Low Milk Supply - San Gabriel, CA

Hi L.,
I have been taking fenugreek capsules. Fenugreek is found in the Mother's Tea, but I found that just taking the capsule alone increased my milk supply. Plus, I pump (or at least try pumping) after every feeding. You can buy the capsules at GNC or any vitamin, or health food store, I hope this helps, good luck!

Hi L.,
Try fenugreek and blessed thistle together. I had a low supply and my lactation consultant recommended I take 3 fenugreek pills & 3 blessed thistle 3x a day for 3 day. Plus pump 20 minutes after you feed the baby. You'll see an increase for reals. My baby is 9 months and I'm still breastfeeding. I still take the pills it's all natural so no side effects. Well you may smell like syrup but that's okay. I found both at WholeFoods. Give this a try. I did it for 3 weeks and I went from pumping 2 oz to 4 1/2 to 5 from each breast. Good Luck!

What has really helped me is having a fresh juice with kale, romaine lettuce, carrots, apple and celery. It has so much vitamins for the body to make milk that I always have lots of milk after I make this juice. Also, some smoothies help too, you can add fresh orange juice, bananas, fresh young coconut if available, 2 Tablespoons of flax oil, fresh berries, 1 Tablespoon of Tahini or Almond Butter, 1/2 Cup of Kefir(like yogurt). The more fresh fruits and veggies in your diet the better. The teas never worked for me, I read The Raw Food Detox Diet Book by Natalia Rose and the chapter on nursing is great. You can go to a barnes and noble and just read the chapter on nursing if you do not want to buy the book, but I highly recommend what that mom did, and her info. if very valuable. Best of luck.
It sounds like you are doing your best, hang in there, visualizations and affirmations are helpful. Also, some weeks your milk will be lower, some weeks they are higher. At times I would only pump and ounce or two, other times, it was high like 4 ounces total. It varied according to my stress level too. You are doing a great job!

here is my list on how to build your supply..the last thing on the list will increase your milk..but it's not approved in the U.S. but is approved in other countries..it's actually an antiacid type med..and at 9 months i was only pumping an ounce..i started taking 2 motilium pills a day for 2 weeks went back up to pumping 6 oz's
but here is my list..don't get discouraged..also if you were w/ the lac coach say..in the middle of the day..that's when the milk supply is usually at it's lowest...it varies throughout the day..
hope this helps

1. rent a hospital grade pump..Medela Classic is what i'm using..it's $3 a day and totally worth it! OR better yet buy one off ebay and when you're done you can re-sell it on ebay and get your money back. i bought one and it works great..the medela classic is supposed to be the best pump out there.
2. get the Easy Expression bra www.easyexpressionproducts.com it holds both cups over you bb's and it's better to pump 2 at a time
3. eat oatmeal ....get the healthy kind i add bananas also i would think pasta would be good b/c it retains water
4. Take "Lactation Supplement" by Gaia Herbs you can find it at the health food store
5. try to pump at the same time every day...also try power pumping..10 minutes pumping..then stop for 10 then 10 again and then stop and so on. even pump if you aren't getting anything.
6. Make sure the white membrane thingies that attach onto the cups are fairly new ..over used ones affect how much milk you get
7. Drink lots of fluids including Nursing Mom's tea or Mother's Milk tea or the tea i prefer is www.breastea.com ..also drinks with electrolytes like Recharge...Smart Water...Gatorade i notice on days i drink a lot of fluids i have more milk
8. Eat barley..Barley Grass supplements are great. also..they have barley bread at Trader Joe's if you have a Trader Joe's where you live..or just buy barley. I buy a delicious barley tea at the japanese market and i drink a couple of cups a day..it's decaf and yummy.
i also drink Healthy Mom's drinks by Ensure
9.A warm wash cloth helps too ..apply to breasts before pumping or try the breast heating pads that you heat up in the microwave.
10. Keep taking your prenatal vitamin..not getting a lot of milk could mean a vitamin deficiency
even if you pump just a little ..save what you get and start adding them together and then supplement with the milk that you pump..that's why it's also good to pump after they've gone to sleep..then you help build your supply and you also have more bb milk for baby..
11. nurse nurse nurse..triple up on nursing..you're going to have to dedicate a week to it
the more you pump the more milk you'll begin to make.
12. LOTS OF REST..nap if you can ..milk builds when you rest
13. DHA supplements also are great for lactation..also found at the health food store*
14. Alfalfa supplements are also great.
i think that's it..
15. Try a whey protein powder drink.. i use "Whey to Go" by Solgar..you mix it with milk add some berries and a banana. it says to check with your doc before using if you're bfing..so ask your doc..i only drink one a day and i add a some Motherlove's "More Milk Plus" to it.
16. Again you should double pump when you're pumping so make sure you get the bra to make it easier on you!
17. Goat's Rue herb is also supposed to help boost
honestly drink LOTS of liquids
keep yourself moist ...don't take any birth control pills.
18. there is also this stuff called Motilium aka DOM a lot of mom's use this ..it's for reflux but it builds up your supply.. you can read about it on Kellymom.com http://www.kellymom.com/newman/19a-domperidone1.html
and you can buy it here... http://www.inhousepharmacy.com/general/motilium.html

Yes!Don't give up!I completly lost my milk when I suffered from an inner ear infection and took a medicine that I shouldn't have.My son was 6mo and I was freaking out!I immediatly started fennugreek ,which can increase your milk 100%.I let him suck and pumped in between before I knew it I was filled with milk again and alot of it.I continued to breastfeed my son untill he was almost 4.He didn't take solid foods untill after he was one.He loved the milk!

call the La Leche Leauge go to http://llli.org/WebUS.html to find someone local in your area and ask them. they are a nonprofit group that has been around for at least 30 years, my mom used them for all of my siblings. and I have needed them for my son as well. They will have the answers and can help!!!
my words for you are don't get frustrated just remember your body will change its supply according to what your son needs are as he gets older and needs more or less.

All the best
J. Claire Bitting
w/Spare Hands ###-###-####

Hi L.,

I just wanted to encourage you, I was a breastfeeding mother of low milk supply also, with all 3 of my children. I did also try a lot of the supplements and some increased a little and the others did not. Breastfeed as much as you can and try not to stress because that will defintely not help, do not allow this one phase of your son's life to dictate what kind of mother you are. I nursed one child until he was 1, I nursed the other unitl she was 11 months, and the last one I pumped until he was 7 months. So every story is different. Keep going until you guys decided you are done. The pumpstation was great for me in Santa Monica, Corky is wonderful and very knowledgeable. Enjoy your precious little boy and the ride of motherhood.

T.

DRINK MORE WATER!!!! (and Lots of other liquids too - plus B vitamins help!)
Love,
R.

PS - I just saw some other great info too at:
http://www.mommywood.com/content/node/51

I agree. I also take fenugreek. I know it is hard but I was told that stress can affect your milk supply. I had difficulty the first three weeks and then I really took an attitude that I could do this and it worked. I also pumped to help stimulate my breasts. I ended up supplementing with one bottle of formula because my daughter would just breastfeed for hours on end. I got scared when she wouldn't take formula because I always thought in case of an emergency she would so that is another reason why we give it to her. Anyway, you have to do what is best for you. But I agree that you should get a second opinion. My milk supply has changed a lot since the first few weeks! Good luck!!

I had supply issues but was lucky enough finding healthy nursing tea which worked wonder and increased my supply.

Hi L.,
Don't be discouraged..that will only make your milk supply worsen. Try fenugreek capsules. You can find them in any health food store. They work really well. Also, try drinking a lot of water, taking warm showers before feeding, and taking a few deep breaths as well. Have you tried pumping? How do you know that he is only getting 1oz? If you are pumping, try these things also right before pumping, and try to pump about 1/2 hour after feeding him. Hope it helps!

I don't believe that about milk supply being established in the first few weeks, becaues mine fluctuated throughout nursing, especially with my first baby. Please try another lactation consultant, or call Dr. Paul Fleiss' office and make an appointment. They are on Hillhurst in Los Feliz, and are a great breastfeeding support. I would suggest pumping after every feeding to stimulate your supply, and every few hours at a minimum. I know a woman who did this and it did work. Also, mother's milk tea isn't strong enough. Get plain fenugreek tablets. When my supply would drop, Dr. Fleiss said take 13 pills all at once - it sounds dreadful but I did it, and then a few more a few times a day. It will make you smell vaguely like maple syrup but it is worth it. Also, a tea I found to be much more effective than mother's milk, that I ordered online, was called "Milkmaid Tea". It is a loose tea so you need a tea ball or something. Make sure you are nursing a LOT, every couple of hours. Keep trying - and make sure you are getting rest and plenty to drink and lot's of healthy nutritious food. Take care of yourself. Also, a little supplementing while you build up your supply isn't a failure. Think of the benefits your baby is getting from any mother's milk you provide.

L.,
Speak to another lactation consultant. Contact A Mother's Haven; they are located in Encino (don't know if you're in the L.A. area) They have good lactation consulants, you can check them out on the web. Also, La leche league. There must be a way...get advice from the pros.
Best wishes...and don't give up...

I didn't have any luck but I want to share my story in case it helps. That time of my life (with both kids) was very hard and stressful since I wanted to exclusively breastfeed. :( My sisters both were able to do so but no matter what I tried it never worked right for me.

Here is my story if it helpstoo!!!

Feed as often as you can but try (I say try--I know that is hard because I stressed anyway) try not to stress out about the milk supply because it will only decrease it. With my first son I was able to "breastfeed" (I put that in parenthesis because I breastfed and pumped but I always had to supplement--I think that at my best I was able to pump 3.5 ounces!) I stressed out so much about it and always felt like a failure...my second son my milk was even worse and I stopped producing at about 4 or 5 months. I had to tell myself that I could be a good mom and that my baby would be fine even if he some formula and not 100% breastmilk! I tried Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle (herbal remedies/pills) and neither worked for me :(

For you I'll tell you what I did with both of my kids. I fed them on both sides till I was dry and then supplemented with a bottle. Neither of them ever thought twice about formula. Do whatever you need to do to keep your kid happy and not leave him hungry. He'll still get the good stuff from you and the additional nourishment that he needs from the formula. My 8 month old loves the Kirkland Formula (it has the from Costco (19.99 for two 25.7 oz cans)--it's the cheapest that I can find and it matches up with Similac's Advance Infant Formula http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/237515/similac_a...

Good luck in whatever you decide! Keep breastfeeding! Keep pumping! You're doing great!

p.s. I just read some people that said that if you just nurse more and more and more that you will make more milk. I nursed and nursed and nursed until I bled, took every supplement that promised to help you make more milk, drank more water, pumped every time after feeding to "increase" my milk, and then finally figured out that not everyone makes enough! It took my 87 year old grandma to tell me that (she didn't make enough milk either) because EVERYONE else was telling me that I just needed to feed more or that I was crazy or not holding him right or something and I cried about having to give him formula for FOUR months! You do what you need to do to feed your kid. He will love you no matter what and will grow fine! And you are doing your best and that is good enough!!! Your worth as a mom isn't based on whether your body is like other's whose bodies produce sooooo much milk! Good luck!

Hi,

I had a low milk supply with my 2nd child. I noticed the difference early on and at 2 months started taking supplements from Whole Foods. They are capsules you take 3 times a day. Well, nothing worked. I drank lots of water so that I was sure I was not dehydrated. I pumped as much as I could in addition to nursing, partly to store milk for the future and to try to keep my milk up. I finally started to supplement with formula at 3 months. I fought it as hard as I could but was all dried up by 5 months (by the end I barely getting a full 4 oz. in the MORNING!). Don't beat yourself up. You've got a lot to offer. There are a million other ways to give your son the best, healthiest, brightest future.

Have you tried calling the pump station? They are very helpful. I did not have this happen, but I'm sure you can increase supply. Pumping will help alot. Please don't give up. I admire you for wanting to continue. I ended up going 4 yrs (NEVER thought I'd do that!!) I wish you the best! you are a fantastic mother! Best, H.

I am the mother of six, I breast feed and had them all natural. I use the book "The Motherly Art of Breastfeeding" faithfully and it answered all my questions and they even have a help line, the number is in the book. You can still produce enough milk for your son, get this book and read through it, start with the sections that are of most concern don't read through it like a noval. You will do just fine, try to relaxe and enjoy your baby.

The combination of Mother Milk Plus tablets and pumping every two hours (with a longer 4-5 hours stretch once at night) increased my milk supply when my baby was 6 weeks. I had to supplement too, but was able to move away from it pretty quickly. The first week after my doctor encouraged us to supplement, I started breastfeeding at 8 mins per breast, then formula supplementing until my baby was full, and then used warm compresses ("booby tubes" from Angel Baby products - basically a bag of flax seeds that you microwave to warm) and a double electric pump for 10 mins afterwards (which stimulates more milk production, even if hardly anything comes out). The next week, I breastfed for 10-12 mins per breast, supplemented (and it took a lot less formula because my milk production had already increased, plus you can also use the milk you pumped during the last session), and then pumped 10 mins afterwards again. We then moved to supplementing after every other feeding, and then after second feeding. The whole process, plus Mother's Milk Plus pills (from Whole Foods), took about 3 weeks to get me from producing about 1.5oz/feeding to 4 oz./feeding. The pumping can be tedious, but is totally worth it and does work! I've also heard that it helps to take a hot shower before you pump, but I could rarely get that much downtime from taking care of the baby:-)

Hi L.; I am now a grandma, so it may seem strange for me to give this advice, but I love breast feeding I am a strong advocate.

Here are some things for you to consider;
Are you an uptight type personality? If so, learn/try to relax. If at all possible rest with baby at nap time. Take a deep breath or 3 or 4.
Are you drinking enough fluids. More than the normal 8-8 oz glasses of water. Or 8 glasses H2O and then drink juice, milk, herb teas. Have a protein shake with some brewers yeast. Start with 1/4 tsp as it has a very strong flavor. Do you have a breast pump? This can help. My nutrition book suggests you massage the breast with firm pressure, from the chest wall toward the nipple to stimulate milk flow. Also, the hospital should be able to recommend a breast feeding nurse/specialist to help you. Suggested herbs; alfalfa,blessed thistle, dandelion, fennel,horsetail and raspberry. Stay away from;black walnut,se and yarrow. Hope this helps!