Does anyone have advice on boosting breast milk production?

Laurie - posted on 07/12/2010

Go to the health food store and get mothers milk tea. It worked for me. I even went on a trip and pumped and dumped for a week and I had enough to start back up when I got home. I had been nursing for 8 months at that time.

Renae - posted on 07/12/2010

water water water... and eating healthy. Also fenugreek (you can get it from a health foods store) helps some. Good luck and take care

Beth - posted on 07/12/2010

this may sound weird, but buy some brewers yeast (not the same as bakers) and some blackstrap molassas. Drink both of these in milk. Start with only a half of teaspoon of brewers yeast- it is strong. If you can't handle the taste, put it in a cup of hot chocolate- you won't be able to taste it. Liver and brewers yeast are the ONLY way to get ALL of your B vit. (Even a B-complex doesn't have all) This helps with milk production. Of course, drinking plenty of fluids and nursing/pumping often helps as well. Beer suggestion are helpful if the beer has the yeast in it yet. Most beers filter it out, so not necessarily going to get the benifit of the yeast, but the beer will count as a fluid.

MELISSA - posted on 07/11/2010

My advise would bedrink a lot of water, and remember the more you pump the more you make. Maybe pumping a little bit more to keep the supply going

Maxine - posted on 07/11/2010

Drink lots of fluids and pump after breastfeeding too.

Claudia - posted on 07/10/2010

Good for you to find importance in breast feeding. Now that you are at work you may very well not be drinking the same amount of fluids that you were at home. The tension that you may be experiencing while pumping may be interfering with milk production.
Remember you need to be drinking at least if not more since you are feeding twins 3 liters of fluid daily. You made need to pump more frequently as well. While pumping take some music with you that will help you relax and mentally envision your breasts droping milk and making its way to the containers.

Alena - posted on 07/10/2010

I was looking for the malta beer everywhere (few people suggested on this forum) then luckily some shop assistant told me why I dont try horlicks which has the barley and malt. Well I have tried that having one glass a day and within 2 days my bust started to fill up and now I have got plenty milk....which is great.

Sara - posted on 07/09/2010

Try the "Power Hour"...pump for 10 minutes, wait 10 minutes, pump for 10 minutes for 1 hour. Works best in the AM when supply is greatest. Taking hot showers and massaging helps too. I found once the middle of the night feedings stop. supply started to drop, and was cut in half when I went back to work...once stress goes up, supply goes down. Good luck!

Mary - posted on 07/09/2010

Well, when you pump make sure to pump both sides at the same time, this will boost your prolactine levels which helps. Also, make sure to pump two or more minutes past the time when your milk stops, this signals your brain to make more. Breast milk works on a supply and demand system, so pump as often as you get the chance and nurse as much as possible when you are home. There are natural supplements you can also use called galactogens, these boost breast milk production. There are many, (such as milk thistle) the one that I am most familiar with is Fenugreek. You can buy it at most vitamin stores such as GNC, but be wary that the dosage listed on the bottle is not nearly enough to do the trick. The bottle that I bought suggested two to three tabs daily, I had to take six to eight daily. It is a very safe supplement, used all over the world for centuries. It is also used in many foods and teas. It does have an odd side effect, it can make your sweat smell like maple syrup, but not offensive. If this does not do the trick, you can ask your doctor for a prescription galactogen such as an anti-nausea drug called Reglan. Make sure to stay well hydrated, drink plenty of fluids. Good luck!

Sharon - posted on 07/09/2010

well i know you need to take in a good supply of fluids. here is a helpful link that may give you some answers http://www.milkworks.org/infoctr/lowmilk...

Arianne - posted on 07/09/2010

It will hurt at first, but in the long run you will be producing A LOT! you only need to pump every two hours for the first day or two && after that your production will go WAY up.

Isha - posted on 07/09/2010

Hi!

You can drink mothers milk herbal tea and that will increase your milk supply. I would make it with soy or ricemilk and honey like a chai tea and put it in the fridge in a big container and drink it iced through out the day!

I also made my own tea from the bulk section of the healthfood store with fennel . Here is a link to a website that sugests another tea with fennel and some other supportive herbs for breast milk production increase!

Good luck!
Isha

http://www.morebreastmilk.com/

Brittani - posted on 07/09/2010

Pump both breasts at the same time, if possible, for 15 minutes MINIMUM. Even if you don't see it coming out, it still senses that it is needed and the next time, maybe break or lunch, sit in the car with a shirt in the window and pump away. The less you pump, the less they produce. Make sure you save some for the babies when you arrive home, or get them from the sitter. Also, when you take frozen or fresh to the sitters, ask them not to waste any if possible. Transfer unused milk to a clean bottle and feed to their sibling. One more bit of advice, once the kids are asleep, when Dad is trying to get his bedtime story, have him massage and pump RIGHT BEFORE the story time, and they will eliminate any wasting by accidental squirting. As funny as it might be the first time, sleep is precious and there's no laughing over spilt milk.

Raquel - posted on 07/09/2010

This will sound odd, but it works. Drink non-alcoholic black beer!

Alena - posted on 07/08/2010

Hi Ladies,
I too have problem with not enough milk. I actually have to top up my baby with formula, which i really dont like. I have tried express after feeds - didnt increase, pump from one breast while she was eating from the other - didnt work. I am drinking 2.5 l a day.
Does anyone know where can I find the malta beer?
Thanks

Frances - posted on 07/08/2010

Congratulations! You have done fantastically to feed the twins this long, they have already benefitted from the best start in life. Returning to work and leaving the twins has probably caused extra stress, if you can find time ie; lunch hour to just chill, away from hectic work, relax, breathe, be calm and then express, the milk should flow more easily, don't give yourself a hard time, any is better than none. X (& drink plenty of water)

Colette - posted on 07/08/2010

When I stopped my Dr told me to stop drinking Coke. This might help you & I know that Malt Beer does help. Good Luck

Ingrid - posted on 07/07/2010

as everyone else is saying, drink liquids liquids liquids. Mom used to make apple water with a bit of cinnamon. Oatmeal, Malta Beer which is non-alcohol. I ended up producing sooo much milk, at end had to end up on trash can (baby premie needed special formula). Didnt know I was able to donate or sell breast milk to hospital.... GOOD LUCK !! :D

Heidi - posted on 07/07/2010

Yes that can help but it can also make your breasts quite sore after a while if you try to pump to much.

Heidi - posted on 07/07/2010

Hi Katy, my name is Heidi and I found taking Elevite and drinking WATER and lots of it helps. I hope this helps you. Good luck it sounds like you need it with 3 at once.

Arianne - posted on 07/07/2010

I was having the same problem && when I spoke to someone with the LLL they told me to pump every two hours, after the babies feed, && continue pumping even after the milk isn't coming out anymore because it will tell your body, I need to be producing more milk!

Alison - posted on 07/07/2010

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Relax and do whatever you can. Nursing for 3 months with twins is quite a feat! Every day that you can keep it up is beneficial to your children, but don't beat yourself up if it is not working for you. Breast is best, but the formula really isn't so bad.

Margie - posted on 07/07/2010

i had the same issue when i went back to work and started pumping. fenugreek helps a bit, but i just stopped stressing about it and had my husband suppliment her during the day with formula and then i would bring home my pumped milk. some is better than none.

Barbara - posted on 07/07/2010

Allison, love that your doctor told you about beer. My mom brought me a can of Schiltz Malt Liquor to the hospital when I had my first baby!

Jessica - posted on 07/07/2010

Agree with all replies. I would also suggest pumping in the middle of the night as those times seemed to be the most productive for me.

Jennifer - posted on 07/06/2010

I didnt have twins but I would pump right after I fed her everynight for a week. My body thought she was needing more & after a week of TRICKING the body I was finally able to make enough extra to feed her & send some to the sitters. My supply started going down after I started working and a friend told me about this & it helped me. Good luck. :) With the BF issues & the twins... lol. U r a brave woman!

Allison - posted on 07/06/2010

When I could not produce enough milk to feed my son I went to my Dr. and he is a little on the home remedies and told me to have a pint of beer about 12 hours before I feed that way the Alcohol is out of the system but the milk will be there. It is all about the yeast and barley in it that help in the milk production

Allison - posted on 07/06/2010

I have to agree with both, I drank lots of water and had oatmeal every morning and it seemed like i was producing more than what my son was eating.

Barbara - posted on 07/06/2010

First, you need to drink at least 2 liters of water a day. If you can find some quiet time to put your head down to 15 minutes in the afternoon, (shorter lunch and late afternoon break?) your body will refocus on making milk. And be sure you are eating at least 2,500 good calories a day, maybe even 3,000. Good luck!

Sarh - posted on 07/06/2010

I heard that oatmeal helps, not sure on that one though. I do however know that you need to drink at least 8oz of water after every feeding (in your case when your done pumping). Also, if you are not pumping as often as you were nursing your twins then your supply will wither away. Because your body will only produce as much milk that is being "taken out". If they were nursing every 2 hrs and now you are only pumping once every 4hrs then those feedings that are being missed your body is eliminating.