BFing moms question re: supply

I was talking to my SIL tonight...

My niece is 6 months old, and was EBF until SIL went back to work...

When she returned to work, she continued to pump... my niece rec'd expressed milk during the day and then was nursed at night (1x in the morning before work as well)

My SIL pumps 2x while at work (she is a teacher- 1 during prep time and 1-during her break)

The last couple weeks her supply has decreased tremendously... she is pumping 3-4oz total in a "session".

She originally thought it was because of AF (got her first real AF last week) but that has come and gone, and no real change...

What are something she can do to increase her supply (she said she is trying to nurse and pump more- but it isnt making a difference....she is willing to wake in the middle of the night to pump if it will work, but since my niece JUST started sleeping through the night- she'd like to explore other options first)

Any suggestions on how to "fix" her supply???

Any ideas why this is happening???

She is sad- she planned to BF for a year, and knew that it may not last that long... but she wanted herself or her baby to make that choice... Its frustrating when your body wont cooperate with you...

PLUS she only has 3 weeks before her summer break starts and she planned to go back to exclusively nursing during that time...

She uses the double electic medal PIS


TIA

Re: BFing moms question re: supply

I didn't have a problem with supply, but I would check out kellymom.com.....it always has good BF resources. I know oatmeal can help and drinking plenty of liquids. There are also teas out there and other herbs that can help with supply.

Re: BFing moms question re: supply

This is *exactly* what I'm going through right now. I'm a teacher as well--I just went back to work yesterday.

I find that in my morning pump session, I get about 6 oz. but then in the afternoon, I only get about 3oz.

I've only been at it 2 days, but whenever I'm home, I'll nurse DD instead of giving her a bottle for any reason. I think that's huge in keeping up supply.

BUT, I do have a supply of Milkmaid Tea on hand, just in case I find I'm not keeping up.

I think right now, the biggest thing that's helping me is the pump session right before I go to bed. It's about 2-3 hours after I last fed DD, and it gives me just enough milk that I have a little extra other than what she takes during the day.

Also, I think it's REALLY helpful to have a frozen supply, just in case.

Lots of luck to your SIL, I know how stressful it is

Re: BFing moms question re: supply

I think someone posted about "Mothers Milk Plus" from Whole Foods recently ...Let me see if I can find it !

http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic.aspx?ID=410609&Highlight=supply

Re: BFing moms question re: supply

Thanks... I think Im going to stock up on that mothers milk stuff... lol sounds amazing...

I know whenever she can she nurses... but I think the only time she pumps is at work....

i

Re: BFing moms question re: supply

This happened to me as well (not sure at what point) but I was only nursing at night before bed & pumping the rest of the day. I ended up pumping for a year. At one point my supply dramatically decreased; I bought the fenugreek tablets & took about 3-5 a day & it really helped (& almost immediately). Don't give up!