supply question

BabyCarryingVessel

I'm ebfing and have just enough for the girls but no excess yet. I'm 3 weeks pp. when I pump after nursing I hardly get anything, but the girls are satisfied for 2 or more hours plus they are filling their diapers so I know they are getting enough. will the excess supply come on its own or do I need to be doing something to encourage it?

BabyCarryingVessel

Whoops I should have clarified! I want to start stashing extra away. My mom has been keeping the girls when I go to my follow up appointments and it would be nice to have some extra breast milk. I was just curious if anyone had tips for increasing supply. I will pump after the morning feeding as you suggested. Thanks!

GypsyEsq

Ditto previous poster, it doesn't sound like you need to increase your supply and be careful about creating an oversupply.  Pumping after the first morning feed, when you're likely the fullest, will help build a small stash for an emergency bottle here and there but it sounds like your supply is great and pumping after every feed would lead your body to believe its to make even more - oversupplies are not fun, for you or the babies.  The concept of "the stash" is somewhat oversold IMO on the Bump.  If you have an adequate supply you can always pump today to feed tomorrow, if you're back at work for instance. 

rinascita

This may or may not be helpful but I've heard lots of women on my BMB board discussing ways to make sure they have enough supply or address supply after their LO's are born...

Some things mentioned were taking a PNV with breastfeeding support (e.g., New Chaper Organics Perfect Prenatal), Fenugreek, mother's milk tea, tons of water, make sure you're eating those extra calories, and oatmeal.  I'm sure your doing all things right to be have enough supply for 2 already though

angelfire02

socialmediamommy:

Trust me, you do not want to deal with an oversupply! I have that issue and I've had mastitis twice now, am painfully engorged on a regular basis, and have to keep up with my pumping at work like crazy!

You'll have more milk in the morning, so pump after that first morning feeding and build up your stash slowly. It's stressful enough to feed them, try not to stress about feeding your freezer too!

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS.  I had an extreme oversupply (almost 120 ounces a day) and I had horrible infections deep in my ducts for 13 weeks.  I finally had to stop pumping/trying to nurse because of it.  I was so worried about having enough for both of them and trying to up my supply that I completely overdid it.  I lost 75lbs from being so worked up about it, pumping every 3 hours to prevent engorgment, and I seriously couldn't even hold my babies because my boobs were SO insanely sore.  I know that my case is extreme, but I think there is something to be said from knowing the risks of going too far with production and supply.  Enjoy the fact that you are making enough for them, and if you have to supplement a little for a night out, supplement.  The milk that you will need to pump after that night out can go towards the next time.  

MrsOjoButtons

If you create an oversupply, you risk your babies filling up on too much foremilk, thus not getting enough hindmilk.

Your best bet is to pump just a tiny bit, like an ounce, after a morning feeding. A general rule of thumb is that a BF baby eats about an ounce per hour somewhere between 1930 ounces per day, so average is 25. By that math, you don't need to be able to pump an extra whole meal everyday to accommodate an occasional outing. I have a bunch of one and two ounce bags in the freezer just from pumping when I was engorged, so no extra time commitment and no messing with my supply.

BabyCarryingVessel

What wonderful advice! I had no clue that oversupply was a bad thing. My sister always had a big stash so I assumed I would have one as well. Thank you all so much!