Need Suggestions to Produce More Breast Milk

Keep it going the more you feed him on the breast the more you will produce. Drink lots of water and eat veggies.

this may just be an old wives tale, but worth a try.
Try fresh DILL in salads , in scrambled eggs on fish or as a tea.Dill oil in a massage oil base and massage onto breasts.
The other thing to try is Fennel. Fresh in salad or chew the seeds. They both have a unique aniseed flavor.

K., STOP the supplements and breast feed as often as you can for awhile. The more the baby suckles, the more mile you will make.

Hola,
I am a mom of a 3 month old. I have breastfed exclusively all this time. I would first have to ask, why are you using Similac?

Any and every time that your baby feeds from your breast, you make more milk. The more the baby feeds, the greater the demand that your body gets, the more milk it will produce.

If you need to be away from your baby during a feeding time, pump and store your milk.

Why do you thimk you are not producing enough milk?

Two weeks of nursing is just the tip of the iceberg. The more often you put the baby to the breast, the more milk you will produce. It is a demand and supply system. If you supply the infant with formula instead of breastmilk, your body will not keep up with his demand. Sometimes, during a growth spurt, you will have to feed the baby nearly constantly; then your supply will catch up again and his demand will decrease. Try to concentrate more on putting the baby to the breast and less on pumping; the baby is the best pump of all. Some moms, but not all, are able to pump enough "extra" milk to supply the baby sitter with the infant's daily needs. If you can't manage pump enough supply for the baby sitter, have her alternate with formula bottles or mix the breast milk and formula. But, always put the infant to breast when you are home and able to do so. The more often he goes to the breast, the more milk you will produce. Good Luck. I really loved my nursing experience.
J. C.

what makes you say that your not producing enough milk? Is your baby not putting on weight? They only way to increase suppy, is by demand. so if you could, take the time to nurse baby all day (maybe for a day or three), that will naturally simulate your supply. Remember, a if a sink drain is closed up and the faucet is only dripping, the sink basin will fill just the same, it only takes longer.
I suggest you look up your local la leche leauge or the hospitals lactation consultant can guide you. I have also heard that fenugreek found at a healthfood store can boost your milk supply

Are you eating right and still taking you prenatal vitamins? This is very important also to drink lots of milk and water yourself it really helps with producing (i craved it in the beginning), some people are just naturally small produces I had the opposite I produce so much I could have fed three babies. Keeping pumping and take good care of yourself nutritionally. No drinking, smoking and look into foods and other things that could be slowing milk supply. Everthing from wearing binding bras and clothes to medicine you might be taking. Good Luck keep trying and you start producing enough.

Hi K., congratulations on the birth of your son. It sounds as if you have a lot going on with breastfeeding, and it would be difficult to reply fully without more information from you. I am not sure what it is that makes you think you are not producing enough. is it related to his weight, or just frequency of interest in nursing? Breastfed babies are meant to go to the breast frequently, sometimes every hour or more in the early weeks. You mentioned pumping and formula. Giving bottles can cause more problems, because the baby sucks on the bottle so much differently than on the breast. In addition, because formula takes longer to digest, the baby will not be hungry again as soon and so will not go to the breast as soon. Stimulation leads to production; it is a simple system of demand and supply. The demand generally creates the supply unless there is some underlying health reason related to the mother, which is not common. Babies can be supplemented in other ways of they truly need it.

I would strongly recommend that you contact your local La leche League group for further support and information. If there was a lactation consultant where you gave birth, you could call and schedule an appointment with her.

It is often challenging at first with breastfeeding when we are learning to use our bodies in a new way. Hearing a variety of different things from different people can be very confusing and distressing to new moms. It is very important to find knowledgeable expert help. Hang in there. Many women have had difficult beginnings and gone on to breatfeed happily and successfully!

J., lactation consultant and la leche league leader

It's really important that you speak to a lactation specialist. They are so helpful with things like this and will give you great direction in this area.

I am a mother of a 3 month old. I know how hard it is. I have a web-site that has been way awesome for me. There is so much encouragement and so many women who know what they are talking about. Please give it a try. There are La Leche League women there also to help.

http://forums.llli.org/index.php

It takes a minute to set up your profile but it well worth it! and Its FREE I have called a few La Leche League places around town and they cost around $35 a visit. Keep up the good work and remember this IS the hardest time of the nursing experience.... it WILL get easer!

Don't give up! Let him nurse as much as he wants to. It may seem almost constantly for the first three months, but then he will find his groove and put himself on a feeding scheduke once he has gotten yoiur supply where it needs to be. I have nursed both my girls (5 & 7 now) and am currently nursing my almost 6 month old. I run my own business (mostly from home) and so I know what it is like to be busy. My production/flow is so so slow. I bought some wraps (moby) and slung him to me. He nursed almost constantly for 3 months! But he is healthy and wonderful. I drink that tea a few times a day...and lots of water!

Hello K.,

It doesn't sound as if you are actually nursing your baby. It seems as if you are putting the milk into bottles. The best way to increase your milk supply is by allowing your son to nurse on demand. That means if he shows sign and cues of nursing, then allow him to do so. when my children were that young... It felt like all I did was drink water and nurse. Yep, that's all I did.

Hope this helped a little,

L.

I wasn't producing enough milk to fill the little tummy of my two months old but since I started healthy nursing tea now I can satisfy him without supplementing.

K.
Breastfeeding is sooo hard....yet so worth it. Keep trying, if you can.....I used a natural supplement call Lactation Ease found at the health food store. It has two main herbs in it that helps produce more milk...or thicken what you are producing. My girlfriend had trouble at first and the Dr. told her to drink one beer a day. She split it up 1/2 in the morn. and 1/2 at night....something in the beer makes the milk come in faster......it worked for her. My milk was just not heavy enough for my son....he ate every two hours for 5mo. ( that is not the norm. though, so please don't be alarmed) And we did try formula at night when a mothers body is at it's weakest.... we did the lactose free by similac around dinner time. Then I would nurse him the rest of the time. Good luck....and any amount of nursing you do is wonderful!!!! J. j

They say to drink lots of water. And when the bay is done feed, pump for a few minutes so you r body will think the baby needs more then produce more.
I nurses both of my sons for 18 months(of course they were eating food too) and I found with my second child is was easier and I produced more milk. Also get plenty of rest.Your body doesnt work well if tired.

If you are using the formula in a bottle this early it may confuse the infant. Its much easier to suck out of a bottle than it is to suck from the breast. So even when you are trying to breastfeed, the child may not be latching on properly because he is sucking like he'd suck from a bottle. To avoid nipple confusion, usually bottles are not introduced until 1-2 months after the baby is born. Introducing after 3 months may be difficult because the child may not want to suck from a bottle. Having your husband suckle your breasts may help too. He can definitely latch on and get milk flowing enough for your body to think it needs to produce more, or for you to pump for later. Keep in mind that the amount of milk that flows under expression isn't very much even with women who are producing enough milk. Is it possible you are producing enough and just not realizing it? Formula also tastes sweeter than breastmilk. Bottles and formula could be confusing for such a young baby.

Hi K.,

Don't give up. That is my best advice. I am a 3 time breastfeeder with my 3 sons. Each experience was unique. The 1st time it was no problem and I did it for one year. The 2nd time I was not producing enough milk because my husband was in Iraq and the stress was blocking my ability to make milk so it only lasted for 2 1/2 months. I have a 6 month old now and it has been an entirely different experience. I felt that I had supply issues at the beginning, and although I didn't want to, I gave him a bottle of formula to check it out and he drank it all. I started reading up and supplementing when I felt that he was not getting enough. The dangerous thing with that is that my milk started to decrease because of the skipped breast feedings and not pumping enough. I've really studied up, and with much help from the Central Florida Breastfeeding Center ###-###-####), I was able to get my supply up and I am now able to pump when I have to go to work. Three things that are extremely important for you.

1. Understand that your baby will go through growth spurts where it seems that he is eating all the time and you don't feel that you have enought milk...9 out of 10 times, you do! Everytime you put your baby to breast, you will stimulate more milk. It may take a few days to catch up, but your supply will increase to acccomodate your baby.
2. Skin to skin contact is extremely important for you right now. You need to find some private time with your baby that you can have him only in a diaper against your bare chest. That skin to skin contact will trigger the release of oxytocin in your body with will trigger milk let down. You will think that it isn't helping and be tempted to limit it, but don't. Skin to skin can be a huge breakthrough for you!
3.If you still feel that your baby is not satisfied, you can give him a formula supplement, but you should do it as you would breastfeed...skin to skin and have a pumping session immediately after so that you do not lose breast stimulation for milk production.

I also took Fenugreek sometimes, but I don't know that that is the answer for everyone. Sometimes it doesn't work and I'm not convinced it helped me much, but I felt that it was worth a try. This whole thing can be very frustrating, but know that it won't last long. You will get past this and be successful. You also need to have someone who is a great support to you when you feel like giving up. I went to the Central Florida Breastfeeding Alliance to the Mom's Cafe on Friday mornings at 10 AM. It is full of new moms and their babies and you can chat with them and feed your baby. You get some great ideas and support. There is also a book that I really used to help me through...Breastfeeding Made Simple - Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers by Mohrbacher and Kendall-Tackett.

I hope this helps you. You can do it!

Hi new brestfeeding mom--
I nursed 2 sons (had one son at 30 years old, one son at 40 years old). What I learned was to nurse on demand--no schedule--drink LOTS of water--relax, rest, and trust in Supply and Demand relationship. Let your little one set his pace and supply. Consider backing off the formula supplementation, as bottle feeding is "easier" to suck and your little one may start to prefer the manmade nipple out of convenience.
Call your local La Leche League and enjoy!
D.

Hi K., my name is S. and I too breastfed my children. When my second son was born, my milk did not come in as well as before so my doctor recommended I go to the natural foods store and purchase an herb that makes your milk increase. I am unfortunately, unable to remember the name of the herb but I bet they'd know what you were in need of. Good luck and keep trying, It's so worth it.

I have nursed both of my girls successfully and with both, my mom told me I wasn't producing enough milk because they ate all the time. The best things you can do to produce enough milk drinking plenty of water and juice yourself, getting rest when the baby does and letting that baby nurse every time he wants to. Especially in the beginning because he needs to teach your body how much milk he requires. It has to learn from him how much to make. If you want to supplement, that is between you and your doctor, but I never did. I just let my girls nurse as much as they wanted in the first few months. As long as your baby is growing and developing fine according to the pediatrician (bowel movements & urination is normal), you shouldn't have anything to worry about. It's tiring for awhile, but soon they get into a routine. Both of mine turned out healthy and happy and if you saw them...they were well fed.

Hope this response helps. Good luck and I'm very proud of you for choosing to breast feed. It is a noble choice and certainly a beneficial one.

A.

Fenugreek pills were suggested to me by a lactation consultant - you can pick them up at a natural food store. The directions are on the back. They work wonders! You should notice a difference within a day or two. I used them while I was nursing my 2nd child as I was pumping A TON since I flew through my frozen milk with my first child. And definitely drink a lot of water and get plenty of food in you. Good luck!!!

First of all at 2 weeks you shouldn't be producing that much milk. Young babies can usually only take about 1-2 oz a feeding at that time. As you breastfeed your body will produce based on the needs of your child. So just make sure you guys are feeding about every 2 hours. If you baby is still hungry after you BF, wait until after you have fed her on the boob and you have emptied both and then offer her formula and pump. Don't pump instead of BFing unless you are having latching problems and/or your baby refuses to feed that way.
Also make sure you are drinking enough water--lots of it...
So give it TIME-most oms don't just start producing large amounts right away, it comes gradually and it will comes based on what the demands are--so keep breastfeeding/pumping and give yourself a couple more weeks!
If you are worried about weight gain of your baby, latching problems, etc, then try to find a lactation consultant that can watch you breastfeed and help you and your baby be more efficient. Call the hospital or birthing center you gave birth at and many have weekly free workshops where LC are available or you can pay to have one come for a one-on-one session.
I hope that helps.

I felt that same way with my first son and the doctor told me that you will make enough to satisfy your baby. You just need to nurse him more in order to make more. Maybe when he's done nursing you should hook up the breast pump. Not to get more milk out but to stimulate more milk production. If he feeds for 5 minutes each breast then pump for an additional 5 minutes each side or 10 minutes. If you get something out great if not you are still putting your breasts through the motion and next time they will make a little more and so on.
I agree that you should call your lactation consultant at your hospital and talk with them.

K.:

Please check out this wonderful site on breastfeeding:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html

It will cover so much on increasing your milk supply.

I guess my first question is, how do you know you are not producing enough milk? Really, the only way to know is if the baby is not producing enough wet/dirty diapers or if he's not gaining weight appropriately. Babies will usually drink 1-2 ounces from a bottle even if they are full, so the fact that he is taking from a bottle is not reliable.

I would also encourage you to get with a lactation consultant. Where did you deliver? Most hospitals in the area have lactation consultants and you can talk to them for free. I paid $150 for one to come out to my house and it was worth every penny.

I know it is really hard right now, but if you can continue to breastfeed until your baby is 6 months, it will help your baby so much. It protects the baby from asthma, allergies, obesity, cancer, multiple sclerois, etc. So I would definitely encourage you to find a lactation consultant or go to a La Leche League meeting (google them to find out the local meeting times).

Also, feel free to email me personally! I've been through the wringer with breastfeeding so I would definitely love to help in any way I can.

K.,
Do not, I repeat, do not supplement with formula if you are trying to produce more milk. If you give your baby formula, then he will not want to breastfeed, therefore, reducing your production by that one feeding. Breastfeed him whenever he wishes. Even if it is every 30 min. I breastfed for 1 full year and when I did supplement at about 6 mos, I would have to breastfeed extra to keep my milk up. Do not supplement. Pump your milk to keep it up too.
CS

I've heard these cookies help with milk production and taste really great too!

Housepoet's Famous Lactation Boosting
Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip & Flaxseed cookies

Ingredients :
* 1 cup butter or marg
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 4 tablespoons water
* 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal*
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups oats, thick cut if you can get them
* 1 cup or more chocolate chips
* 2 tablespoons of brewers yeast* (be generous)

Directions:
Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Mix together 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and water, set aside for 3-5 minutes. Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Stir flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to the margarine mix. Beat until blended. Sift together dry ingredients, except oats and chips. Add to margarine mixture. Stir in oats then chips. Scoop or drop onto baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment or silpat. The dough is a little crumbly, so it helps to use a scoop.

Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies.

Makes: 6 dozen cookies

Wow! Lots of responses. I don't have time to see if anybody recommended Fenugreek or not. When I was breastfeeding I got low too. I didn't know at that time that me dieting had an effect on the production (well, somebody told me that). Anyway, several people recommended fenugreek. I asked my ob dr about it because I wanted to make sure. He said women have been using it for years and it was fine. You can get it as a tea or as capsules at vitamin stores. It helped me a lot.

Hi K.,

Good for you for breastfeeding! It can be difficult at first, but is SO worth it.

Do not supplement if you are trying to increase production. Just nurse more often! I would be more than happy to talk with you about breastfeeding, or meet with you if you're in the Bradenton area. Please do not hesitate to get in touch - this is so important! You can do it!

C. Wilford
Natural Childbirth Educator
____@____.com
###-###-####

Dear K.,
I am a mother of four and I nursed all my babies. The youngest is 2 1/2 and she nursed till age 2. That said, do what's right for you. If you want to continue to nurse but want to take a break now and then with formula, it's okay. Contrary to popular belief, nursing does not have to be an all-or-nothing experience. However, when your baby is so little you have to nurse or pump 8-10 times a day to really establish your supply. So, if you're not putting either a baby or a pump to your breast at least 8 times a day for a good six-eight weeks you're going to have a hard time. Drink lots and lots of water, especially right before nursing. A lot of people might tell you to drink a beer or glass or wine but studies show that alcohol actually suppresses lactation so I wouldn't advise this. The best thing I can say is this: don't get discouraged. Everyone acts like nursing is this very natural, easy experience, but in actuality it can be very difficult, and if you recognize that you're not different from anyone else it helps. Stick with it as best you can, it's really worth the effort for the long haul.

Oh yes, I also took Fenugreek with my last baby, and I thought it helped increase my production. Good luck to you!

Drink a lot of water, rest, be comfortable when you nurse, and feed on demand. Your body will make as much or as little as the baby needs. Keep snacks and drinks next to your nursing chair, and relax.

If your little one is eating, sleeping, and having dirty diapers, then you know that he is getting enough. Especially when you go to the doctors and he is putting on weight!

Best of luck. You can do it!!

M.

Hi, K..

This is a tough one. On one hand, introducing formula may be life-saving, and I would never recommend stopping something vital. On the other, since the more your baby breastfeeds, the more you will produce, it may be useful to try for a couple days and see if this prompts your infant to seek the breast more. OF COURSE, a lactation consultant, a pediatrician, or, if you're in the Tampa area, Susan Overton from La Leche League, would be excellent resources for advice, and I'd seek them out before listening to me.

If, however, production stays low, a friend of mine, who was very much attached to breastfeeding but simply could not produce the amount of milk needed, used Horizon Organic formula and ordered it online. She used the attachment that allowed her son to both nurse and get the formula at the same time, so he did get what milk she produced.

All this to say, I empathize and hope you found something useful in this response. Susan Overton's number is ###-###-####. You can look her up online as well, or find a LLL closer to your area. She's marvelous and tremendously supportive.

All the best,
Heater

Hi, you can visit this site: www.llli.org (la leche league) is really good site. Also, just breastfeeding your baby only with your milk all the time, just with your breast and your milk production increase. Just relax and enjoy. If your problem persist consult with a leader or group because there are medicines that help you in the production, you can also eat many green vegetables, because the chlorophyll helps and drinks water.

The best way to produce more milk is have your baby breastfeed often. Every 2-3 hours for as long as he will. The most important thing is don't give him any formula. This will fill him up and he won't breastfeed. The more he breastfeeds, the more milk you produce.

Breast milk supply is based on demand. If you are supplementing with formula, your body does not know to make more milk. Slowly and carefully wean your son off the formula. The following link has great tips for weaning from formula supplements: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/decrease-formula.html

Also, contact your local LLL leaders. They were so helpful to me when my 2 week old daughter was not latching on. You CAN breastfeed and produce enough milk with the right information and support.

I'm going to ditto the "no bottle" statement below... To increase milk production you should plan to spend the next 2-3 days at home nursing your baby at any & every sign of hunger. Increase your own fluid (water) intake.

I guarantee you that if you do this you will see an increase.. most moms see the change in 24 hrs. But you need to NOT supplement at all!! That means no formula, no pumped breastmilk!

Once breastfeeding & your milk supply is well established, then you can reintroduce the bottle with pumped milk or formula if you want. But until your supply is where you want it... no bottles, no pacifier... a breast pump will not maintain milk supply.. you MUST get your baby to breast!

I have been having the same problem with producing breastmilk. I both pump and nurse, and when she was about four weeks old, I dried up completely over the course of three days. We supplement with Similac Advanced, but, I don't like having to use any formula with her. I talked to my doctor at my six-week post-partum visit, and she put me on Reglan. The side effects are that Reglan makes you REALLY tired, and can give you problems with PPD (it either blocks dopamine or stops it's production in your body, I forget which). It has really helped my milk production, though, and it might be worth talking with your doctor about taking it. Good luck!

I know it may sound crazy ...but a beer a day will help you produce more milk. Hope this helps.

Definitely keep breast feeding! There are so many studies that show it's not only advantageous for your child - but ALSO for you! (Reduces your risk for breast cancer, stimulates the return to normal size of your uterus, etc...!). If you are not producing enough milk to satisfy your infant, then try this....
1) drink LOTS MORE WATER! You may be dehydrated and need more fluids!
2) purchase a breast pump, and pump more often (saving the milk in the refrigerator or freezer). The more you pump - the more you'll produce! (plus, it's nice to have breast milk in the freezer for emergencies like the middle of the night, babysitters, or when you're ill).
Don't give up and resort to formula....your milk is the BEST FOR YOUR CHILD and FOR YOU!

Hope this helps!
HUGS!
C.

Just now reading your request. I'm a mother of three and my youngest is 2 1/2 months old. The best way to produce more milk is to put your baby to the breast as often as you can. This is going to tell your body to produce more milk and in time you should do so. I had to do this with number two when I thought my milk was dryng up. I would do anything possible to keep up the breastfeeding it will get easier, I promise. Take warm showers and massage your breasts. If all else fails find the nearest La Leche League in your area. There services are free.

Make sure you're eating enough and drinking enough milk yourself. I ate like a horse when I was breastfeeding, but all the energy went through to the baby and didn't turn into fat on me. Just be sure it's good healthy food and not junk food, sodas and empty calories.

Don't let people discourage you, either. My father tried to convince me I couldn't do it and that the baby was going hungry. Not so! I nursed him for 18 months until he quit of his own accord.

I know it's old now, but Adelle Davis' "Let's Have Healthy Children" is still a solid book on good nutrition for you and the baby.

Best wishes, T.

Hi K.,
Congratulations on your baby! This is a very special and unique time for you both.

My situation was very similar to yours. You have received some wonderful advice from the ladies here. I hope that it helps and you are able to nurse your baby exclusively. However, I will pass on to you a wonderful piece of advice my lactation consultant (30 years with La Leche League) gave me. "Do not feel guilty. Breastmilk is not the only thing your baby needs from you. Don't become so obsessed that you miss out on these precious first few weeks with your baby."

As it turns out, I am now putting baby to breast, pumping a few ounces and supplimenting with the Organic Similac. I have also tried the herbs and the teas. This is what works for ME. And your situation is unique to YOU. My baby is very healthy and happy.

Please don't view this as a cop-out for not trying. But do your best, trust God and know that your baby will be blessed to have such a loving Mommy.

One good thing with la leche league is that they will come to you and help you...but I agree with the other moms...drink lots of water all day long, nurse (or pump) as much as possible because I found that my body just fell into that system of wanting to produce more when I made it think I had a hungry baby. She is now 7 months old and still nursing like a champ. I hope all the advice you are getting is helping. Big hugs.

Hi K.,
looks like you've had some great advice! I would like to reiterate on the point of good hydration, nutrition, vitamens and supplements.
Pay special attention to your protein and fat combinations with your carbs. Proteins keep your blood sugar more steady while a proper source of fat helps you digest things more slowly and evenly. Sometimes due to exhaustion and or desire to trim back down, the balenced diet get scrimped on. I found when I was nursing my two that after a fatty meal I made much more milk.
Good Luck and enjoy your little one.

Be Sure that you are very well hydrated and as well rested as possible. Try not to be too stressed, tension is one of the top things that reduce milk production. Oatmeal also helps (steel cut oats preferably). Offer the breast even when the baby does not seam to be hungry, and try to pump between feedings if possible. If you feel like you have blocked ducts try using heat compresses and cabbage leaves in your bra. Try to always be in a very comfortable relaxed position when you nurse and keep a glass of water or clear juice near by. I felt the same way with my first, and after a few weeks my production increased. I am a Doula and I'm pregnant with my 3rd child. Bras with underwire tend to block milk ducts, try to avoid wearing them.Remember breastfeeding must be learned and adjusted to by both of you mommy and baby. Smile, Good Luck & God Bless

K.,
Congratuations!! Great for you for breatfeeding. It really is the best. i bf both my daughters. i had a very weak supply with my first. Remember it can take a newborn up to 1 hour to eat, This is normal. Granted it is h*** o* you because they are ready yo eat again an another hour or so. Bf babies eat more often than formula ones. As the others have said, try not to supplement too much, especially the first few weeks. your supply is still building up. Remember to eat good and relax before and during the time you are nursing him. i had to visit the lactation consultant at the health department to put my mind at ease. Do this. Even if you are not on any governmant program, I was not, they will see you. you pay taxes and it is a goverment facility for us all. Or see the one at the hospital where he was born. Even if you can't give all his nourishment from the breast, keep it up. Breastfeeding in any amount to very good for your baby.

K.,
It is true that you should try your best not to supplement if you only want to breastfeed alone.
Try no formula for a day or 2 and see if that helps. Definately weigh him to make sure he doesnt lose weight in the process. You can go to a lactation consultant and weigh him before and after you nurse, so you can feel confident he is getting enough.

Hi K.-

I remember around 2 wks into motherhood the 1st time around I was really questioning the whole breastfeeding thing.. I felt like I wasn't making enough, & she was starting to go through her cluster feeding then too, so she ate more often & I was just not producing a lot. I started taking a herb called fenugreek, from GNC, & my milk productions increased. It makes you smell like maple syrup when you perspire, but it's worht it. I used it for a couple months until I got the hang of breastfeeding. I also remember talking lots to the lactation consultants & they said to pump if the baby slept through a feeding, b/c this will make your body realize you still have to make milk. I also remember sometimes she would only nurse on one side, so I also would pump on the side she didn't nurse on & always start w/ that one the next feeding. You can store breast milk for 6 mths in the freezer. I eventually had 65 bags stored so that while I was @ work I could send milk bottles. I also pumped every 3 hrs while I ____@____.com remember, the more you nurse then your body will continue to make milk. Also, the longer you nurse on each side, then the baby will empty out the breast & get the "hind milk" the fatty milk that fills their bellies up to sleep longer :o) It's very exhausting in the beginning, but it's such a great feeling to be able to provide for your child the way no one else can, so keep it up. Let me know if I can help you w/ anything else..

C. :o)

you need to lay off the formula (with out risking the baby of course) and have him nurse as much and as often as possible. My lactation consultant recommended taking the baby to bed with you for a day or so and nurse on demand. I had milk production issues and it turned out i had placenta retention. If it doesnt imrpove, you can always got to your ob gyn. its a supply and demand thing. plus drink lots of water! Have you seen a lactation consultant?

If you are also using formula sometimes the baby wont suck the breast hard enough to draw the milk out because the bottle is easier. Plus it's still early, it can take a week before your milk even comes in.Just keep triing and drink lots of water........

I had a similar problem when my son was born. For me I just never produced enough milk. I tried the tea and my ob/gyn gave me a prescription for something(can't quite remember it was some thing like regalin) but it didn't work for me. I also did the pumping every two hours to try to increase my milk supply(which didn't work) I ended up using enfamil regular and I pump as much as I could. Normally I pumped about 1 oz every 2 hours. I did the pumping thing for four months and it gradually began to dry up. I felt that I did the best that I could and that any breast milk was better than none. My son drank both the formula and the breast milk with out any problems, although I did find that he eventually liked the formula better.

I had a hard time with not being able to breast feed, I found it very stressful. I had a great lactation specialist who gave me wonderful support, her name is Pat Lindsey. I think she has changed practices since my son was little, but I highly recommend her. If you want more info on her I can probably get it to you.

My son is now 3 1/2 and fantastic he is a normal thriving kid that is very healthy! The important thing is to find what works for you!

There are some advantages to not breastfeeding. For instance your husband, or grandparent can feed the baby. You can get more rest that way.

I probably am going on a little too much, I just know that I was traumatized over my breastfeeding experience and had the first few months of my sons life horrible for me. So if you need to talk I would love to talk! There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Good Luck!
W. M.

I had found this to be a good READ about your trouble I hope it helps
Please let me know thanks

http://www.babycenter.com/search/showResultsForContent.ht...

Beer. Especially Guinness, just one glass, works every time for me.

Hi! Congrats on your new baby! I agree with those that said no more bottles. Pumping is good, but breastfeeding the baby is better. The baby will draw out more milk than a pump ever could and thus you will produce more milk. Nurse him as often as he wants or needs it, even if you don't think there's anything left in there! This is a COMMON concern about not having enough milk, but there are easy solutions. Also, if you are still really concerned, you could try (or talk to your doc about trying) fenugreek. It's an herbal supplement that I took while breastfeeding, and it stimulates milk production. I found it at my local health food store. The name of the product was called "Lactate Support" so that's what it's meant for. Good luck, and don't give up!

I'm a mom of 3 and have been in your exact situation. Here's what worked for me. Nurse every 2 1/2 or 3 hrs. Then after nursing pump for 15 minutes. You might not get anything when you pump at first - that's ok since baby is eating it all - but it will stimulate your body to start producing more milk. If you do get some milk out, you can give it to baby of course :) I found if I nursed/pumped closer together than 2 1/2 hrs it didn't work as well and only made me exhuasted.

I took Fenugeek. 6 or 8 capsules a day. It really helped with the nursing supply. Then once my body started making more milk, the baby was eating it and kept it going. I've also heard good things about taking Red Raspberry tea leaf, but I didn't do it. There is a great site for help. www.kellymom.com

I guess my overall question is "what makes you think you aren't producing enough?" Is baby acting hungry? Is baby gaining or loosing weight? I think alot of us second guess our bodies, when we are actually producing plenty. Just my 2 cents worth.

Hi K.,

I agree with the other posts that more time with baby on the breast is best. Lots of water too. We spent 12 hrs per day nonstop on the breast for the first five weeks in order to bring up supply - others have a harder or easier time.

Also fenugreek tea helps with milk production. I bought bulk fenugreek at the health food store, put it in water & brought to a boil. It tastes pretty good too!

Hi K.,

I actually breastfed two kids now, my second for fourteen months (she is now 2). I think all first time mom's who are breast feeding think they are not producing enough milk, and therefore start formula. I went to a breastfeeding support group and the lactation expert advised me not to substitute formula as the body takes cues from the baby as to how much to make, and if you are substituting the breast milk dries up quickly. Unfortunately, at two weeks, you will be breastfeeding constantly as the baby is stimulating to make more milk...yep, you feel like a cow...but it does get better. If you can hang in there for the first six weeks, it get's so much easier and so worthwhile. Also, be sure you are drinking plenty of water ( I always kept bottled water around, and getting enough to eat.) Remember they don't need much the first two weeks as they have reserves, but as long as the pediatrician says the baby has gained weight and your checking the wet diapers, the baby may be getting more than you think. What I also did with my first was pump if I gave a bottle until I felt comfortable that she was getting enough. As she gained weight at her two week check up my pediatrician informed me that she was getting enough milk and to relax. If you do pump make sure you get a good pump otherwise you will be pumping forever and get little result. I used the handheld Medula and it worked really well, if your only pumping occasionally! During the first two weeks I think I was only pumping half an ounce and thought that can't possibly be enough, but as I let the baby continue to nurse my milk supply went up quickly. Hope that helps...and congrats....it does get easier, honest! D.

First the moreu breast feed the moreyour milk will form~The 2 most important things in breast feeding is that u are getting good nutrition and u should probably still be taking your pre natal vitamin the nextis that u are completley relaxed when ufed your baby if u are nervous or upset your milk is not able to drop as well~so be sureto get plenty of rest and just before u get ready tofed you baby take a few minutes and help yourself to relax~wishing you all the best

Drink Lots and Lots of water. The lactation consultant at the hospital told me that drinking water would allow me to produce more milk. Also, try to stay away from the formula and nurse him as much as he needs. Good luck.

Hello K.,

I know you have had lots of advice here, but here's my 2 cents. I am breastfeeing my 2nd child. I take an herbal supplement called Blessed Thistle. It works phenomenally. I actually ran out about a month ago and didn't get more thinking I may not need it anymore. Within 1 week my milk supply went down by almost 50%. I produce enough milk when taking it to feed the baby and put some in the freezer.

The other advice you have gotten is good as well....rest, no stress, eat and drink well. Good luck. It is one of the hardest things you'll do, but is absolutely the best thing for your baby.

Dear K.:

If you want to produce more milk do the following: stop pumping, drink a lot of fluids(increase fluid intake 8-12 glasses of water, more milk,) put your baby to the breast more, dont supplement with any formula and the following consult with your pediatrician and your OBGYN, drink a dark ale(yes, drink a dark beer daily). It might sound crazy but whwn I had my first baby (26 yrs ago ) I enconter the same and his Pediatrician, recommended for me to drink a beer to promote milk production. The rational behind it the yeast in the beer or the ale.

I know sounds crazy, but it works. Im a dietitian/nutritionist and lactation consultant. Hope it works for you.

Hi!
Congratulations on your new baby boy!! I had a hard time producing milk too. A nurse at the hospital told me not to wear a bra..I know it sounds CRAZY!! She told me to buy the tank tops with built in "Shelf bra" and to put the nursing pads into that.She said that the nursing bras (or bras in general) can be constricting..if you have the tanks they can expand as your breasts fill up..where the bras would not.I feel like it worked for me..I know everyone else has said it here too but drink drink drink!! Water is very important!!
Also..relax! I know..easier said than done..but I believe it's all related!! If you're relaxed your baby will be relaxed and if you're both relaxed it makes the whole process more enjoyable..Good luck

First off, you've only been semi-breastfeeding for two weeks. If you truly want to breastfeed then you have to cut out the similac and DO NOT PUMP. You do not have enough milk flow to pump and this will only hurt you more!

Get your baby to latch on, every 60 to 90 minutes at a time. Breastfed babys tend to feed in shorter periods as apposed to formula-fed babies.

It can take anywhere from 3 days to two weeks before your milk really starts flowing. Your baby is the one who has to feed to really get your breast to produce more milk.

This is a time consuming process. You didn't mention if you had any pain while feeding (cracked areolas) so keep up with him latching on only to you and not the bottle.

Good luck.

I am currently breast feeding my third child. I had some issues with him very early on - he was fussy during feedings. I thought maybe he was not getting enough. Everything I read online said the same thing - breastfeed more often to produce more milk. If you are using fomula that is one less meal your body is making for the baby. It is recomended to get your milk supply established before introducing any formula. (In my case I found out that my son had a dairy allergy and that was why he was fussy. I cut out obvious dairy in my diet and gradually noticed mprovement.) Hope this helps.

I was told by my mother and she was told by her mother to drink a beer. The yeast in the beer helps you produce more milk. I have tried it and I am a believer. Try it and see.

Hi K.,

The best way to produce more breast milk is to drink plenty of liquids (water, 100% fruit juices, milk, etc.), eat healthy small meals 4-6 times a day (about every 2-3 hours with protein), and get plenty of rest (sleep whenever your baby is sleeping). Continue to pump - I really suggest renting an electric pump from the hospital (many insurances cover this expense since breastfeed babies are healthier throughout their lives). But most of all, DO NOT supplement your baby's feeding with formula. It takes very little effort for a baby to drind formula from a bottle. Breastfeeding takes a lot more effort on the baby's part. Also, this is a new process for both of you - take your time and stay calm as your baby learns to work for the milk. Breastfeed every 2 hours to help your baby to get into the habit easier.

I have 4 beautiful children and breastfeed them all. Each one had their own way of settling into breastfeeding. Don't give up. My second child was 6 weeks premature and had difficulty sucking hard enough to keep my milk in. I used the electric pump to build up my supply. I also used a special device that the La Leche League introduced me to. It was a container which held my pumped breastmilk. It had two small, flexible tubings which could be attached to each of my nipples. These tubings allowed the pumped milk to flow from the container which hung around my neck between my breasts when my baby breastfed. This system works because the milk from the container flowed easier than the milk from my breast - and in doing so, encouraged my baby to suck harder which in turn made my own milk flow easier. I could control the amount of milk flowing from the container - decreasing the amount of flow as my milk began to "let down". It only took 2-3 weeks before my baby was sucking hard enough that my milk supply was more than enough.

Keep up the great work. And remember that you are doing what is best for your new precious bundle by continuing to breastfeed. I breastfeed all 4 of my children for at least 1 full year.

Karen

Drink LOTS of water. When you breastfeed, you have to replace the liquid that is leaving you. I have been breastfeeding my 7 month daughter since day one. At the hospital the breastfeeding consultant told me that I have to drink LOTS of water to make this work. I am surprised they didn't tell you the same. I hope it works for you! Breast milk is the best milk! Great job on not giving up thus far! =0)

The best thing I know to do is drink plenty of fluids and nurse often to build up the milk supply and for as long as baby wants to nurse for.

Hi, K.,

I breastfed both my kids (actually, I'm still breastfeeding my one year old), and have done tons of research for my MPH degree on breastfeeding. First, please know that only 2 to 4% of women cannot produce enough milk for the nutritional needs of the baby.

It is entirely supply and demand. The more your baby nurses (correctly latching on!), the more milk you will produce. At two weeks, you should be nursing on demand, about once every 2 hours. So, if you nursed starting at 9am, you will likely need to nurse again starting at 11am. My biggest problem was that my kids kept falling asleep while nursing, and so they weren't eating a lot at each feed. Try to keep him awake long enough to nurse at each breast for 15 minutes or so. Once he's good at sucking, he'll be more efficient and get more milk in a shorter amount of time.

The more you supplement with formula, the less demand you experience, and thus your body will produce less. Pumping can be a good way to overcome this, but it's not as good as the real thing. For example, my son was exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, and gained A LOT of weight...thus, he was getting enough milk. However, when I pumped, I would not get much milk at all (about 2 oz. per breast). Obviously, he was getting more than that at the breast, otherwise, he wouldn't have been gaining so much weight (he was in the 95 percentile for weight...very healthy).

So, keep it up! It's easy to get discouraged and *think* that you are not producing enough milk, but more than likely, you are producing (or are capable of producing) just fine.

Please, if you have any other questions, let me know. From personal experience and from research, I know a lot of tricks! Getting support is key at this point, so it's really great that you've asked for advice.

Good luck,

A.

K.
When I had my son and was having a problem producing enough milk the lactation lady told me to go to a herb store and get fungugreek and Blessed Thistle herbs to take they both combined will increase your milk production..I took them for several months and they worked wonders..

a couple of things (and congrats on giving breastfeeding a try!!) , stop using the formula for awhile, even if your pumping to make up for that lost feeding. (if you must do a bottle feeding, used pumped milk!! at two weeks you should be making more than enough if your following basic breastfeeding rules) What makes you think your not making enough milk? what you pump is NEVER a reflection of what your breast actual has in it, your baby is much better at milking the breast than a pump. Also, in the first few weeks babies are supposed to be nursing almost all the time, its exhausting, but that frequent nursing is what keeps the milk coming in. Nursing is supply and demand! Every time your baby suckles at the nipple, your body produces prolactin, and that hormone is what signals your body to make more milk. If you need more help or want to meet with someone I know some of the local le leche leaders and they would be more than happy to help you out.

So do these things:
*nurse as often as the baby wants (which is often every 2 hours -including feeding time, I know, seems constant!)
*avoid ANY false nipples for awhile if you feel your supply is low (although at 2 weeks, if you are doing nursing and only perhaps one bottle of formula, it is most likely fine, but if he's half and half, you could be hurting your supply!!)
*try to to worry, stress and worry can cause you to have trouble letting down for your baby! Relax and look into your sons eyes and think of how amazing he is!
*IT DOES GET EASIER! I tell you this because at about week 3 I wanted to give up and do just a bottle, but I'm glad I stuck at it. Because it does, all the sudden, get easier! I promise!

Breastfeeding is the best, and after it gets easier, its WAY easier than a bottle (which I agree, can be great for a break in those early weeks, but try not to make it more than 1 or 2 feedings at the most,and when you do, you really need to pump to make up for your missed nurse)

Wow great advise I hope that things have gotten better for you. I have a 6 month old and had a hard time breast feeding. I had a yeast infection almost the entire time I breast feed so I would say that it is challenging but well worth all the effort it takes to nurse. I had to pump a lot of the time but when my supply was down I would nurse her and my supply would build back up quickly. If you are pumping to try and get your supply up I would recommend nursing as offten as your baby wants. TRY REALLY hard not to stress about how you are producing b/c the more you stress the less your body will produce. Good luck and don't give up!