BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

I am starting to pump again because I might start working before DD is one. She is 5 months and we started cereal so I need to mix it with BM. I had to dump my 150 plus oz freezer supply because of DD's milk allergy.

I get so little when I pump. 2ozs maybe. I really want to amp up production. I started drinking extra water, got the mother's milk tea. I am pumping after feedings.

My mind is mush. What else. I know oatmeal, but for the life of me, I can't think.

TIA!

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Well of course drink plenty of water.
Oatmeal is supposed to help
I also found that Mothers milk (milkmaid) tea helps. It as fennel in it.

There are other supplements you can take such as fenugreek.

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

You can rent a hospital grade pump. Remember that home pumps are not meant to increase milk production so you are asking it to do something it is simply not made to do.

Alfalfa sprout, High protein and high iron foods are helpful for supply, as is adequate hydration with decaffeinated beverages. Fennel seed. Increase nursing. Co-sleeping. Wearing your baby (I know you have back pain so I don't know if this is an option for you), lots of skin on skin contact. Goats Rue and More milk plus.

Also remember too much water will actually inhibit milk supply.


Other things which limit supply are decongestants (pseudoephedrine & phenylephrine), brith control, parsley, sage, and peppermin

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Fenugreek and More Milk Plus.

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Thank you. Do you have drink the tea three times a day as recommended?

Also, you can take fenugreek with the tea, correct?

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

this might sound bananas, but when i went to NYC once when DD was around 5 months, it was the middle of summer and my parents didn't have an AC. i drank insane amounts of water and i noticed a huge boost in supply, all without trying, just cause i drank so much water to cool me down without AC. when i came back to chicago (where i have central air in my house) no matter how much of an effort i made to drink water, it wasn't the same and my supply went down back to normal. give it a try, maybe it'll work?

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

I agree with all the above-

My son is almost one, I am still pumping, I used the Fenugreek, drink a lot of water, and also oatmeal helped me too.

I hope it helps-good luck!

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Definitely the More Milk Plus. I swear it made a HUGE increase in my supply, but it stopped working for me after a few weeks. I wish I would've started pumping when I took it because it probably would've kept working! I started pumping 5 or 6 times a day and I went from getting 1/2 oz after each nursing session to 1 1/2 ounce after each, and it only took a week for the increase. I was also taking Goat's Rue and Fenugreek on top of the More Milk Plus. I personally couldn't stomach the teas.

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

When I was BF, here's some other things that worked for me to get more out of the pump.

heat and massage when you pump
get several sizes of breast flanges and see what works best. I was using 2 different sizes on each boob on time of day and 2 different sizes another time of day
think sweet thoughts

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

I had to throw out a ton of milk for the same reason so for you. I find making sure I am eating enough is a huge issue for my supply. I have to force myself to eat small meals frequently during the day.


eta: I also agree with renting the hospital pump for a week to help increase supply. I used this while dd was in the nicu, and it was a lifesaver.

Message edited 8/8/2010 9:48:28 AM.

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

keep pumping! add extra sessions if you need to.

which pump do you have?

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Posted by MrsB0118

I had to throw out a ton of milk for the same reason so for you. I find making sure I am eating enough is a huge issue for my supply. I have to force myself to eat small meals frequently during the day.


eta: I also agree with renting the hospital pump for a week to help increase supply. I used this while dd was in the nicu, and it was a lifesaver.

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

I made DH throw it out b/c I couldn't do it I dont get much when I pump either.

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

Bumping

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

-pump
-lots of water
-balanced diet
-oatmeal
-beer

Re: BFing moms-Remind me of everything to increase milk supply

I went back to work a couple of weeks ago and the first week I was pumping about what DS eat. I did the following and was able to increase so I now get @ 3-5 oz. more than DS needs while I'm at work:

-Pumping 15-20 min.s- I try to get at least 3 letdowns during each session. If my breasts still feel like they have milk in them, I keep going. I switch back and forth between stim and ejection.

-I use this hands free bra- which I swear helps because it compresses the breasts while your pumping:
Hands free bra

- I hold my breasts while on the stim phase so that they are getting the warmth from my hands- this usually gets the let down going.

-Once let down occurs- I swtich to ejection and pump my breasts to increase the amount of milk coming out. Once the milk stops I stop hand pumping.

-I let the pump keep going go 3-5 mins. after the last let down.

-Have oatmeal for brkfst every morning- I've noticed a difference when I don't have this.

Good luck!