I Dont Make Enough Milk. HELP!

M.- I had this problem as well, and what has worked better than ANYTHING else is..... OATMEAL! I eat two bowls of instant oatmeal every day, and it works like a charm. I have several other friends who also had trouble with milk supply, and it worked for them too. Worth a try! Best of luck to you.

Good for you making sure your baby gets breastmilk! You are probably making enough, but if it would make you feel better to supplement that wouldn't be the end of the world- especially if she is still getting mostly breastmilk. Just make sure you pump or offer the breast first when giving extra formula so that you are still stimulating your nipples/using milk. Are you only pumping 4 times a day total or are you nursing at other times in addition? That may not be enough. I breastfeed or pump every 3 hours during the day and including waking up at 2 am to pump. That is just me, but I have found that it keeps my supply up. With breastmilk - the more you use it the more is made. There are several nights I sleep through the night, but then when I notice my supply going down I wake up a few nights in a row to pump at 1 or 2 am and that usually brings it back up.
I also take fenugreek and drink enough water, but not too much. I have heard that drinking too much water can actually decrease breastmilk.
At eight months you have given her more time with breastmilk than a lot of mothers do. So don't beat yourself up if you end up switching to formula, but great job with trying to avoid that~

My advice nurse @ kaiser told me to take 3 Fenugreek pills 3 times a day which helped a lot. Also you can add brown rice, sweet potatoes & apricots to your diet to help give you a boost. Don't go to formula unless she is not gaining weight and her Pediatrician is concerned. We don't have a gauge on our boobs to measure how much is getting in to the munchkin and pumping doesn't always indicate much either. Do you hear "gulp gulp gulp" when she's nursing once your let-down reflex happens? You are probably doing fine - just not overproducing. My friends were able to pump so much extra that they never breast fed directly and threw out a lot of frozen milk because they had more than their babies could drink. Me, however, never could pump more than 2 oz. at a time and my kid was skinny so I was always worried and frustrated.
Formula has it's own issues, so don't switch without getting input from your Pedi. IF you do switch you need to do it gradually - mix it with breast milk until her tummy adapts to it. Be prepared for really stinky diapers and a little constipation.

I had the same problem. My milk piqued at like, 3oz a boob and then fell off dramatically until I could only get a few drops from each before she was three months old. I never felt the "let down" that everyone talked about and I never had milk leak from me. Every drop was painstakingly pumped and after three months I finally threw in the towel, put my daughter's best interest first and started feeding her formula.

Don't let the boob nazi's get on your case about it either. Formula is a life saver when your boobs don't work out for some reason or another. Way back, when a woman lost her milk or it never came in, she would pass her kids off to a lactating family member, friend or "wet nurse". That doesn't fly in the USA so formula is what we have to keep the calories flowing into our babies.

There is only one other thing you can try to do but when I asked my doctor said he didn't think it was a good idea. You could try some special hormone shots that are supposed to help milk production.

http://www.surrogacy.com/medres/article/lac.html

Whatever you decide to do, just make sure to keep taking your baby to get weighed and make sure she doesn't drop! I heard a story from the home nurse who took care of me right after I had given birth and was struggling with getting my milk to come in. She told me she thought she was breast feeding fine but her daughter was always fussy and she had just blamed it on gas. She didn't go to the doctor because she didn't think it was an issue. (She wasn't a nurse at this point in her life.) One day while she was in the grocery store she discreetly weighed her little girl on one of the fruit scales and was shocked to see she had lost a whole pound! Devastated she took her baby to the doctor and they brought her weight up after she stopped trying to breast feed and moved onto formula.

Sometimes it just doesn't work out. I felt really guilty when I realized I couldn't breast feed but I had to stop beating myself up because it didn't do anyone any good. And my daughter is healthy and happy so it's a non issue now.

Acupuncture! I'm here in SF. You are welcome to contact me.
I'm not sure where you are loctaed . Call my office and we may be able to help you with a referral for a qualified practitioner in your area. I'd be happy to talk with you on the phone as well.
Very Best,
J. G., Acupuncturist, 415 750 -9227

Go easy on yourself. Your baby has gotten tons of nutrients and antibodies from you and may just want more solids. Lots of good adive, but I caution about Reglan. It is known to have side effects such a depression and anxiety. I pushed me into full blown depression. Weigh the benefits of breast milk versus your mental health when it comes to this drug and then it did nothing to help my milk supply. Stick with Fenugreek if works for you - the only side effect is that you may smell like maple syrup.

Hi,

I had this happen to me also with my son who is now 13 months old. My milk dried up at around 7 or 8 months. I drank a lot of water daily. I tried the fenugreek tea but found that it made it worse. Stress also decreases your milk supply.
Keep putting your child on your breast! - it will help in stimulating the milk glands to produce more. You may not see the immediate change but it definitly helps. I also changed my eating habits - and switched to eating much healthier foods- veggies, fruit, lean meat, etc. I've heard a diet based heavily with breads and sugar will make the milk production decrease.

Hope this helps,

Kristina

I had the same problem. I took Fenugreek starting at week 2 with my son and took it all the way until he was done at 1 year. At around 8 months, my supply went down, even with the Fenugreek. How do I know this? He kept waking up to drink more milk and I was not getting enough sleep in the meantime. Also, he was eating A LOT of solids to suppliment the fact that he was not drinking enough milk. So...he was still gaining weight, but as a mom, I knew he was not getting enough breast milk. So...I decided to suppliment with formula. I figured that I had gone through 8 months with only breast milk and that was as much as I could do exclusively. Gradually, I was able to nurse him for comfort, but felt that he got enough milk with the suppliment.

Every mom knows if their child is getting enough food/milk because you are there everyday to see their moods and behavior. Don't let anyone make you feel inadequate or go against what you may think is best. Not every mom produces a ton of breastmilk because we are all built so different. Just know that we are all doing the best we can for our children! There is no shame in a suppliment! Trust your instincts and in the end, do what YOU think is the best for your child. Good Luck!

Fenugreek (supplement)

Fenugreek is another common herb used in natural breast enhancement. Fenugreek has actually been used for centuries in the practice of aruyvedic medicine as well as used commonly in Chinese medicine.

Fenugreek purportedly has several benefits. Let's explore them and how they may relate to bust enhancement products....

This herb is used to help regulate blood sugar in diabetics. What would this have to do with our subject? Quite possibly, since it regulates blood sugar, and blood sugar is one of the biggest determining factors in hormone balance, the two complement one another. In other words, if your blood sugar is balanced, your hormones are almost always going to follow suit. Hormonal balance really helps facilitate natural breast growth.

Fenugreek is also used in herbal medicine as a cholesterol regulator.

Fenugreek has also reportedly helped stimulate the immune system, has antioxidant properties, and the seeds of this herb are rich in natural plant protein.

And finally, and perhaps most relevant to NBE, Fenugreek is traditionally used by lactating women to increase their natural milk production, and is also used in postpartum support.

Love, G.. :0)
http://stemcellforautism.blogspot.com/

"I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical. Even God had some Autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin." ~ Jerry Newport

Hi M.,
Congrats on your precious baby! She has changed your life forever! I don't have a solution for you, but just some personal experience and encouragement. I have 4 children, all girls. With every one, I was out of milk by no later than 3 months, and with a couple of them, it didn't even last that long. I tried everything, but I just couldn't produce. All our bodies are made differently. Some women can produce gallons and some of us struggle to get a couple of ounces. Your baby is 8 months old and has gotten the best of what you have to give. There is, unfortunately, a strong core base of "breastfeed only or die trying" women who can, most likely with the best of intentions, make those of us who can't produce well feel like losers and failures. Let me just tell you, I had to begin giving all 4 of my children formula very early on. No, I wasn't happy about it. Of course I wanted to breastfeed my children. It definitely felt like a loss to me and I cried every time. But the fact is you should not feel like a failure just because your body does not produce milk like others might. Please, please, please do not be afraid of giving your child formula. Formula has come a long way from its original stages. Of course it is not the same as breastmilk, but it is healthy and has all the vitamins, minerals, calories and nutrients a baby needs. And by the time your baby is 1 year old, she needs to be on regular whole milk anyway for good brain and bone growth. You have done your best. Now it's time to let that stress go and relax, knowing you have done the best you can for your baby and that she will be completely fine. Being a mother is stressful enough in other areas. There's no need to heap more stress on yourself for something you should not feel guilty about at all. God bless and take care of yourself, too.

Sheila at the Pennisula Breastfeeding Center in Burlingame is a fantastic lactation consultant and a 1hr appointment is $110 dollars. She can help you diagnose supply problems and any latch problems. She recommended taking Goat's Rue in addition to fennugreek. (It's available there and I've seen it at Whole Foods as well).

In addition to Oatmeal,Barley also increases production/richness. Try making a beef/barley soup. Also, avoid pepperment (tea, oils, creams, etc...) and sage as they decrease production.

I had the same thing happen to me. I was able to nurse my first two for 6 months. With my third, I was only able to do it for 2 1/2 months. I tried everything. I finally gave myself the persmission to stop. I was so stressed out (which probably contributed to not having enough milk). I kept telling myself that I was on formula as a baby and I turned out fine.

Sorry I didn't give you a solution. But if you have to stop, it's ok.

Hi there a mom of 4 with my oldest 18 and my youngest 9. Nursed them all. Nursing is a supply and demand, she is getting older so she is eating other foods and maybe drinking water out of a cup her demand is not so demanding. Your fine. At one point you will know when she can be whened. At one she will be able to drink regular milk. so be patient. if you didn't have any you wouldn't be able to pump. Trust your instincts. Good luck.

Sometimes things just don't work out as we'd like. My grandmother never had milk come in for my mom. My mother was one of the first true formula babies back in the 1940s. My mother sucessfully nursed all three of her children.

Both my sister and I had problems with milk production in our first pregnancies. My sister had twins -- which take twice the milk! My problem was just a hungry kid who wanted more than I had to give. I finally talked with a lactation consultant around 4-6 weeks of age and tried everything the lactation consultant suggested. Around 3 months of age, she had me supplement my son with formula AFTER nursing at every feeding. We started with 1/2 ounce at a time. He's a happy healthy 14 year old, almost 6 feet tall, who has always eaten more than his peers, but maintains a healthy weight.

With my second pregnancy, my daughter, I sought the advice of a lactation consultant from day 1 to head off any supply problems. I pumped after every feeding and ended up with loads of frozen milk! I even looked into donating to a local milk bank but it was too far away to be feasible for me with two small children.

Don't dispair, you could just have a hungry kid this time around and next time you'll have more than enough!

Your daughter will definitely let you know if she's NOT getting enough food. Trust me on that, they howl if they're still hungry!

if your daughter is filling diapers don't worry about the amount you are pumping. i pumped with my second child because i was working. i used a hand pump which was a pain... LOL but i only pumped 3-4 oz at a time... until she was over a year old... but she nursed just fine and grew to be a healthy 8 year old now. LOL :) don't put too much pressure on yourself.. nurse on demand... and relax.. if she needs more, she'll tell you. :)

Hi, I am a Nutritional Consultant and have worked with another mom on this issue and having some success.

I am also a mom of 4 and nursed them all!

I would like to have you watch

www.sharethecause.com/live

This 10 minute documentary outlines an issue which many are not aware of and it is affecting how our body works especially in the hormonal level.

You need to drink half your body weight in ounces a day of water... pure water for hydration. If you drink any caffinated beverages, add an additional cup.

Also, why are your pumping vs nursing? Nursing is the best way to get your milk up. You cannot pump what can be nursed.
Stress can also be an issue, find some relaxing things to do and let go of what you cannot change.

You can reach me for further info and solutions if you so desire via the documentary. L. M.

I sense you want a natural solution and I don't have that. My doctor prescribed Raglan. It is use for acid reflux, which I have, but she was unaware of, but the side-effect is HYPER LACTATION even in men. Man a day or two of that and I had milk.
As long as I drank lots of water, milk was squirting out.

Stephanie

When babies are 8 months old, they usually reach the point where they are so curious about the things going on around them that they start popping off the boob to check things out. They are also busy exploring their surroundings and playing with their toys, so they are not nursing as much. Your milk is probably reflecting these changes. Also, she probaly does not need as much milk, because she is getting nutrition form other sources.

I know where you are coming from. As a mother of two, I also got scared that I was not producing as much milk as my son needed (around 8 months also). I tried teas and drank a beer a day and ate oatmeal and almonds which is supposed to help. I ended up nursing my oldest until three and never had to supplement. After a while, I began to realize that things had changed and he was not nursing like a new born anymore.

Take care and try to relax... I know it is hard, especially with your first!

Hi M.,
Fist of all congratulations for breat feeding your daughter, good job. Secodly, why do you "feel she isn't getting enough"? In what way does she indicate she is still hungry after you feed her?
In any case you might get good advice when you contact the La Leche League. I don't know where you are located but you can find them in the phone book or on line.
Continue to feed you daughter the natural way.
S.

I had the same problem with my son. I went to a lactation specialist and she had me start taking Goat's Rue. It is not found everywhere so I would call around to your local pharmacies and nutrition stores. It worked so well with me. I hope this helps.

S.

Hi M.,

The herbal supplement that really helped me was More Milk Plus by Mother Love: http://www.motherlove.com/product_more_milk_plus.php

If you haven't taken tinctures below, please be aware it's very strong tasting. They also sell the blend in capsule form. It contains fenugreek as well as a few other herbs that support lactation. I use to take just fenugreek caps but found More Milk Plus more effective and easier to use.

I also use a hospital grade pump. I rent a Medela Symphony and it really is different than using the Medela Advanced Pump in Style. The monthly cost is much cheaper than buying cans of formula.

You might consider seeing a lactation consultant for more hands on advice and support. And definitely have your baby get weighed to see if weight loss is occuring. Look into your local La Leche League leader for resources and advice. They are a wonderful group.

For me, I've had to pump since my baby was a few days old. Long story...but we tried everything and we had an additional stress of her diagnosis of hip dysplasia (and brace wearing). For the first 4 months, I could only pump about 60% of her needs and had to supplement with formula the other 40%. However with the herbal tincture and pumping, I now can exclusively feed her breastmilk. My daughter is almost 11 months old.

I have noticed a drop in my supply as I've dropped the number of pumpings. But she also seems to need less as she gets more into solid food.

I wish you the best! I hope you are able to keep your supply up. If you end up needing to supplement, just know you're doing what's best for your baby. And she'd still be getting breastmilk thus still receiving its benefits.

~K.

I have been there with my first born. I ended up renting a high grade pump from the hospital where I had him. I pumped between every feeding. There may also be some great suggestions at these sites:

http://www.llli.org/
http://www.kellymom.com/

Both sites are a wonderful resource for breastfeeding. Good luck!

T.
Founder of The Parent Pack
of Sonoma & Marin County
http://sonoma.ca.theparentpack.org

Stop pumping. With me... My milk supply decreased when I pumped. It's Tiring on you because you will be the only one who can get up with her or feed her and she'll always have to be with you, but if you stop pumping and just let her be the trigger for your milk production it might increase like mine did. My son is coming up on 10 months and we're still nursing. He won't touch formula, but then again have you smelled that stuff? BLEH! I don't blame him.

I am experiencing the same with my 6 month old daughter. I am finding that if I nurse then offer veggies (if she is still wanting more food), that seems to satisfy her. I am also pumping 3x a day and drinking a barley drink (please don't drink beer, you want the barley not the alcohol!) The barley drink was passed down from my great-grandma and works great. You soak pearl barley (6cups water to 2 cups barley) for 6-8 hours, then boil and simmer for 2 hours, strain and add sugar to taste. You can even eat the barley or make a soup...
I also drink mother's milk tea throughout the day. Remember, as I always seem to forget, to relax. Best of luck.

I just wanted to say I completely agree with Janine M. All of this sound perfectly normal to me. Your little lady is probably just ready for more solids. I would stay away from formula at this point.

Relax, enjoy cuddling and feeding your lovely daughter. Feed her as often as she wants to from both sides and keep it up until she is two years old and you will have done what is best for her and for you. If she is severely underweight (ask your doctor) feed her other things in addition to our breast milk which is the perfect food for her. Don't give up. I am sure your baby isn't worried.

Great grandma, N.

Can you pump more often? My sister had a newborn, and was having the same problems. She started taking hte fenugreek and was told to pump every 3-4 hours. It took weeks, but now she is pumping and is ahead of the baby with milk in the freezer.
Hope this helps.

How do you know you are not making enouph. Is your daughter gaining weight? You need to relax. Also, having a beer will help your milk come in! Your daughter is 8 months she should be eating solids. You have done a great job,you are very close to 12 months just relax and keep it up.

I am a mother of a 21 month old and a 4 month old. With my first I breastfed her until she as 9 months old and started biting me because I wasn't producing enough milk (turns out i was pregnant with my second daughter and my body decided I was done breastfeeding). I am breastfeeding my four month old now and I have noticed that it is very important when I pump milk that I take a quiet moment and just think about her (sometimes a picture helps too) until my milk lets down. A friend of mine has used warm/hot washcloths on her breasts to help her milk let down when she is at work and pumping as well. Otherwise you may only be pumping a little bit, when you could have pumped 1-2 bottles worth in one sitting. Also, pumping extra in the morning an hour after I breastfeed her helps keep my milk stores up.
One more thought, at eight months old maybe she is getting enough milk, but needs more cereal and/or solids throughout the day? If you are making your own fruits and veggies then she is getting breastmilk from those, as well as cereal (I always used breastmilk instead of water, I think most people do). Just a thought.
Good luck, it is not easy when your milk starts running low, but hang in there for as long as possible.

I had the same problem. What saved the day was a combination of Reglan and Domperidone. Go to http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/domperidonewhere.shtml to find out how to get domperidone. You can get Reglan from your health care provider.

Hi,

You worry too much. When Nathan was born until he was 12 mo. it was all me, no baby food or nothing. I made food and bought food nothing, all me. then my Isabell was born I thought I was
producing only a little so I took the mother's milk tea and drank a lot of water. I breast was not engorge like the first child. my lactation dr. told me that Isabell was gaining weight and she's healthy. both my children wake up 2x at night to have mommy milk and I just let them sleep with me and move them to their crib when i'm not too lazy to wake up. They also go through a growth spurt.

So relax...enjoy your baby and have fun.

Oh... please do not drink alcohol while breast feeding...

M.

You didn't mention how you know you're not making enough milk? Is it based on your pumping? I just wanted you to know that I nursed three kids, the first two until a year, and this last one is still going at 2, and I've never been able to get more than a few drops from pumping. My breasts never get swollen or leak past the first few weeks of giving birth. There's never any milk spillage when my daughter nurses, but I've just always tried to remain confident in my body. Also, her growth was normal at all checkups (beware of the pediatritian who is quick to recommend formula, they often take the easy way out). At 8 months your daughter is starting to get nutrition from solids. Is there a reason you need to pump 4 times a day? Maybe that is causing too much stress? Try to relax and trust in your body, you're giving your daughter the best start in life. Good luck to you and congrats on a healthy baby!!

Hi M.-
There's lots of info already on pumping, etc, but I wanted to note that you haven't had to supplement in 8 MONTHS...so you daughters been growing well and doing fine on what you at producing! Remember that first!

Our babies control how much milk we make if they are able to effectively nurse. Cold it be she is just slowing down naturally in these second 6 mos of life...if you can see a Lactation Consultant, ask to see how she's doing with milk intake and compare that to what the LC knows abou this age. maybe she's just wanting to eat more solids at 8 mos...the natural progression is to slow decrease nursing as you approach one year. Some babies just do it on there own. You know your baby better than anyone else...is she thriving and happy? If you say yes, maybe you're body is doing exactly what she needs still :)

Good Luck..

Please get your thyroid checked! Low thyroid (even levels in the low normal range) can cause decreased milk production. Low iron (anemia) can also cause this. Look it up online if you need ammunition to take to your doctor to get him/her to test you. I didn't know this until it was too late for me!

In this article about low milk supply, there is a section called Mother's Issues. http://www.mobimotherhood.org/MM/article-lms.aspx

Push your doctor and be sure to ask to see the results. Levels in the "low normal" range are still low!

Good luck! ~L.

M.,

Please don't worry. Try to relax - this will help your milk supply. The same thing happened to be when I started taking birth control again. I stopped and almost immediately noticed a difference. If you are taking birth control this can make you stop producing milk. I also took "More Milk Plus" by Mother Love - bought it at the natural food store in a liquid form. I took this for about a month and my milk supply rebounded. Also, you might be drinking too much water. My friend who is a lactation consultant said that you can actually drown your supply by drinking too much water. You need to stay hydrated, but don't force yourself. I am able to be home with my son who is now 13 months. I am still nursing him. I used to pump just once a day in the morning after his first feeding - he usually would only nurse on one side and the other side was very full. I tried not to stress over the amount that I pumped. My supply did eventually go down and I only pumped when he didn't nurse on both sides and I felt full - again I have the luxury of doing this because I am home with him and don't need to provide bottles for a caregiver.

Please take care and don't stress too much. You have given your daughter a wonderful start with your milk. Everything will work out. :)