a German woman told me to drink Karamalz, which is a nonalcoholic caramel malt drink, to help with milk production. I've noticed a definite correlation between supply and how much Karamalz I drink. yesterday I had a liter of it, and today I'm spraying and leaking all over the place!
we are heading back to the US this week, and I was bemoaning the lack of Karamalz. DH (who works with craft beer) said Malta should be similar, and is available at home. so I will try it.
My lc said this shouldn't be a problem. She gave me a lactation herbal book to borrow too, and it didn't suggest that it would interfere either.
She IS having me try a Colombian booster, panela. Basically, it's little pucks of hard pressed palm sugar. Take one, smash it up into bits and boil it in about 1.5 litres of water (it'll end up being a litre). Drink a litre daily (not if you're diabetic!). You can flavour it or whatever too. I've been making my lactation tea with it. Just started this, so I can't say if it works yet or not for me, but she said several people have had luck with it. I found the sugar in an Asian grocery store, from Thailand - it has different names from different cultures. She did say Colombian pure was better, lol. And, it's cheap - like $2.25 for 8 little pucks of it.
So....I think this is oddly working too - I'm pumping about 6oz a day on the side I pump from rather than 2-3. I tend not to pump from the other since lo feeds easier/more often on that side. I'll see if it keeps helping!
I've had so much trouble with this but I finally found a process that works. I take the Gaia lactation support. The normal dosage wasn't doing much, they told me to double it. Doubling the dosage along with breast massage, double pumping at work, the massage and shake method, hand expressing, making sure to do breast compressions while feeding my son, and lastly... Pumping an extra 10 mins after each feeding has helped immensely. It's so much work, but I finally have enough breast milk for him during the day with the nanny and I feel full after 2 1/2 hours.
After getting down to one pump a day (exclusively pumping) and then changing my mind haha (damn hormones), I managed to get my supply up from .5oz to 2oz a breast. Not every pump is a solid 2oz as I notice it tapers off as the day progresses but I'm content with that. For some reason, the knockers never could make more than 2oz a breast even when I pumped around the clock. I'm a low supplier. I only pump three times a day now and no overnights. The rest is formula.
I drink a Guinness every night (no hardship there), eat lots of oatmeal (I make granola and no bake cookies) and drink tons of water. I couldn't stomach the Brewers yeast and the milkmaid tea didn't work for me. I also noticed the fenugreek made me itch (down there
After getting down to one pump a day (exclusively pumping) and then changing my mind haha (damn hormones), I managed to get my supply up from .5oz to 2oz a breast. Not every pump is a solid 2oz as I notice it tapers off as the day progresses but I'm content with that. For some reason, the knockers never could make more than 2oz a breast even when I pumped around the clock. I'm a low supplier. I only pump three times a day now and no overnights. The rest is formula.
I drink a Guinness every night (no hardship there), eat lots of oatmeal (I make granola and no bake cookies) and drink tons of water. I couldn't stomach the Brewers yeast and the milkmaid tea didn't work for me. I also noticed the fenugreek made me itch (down there
Did you try mixing a bit of brewer's yeast with the oatmeal? Once I add a little fruit or maple syrup to the oatmeal, it hides the taste, I find. I do 3 cups milk, 1 cup rolled oats, 3tbsp flax meal, 1tbsp brewer's yeast. That usually does me 3-4 days of breakfasts by the time I add the fruit.
To be fair, I have no idea really what all is helping the most, I just keep taking or eating it all. If someone said Himalayan yak dung worked, I'd likely take it too.
Update about Motherlove More Milk Plus: so it has ridiculously good reviews on Amazon & elsewhere online, but it actually decreased my supply the first time I tried. I thought it might be a fluke, so I tried it again last week--drop in supply again. After speaking to an herbalist, I learned that it's the fennel seed component that is problematic for me. Fennel seed increases let down, but large amounts can decrease milk production. I guess I'm just extra sensitive to it or something. The good thing is that the effects wore off after a couple days, but still a major bummer.
I find water is key to keeping my supply up. I started taking fenugreek, and the blessed thistle caplets. But like many of you said before the maple smell is a bit much. I am going to try taking them every other day now. But I've been consistently pumping about 10 oz At night to build up a stash. I don't pump during the day. I am ebf.
I hate pumping! That was random I know.. Trying to pump to gain stock before going back to work, but also going to start supplementing LO because I absolutely hate pumping.. Every time I start I end up grabbing LO and putting him on the boob.. I hate it with all my might so I know I won't be a succeeding 100% pumper
Has anyone used the MilkMakers Lactation Cookies? Babies R Us has a bag of 10 cookies for $24.99, bogo50% off, so I got two bags. Wondering if they actually work and how long it will take to see results.
I hate pumping! That was random I know.. Trying to pump to gain stock before going back to work, but also going to start supplementing LO because I absolutely hate pumping.. Every time I start I end up grabbing LO and putting him on the boob.. I hate it with all my might so I know I won't be a succeeding 100% pumper
May I ask what you dislike about it? Totally lot of curiosity! I found once I pumped I never went back to nursing haha. What would normally be a 30-40 minute nursing session was cut in half by pumping. My nips were happy too
Ugh I just drank my first cup of mother milk tea and oomph I am having trouble with the taste! Yikes! I love tea but this was like no other. It tastes too much like black licorice. I read adding honey helps so I'm going to give it a try. I'll suffer through if it helps!
Any reports on how these things affected milk supply? Total crap ? Or are most of these things worth it?
I have found that the Gatorade helps my supply. 1 a day. I do the flax seed in yogurt....... And it gives awful smelling gas.... So I don't believe it's worth it.
Any reports on how these things affected milk supply? Total crap ? Or are most of these things worth it?
I have found that the Gatorade helps my supply. 1 a day. I do the flax seed in yogurt....... And it gives awful smelling gas.... So I don't believe it's worth it.
My understanding is flax seed isn't really digestible unless it's ground, so try ground flax. I use flax meal in my oatmeal/lactation cookies.
Edited to add: SOME THINGS have helped with supply, but honestly, I'm not sure what since I'm trying like 8 different things. I just keep at all of them, since for the most part they're not difficult to do. I just generally don't bother with lactation cookies all of the time. I put the flax and brewer's yeast in my morning oatmeal, so that's more potent than a cookie anyway.
Re: Milk boosters
we are heading back to the US this week, and I was bemoaning the lack of Karamalz. DH (who works with craft beer) said Malta should be similar, and is available at home. so I will try it.
I drink a Guinness every night (no hardship there), eat lots of oatmeal (I make granola and no bake cookies) and drink tons of water. I couldn't stomach the Brewers yeast and the milkmaid tea didn't work for me. I also noticed the fenugreek made me itch (down there
I have found that the Gatorade helps my supply. 1 a day. I do the flax seed in yogurt....... And it gives awful smelling gas.... So I don't believe it's worth it.