my daughter in a little over 2 months and im breastfeeding but for the past week in havent been able to produce enough it seems like! i dont want to give her formula if i dont have to! does anyone have any ideas on what i should do

Tina - posted on 01/08/2009

I went thru a senerio similar, and was told that stress is a lot to do with your milk production. Also, was told that I need to pump right after nursing, it will trick your body into thinking they baby is hungrier. Also, make sure you do not allow a large laspe in time before nursing or pumping, that will also lower your milk supply.

Jamie - posted on 01/08/2009

Quoting Jamie:

my daughter in a little over 2 months and im breastfeeding but for the past week in havent been able to produce enough it seems like! i dont want to give her formula if i dont have to! does anyone have any ideas on what i should do

help!!!

I had a similar problem.  I was not producing enough milk for my son but he would not take formula for the life of me.  He never had a drop!  I told my Dr. and he perscribed me something and I produced twice as much milk.  It saved me and is safe to take.  I would tell your Dr!

Crystal - posted on 01/08/2009

I only took one Fenugreek capsule a day.  Usually in the morning with breakfast.  Best of luck

Althea - posted on 01/08/2009

MY DAUGHTER IS THREE YERS OLD...SHE ACTUALLY STOPED BREAST FEEDING WHEN SHE WAS TWO YEARS AND TWO WEEKS OLD...I HONESTLY FEEL THAT SOME MILK FLOW IS SLOWER THAN OTHERS...I JUST SUGGEST TO YOU TO BUY A GOOD BREAST PUMP I HAD WAS WORTH 300 DOLLARS BUT IT WAS VERY HELPFUL FOR ME...SO WHEN SHE IS SLEEPING TRY TO PUMP AT LEAST 6 OUNCES JUST MAKE SURE U DONT DO NOT DO IT TOO OFTEN..YOU CAN EXPERIENCE SOAR NIPPLES...BUT BREAST MILK IS THE BEST FORMULA...

Martha - posted on 01/08/2009

are u sure ur not producing enough? u naturally stop OVERproducing at about 2 months and since you're used to it, you feel like you don't have any milk left and it's not squirting out all over the place. Chances are your body has finally figured out just how much to make so you almost don't feel it anymore. But your baby is getting it!

Laura - posted on 01/08/2009

It really sounds like she may be going through a growth spurt, if you were producing alot of milk and then you all of a sudden seem to not be she is probably reving your body up to make more milk so that you will produce more for her. don't give up, breastfeeding is the best thing you can do for your baby! it took me like four months to really get into the groove of it, they do not tell you how hard it really is, you think it is supposed to come naturally, but it is hard! I guarantee that unless you have taken some meds that have caused you to produce less you are probably getting ready to be making more milk for your little one is is growing like a weed!

Ellana - posted on 01/08/2009

I know this sounds like alot of tablets but everyone i know that has tried this dose swears by it. by the time my son was 4 months old I no longer needed to take anything.

Ellana - posted on 01/08/2009

Quoting Jamie:

Quoting Crystal:

Here is my suggestion...I had the same problem and it was mostly because mine was going through a growth spurt.  The doctor suggested taking Fenugreek herbal supplement capsules and it worked...its stimulated more milk production and I smelled like a pile of pancakes with way too much maple syrup but it helped increase my milk supply.  Best of luck....breastfeeding is the greatest reward.

how much fenugreek did u take a day? did u take it more the once?

My child health nurse put me on this dosage of fenugreek tablets:  4 tablets, 4 times a day for 3 days then 2 tablets, 3 times a day for 3 days. and it started to work after only 2 days but you still have to take them for the whole 6 days. i used to do this about once a month if my supply dropped.  

Jamie - posted on 01/08/2009

thank u everyone!!! when i have BF her she seems to be getting enough but i cant seem to pump any and i need to. so im going to try the fernugreek today and start takin that and see if i can get some pumpin done. she goes to daycare so i need to get some milk out for them!!! grr the stress of bf stinks lol

Beth - posted on 01/07/2009

My aunt had the same problem, and her doctor told her to eat lots of asparagus. I know, it sounds wierd, but it worked.  She said her milk supply increases a lot!  My sister did the same thing when she had  preemie and had to pump.  When she started breast feeding, she stopped pumping and lost her milk supply because the baby wasn't eating well enough yet.  She started eating a lot of asparagus and it helped to bring her milk supply back.  It sounds crazy, but I think it's worth a try.

Anita - posted on 01/07/2009

Hi I had a similar problem to you and i hired a hospital grade pump from the chemist which will help you produce more. Also drink alot of water.

Hope this helps you

Steph - posted on 01/07/2009

Have you started the birth control pill??  Thats what did it for me... within 2 or 3 days of starting back on the pill my milk supply went way down and Abbi was doing nothing but crying.  I went off the pill after only taking it for a week or so, and my milk supply was back up.  My OB then put me onto a "mini" pill, which has only one hormone in it.. and it too seemed to decrease my milk supply. (even tho it claims it won't)  My BF and I decided to make the decision that I wouldn't go on any "medication" and that rubber would be our form of birth control until I"m done breastfeeding.   Not sure if this is even close to your situation, but thought I would throw it out there anyways!   Best of luck!

Jovanne - posted on 01/07/2009

**NOTE: I read that you are worried that you don't feel engorged anymore. The engorgement is only during the first month - month and a half.  You start to not have pains anymore or tightness of the skin from swelling. My daughter is 10 months now (still breastfeeding) and I feel like I did before I was pregnant, even when the milk comes in. At around 3 - 4 months, you don't even leak anymore! The engorgement period and leaking period are all part of your body developing milk for breastfeeding and your body will get the hang of it soon.

**Never go hungry. I found that constantly snacking on something throughout the day helps. Toast and Oatmeal for breakfast, Steak Dinner with mashed potatoes for dinner. Nice big meals with lots of water and all kinds of juice! Good luck!

Jovanne - posted on 01/07/2009

I had the exact same problem! It turns out, my daughter had colic. Colic causes stomach pains (due to an immature digestive system) and when a baby's tummy hurts, they automatically think they are hungry and cry for more milk (often causing them to overeat and spit up a lot). After the baby empties both sides, pump both sides for 10 -20 minutes. The way I found out my daughter wasn't really hungry, is that she could be rocked to sleep with a pacifier. A baby that is truly hungry will not go to sleep. Plus, if a baby just got finished feeding on both sides, there is no way they are "starving" hungry. Most of the time their tummy hurts a little and they want to use you as a pacifier! Right around 2 months was hard for me too. That is also when the baby is going through their first big growth spurt. So, your baby will want more milk more often for awhile. That's why you want to make sure the baby always empties both breasts - that is the only way you produce more milk than you started with. **BIG TIP** Always start feeding the baby on the side that feels the LOWEST no matter how low it is. This way, you know that breast will be completely emptied before she goes to the fuller side. If you always feed her that way (always start on lower side) you will always produce more milk.

Good luck! I was there not too long ago! (I never had to drink beer...not sure about that...)

Marie-Pierre - posted on 01/07/2009

take half a beer. it will stimulate... its an old trick.

Keria - posted on 01/07/2009

I may be that you are not eating the right foods to produce enough milk. This happened to me and I had to stop the breast and start formula. Ask your lactation consultant about the foods to eat. Oh and also drink plenty of water!!!

Hanna - posted on 01/07/2009

Jamie, all it means is that your baby went though a growth spur and now wants to eat more your body hasn't caught up to it yet. it happens i've heard of it happening on several different occasions throughout pregnancy. take some fenugreek to speed up the process if you are really worried about this. your baby should be fine. and definitely do try to pump just to see how much milk you are producing (it's actually a good practice throughout pregnancy to monitor your milk production especially if you went through a sickness or a stressful time just to make sure that you are still producing adequate amounts). and good luck to you!

Miranda - posted on 01/07/2009

Hey Jamie, breastfed my son until he was 14 months old and never topped up with formula. Yur daughter is at the the typical growth spurt age, they just can't seem to get enough of the boobie! What's actually happening is a natural instinct of babies to suckle more when they feel their demand will increase as they grow. They suckle more so as to get you producing more milk for them when they will need it in few days to a week or even two. They are smart little tackers aren't they? She will settle soon but This will happen a couple more times until she is about nine months old and solids start to play a major part in her diet. So honey, just demand feed her until she is satisfied and keep mumbling "this will end, this will end" under your breath!Yourmilkproductionl go up and everything will be fine.

Amy - posted on 01/07/2009

I know I am not the one to tell you fenugreek but the dose is 3 pils 3 times a day I know it seems like alot but it really is not and make sure it is straight fenugreek with no fillers and another suggestion they should also sell where you get the fenugreek is mothers milk tea and that is the name if it I drank a glass 3 times a day of that with the fenugreek and it made a huge difference good luck

Jamie - posted on 01/07/2009

ive tried pumpin too but i cant seem to make anymore!! everything was going good up till a couple days ago! i use to over produce up till a week ago i was only engored but lately it has just stopped

Jamie - posted on 01/07/2009

Quoting Crystal:

Here is my suggestion...I had the same problem and it was mostly because mine was going through a growth spurt.  The doctor suggested taking Fenugreek herbal supplement capsules and it worked...its stimulated more milk production and I smelled like a pile of pancakes with way too much maple syrup but it helped increase my milk supply.  Best of luck....breastfeeding is the greatest reward.

how much fenugreek did u take a day? did u take it more the once?

Jamie - posted on 01/07/2009

thanks everyone! im going to try taking the fenugreek starting tomorrow!!!

Jackie - posted on 01/07/2009

I have been having the same problem, but I have tried pumping in between feedings and it has gotten better. The more milk that is taken out of the breast, the more your body will produce to repalce it. Hope this helps

Crystal - posted on 01/07/2009

Here is my suggestion...I had the same problem and it was mostly because mine was going through a growth spurt.  The doctor suggested taking Fenugreek herbal supplement capsules and it worked...its stimulated more milk production and I smelled like a pile of pancakes with way too much maple syrup but it helped increase my milk supply.  Best of luck....breastfeeding is the greatest reward.

Laura - posted on 01/07/2009

i would also try pumping when your breast are full to see how much you are producing per feeding. you may be producing more milk than you think most people do but feel like they are not. my daughter fed every two hours for a long time, made me crazy but when they are growing like they do they need to eat often especially when breastmilk is so easily digested. so pump to figure out how much you are producing for an average feeding and then go from there. I think she should be getting about 4 oz per feeding but you need to check with her doc. if you are not producing enough then start pumping on a regular basis, pick a time during the day and pump at that time everyday, your body will eventually catch on! Good Luck!

Alicia - posted on 01/07/2009

I had the same problem my doctor Rx domperidone it worked like a charm and its cheap. I highly recommend it....... I hope this helps

Hanna - posted on 01/07/2009

feed her from both breasts and pump right after & in between the feedings to 'trick' your body into producing more milk. at the same time, drink more water &, you going to laugh at me, have 1 glass of dark beer a day (guinness or leffe or boston lager whatever you have available), in belgium they give a glass of dark beer to mothers in hospitals to stimulate milk production (you get a choice to take a pill or a glass of dark beer), apparently it helps. good luck!