How Can I Produce More Milk?

hi A.
i ran into the same problem. a lactation specialist at my hospital here in town recommended that i take a supplement called
fenugreek. i found it at my local health food co-op; although it was not cheap it really worked! i produced so much more milk than i ever did before!
good luck
T.

A.,
Is she growing and gaining enough weight? You'll know you're making enough as long as she is growing, and seems satisfied after feeding. Don't panic about your breasts not feeling as full, either. They've adjusted to supply and demand, and it seems like if you're trying to nurse every hour they wouldn't have time to fill up anyway. Here are some tips to increase milk supply: drink lots of water, eat well, sleep when you can. Oatmeal is a good helper as well. There are herbal teas you can drink that are known to help increase milk supply as well. For more info, you can check out www.milkshare.com. Another thing to check is your latch. If baby isn't latching well, she may not be nursing effectively. Call your local LaLeche League leader or find a Lactation Consultant in your area (WIC can be of help as well!). Do everything you can to avoid supplementing (short of starving your baby of course!). Once you start supplementing with formula, it begins a downward spiral of supply and demand and your milk production slows even more until it's gone. You're doing a wonderful service to your child by nursing- keep it up! Many blessings, and feel free to email me if you want to talk more about breastfeeding and parenting issues (I spent many years working with families with infants before I had my second child and finally quitting to open my own biz!).
Many blessings!
H.

Hey A.,
I go to a breast feeding support group every week. They are free at South Shore Hospital. Monday through Friday from 1pm to 2pm. You sound like you could really learn from the group. There are lactation consultants that help and answer questions. Like for instance it takes your milk at least an hour and a half between feeding to come back in so feeding her every hour isn't helping in that area. And if you want to increase your milk, pump after every feeding.. right after every feeding. And if she is still hungry maybe you could give her a bottle with the breast milk that you are pumping. Also at the support group we weigh them before the feeding and after to see how much they took in. If you are too far away from south shore hospital try calling the hospital you gave birth at and see if they offer the same kind of group. good luck.

Don't worry...I never had the "full" feeling - size isn't necessarily an indication of how much milk is being produced. Especially after the first few months when your body has figured out the supply and demand pattern of breastfeeding. Feedings every hour is a lot of work with a four month old! Do you know of any lactation consultants in your area that might meet with you - they can even do a pre and post feeding weight check to see exactly how much milk Madison is getting and then give you some suggestions about pumping or other milk increasing ideas. Lalecheleague.org might be another resource for nursing experts. Good luck!
Warmly,
E.

Hi there A.. I noticed the others told you this already but it is the most important thing involved in making your milk supply and that is Drink a glass of water after every nursing. It replenishes what you just provided her with. Hope that helps!

It is very important to drink alot of fluid during the day. The baby actually does a better job of drawing out the milk than the pump also. As long as the baby is growing nicely, she is getting enough milk. Your pediatrician would let you know.

Hi A., A couple of ideas,feeding every hour is probably not giving you enough time to recoup your milk supply.
Why are you trying to pump?
Are you eating lots of fruit and veggies?
Drinking TONS of water?
Have you tried supplimenting w/formula
How about cereal?
Call you're doctors office and speak to a nurse! The baby needs her nutrition!

I had the same problems when my son was born. He was a big eater, and I didn't think that I was producing enough milk. I too have saggy breasts, and after the beginning, they never felt full. I spoke often with doctor's and the lactation consultants, because I thought that I wasn't feeding him enough. But through all of this, I kept up with breastfeeding, and he grew. If I thought that he wasn't full after one breast, then I would let him feed off of the other. This seemed to help. In regards to the pump, I would pump the breast(s) that he fed off of right after his feeding. That way, any leftover milk from my breast was gotten, plus, this was supposed to make the body produce more milk due to the increased demand (at least that's what the experts said). This did seem to work. Although I didn't get that much pumped milk to put in a bottle, it did help me to produce more for my son to drink. I never did seem to produce enough extra to save for later, but my son was content. The doctor's also stated that even though I didn't think that I was producing alot of milk, the milk that I was producing was probably very rich and condensed, so that the quality made up for the lack of quantity. If you have any more questions, please ask. I too am a stay at home mom, and since this is my first child, I've been, and still am, constantly questioning about everything new. I hope that this has helped you. Just don't give up. I've recently started to ween him off of breastfeeding, due to him having seven teeth at the moment (even though he's only 7 1/2 months). I decided to do this when I started walking around with band-aids on both breasts. But until then, I breastfed him. So again, don't give up...everything should work out. As long as your little girl is happy, healthy and still growing, then you're doing fine.

HI my name is D., I breast fed my first daughter when I was 18. She had a hole in her heart and they told me my antibodies would help her fight infection when she had surgery. Which she had when she was 3 months old. She was only 4 pounds when she was born and by the time the surgery came she was 13 pounds. Which was great. So my doctor told me to pump after she ate. Not before. And every 2 hours let her feed. That was what I hated the most was not knowing how much she ate. I think u r feeding to soon and am not allowing enough time for ur milk to produce. I would stop pumping for like 2 weeks and see if u can noticce a difference. Also try to wait at least 2 hours for feedings and change breasts at each feeding. Hopefully u will make enough milk. Some people just dont make enough. I didnt make enough to pump and feed so I just fed her. She was breast fed for 6-7 months. Changing to a bottle will be another hard task. TRUST ME> But it is the best thing for the baby u can do it. I have another baby who is 4 years old and I just did the bottle thing. I also have 3 stepkids I am pretty experience when it comes to kids.I am only 27 years old. I was a stay at home mom now I work full time and my husband works full time and both my girls go to school and an after school program we all get home at 4-5 They love it. Its hard when u just start out with kids but it will come naturally trust ur instincts they are the best A mom's feeling goes along way Good luck sweetie.

Hey A.!!
I had the same problem while breastfeeding. I tried the pumping and had the same issue of saggy and not full. A friend of mine told me to try this natural tea called, "Mother's milk." It has been used by moms for hundreds of years. i don't remember what was in it that made it work, but I got it at a natural food store and it was great. Hope this helps!!

I was also worried initially (my son was born May 22) about milk supply - its hard to know when we cant see how much is going in their mouths. My doctor said to stop worrying as my son was gaining appropriate weight and lenght. That is the real indicator (weight gain). If your daughter is not gaining enough weight your doctor will have you add supplementation. I know it gets harder to know when the MD apts get further apart so if you are worried call your doc before you automatically start supplementing.
About saggy breasts - I am already starting to feel that way and my son is one month younger than your daughter. I was told that this is normal and is not an indicator of decreased supply. For me, I only feel 'full' if I have gone 5+ hrs, where before I would feel that way if I went 2 hrs.
Good Luck!

I felt the same way, so I went to a natural foods store and got something called mother's milk. It worked real well for me. Good luck.

I know exactly where you are coming from. Many people will say it is impossible to not make enough milk, they have no idea that it really can and does happen. There are many teas and herbs out there to aid in lactation, Mother's Milk is one I had tried, I can't honestly say if it helped or not, sometimes just thinking it is working helps.
At two months old my sons pediatrician decided he had lost so much weight that we should supplement with a little formula, so we did, and it worked the boy actually got full, and I got a few minutes to myself each day.
Aside from drinking water morning, noon, night (and every second in between) relaxation is key, if you get stressed out about the lack of milk you won't produce as much and if you are tense your milk may not let down when you are trying to nurse. You can use the pump anytime. Even if you are not getting anything a lot of times just the pumping or having the baby suckle will remind your breasts that the kid needs more to eat, the more they are used the more they make, the law of supply and demand.
Best of luck hunny, and remember that if she does need formula supplement or is switched over that you have been doing your very best and do not get dissappointed in any setbacks with nursing her.

Eat more and drink at least 64 oz of water, definately more! Get lots of rest. I know you are not supposed to start feeding babies until 6 months old but my daughter had cut at least 1 or 2 teeth by then and was hungry so I started to give her cereal 1x a day. If you can cut back on pumping too, that should help because your breasts are never full. Try single side feeding, obviously do both if she is hungry, but feeding every hour seems like a lot too. Why are you pumping?

Try pumping after each feeding. Your milk may have just leveled off to the amount she needs. But if you want to stock up. I suggest pumping after each feeding. Breast feeding is supply and demand. So is more is in demand you will make more. I went through the same thing. It is frustrating. Drink plenty of water and try to relax. Good luck!

hi... I remember feeling that way too! I have a 3y and a 6 month old. The first question that you want to ask yourself is.. is my baby gaining enough weight and growing as he os she should be?
If s then you are producing enough milk. WHat type of pump did you buy. I just got a brand new medela pump in sytle pump from my insurance company that is worth over $300. Now if you really want to increase your milk supply my lacation consultant advised me to pump 10 minutes after each feeding. I remember thinkng that this was crazy because I got nothing but what it does is stimulates the breast so that your body thinks that the baby is needing more. In a normal healthy setting our body makes what our baby needs and it will regulate as the baby grows. This is why every couple of months you will probably have a few crazy sleepless nights that the baby just wants to nurse , nurse, nurse. I know you are tired and feel like a cow but this to will pass and you will have a health, smart baby... breastfeeding is alot of work in the begining but it is so well worth it in the end. your baby will be healthier, you will be healthier.
I know that is is hard... sometimes I wish by boobs had measuring marks on them but let your baby show you what they need.
Good luck...

there are a few things you can do.. first off, are you drinking enough water?? pump in the morning when you are fullest - after she eats.. or pump one side and feed on the other. You may need to supliment with formula if she's not getting enough.. my son didn't get enough from me so I gave up--ended up he couldn't suck strong enough to get enough milk from me.. as your ped if there is a way to test that, not sure if there is...

good luck

A.,

Not sure what is causing your milk problem, but with my experience, if you don't pump or feed constantly your milk goes away. I use to think that the milk would stay regardless if you feed or not; but if you don't use it often from the very beginning it goes away. Hope this helps!

J.

Hi A.,

The best way is to trick you body into thinking that Madison is eating more. Pump for 10 minutes or so after each feeding. This will make you body think that she is eating more. Also make sure to drink lots of water.
Hope this helps.