BF moms- how to make more milk?

PunkyBooster

XP from BF because this board is more active!

I have always had good supply on my R side and okay supply on my L.

I was very engorged this morning- pumped 7 oz from R side, 3 out of L. 3 ounces is engorgement? Pathetic (for me).

How can I get my L side to make more milk?

 

SarahWaggy

My one side produces more then my other. I always try to latch Remy to my lesser filled side more to encourage it to let down a bit more. Other then that I have no other real advice for you but good luck honey.

KLMFBP3

some women here have said fenugreek helps increase milk supply, but i have never used it.  it may make your right over supply, but like i said, i am not really sure how it work.  have you tried just feeding off the left more frequently?  mine are the same way!  and i never dried out on the left, but i make any were between 2-3 ounces off the left.  i just feed dd of left first then but her on right.  

PunkyBooster

Thanks!

I have tried pumping more on that side, but I honestly slack at it because I don't like to pump that much!

I do let him pacify on the L side to try to "stimulate" more milk production but I wondered if we are past being able to do that since we're 4 months in? 

I wish I had kept better track of which side to feed him on in those early weeks because I am sure I just stuck him on my R side all the time 

sherbetlemon

I used to eat lactation cookies like crazy when I was having supply issues. I can't get the link right now on this computer but the website with the recipe is called peaceful parenting. Just google lactation cookies. They really helped and they also gave me a lot of energy. They're made with pretty healthy ingredients and you can add dried fruit and nuts or whatever you like. 

PunkyBooster

BriannaArledge:

I used to eat lactation cookies like crazy when I was having supply issues. I can't get the link right now on this computer but the website with the recipe is called peaceful parenting. Just google lactation cookies. They really helped and they also gave me a lot of energy. They're made with pretty healthy ingredients and you can add dried fruit and nuts or whatever you like. 

I just printed off 2 recipes!

I have tried the mother's milk tea, it is hard to choke down because I'm really not a tea person at all. Plus the LC said you have to drink 6 cups a day of it! SIX!! 

shoebox4

7oz!! Woot, woot! I'm lucky if I can get 5 oz out of one. My right one is a slacker, and for the longest time I could only get 2 oz out of it. After a week of constantly pumping and putting LO only on the right size, it finally made more milk and now I'm able to get 3oz.

So, try pumping more often and put your LO on the slacker side.

mmankis923

People can tell you to pump and feed all day long, but lets be honest, sometimes it just doesn't cut it.

My soon to be 5 month old went on a nursing strike about a month and a half ago. We slowly stopped nursing for no reason other than I couldn't get him to latch. That obviously messed with my milk. We're now RElactating and I'm doing a couple different things to help. 1) I alternated pumping and hand expressing every time I pumped. Sometimes the way we massage our own nipples is more similar to how the LO nurses. 2) If you go to Sprouts or any health food store they have drops called Motherlove: More Milk Special Blend. Take your first round before bed.

 

To be honest, 10 ounces, regardless of how it's distributed. Is plenty of milk to be making. I wouldn't do anything too drastic because it may turn your LO off the breast which would be a much bigger problem.

CelticWife

PunkyBooster:

Thanks!

I have tried pumping more on that side, but I honestly slack at it because I don't like to pump that much!

I do let him pacify on the L side to try to "stimulate" more milk production but I wondered if we are past being able to do that since we're 4 months in? 

I wish I had kept better track of which side to feed him on in those early weeks because I am sure I just stuck him on my R side all the time 

You can almost always increase your milk production. Check out kellymom.com for the best suggestions. But pumping extra, eating oatmeal (the old fashioned, not quick or instant), eating lactation cookies, and staying hydrated are the best ways.

But know that what is happening between the two sides is completely normal. I always get 5+oz when pumping on my L, but it is pretty rare for me to get even 4 on my R. I also have to pump twice as long on my R to get that much! And this is after BF DS for 16 months and DD 4! As annoying as it is, it is normal.

bethandjoe09

Ha, I was just looking into this myself.  DS has been getting PO'd when I try to nurse him on my left side the last couple of days.  I think it's because letdown on the left isn't as impressive as on my right, so he gets frustrated because he wants food now.  I've been trying to put him on the left side more often, as well as increasing oatmeal and fluid intake, but I don't think that will increase letdown speed.  Sigh.  I know there are babies out there who exclusively nurse off one side, and it can work, but I'd really like to avoid joining that club.  I don't want to be any more lopsided than I already am.

I think it's definitely time for me to make more lactation cookies.  Also, I should probably stop giving him the pacifier unless we're in the car, and just let him use me.

PunkyBooster

LoisLane23:

II just have a superboob that could function on its own.

LOL

 

SweetPeanis

Honestly my left side had always made more milk than my right.  Always.  There was nothing I could do to make it catch up with my other side, but if you want to increause your supply overall drink as much water as you possibly can, and then when you think you've drank enough, drink more.