout (eg. Guinness). I found it made the milk more fulfilling, the midwife said it would've been wonderful if I could've donated some to the premature babies as it would've helped build them up! She said it was the difference between skimmed milk and mine was 'Gold Top'.
Generally increased intake of fluids (especially water), and lots of rest is the main thing though. Not only do you need the rest as your body uses a lot of energy producing milk, if you don't rest enough, you won't produce enough milk. I fed my 1st easily for 9 months, as I got plenty of rest, and only stopped cuz I was 6 months pregnant with my 2nd child and wanted to give the milk time to adjust. By the time my 2nd child was born, I'd moved back in with my mother who'd had a major operation. Between looking after her, looking after a 1year old, and a new baby, I had virtually no rest and couldn't continue feeding her beyond 6 weeks, which was very upsetting.

Kate - posted on 04/22/2009

take brewer's yeast tablets. i had so much milk i could have donated it. ps. there is brewer's yeast in beer. 1/2 glass when you sit down to nurse gives you the extra yeast, gives you extra liquid and helps calm you. only if you like beer, tho

Melissa - posted on 04/22/2009

Rest and LOTS of water worked best for me. Your body needs rest to have the energy to make the milk.

Tiffani - posted on 04/22/2009

All great advice. You can also find the herb Fenugreek in "Traditional Medicine Organic Mother's Milk Tea" it worked wonders for me. Have a beautiful day

Elizabeth - posted on 04/22/2009

I agree most with the rest more, it takes alot of energy to make milk, especially after they are six months old. So, make sure you are eating enough calories, drink lots, and sleep more. Also, a little trick I learned from nursing 5 children...eat macadamia nuts everyday (as long as you dont have a nut allergy), they actually increase milk production.

Debbie - posted on 04/22/2009

All good advice, only thing I would add is to rest between feeds. I fed my eldest for 9 months, and my youngest for 15 months, and found I had to drink lots and rest lots. Also useful to express any milk left after the feed into bottles maybe, for someone else to feed the baby. The body reacts to the needs of your baby, increase the need by expressing and your body will automatically produce more to replace it (as long as you are drinking enough, and resting!) Good for you for sticking to it. x

Pam - posted on 04/22/2009

Wow these are all good suggestions! The alfalfa one sounds very logical hope you try and it works. Although we don't know if you work too. I know when I nursed I was also working and it was very hard to pump enough. You always do better with the baby. I think the stress slows it down. But anyways you know the more you pump as everyone has stated the more you produce because your body works on demand and supply. But also I guess where I was going with the working thing you may find it hard to continue but you can just change to morning and evening nursing because that is when your with your baby. Again that supply and demand your body will adjust to when you nurse. The body is an amazing thing it will work with you. There is so much information avaliable to you girls now so research and don't give up. Never listen to the negative because there are alot of people who just dwell on the negative of nursing but if there is a will there is a way. It is very possible to nurse part time. So good luck and work hard at it. It is so well worth it for you and your baby.

Gloria - posted on 04/22/2009

Take alfalfa tablets. My doctor suggested it when i nursed my first son....i found it to work very well....so i continued taking them when i nursed the next two. You can find it in any Pharmacy. They smell a little like hay that you would feed cows. Cows eat alfalfa to produce milk and it works for us too!

Melinda - posted on 04/22/2009

Eat healthy and drink lots of water. Also pump or hand express milk and your body will increase your milk supply. Make sure each breast is empty after nursing or expressing milk. If not your body will produce less next time.

Megan - posted on 04/22/2009

You could try Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle capsules... you take two of each with meals 3 times a day

Jane - posted on 04/22/2009

hi, if you express milk off, either by hand which sounds strange or with a breast pump it will make your body think that your baby needs a bigger supply of milk, it will take a few days to build up.

Hope this helps.

jane xx