I am trying to help 2 moms who use my day care. Both are struggling to keep up milk supply. The children are only 5 months any suggestions would be great. L.
I think it's so nice that you want to help them!!
I would also recommend looking at the milk calculator at kellymom.com. A lot of 1st time moms send way too much breastmilk and then try and keep up with that amount. There's a chance that they are being overfed and that's why they are having a hard time keeping up!!
Good luck to them!
Possibly they are not nursing enough and their milk supply is tapering off. I also drank a ton of water while nursing and ate a lot of calories. I was able to nurse my son for 17 months.
I had the same problem when my son was 7 months old and I was going through a very stressful time. I ended up taking Fenugreek. You get it at the viteman store. I cannot remember the dosage, but you can look it up online.
Sideffects that I notice was that I burned a LOT more calories & was hungry all the time. There was no maple smell which you'll read about.
Apart from that, just the standard - plenty of rest, water, and get rid of the stress.
Good luck
L.,
I have a business, Lactation Services of Southington which provides help to mothers and babies who are experiencing breastfeeding challenges. I am a physician assistant and internationally board certified lactation consultant. I would be more than happy for you to refer your friends/moms to me for help. Milk supply is a very frequent complaint/problem for mothers who are working and pumping to provide milk for their babies while they are at work. There is a great book written by Diana West on milk supply that I would also recommend. Hopefully, this information helps.
P. Jones, PAC, IBCLC
Lactation Services of Southington
www.breastfeedingservices.com
###-###-####
____@____.com
Hi L.,
My lactation consultant told me to take these items and they have seemed to work pretty well:
1. More Milk Plus Special Blend (http://www.motherlove.com/)
2. Vitamin B Complex #5
3. Cod Liver Oil
Pumping at least once a day may also help bring supply up. There is a request from May 28th about milk supply, whose responses might help (that is where I first responded to this issue). And if nothing seems to work and they do end up supplementing with formula, Similac Organic is a good option, but I'd check with their doctor first :) Good luck!
They need to pump or nurse every three hours during the day and a minimum of once on the overnight. Fenugreek and oatmeal are galactologues that may help their milk supply. They need to NOT supplement with formula or solids; that is the death knell of a milk supply. They can get mother's milk tea from almost any grocery store...brew three cups a day, or, as I did, brew a huge pot, ice it, and drink it all day long :-).
Of all of those, the most important things are: nurse/pump frequently, a minimum of 8 times a day, no solids and no formula.
That's great of you to help. I might also suggest they get in touch with local La Leche League leaders. They can be very helpful. Not sure where you are. Here is the link to the Massachusetts group listings http://www.llleus.org/state/Massachusetts.html
The first couple of things that will decrease your milk supply are stress and lack of sleep! But who can get rid of those with a 5 month old, right? Lots of water and protein should help, and I've heard oatmeal was well (I had oatmeal every day while I was nursing). Extra pumping will help increase the "demand" which should help increase the "supply" too. Or longer nursing sessions (or more frequent) should have the same effect. There are teas out there that are supposed to help, but I don't have any experience with those. Good luck to them both!
Hi, I nursed my son for a year while he was in daycare. Pretty much my schedule was very fixed and I had no problem with milk. I nursed him when he woke up around 6:30 or 7, pumped at work around 9 (daycare gave him a bottle), then around noon, I went to the daycare every day and nursed him there. Then, I would pump around 3 at work (daycare gave him a bottle), nursed again when I got home, then before bed. Gradually, I dropped the one right after we got home at night & just continued the one before bed. I don't know if that will help them at all, but hopefully someone's comments will help! Good luck!
One thing I did with both my kids (once they were STTN) was to pump one side first thing in the a.m. while they nursed on the other. I did that 7 days/week and the milk I got from the days I was home I would keep for when I was working. I also ate oatmeal and drank the Mother's Milk tea. I always found my supply to be greatest first thing in the a.m. so I tried to take advantage of that.
