Hi since coming back to work 3 months ago (hard to believe), my production has slowly dwindled. I'm hardly producing an ounce an hour. I pump 2x at work, again when i get home and again before i go to sleep. The only time i have enough for a whole feeding is when i pump in the morning. Having to get up so early for work, it makes it so difficult to make myself get up in the middle of the night to pump. My daughter only eats 4 (or 5) times a day. She's eating 6 or 7 oz at a time.
Because i don't produce enough milk, we bought formula to help supplement. We got Gerber Goodstart, but she hates it. We're starting her on solids, but i still want to give her milk.
Any tips to increase milk production?
Any tips to help her like formula? Should i try a different brand? Anyone have any recommendations?
Re: Milk Production and Supplementing.
I would also try the Breastfeeding board on here. I have heard some women power pump for a certain period of time ( I am not sure how this works though). You can try fenugreek or brewers yeast. How long are you at work? Is there any way to add another pump session there?
To get her to take formula you may want to try mixing it with BM so the taste of BM is still there. She may take it then. Then each bottle has some BM in it.
I also was worried about low milk supply and got the following advice from a lactation consultant to boost milk production.
Power Pump: Power pumping involves using regular pumping techniques and setup, but in a unique way. The idea is to mimic a baby who is nursing frequently to increase a mother?s supply, as is common in the nursing relationship during a growth spurt. To power pump, hook-up as you would for a normal pumping session, pump for 10-20 minutes, rest 10 minutes, then pump another 10 minutes, then rest for 10 minutes, then pump again for 10 minutes. The mother does this for about an hour, once per day, to increase supply. At other pumping times during the day, routine pumping is used. It can take about a week to see an increase, so don?t get discouraged.
Supplements I used: Fenugreek 3 pills 3 times a day for 21 days and Blessed Thistle 3 pills 3 times a day for 21 days.
This has helped my milk supply a lot. I am now pumping 11 oz a day. Hope that helps.