Brewer's Yeast? - UPDATED at bottom

We had Emily's first pediatritian's visit today and I LOVED the office and the doctor we saw was really nice. Plus it's like 2 seconds from my house and that's a very good thing!

We were talking about feedings and Emily hasn't lost weight at all, which is a good thing, but I'm concerned and somewhat tired about havign to pump constantly ALL day long when she's not eating to get enough to keep up with her feedinds, so I only have to supplement minimally with formula.

The doctor recommended that I get Brewer's Yeast from a health food store and take it myself to increase my milk supply. She said it's kind of an old wives tail thing but it really works well.

Have any of you tried this? My mom is a finatical breast feeding lady so i'm surprised I never heard of it.

Message edited 10/22/2005 8:44:23 PM.

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

Does she take bottles and not the boob? Is that why you are constantly pumping? In my experience I could satisfy a baby (Jeremy gained 2lbs+ the first 6 months of life) through nursing but I get little from pumping. Maybe you just arent a good pumping candidate.

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

She practically refuses to take the boob. She had respitory problems when she was born and then had jaundice so she was in special care the whole time we were in the hospital and they wouldn't even let me try until her 2nd day, because of the breathing problems. So now she has only taken the boob a few times, and only takes one side, and only for like 5-7 minutes and then she gets all frustrated.

I am working with a lll leader, called her yesterday, also my mom is a lll leader but she was frustrating me but was helping me in the beginning.

so i'm pumping a lot and giving her my milk in a bottle after we attempt nursing. then i follow up with the bottle to make sure she's getting enough.

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

Oh and from pumping, i always get a minimum of 2 oz when i pump combination from both sides. In the AM I get close to 4 oz combined, and then it dwindles as the day goes on. I am able to pump enough for all of her feedinds except really the othernight ones, which is when we supplement with formula. If I didn't try to sleep at night Icould probably pump enough but sleep is a good thing.

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

You could always call an LC and ask about the Brewer's Yeast (they usually will answer questions over the phone no charge).

Don't give up on nursing - I didn't get to nurse Jesse until the third day due to some glucose situation. It took some work and three visits to the LC, but now there's no problem with nursing or pumping. Jesse was little when he was born, but I EBF and he more than doubled his weight in two months.


ETA: He doubled weight in two months, not four. I just corrected it - sorry!

Message edited 10/13/2005 10:25:36 PM.

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

What about drinking a beer (non alcoholic or with). Its got things in it that help with milk production... or heck you could get a nice buzz

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

Well the dr said that in the olden days that's what they'd do -- drink beer to increase thier milk, but we know now that the brewer's yeast is the safer way to do it and it works fine. i might have a beer here and there, but i owuldn't want to make a habit of it, the brewer's yeast would be a daily supplement along with my regular prenatal that i'm continuing to take.

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

Here's what my LC has recommended:

Fenugreek and goats rue

There are products like More Milk Plus and certain tea's that have the fenugreek in them. I am taking the capsules.
For the goats rue she recommended the tincture. I haven't gotten this yet though.

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

I don't even know if my milk supply is really a problem. In the AM i usually get about 4 oz combined both breasts, and it decreases as the day goes on. However today I pumped last at like 3pm and I got over 3 oz so it seems to be increasing on it's own. But I'm willing to try something if it means I can start storing extra milk, because I will be going back to work in November.

Also I asked my mom about the brewer's yeas and she confirmed that it works. She was a LLL leader for years. She just gets on my nerves now that I'm having problems breastfeeding beacuse she's so die hard breastfeeding is the only way to go and is upset that I'm pumping and feeding with a bottle. So I try not to ask her too many questions but she did confirm the brewer's yeast.

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

If you're happy with the LLL leader, stick with her and hopefully your situation will improve. Sometimes, it helps to get a second opinion (like an LC). I can't tell you why your baby is not nursing as well as she should, but an LC might be able to. When I went to the LC, both Jesse and I had bad habits that we had to break, and we had to learn to BF correctly. Hopefully, your LLL leader (or an LC should you choose to go) can help you figure it out.

Make the decision that's best for you regarding how long you nurse and pump. Nobody has the right to judge you about it. Do what's right for you.

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

The thing is that I feel we've fell into a pattern and it's comfortable now. The first few days were really stressful, because I was pumping and feeding her and it all seemed so time consuming, but it's a pattern now and it's not as bad at all. i like being able to "measure" how much she's eating and to keep track of it, and she didn't lose any weight when we went to her dr today so they said she's getting enough to eat how we're doing it. also i do see my milk increasing a bit more each day so i hopefully will be able to pump some storage. the only thing that bothers me is that i really wanted to breastfeed because i know it's the best thing for her, and i feel like i might be giving in to easily, but at the same time i know she's still getting my milk so i wonder if i should stick with this decision or pursue it further.

btw can you fm me with the info to your LC? i am comfortable with the LLL leader but honestly i don't feel like we tried enough today to say whether or not it will work. we were so busy and the bottle was just easier because it's always a struggle to get her to breast feed.

Re: Brewer's Yeast?

You have FM!

Re: Brewer's Yeast? - UPDATED

Okay ladies -- I got the brewer's yeast today and tried it and it tastes like C R A P !!!

Argh it is so nasty! I can't chug that stuff! Should I just drink a beer? Honestly my milk supply is OK -- I get like 3-4 oz per pump, but I want to start storing extra -- being able to pump more then she feeds!!

Re: Brewer's Yeast? - UPDATED at bottom

Re: Brewer's Yeast? - UPDATED at bottom

Why didn't the guy at the health food store tell me that! That would be so much easier!!! Do you know where they sell it in tablet form? Maybe I should just try to order it online?

Re: Brewer's Yeast? - UPDATED at bottom

My grandma thinks brewers yeast is the answer to everything... i use to take it, cuz it supposed to make your skin nice....I took tablet form...( i guess it worked cuz i never had bad skin ) I would try gnc...

Re: Brewer's Yeast? - UPDATED at bottom

You could also sprinkle it on popcorn. Sounds funky but it tastes good that way.