BFing and losing my mind. Help. Longish.

katieandjeffie

I have had supply issues from day one and I just can't figure out how to increase it.  I suspect that I am not producing enough during the day.  If he could, he would be on the breast from about 11 am to 4 pm each day.  I end up feeding from both breasts about every hour, sometimes sooner sometimes I make it 2 hours.  At night I do great, I feed him for about 40 mins and he sleeps almost 6 hours.

I take Lactation Blend (with fenugreek, fennel seed, milk thistle, red raspberry tea leaf,  blessed thistle, etc.) and I haven't necessarily noticed an increase because I have been taking it since LO was 10 days old.  I can't imagine what my supply would be like without taking it.

Anyway...how the hell do I get more milk!  I have pumped a few times but I have no idea how long to do it, when, or how often.  I am pretty sure I don't eat and drink enough during the day because I can't figure out how, I have no time. 

I feel like an idiot and that this should be a no-brainer, so what are your tips for eating and drinking with a LO attached to your boob 24/7 and how to get more milk so that LO won't want to eat so often.

THANKS for listening to another long winded whine, I appreciate it.

jreese14

I havn't tried any supplements or herbal remedies so I can't give you any insight on those, but.. the first few days my milk came in, boy did it come, I could get 5 ounces after I fed every time... then I noticed it went low, I barely got an ounce after each feed, then it went way up again.. and my husband is actually the one that pointed out what happened. WATER! I read online that you should drink plenty of water but ehh I just spent ten months drinking water so I was splurging on juices and caffiene free sodas more often and that's when my supply went down, when I started drinking a lot of water again it went back up, so try that before you do anything crazy, LOTS OF WATER!

Second.. I try to pump every two hours if I can get on the same schedule as him. You definitely probably don't need to do it this often, but I'm a first timer over here so I can't be much more help, sorry! Hope the water works for you too!

AnneShirleyBlythe

Drink lots of water. 

Start out by pumping first thing in the morning, you get the most that way. Also do breast compressions (massage them pretty hard while you do it, not painful)

Pump for as long as it takes. It takes me forever. It takes other women just minutes. For me, it takes 45 minutes to get 10oz. first thing in the morning. The rest of the day, I get about 2-4oz total per session.  

ToBeMrsC6907

Agree with all pp's advice.

Also, might it be possible your LO is nursing a lot for comfort?  My DS was this way and looks like DD is too.  Both would be on my boob just about 24/7 if I let them.  Literally I am nursing just about every hour, with a few breaks when I can get her to nap in the swing- otherwise she is napping on me. 

I have tried every paci out there with no luck yet, but I am determined to keep trying.

Just a thought.

Lisa102304

Eating oatmeal is supposed to increase supply also. I second TONS of water. Drink way more than you think you need to.

MissMommyMac

I started out EPing and I was doing great for the first 2 weeks and then when my DS's demand went up, my supply didn't so I'm definitely struggling now. I pump every couple of hours and it takes me about 2-3 sessions of pumping to get the 5ozs that he likes to eat every feeding! I take Fenugreek, Flax Seed Oil, Vitamin B, Mothers Milk Tea, and I drink tons of water and nothing seems to be helping at all! I have to supplement now, and I'm getting very frustrated with this.  

larNal+?

katieandjeffie:

what are your tips for eating and drinking with a LO attached to your boob 24/7 and how to get more milk so that LO won't want to eat so often.

 

I keep a bunch of snacky/small meal foods around the house. Something I can just grab before I sit down to feed him and I eat while he's eating. I also keep a glass of water on the table next to where I nurse. I make sure the glass is full after each feeding. I started doing this after several times of sitting down to nurse and realizing right after he latched that I was thirsty and I had nothing to drink.

tokenhoser

I have a wonderful giant bag of trail mix from Costco that is my overnight snack. Yup, it sits by the bed in the baby's room and I grab a handful when I'm hungry.

You could try a pacifier - it won't work if hunger is the real issue. The thing is, if it is a supply issue, putting him to the breast crazy often is the way to fix it. Nothing works better than frequent nursing and lots of skin-to-skin contact.

Other easy foods: string cheese, dry cereal, granola bars, fruit (plus fruit has lots of water in it!)

Temp170555000002207

I have a similar issue with my DS - he's had periods where he wants to eat every hour between 7 am-1 pm

 A nurse told me that breast milk changes throughout the day. In the morning its more like skim milk, so it hydrates the baby but doesn't fill him up. Then as the day goes on, the amount of protein goes up, which could explain why your guy sleeps so good at night.

I've been eating a lot of quick snack foods like trail mix, cliff bars, string cheese, and crackers. I usually only have an actual meal when DH is here to watch him. There have been a couple mornings I've just grabbed the boppy and embraced daytime tv to stop myself from going bonkers.

fluffybuns

Lots and lots of water, and when you eat, eat lots of protein! 

And as hard as it is, nurse, nurse, nurse!! That's the best thing you can do. Maybe you do make enough, and your baby just likes to nurse.

My first was that way, and it was never for lack of supply.