Milk Supply - Sacramento, CA

Hi.. a friend of mine told me when she gets low she eats a bowl of Oatmeal and that helps her produce more. Might want to try that.. how much it really helps I dont know. but I guess its an easy thing to try!

M., Ive recently read that lactating pigs will stop lactating when they get mycotoxin (mold) in their feed (corn). I would try to cut dowen on corn products, Ive read that most of the corn supply IS contaminated with mold when it sits in the silos. In fact i would try to cut down on grains, period. Increase water intake and veggie/ fruit intake.

Hi M.,

I saw your request and I am going through the same issue! I recently went back to work and have continued to breast feed my 6 month old baby, but have found that he definitely eats more from the bottle than the breast. I've tried pumping more often (every 2 hours) and that does help, but it is a huge time commitment that I can't always make while I'm working. What we have ended up doing is supplementing with formula. Not ideal, but I have a hungry boy and even with the introduction of baby food and cereal, he still likes his milk. Good luck to you.

I had issues with milk supply too...
Healthy nursing tea by secrets of tea to boost my milk supply production, preservatives free and work quickly with me..!!!

Hi M.,

Make sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids and eating enough food. I found that drinking a lot of water helped me. Also, if you can, add an additional pumping session at home after the baby has gone to sleep. You'll soon be able to build up that frozen supply.

If your baby has just started solids, most likely the demand for breast milk will taper off gradually. Don't stress.

Good-luck,
V.

As an older Mom of two boys myself, a 54 month old and an 11 month old, I had trouble producing milk. Two things I learned are ; Drink a LOT of water, and pump more often. If you can pump twice as often for just three days, you will be producing twice as much milk and you can then reduce your pumping back to normal frequency. Also, your son is the best sucker ever. breastfeed as often as you can, as opposed to pumping.

drink lots of water and try some of those teas that supposedly help with milk supply. You can find them at Wholefoods or probably even in the tea aisle at the market. Lactation Tea is what I think they are called. I too had that problem and doing this seemed to help a little bit. Good luck!

p.s you can also try to get breast milk from the milk bank if you opposed to formula for the difference in ounces. Just a suggestion.

Eat the sweet potatoes, brown rice & apricots they boost milk production so does drinking a few sips of wheat beer.
Take Fenugreek capsules - you'll smell a little like maple syrup but it was the only thing that really boosted me. 3 capsules 3 times a day with water.

The best and really only way to increase your milk flow is by increasing your breastfeeding. I suggest breastfeeding more while you are at home. If you don't want to get him used to that, try just a "snack" feeding then pumping right after he finishes. Good luck!

I too worried about my supply when I went back work and had to start pumping, because my mother-in-law thought she was being helpful and feed my son a bottle. Only she kept feeding him until he was about to burst. I wanted to give up because I knew that I could not make 8 ounces that she just feed him in 3 hours when he was going to be hungry again. I found out later from my lactation consultant that when the baby nurses at the breast they only get 3-4 ounces in a feeding (Your milk changes in calorie count as baby gets older.) Also, baby wants to suck and the bottle flows to easily so they end up eating to much alot of the time. After that I carefully measured 3 1/2 ounces of breastmilk in each bottle and he would be fine and happy with that, I have done this both of my children and my daughter just turned a year and is still drinking the 3 1/2 ounce bottle.

Hi M.- When I was in a similar situation, I added in extra pumpings at night before going to bed and 2 more during the day. Your body will think the baby is going through a growth spurt and will adapt by producing more. Its all about supply and demand. Good luck.

You may want to try this. I used it for each of my 3 children. It was supposed to promote milk production. I would mix dark Guiness Stout beer with milk. It would taste almost like a milkshake and go down easy. Relaxing helps too. If you must supplement your milk, I recommend I-Soyalac (that's soy milk with iron - kept my kids from having colds and limits mucus production)

Hi M. -

I have struggled with low milk supply since my 6-mo old was born, so I feel your frustration. I've read Making More Milk by Diane West and Lisa Marasco (both are IBCLC), which I bought from the authors' web site www.lowmilksupply.org - I've learned a lot from the book; check out the site, there's a ton of free information and a forum specially for moms who are having issues. Everything I've written below is summarized from the book.

I only have one child, but you have two - finding time to pump has got to be a huge challenge for you. But the one thing that is emphasized in the Making More Milk book is empty the breast, empty the breast, empty the breast - and especially at night. Taking every supplement in the world won't help much if the breast is not getting emptied.

As you've probably heard, pumping doesn't always remove as much from the breast as nursing, and there are strategies in the book about getting the most from pumping. Also, make sure to try larger cones if you need - the standard cones are too small for me, and my pumping output improved right away when I went up to the largest size.

I've been using the Medela Symphony, which is a hospital grade pump, rented from Rockridge Kids in Oakland on College Ave.(you can find renters local to you at the www.medela.com site). But defintely contact your hospital's lactation department, as your insurance might pay for a hospital grade pump from them. When I was using a Pump in Style, I got barely 1/2 ounce total, but with the Symphony I get almost 2 oz each session (yep, that's it for me!).

The second thing that's emphasized is nighttime feedings. At 6 months, if your boy is 'sleeping thru the nite', you may be going more than 6 hours without a feeding, and that may cause your supply to drop. We produce more prolactin at night. La Leche League can help you with techniques for night nursing and gettng enough sleep.

There's lots of info in the book and on the site about herbs, some I never would have thought of - star anise, vitex, saw palmetto. I get good results from taking a tincture of More Milk Plus (you can get it at natural foods stores, Whole Foods, etc.), it has fenugreek, blessed thistle and other herbs), and another tincture of goat's rue. I never got much result from the teas.

Low iron, general fatigue and thyroid/adrenal issues can also affect supply.

One other thing from the book, make sure your diet doesn't contain foods that inhibit milk supply. Peppermint, sage & parsley are all mentioned as inhibitors (in large\frequent amounts). Look carefully at any herbal teas you might be drinking - e.g. nighty nite tea often has peppermint, and if you have it every day... For water, "keep your urine a pale yellow, and you'll be drinking just the right amount to make milk" (don't drink more than you're thirty for is the advice).

Hope this helps! The book sure helped me, and I go to the web site forum for support.

I never was able to pump and get much milk... my son would drink for 20 minutes and be full.. I'd pump for over an hour and get 2 ounces so I understand your pain. They say it's a supply and demand thing.. I've seen people recommend drinking more water (which is always beneficial), fenugreek, and mother's milk tea. Do you take your pump to work and pump on breaks? By law your employer must provide a quiet private place to pump. :)

M.,

I have a seven month old baby (my second) and am still feeding exclusively breastmilk despite working a full-time job outside of the home. We've been dabbling with rice cereal since the start of month seven but so far her tongue thrust is strong so we think she's not ready yet.

What works for us/me may not work for you, but I wanted to offer my top tips for increasing/maintaining milk flow:

1) Co-sleep and night nurse- I get a full night's sleep by retiring with baby by 10 every night. She nurses when she wants throughout the night; I doze while she nurses and we both fall right back to sleep.

2) Fenugreek and plenty of water- When it seems like my supply is flagging or she's in a growth spurt, I take fenugreek supplements, drink tons of water, and breastfeed as much as possible particularly over the weekend.

3) Pump - do you double pump, meaning pump both breasts at the same time? I didn't with my first baby, but with my second baby I have discovered that double pumping is way more effective; the milk releases sooner, longer, and I usually get at least two let downs in no more than fifteen minutes of pumping.

4) More pumping - how often are you pumping? I pump twice during the work day and direct-feed at lunch time. With my first baby, I pumped three times per work day. If your supply is taking a dip, and particularly if you're not co-sleeping or night feeding, an extra early morning pump (5:00 a.m.) can be extremely productive. Regardless, it's critical to pump every 3 to 4 hours to stimulate milk production.

5) More Cuddling - I find that my supply tends to seem lower when I'm stressed out, especially with an older child in the home. Even still, I find that planning a relaxing weekend with plenty of time for cuddling and breastfeeding helps revive my milk supply, especially after a hectic week.

Just wanted to add that I know it's hard to fit pumping into the day, but I think it's so worth it. I hate the actual act of pumping with a passion but am so happy that my children seem so healthy. I am sure that milk isn't the only factor (sleep is very important,too, and healthy foods), but my children and husband and I are almost always well. I truly believe that the time that pumping takes out of my work day ultimately pays for itself in terms of my productivity and the fact that I very seldom call in sick to care for self or children.

Hi M.,
Make sure you are pumping for ten minutes on each side every time. And, while you are trying to get your supply up, pump every two hours - its a commitment, I know. What kind of pump are you using? I found the manual to be most effective although I used the electric medella, as well. Good for you - hang in there. If you still need help, you can always contact the lactation consultant that comes to visit you in the hospital before you take the baby home. Good luck!

Hi there
congratulations on your baby. Have you tried fenugreek or mother's milk tea? It might help!
good luck!

A pump is nowhere near as efficient at emptying the breast as your baby is!! Are you still nursing him or just pumping and giving a bottle? If it's the latter, I would highly recommend nursing him on demand while you're home. It will help stimulate your milk production cycle.

I agree with another mom who said that you can take all the supplements and eat all the increasing foods you want, but if your breasts are being stimulated, nothing's going to change. More milk out equals more milk in!!!!! Try renting a hospital grade pump for a few weeks, as they are more efficient than the pumps you can buy in the stores or online, and this should definitely increase your supply. If this isn't an option, try to add more pumping sessions - easier said than done, I know.

Some women also experience an unexplained decrease in milk supply around 5-6 months old. Some women - like me - just become pump resistant. Very frustrating, but your emotions directly affect your milk supply. Stress decreases milk, sleep makes it!

Fenugreek worked VERY well for me, but it was definitely the nursing and pumping and emptying my breasts as often as possible that worked! Have faith, and good luck!

One more thing.... Each woman has a different storage capacity, so if you have a small capacity, it means that you need to pump and/or nurse MORE often than other women with a larger capacity. A GREAT BOOK: The Seven Natural Laws of Breastfeeding. GREAT INSIGHT!!!

Hello, I had a similar problem when my son was a baby. My doctor told me to drink one, dark beer each day. The hops in the beer is what helps and its not enough alcohol to affect your baby. If your worried about it you can just drink half each day. It needs to be a dark one though because the regular ones wont be as effective. There are also teas you can drink that have natural herbs to help stimulate lactation. My mom works as a lactation consultant at wic and she recommends setting your alarm to wake you in the middle of the night to pump because we produce more of the chemical that makes us lactate at night. I think its called prolactin. You should do this for maybe a week, even if you breastfeed at night, you need the stimulation to increase your milk supply. You will probably have to pump twice as much to stock up for daycare, but its worth it for your baby. The more you pump/nurse the more your body will make. Good luck!

What kind of pump are you using? I used the electric medlea kind you can buy and always had this trouble. I gave up pumping because I was able to stay home, but my friends who pumped at work and home swore by the hospital grade pumps as the motors are much stronger and more accurately mimic the baby sucking. You can rent them by the month from many places.