Milk Supply Low

Muffin274 · February 2014

Returning to work full time has greatly impacted my milk supply. My daughter is 4 months old. When I try to nurse she just gets frustrated and screams. And when pumping I used to be able to get 5 or more ounces a time but now I'm lucky if I get 1 ounce. We had to supplement with formula because I am just not making enough.

I am trying to get my milk supply back up. I'm trying to nurse as much as possible. But I'm wondering about pumping. How often should I pump and for how long on each side?

Muffin274 · February 2014

Thank you @Sing2phins. I was only pumping once while I was at work and that was my first mistake. I am now pumping 2-3 times at work. I was also only feeding her on one side at a time, but I was told I should be nursing on both sides during a feeding, so that is what I try to do. That tends to be hard because LO doesn't like the nursing on the left side. I'm going to try posting on the breastfeeding forum as well.

And I know this is totally unrelated but how do you get the pictures on your response??

Muffin274 · February 2014

@Sing2phins Thank you for the information! I am just going to have to nurse her and pump more often. Hopefully that will get my supply back up. I had a couple of responses from the breastfeeding forum as well and I am going to try those options as well. And also thank you for the info about the signature!!

Muffin274 · February 2014

Sadly the picture isn't working on my signature

mmrz2008 · February 2014

@muffin274 I'm not sure if anyone mentioned Milkmakers cookies, they really do help your body produce more milk! I actually didn't need them but bought the monthly subscription (you get 2 bags and 1 box of individually wrapped cookies) for about $45 with free shipping if you do the subscription. You can simply turn the subscription off if you don't want to buy anymore for the following month. If you have a Pinterest account there's also recipes for smoothies that help with production. Kellymom.com is a great website for any breast-feeding topics. I had a lot of trouble with breast-feeding for the first month or so and that website really saved me! I believe I read a very good article explaining how to boost your milk supply and another on why you don't always have to feed on both sides. I learned more about breast-feeding from an article than 2 visits to lactation consultant. Check it out!

KaramelSutra · February 2014

Also, have you done z simple things such as pump maintenance? Ie: checking membranes for tears snipping the tubing a Smidge to ensure a tight fit, correct size horns? Good luck

Muffin274 · February 2014

mmrz2008 I will check out that site and those cookies. Thank you!!

KaramelSutra I have an electric pump so it doesn't have any tubes or anything. Just the horn, bottle, and the top with the batteries. I have cleaned it but maybe there is a problem. I have a manual pump too that you squeeze.

ginamarie1005 · February 2014

Muffin274 said:
mmrz2008 I will check out that site and those cookies. Thank you!!

KaramelSutra I have an electric pump so it doesn't have any tubes or anything. Just the horn, bottle, and the top with the batteries. I have cleaned it but maybe there is a problem. I have a manual pump too that you squeeze.

You don't have tubing connecting your bottles to your pump?

Muffin274 · February 2014

ginamarie1005. There aren't any tubes. Just the plastic horn that attaches to the base.

ginamarie1005 · February 2014

@muffin274 oh! I've never seen that kind before. I'm using a double electric medela and just assumed all electric ones had tubing I guess. Like pp mentioned, try switching out the membranes. Also, have you tried taking fenugreek? I had the same issue as you and started taking 4 of them 3 times a day. It seems to be helping, even if it's just a little bit.

mwhipple77 · February 2014

I will agree with @ginamarie1005 on the fenugreek. I take 3 pills 3 times daily along with a cup of Mother's Milk tea. I think they help, not a huge increase, but enough that I will continue to take them.

LittleNugget93 · February 2014

Oatmeal oatmeal oatmeal! I have it every day. I recently ran out of it and didn't buy anymore for a week and my supply noticeably went down. Also avoid anything with peppermint in it. You can also try taking a picture of your daughter nursing and look at that while you pump. It may help you produce more.

Muffin274 · February 2014

ginamarie1005 mwhipple77 I have been taking Fenugreek but I was only taking 2 pills before bed. It sounds like I should be taking 3-4 pills 3 times a day. I have noticed though that the Fenugreek gives me heartburn.

LittleNugget93 Any kind of oatmeal in particular or just any kind?

MrsCrossley · February 2014

My daughter is 4 mo & I went through a dramatic drop in my breast milk a month ago . From what I understand, the 3 month mark is a new adjustment in your hormones so sometimes your milk productions ends up taking a hit. I've been told to try fenugreek, start pumping again (I'd stopped pumping , laziness . I've accepted I'm a bad mom in that sense lol) We also supplemented formula here & there & when she goes to the sitter be gets formula. But I just fed her every time she was hungry (which was still every 2-3 hrs) & my breast milk is fine. It's not like it used to be, like I'm not painfully engorged if I go 4 hours without feeding but my baby is fine. Your body knows what to do . It just goes through hormonal readjustments & you just have to remain persistent. Good luck !

Muffin274 · February 2014

MrsCrossley I am trying to hard to get my supply back up. I have been taking Fenugreek, but I now see I'm not taking enough. I try to pump as often as I can. But I had someone tell me to pump for 20 minutes on each side every hour. Well that is pumping for 40 out of every 60 minutes. That just isn't possible. My supply was fine until I returned to work. And then she wasn't eating as much and my production was hit hard. I just worry that I won't be able to keep up. I try to nurse her and she just gets frustrated because I don't have enough. It was a mistake to start supplementing with formula. That hasn't helped at all, but only hurt my production. It is hard but I know how good it is for her, and it is such a great bond for us, so I'm going to keep trying. Hopefully something will work and my supply will come back!

Muffin274 · February 2014

AFwifelife I really don't want to stop BF her. It is so good for her and I love the bonding time between us too. I have been looking at a double electric pump but they are expensive. I am a single Mom so expenses are pretty tight. I am going to keep looking though because it should really help.

daniann333 · February 2014

here is a recipe for lactation cookies. I got this from my BF group that I go in my area, They can be pricey to make but REALLY help and are soooo good.

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/breastfeeding/breastmilk-supply-increase-breastmilk-lactation-cookie-recipe#at_pco=tcb-1.0&at_tot=5&at_ab=-&at_pos=2

Also, let her eat from from breast and finish that first before you move her to the other breast. You don't want a hind/foremilk imbalance

Muffin274 · March 2014

daniann333 Thank you for the recipe! I am going to check that out.

dhaueisen Thank you for the advice. I actually recently started using a hand pump and it does seem to get more milk than my electric pump. The hard part is pumping while I am at work. If I go over my allotted break and lunch time they dock my pay and pumping how I should that would cost me about $220 a paycheck. And I can't afford that being a single Mom. I have just been trying to pump more frequently at home and then pumping on my breaks/lunch at work. My milk has been getting a little better with that and the Fenugreek. Hopefully soon I will be back to where I was before!!

kat51381 · March 2014

This happened to me too and it was devastating because I really wanted to nurse. What I finally established was that I was having trouble with letdown with my pump. I tried looking at pictures and meditating while pumping all to no avail. Finally I switched to he medela pump because it has a double expression let down phase now I can get my milk and baby has started solids so I able to keep up. Maybe a new pump? Good luck! Don't give up, you'll figure it out. Call lactation too, they may be able to help and it's generally free from the hospital where you gave birth.

mushycpa@hotmail.com · March 2014

Check with your health care plan. With Obamacare some health plans now cover the cost of double electric breast pumps. I use one and get so much more milk that way & it doesn't take longer than 15-20 minutes. It's definitely worth looking into.

Want a personalized experience?

Milk Supply Low

Re: Milk Supply Low

Choose Another Board

Search Boards