Increasing milk supply

[kathrynb]

So when Jacob was first born (3 weeks ago) he couldn't nurse so I started pumping. Then after 5 days, I started letting him nurse but still pumped after he nursed so that they could give him breast milk at night while I wasn't with him. I did that for 6 days and was producing way more milk than I needed. Well, he came home and I was just nursing him. So I hadn't pumped in about 9 days. Then we went to an appoint with his pediatrician and found out that he lost an ounce when they expected him to gain 5 ounces. So the doctor said to let him nurse as much as he wants but to offer a bottle after each feeding. I started trying to pump again and I am not getting nearly as much as I was before. I haven't even been getting enough to offer him breast milk after each feeding. I have enough to do breast milk much of the time, but have to do formula a few times a day.

I am trying to eat lots of protein and calcium and drink lots of water. I am pumping about every 2-3 hours. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Will my milk supply increase again if I just stick with it? Is there anything else I can do to try to get more milk?

[amandaoasis]

First, congrats on Jacob's arrival!

Your milk supply should come back up, especially if you are nursing and pumping.

Have you spoken with a lactation consultant? If you can, I would do a feed and weigh session. They will weigh Jacob before a feeding, you will feed him, and then they will weigh him again after. That way you can determine if he is efficiently transferring milk. The lactation consultant may also be able to recommend some herbs that might help.

I have also noticed that oatmeal (especially the steel cut variety) makes my supply feel more abundant. There are a lot of women who swear by it.

Good luck!

[m]

When I needed to increase my supply, my doctor prescribed a week's worth of Reglan and it really seemed to help. It is an acid reflux drug which has the side effect of stimulating milk production.

[tree]

First, congrats on Jacob's arrival!

Your milk supply should come back up, especially if you are nursing and pumping.

Have you spoken with a lactation consultant? If you can, I would do a feed and weigh session. They will weigh Jacob before a feeding, you will feed him, and then they will weigh him again after. That way you can determine if he is efficiently transferring milk. The lactation consultant may also be able to recommend some herbs that might help.

I have also noticed that oatmeal (especially the steel cut variety) makes my supply feel more abundant. There are a lot of women who swear by it.

Good luck!

Just seconding the suggestion to talk to a LC soon. I had supply problems that I couldn't fix, and I think it was because I didn't try soon enough. Yours should come back with pumping and nursing, and Reglan could help if that doesn't do it.

[kellyo19]

Kellymom.com is a good website to check out... it was a lifesaver for me (and no, I'm not related to the website owner). I used More Milk Plus from motherlove.com - it saved my nursing relationship several times for me. Also in my community there's a Amazing Newborn clinic once a wk where they can do weight checks and an LC is available for help, they were wonderful in helping me get my son's latch corrected.

As you pump and nurse, your supply should bounce back up. Nursing is a supply-demand situation. It might take 2-3 days to get full effect. One thing I did - at night my son didn't want to nurse both sides so I'd end up w/ 1 deflated and 1 bursting and leaking so while he nursed on 1, I pumped on the other and ended up with several ounces to stick in the fridge for later (and he nursed better... the noise of my medela PISA kept him awake longer )

You are hopefully using a double electric pump like the Medela PISA? they tend to work better than smaller electrics or a hand pump. If its medela, after 2-3 mos you need to change the little white membranes, Babies R Us and Target carry them, you can also order online at their website. If you can't afford a brand new PISA, you might have luck on ebay or craigslist with a new or slightly used system.

Feel free to email me direct if you want. Put "PE Forum milk supply" on subject line so I don't think its spam.

[lilysmommymindy]

I second the kellymom.com, awesome website for nursing moms! Great tips and if those don't work, talk w/your doc! Good luck!

[kathrynb]

Thank you for all of the tips! Jacob hasn't had formula in 4 days so my milk supply is on the upswing! I started eating oatmeal every day. I also started taking the herb Fenugreek. I did talk to a lactation consultant. She asked about medicine I am taking. She pointed out that one of them, micronor, is the best birth control for breastfeeding and most women don't have problems with it but she said some people are more sensitive. I stopped taking it and noticed a big difference within about 2 days. I am not back to having a freezer stash (hopefully that will come with time) but I am able to at least provide him with enough breast milk each day. Thanks again!

[aajatwins]

Congrats on baby! I was going to suggest the Fenugreek - It worked really well for me, even though I couldn't stand the house smelling like maple syrup! I wanted to share something I learned from a La Leche League leader, though. If you ever have a struggle with baby's weight again, pump for about 5 minutes before you nurse. Don't pump everything out, just pump a little. The big fatty milk that we supply is at the very end of the nursing session. So if you pump first, you get the skinny milk out and baby gets the fatty milk instead! Ok, those are definitely not technical terms, but I can't remember what all she said (that was 18 months ago) and that is the gist of it. I'm sure a lactation consultant (or another League leader) could explain it a lot better, but it's great info to know when baby is very little and doc wants to supplement with formula.
I hope it continues to go well for you both!