someone pls help me with supply issues!!!!!

Mskharis · April 2010

Ever since I went back to work my supply tanked. I just pumped for about thirty mins to get a half oz. From both breast. What else besides pumping can get my milk flowing again. Anyone here with a success story. I need some encouragement pls cause I'm ready to throw in the towel and I don't want to but I'm getting frustrated. TIA.

MrsGhappilyeverafter · April 2010

I don't have any personal experience, but there are several supply boosters you can try - fenugreek, more milk plus, mother's milk tea, eating oatmeal. You can also try power pumping; I think it's pumping for 10 mins, take a 10 min break, pump for 10 mins, repeat for one hour.

melmel10 · April 2010

That is what happened to me and I gave up after 3.5 months. But I had a back log in the freezer that got him through to 4.5 months. Sorry!

Mskharis · April 2010

thanks i will try these

popcorn13 · April 2010

Don't give up yet! All the things the PP said should help. I've had supply issues since I came back to work and that was on 12/14 and I'm still exclusively BFing and pumping at work. You can beat this! Try to drink a ton more water, eat oatmeal, take fenugreek supplements. All of those things helped me. Nurse as often as you can when you are with LO. RELAX! It's hard to do when you're in a work setting and stressing over the small trickle hitting the bottle but it'll help. Look at a picture of LO. Distract yourself. I found that reading magazines and not thinking about work helps me a ton. It sounds like you just returned to work so if that's the case I think you might have stress that you don't even realize is there since you're pumping in a wierd place. It took me a few days to get used to getting my boobs out at work...even in a closed room.

Good luck! If you still need help, call a LC. I called one and just did a phone consult. She didn't offer me any new info but just having the call and encouragement totally helped. Oh, also get as much rest as you can!

labbie1821 · April 2010

MrsGhappilyeverafter:
I don't have any personal experience, but there are several supply boosters you can try - fenugreek, more milk plus, mother's milk tea, eating oatmeal. You can also try power pumping; I think it's pumping for 10 mins, take a 10 min break, pump for 10 mins, repeat for one hour.

THIS Exactly! The More Milk Plus is supposed to be wonderful! My natural health food store sells in and they told me that most working moms' buy it and find it very helpful! Good luck!

StephanieDeanne · April 2010

I can't use fenugreek because it gives me major headaches, but I tried the lactation cookies (yummy) and drank tons of water. I've also had to try and not stress about it (easier said than done) because that affected my supply even more. I hope something works for you! GL!

ibis · April 2010

How's your pump? If you've had this problem the whole time you've been pumping it may be your pump that's not working well. Make sure it's in good working order, the level is turned up high enough but not too high, shields are the right size, etc.

RebandJake · April 2010

Ditto what everyone else said and nurse, nurse, nurse when you are with your LO as much as possible! You may even consider bringing your baby in bed with you at night so they can nurse on demand. I did this for about a month and a half and it really kept my supply going.

Also try pumping more often or doing the power hour...

... and for what it's worth, I have tried dark beer for the last 3 nights before bed and my pumping output is up 25%! Also oatmeal is good - eat some every day. You should see a difference in a few days.

Oh and here's a link to a really good post:

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/31760942/ShowThread.aspx#backToTopAnchor