Drinking milk to improve breast milk production?

Winnychan

Any truth to this? I HATE drinking cow milk... I can do soy milk but the person who suggested this said soy wouldn't work. I thought if it was just a calcium thing... but when he said my body could convert it to human milk, well, at that point I started to think he was full of crap.

- Whitney 

marisha1021

I have friends whose doctors recommended that they don't drink regular milk after their children were born as they were having problems digesting mama's milk - theu were actually banned from dairy (and it worked).... so I don't know how much truth there is to your question. 

 I have heard some guinness goes a long way  

danienross

I have never heard that.

Things I have heard: make sure to stay hydrated, make sure to consume enough calories, some swear eating oatmeal every day helps, there are supplements you can take, I've heard dark beer can help because of the yeast.

That's all I can think of right now. And it is true that lots of mamas have to cut diary and lots of other things from their diet.

queenie521

It's more about getting the proper amount of calcium while nursing. You also have to consume a lot more protein which dairy can help with. But the MOST important think while nursing is to drink LOTS of water!

Wally3

Dairy is my fav so I always ate a lot and added milk and cookies - i had lots of supply but didn't help me lose wieght.  I have heard some women have to cut out dairy.  I think that is very sad.

hailyf

Drinking cows milk to make milk is not true at all. Just stay really really really hydrated. What would other cultures (who dont drink cows milk at all) be doing if this was true?

jtorgersen

I bf my dd until she was 17 months...never once heard about drinking milk to make milk...did hear of some ladies drinking "mothers milk tea" to help with supply...googled it and came up with this website on increasing supply...

  https://www.gotbreastpump.com/10_Ways_to_Increase_Breast_Milk_Supply_Breast_Pumping_faqs.php

 

jtorgersen

Don't know if the link worked...so here are the 10 tips they gave...

 

 

10 Ways to Increase Breast Milk Supply Home ?? Breast Pumping FAQ's At some point during your breastfeeding or breast pumping experience you will probably begin to search for new ways to increase breast milk supply. Well, luckily, there are a number of ways to do this. Water ? always make sure to get plenty of water during your breastfeeding or breast pumping experience. If you need a way to increase breast milk supply, you will be surprised just how quickly your supply will increase when you getting plenty of water in your system. The Mayo Clinic recommends that lactating women consume 3.1 liters (about 13 cups) of fluids a day. More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsules - increase breast milk supply quickly. (Start increasing your breast milk supply by purchasing More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsules now.) They are available on our website. These organic time released herbs encourage increased breast milk production. Check out our new video about More Milk Plus Capsules. Fenugreek ? you may probably find that this will increase breast milk supply within 1-2 days. In addition, it is very simple when taking the capsule form. (Start increasing your breast milk supply by purchasing this incredible capsule containing Fenugreek now.) Oatmeal - I began eating oatmeal immediately and it always seemed to keep my supply up. Relaxation ? you will be shocked that once you begin to relax while breastfeeding or your pumping sessions, just how much more milk you will begin to have. If pumping, one of the most important thing ? do not look at the breast milk while you are pumping. Sleep ? Everyone says to get enough sleep, but what new mother gets enough sleep during those first weeks after the baby is born. The good thing about breast pumping is that dad can feed the baby while you get a few extra hours of sleep. Mother?s Milk Tea ? you may find that this tea will begin to increase breast milk supply in about 2-3 days. Some moms have even said that it helps their baby with gas and colic. However, it must be steeped and prepared like traditional tea. (Start increasing your breast milk supply by purchasing Milkmaid Tea now.) Brewer?s Yeast & Blessed Thistle ? you can also take Brewer?s Yeast in capsule form. Some moms have found Brewer?s Yeast this causes gassiness for the baby and increases yeast infections. You can also take Blessed Thistle in capsule form. Some moms use these supplements in a mixture with other ingredients to create their own herbs. Breastfreed or Pump more frequently ? If you need to increase your supply, begin to breastfeed or pump again more often. If pumping, each session will bring you fewer ounces, but with the extra pumping sessions each day, the total ounces should increase each day. Prescription drugs ? After speaking with your doctor, you may decide that prescription drugs are the way to increase milk supply. However, make sure to check all the side effects before taking this route.

LLB430

My mom is a LC and never mentioned this when I had supply issues.  I took fenugreek and pumped round clock after each nursing session.

lady dixneuf

I too have heard fenugreek...cow's milk sounds like an OWT to me. 

MichelleL1118

I checked with my LC friend, and she said there's no truth to it.  Things that can/will help increase milk production include oatmeal (preferably steel-cut, natural oats - the increase from instant is marginal for most people), beer (the darker the better; she recommends drinking 1/2 beer or 1 beer per night, depending on your supply needs), mothers milk tea, fenugreek, and blessed thistle.  

MidwestSeashell

Dairy does have some calcium but it also creates a lot of mucus in your system making it hard for you to absorb the nutrients in anything.  

 Eat lots of dark green things!! 

nikinikinine

there are teas you can drink and herbs you can take, but I've never heard of this milk to make milk thing.

Your body should just do its thing, I wouldn't worry about trying to make milk before you deliver. Wait to see how your body handles production and then make adjustments as necessary - whether that be pumping to increase supply, taking supps or block feeding to combat oversupply.

 

daronsmommy

I had major supply issues. If you are having a really hard time with your supply, you may want to have your thyroid checked. I had developed hypothyroidism post partum and it affected my supply. I took Fenugreek and Milk Thistle, ate oatmeal, and even took Reglan for a short time, then Domperidone. Fenugreek is an herb, so I would start there. It will make your urine smell like maple syrup, but it does work for most people. Good luck!

mrsmklynch

I never heard that about milk. I have heard that beer helps. Also, fenugreek supplements are easily found in the vitamin aisle at your local pharmacy and they help a lot (and make you smell like maple syrup). I also ordered some tea online called Mother's Milk, or something like that, and it helped too but didn't taste great.