Ways to Increase Milk Production

I had a c-section and twins so I had trouble at first with milk production. My lactation consultant, however, advised me to pump as often as possible and feed as often as possible. i was told to nurse or pump at least every 2 hours at first, then cut back afterwards to every 4 hours (once the milk is well established.) It sounds like you are having a rather long interval between feedings, which is resulting in engorgement and will ultimately reduce your production. Obviously, each child will ask for what is necessary but I wonder if your baby would benefit from more frequent feedings during the day. I was told to nurse often and at times to wake up the babies to make sure they feed about every 2 hours. At first this was necessary but after a while they just got used to asking for those frequent feedings. Maybe that will work for you too.

Best of luck. Nursing takes lots of practice, advice, and support. I know how hard it can be but you will be glad for keeping it up.

If you're comfortable feeding between pumpings, then go for it. Usually the way that it works is that your breast make as much as he eats. They stay engorged until they get in a schedule. It may seem like their empty but does he seem to be eating? If he's getting enough you're producing. I read on someone elses response that their doctor prescribed a medication to help increase milk production. Maybe talk to your doctor. Another thing is feed him whenever he wants to eat. There really isn't a schedule for breastfed babies. Especially at that age. So try that. It may help. I had a lot of milk but my daughter ate a lot and frequently. Hope this helps, Good Luck

There is an EXCELLENT forum called PumpMoms that can answer all of your questions and more. I had a lot of the same concerns (is my daughter getting enough?) - most people do - so you're normal!

The web site is http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PumpMoms/

From everything I've read, your body will make exactly what your child needs (and more if you pump) - but a bottle can really screw things up because your body doesn't know that your child is getting that milk.

I suggest cutting out the bottles and breast feeding on demand. If your baby is still hungry, let her continue to nurse. You'll have a second letdown eventually. If she gets hungry in an hour (or whenever), feed her again. At this age, she's not going to be on any kind of schedule.

I've also read (I think on PumpMoms) about having a nursing weekend. Basically, you and the baby in bed (lots of skin-to-skin contact...this helps increase production and is great bonding) pretty much all weekend. Sleep and nurse. Sleep and nurse. It's supposed to be great for getting the two of you back in sync.

Hope some of this helps!
K. R.

Don't give him the bottle. It makes him lazy on sucking and also keeps you from producing the amount of milk he needs. Let him eat, even if you don't feel engorged. As your body gets used to breastfeeding, you will not feel engorged, it will just automatically make the right amount of milk at the right time. If you supplement, then, it will not be making the right amount of milk. Let your baby latch on and suck as long as he wants. In a couple of days, your body will make more milk. Pumping isn't even the same as the baby sucking, the baby sucking is stronger and produces more milk. Let him eat whenever he wants and as long as he wants, you will notice an increase of milk. Also, when you feed him make sure you start with a different side each time. After you switch sides, the baby's sucking slows down and lighter milk flows. Be sure you switch which breast you start with each time. I hope this helps! Don't give up!

Drink lots of water, make sure you have a healthy diet, and pump for a few minutes after each feeding to encourage more production. Or, if the baby doesn't get cranky, let him continue to suckle. Either will let your body know to produce more 'cause he wants more!

Don't let the length of time you nurse be your only guide though. Babies tend to get more efficient after awhile and don't need to nurse as long. But if he's still fussy after nursing, it sounds like something's wrong. If those measures don't work, ask your doctor about safe supplements. I've heard good things about supplements such as fenugreek, but have never tried them myself.

Good luck!

I too was worried that I didn't have enough milk anymore for my son. Especially at night my breast seem flat and empty. According to my lactation consultant this is normal though (and also normal that a baby seems to be wanting to eat all night long). She did suggest to try the mothers milk tea (I was warned that you will smell like maple though).
Good luck!

When I was struggling to keep my supply up I had my OB prescribe me Reglan. A side effect of Reglan is increased milk production and it worked well for me. It doubled my supply (which was very low to begin with) to an amount that allowed me to nurse with supplements until my son was 10 months old. I've also heard that eating plain oatmeal a couple times a day (especially first thing in the morning) helps too.

Hang in there!

It is typical after two weeks for baby to be more efficient getting your milk. Its mostly likely (98%) that you are fine, making the perfect amount of milk (not overproducing anymore)and the baby is getting the hang of nursing. Great job! :)

I would be careful giving bottles a 2 1/2 weeks. Your body will respond better to baby nursing and then drop some more milk. It is difficult to achieve that same effect with pumping. Watch for signs of crankiness and discontentment. That would probably tell you that you need to increase the supply. TONS of water, like the others said. And make sure you're ingesting enough calories. You need about 500-800 calories extra (if my memory serves me). Don't be trying to lose that baby weight -- although its tempting when you have a 'natural calorie burner' like nursing.

I have a 4 yr. old boy born Oct. 2nd. Simon says "hi." :)

J.
Certified Doula and
Childbirth Ed.

B.,

It looks like the others on here have provided you with a lot of information, but I just wanted to add to it.

I actually felt the way you did when my son was a newborn, so I went to see a lactation consultant at "The Nursing Station." They were really helpful. They weighed him just before and after he ate to see how much he was taking in...by the ounce. They are off of Dupont Circle and their number is ###-###-#### if you would like to contact them. I also went to see them because even though I do not have inverted nipples, they were so small that when he would go to latch on, they would invert. After a month or so of using a nipple shield they were fine.

Also, someone else recommended using Mother's Milk Tea. I have heard that is a great product. So if you come to find out that you really are not producing enough, then I would definitely try that.

I wanted to point out that I do not drink a lot of water, I hate water! I try and get my fluids from non caffeinated beverages, like lemonade and decaf tea, stuff like that. I still don't drink enough and my supply is fine. It could just be me though...also, I have been told and read that if you use a double breast pump and pump both breasts at the same time it stimulates more oxytocin whicn in return creates more milk.

The last thing I wanted to mention is that you should check out this site http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html
It is a great website for nursing moms and will likely be able to answer any BFing question that you will ever come up with.

Good luck, hope I helped!

T.

Hi B.! You are probably producing enough milk, even if your breasts aren't engorged. I always fed my girls 10-15 min. per side every 2-3hours. If your baby is still sucking and swallowing, he's still getting milk, even if you don't feel it. Pumping directily after a feeding will help increase your supply, but that's not always easy to do!! Especially if he's not ready to go to sleep right away. I would just trust your body, that you are producing enough. Does he have enough wet/poopy diapers a day? That will tell you if he's eating enough too. Hang in there.........be happy you're not engorged any more:)
C. G.

Mother's Milk Tea (http://www.mommysthinkin.com/mother's_milk_tea.htm) worked great for me. I drank it 4-5 times a day with lots of sugar; otherwise, the stuff tastes terrible! Also, since your baby is two weeks old, you should be pumping every two hours from the time you start nursing. So, if you start feeding him at 2 pm, you should be feeding again at 4 pm, even if you take forever to nurse the baby the first time. Also, your supply may just be regulating to your baby's needs. You're not always going to (or want to) be engorged between feedings; full, yes, engorged, no. Good luck! Let me know if you need anything else! Oh, and about 10-15 minutes before nursing, try soaking your breasts in very warm water and massaging them to stimulate let down and milk production.

Drink lots of water!!!