Supply dropping

kelbel2440

Ok ladies, any methods you have used to increase supply that really seem to work? Mine really seems to be dropping now that I'm back to work. I'm having a hard time drinking enough water, and I haven't been able to go without coffe which I'm sure is hurting it too.

mammasuzelov

Porridge? Helped me.

BGGP9196

 Fenugreek is a supplement that can help.  Oatmeal too.   I used the fenugreek (it makes you smell like maple syrup) and it helped a little.  Also lots of skin to skin contact when you are home with LO, also allow LO to use you as a pacifier, LOs saliva signals your body to produce more milk.  Good Luck Momma

LaNorte

I've had the same problem, and I've been taking fenugreek supplements and drinking mother's milk tea for about 2 weeks with no noticeable improvement... Hoping to find some new tips from others here.

Yogini6911

The yogi tea for nursing mothers has helped me so much. I also eat the milkmakers cookies but I really think that the tea is the secret for my supply.

mamahann

I take fenugreek and drink 32oz of coconut water a day. I just added the coconut water this week and have noticed I'm getting about .5oz more a session. Not much but I wasn't pumping enough at work and now I'm pumping exactly what she eats every day. I also pump after her first am feed on Saturday so I have a few oz buffer for the week.

ambarnett1

Fenugreek

Ebeauchamp13

I made lactation cookies!! I had a great supply going, but then July 4th weekend I had been going longer periods without pumping just because I was so busy. By Monday, my supply was like half of what it used to be. I made cookies and after like 3 days of eating cookies it was back to normal.

Rrrrrachel

Oatmeal, more milk plus, milk maid tea, but really the best thing is to empty your breasts as often as possible. How often are you pumping? How many hours a day are you separated from baby? How are you judging supply? Pumping output? Does baby seem satisfied after nursing and are they making enough wet diapers? (6+ a day is enough)

UnofficiallyLO

No experience here but as pp's mentioned I've heard great things about fenugreek & coconut water.

janice9821

Fenugreek and alfalfa supplements help me.

janice9821

Also tons of water. Like seriously, a ridiculous amount.

lcr23

Oatmeal, mothers milk tea & lactation cookies.

Rogue237

@TallaB‌ gave me a great lactation shake recipe that I make every morning. I also just started taking fenugreek and bought the pumpin' pals shields to try because pumping is painful for me. I've been on the edge of not pumping enough to meet her needs. Hopefully this stuff helps! Good luck!

LBStewart

Gatorade

KatieGummow

Water, for me. It's hard but you've got to do it. Pack lots of water melon for snacks and lunch, and other fruits and veggies that have a high water content if drinking more water isn't feasible.

Rogue237

honeyzoo said:

@‌Rogue237 were the pumpin pals helpful for pain? I just started back to work and mine are uber sore.

@honeyzoo‌ -so far, yes! Much more comfortable, but I'm not sure yet if it's actually comfortable or if it's just hitting a new, non-hurting spot.

kelbel2440

Rrrrrachel said:

Oatmeal, more milk plus, milk maid tea, but really the best thing is to empty your breasts as often as possible. How often are you pumping? How many hours a day are you separated from baby? How are you judging supply? Pumping output? Does baby seem satisfied after nursing and are they making enough wet diapers? (6+ a day is enough)

I'm away from him for about 9 hrs. I'm only get in to pump twice at work and that's about as much as I will get cuz we are otherwise very busy. Judging supply by both single session pumps and entire day. I was doing about 7-8 each session and now only about 5 each session. While day I was getting about 24 a day and now about 20 if I'm lucky. LO is taking about 15-20 while he is away from me.

kelbel2440

Does instant oatmeal count?

littlesocks

@kelbel2440‌ It should either be quick oats or old fashioned - not instant.

cd92007

I'm in the same boat. I've started pumping in the morning after the first feed of the day and that helps me "stock up" on milk for him when I don't produce enough at work. I seem to only have the supply issue when I'm at work. The only thing that has helped is drinking a lot more water. I try to drink at least three full glasses before I leave for work because I don't have a chance to drink much at work.

Rrrrrachel

If you are away for nine hours and only pumping twice your supply may suffer no matter what else you do. Supply and demand is what it's all about, so if you don't pump as often as your baby eats your body can't keep up. Every three hours isn't too bad, but it's not great, at least not until baby is older. Pumping five ounces at a time though is pretty awesome and it may just be that your supply is regulating. If you're pumping 20-24 ounces a day are you exclusively pumping or feeding at the breast at all?

Rrrrrachel

And eating 15-20 in nine hours is a LOT. It should be like 1-1.5 ounces an hour you're apart. And 1.5 ounces is a lot. Is your caregiver over feeding? Are you/they familiar with pace feeding? Are they feeding your kid every time they cry or trying to soothe them other ways, too?

Rrrrrachel

And relaxation is really key to pumping. Try to do some deep breathing or chair stretches or yoga poses before/while you pump and that may help. Some women find covering up the bottles so they can't see how muh they're pumping helps, too. Pictures of the baby, videos, even clothes they've worn to smell can all help.

kelbel2440

I forgot to mention that I do pump before I head to work, unless LO really ate a lot on both sides. I also sometimes pump before bed. I have been breast feeding LO in the morning if he wakes before I go to work, when I get home from work if he is due to eat, and always the bedtime and motn feedings. @Rrrrrachel‌ he is getting 5oz every 3 hrs while at daycare. Some days I'm apart from him longer than 9 hrs. Most days he eats 3 bottles while we are apart. I guess I was thinking of my late shifts that he gets 20oz cuz I'm not home for the evening feeding. I'm not familiar with pace feeding. We just bumped him up to 5oz every 3 hrs cuz after 4oz he would cry and scream, he does the same between boobs if he wants more too. So I don't think he is getting to much.

kelbel2440

Thanks for everyone's input! I found a recipe for some oat balls I wanna try. And I have some real oatmeal in the cupboard.... Guess I will learn how to make the real stuff! I appreciate all the ideas! Oh and I definitely do the pictures and videos while pumping. I could probably do a mental slide show of my entire phone album by now :-)

Rrrrrachel

You can look up videos of paced feeding, but it basically means stopping every ½ ounce to an ounce and burping, switching positions, etc. It's just easy to over feed a breast fed baby with a bottle, but sounds like you're listening to his cues!