Breast milk supply

currcurr027 · June 2015

I'be been back to work since mid April now, and baby is 3 months old today. I work full time so I'm pumping a lot! She is eating 4-5oz per feeding and I can't keep up! I'm pumping every 3 hours at work then she feeds from me morning and night. She is now getting 1 formula Bottle a day, to make up for what I'm lacking. I've started drinking milk maid tea, I'm eating a lot of chicken, and trying to get enough fresh produce in my diet and drinking at least 9 cups of water a day. Does anybody else have any recommendations for increasing supply? I really don't want give her more formula than she's already getting, it's kind of a pride thing, I feel like I'm failing! Help!

babystarin · June 2015

I take fenugreek and that helps me. I still have to supplement though.

MoraBeshara · June 2015

Take fenugreek with blessed thistle..it works perfect together

soupalou · June 2015

I had a hard time from the start - I used fenugreek, blessed thistle and brewers yeast to increase my supply and then stopped once I had enough. Also power pumping 3 days in a row (my supply seemed to jump every 3days)- pump 10min on/ 10 min off for 1 hour- I just watch a TV show.

Sugarplum0217 · June 2015

Power pumping to start. Eating oatmeal with Brewers yeast and flax seed also up your water intake, I would double what you're drinking.

KD32412 · June 2015

I am in awe of you working mommies that pump! It's hard work! Bravo!!!

currcurr027 · June 2015

Thanks ladies! Ima give these a try!

soupalou · June 2015

I forgot to mention - instead of taking brewers yeast supplements (before I could get out to get them) I drank a beer throughout the day (ie one beer spread out over the whole day) I'd take a few sips right when I started pumping or right before and it really seemed to help - obviously you can't get drunk and drinking a beer at work may also not be advisable

I read that it helps with let down - my supply really picked up when I started the beer/brewers yeast

Mic512 · June 2015

My MIL made me lactation cookies with flax & Brewers yeast, I eat granola for breakfast & a kashi honey almond flax granola bar as a snack. I try to squeeze the supply boosters in wherever I can throughout my day.

djoliet · June 2015

I've been exclusively pumping for my daughter since she was about a week old due to severe tongue tie. I pump every 2 hours for 20 minutes. I was doing it for only 15 minutes when I first started and increasing my pumping time did seem to help. Try pumping every 2 hours instead of 3. Also make sure your breastshields are the right size. If the here too big or too small it can effect your output. I recently figured out mine were too small and went up a size and I've been getting more milk each pumping session

sammyt256 · June 2015

I started pumping on my days off too. When I was home with my LO. Especially in the am because I'm so full he chokes when I try to feed him before I pump. Before I started pumping on my days off I had to give him formula once because I hadn't pumped enough the day before. Now I can pump more than enough.

Christina80xoxo · June 2015

Thank you for asking! I'm pumping at work too and I feel like my supply is going down

I'm going to try some of these ideas

cmcintos · June 2015

How quickly does your supply get affected and decrease? I work one day a week, and find it hard to pump much that day.....but I feed her before and after. Will one day a week decrease my supply?

soupalou · June 2015

I haven't gone back to work yet- but I have been out of the house and unable to pump for 7 hours once- I keep track of every pump as I pump exclusively and that one stretch had no effect on my supply - my pump after the 7 hours was huge- so maybe try to pump after you feed your LO- to capture the "extra" and make up for the missed feed - the number of feeds per day seems to be very important- I notice changes in my supply only after I've done something for 3 days straight

meandthebirds · June 2015

Oats everyday and mothers milk at least once. The oats keep your supply up.

lmc929 · June 2015

Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle is working for this pumping mama too -- good luck!

adelems · June 2015

Boobie bites (Pinterest search them. They taste AMAZING) were really helpful for me! And it sounds like you may need more water. I freaking have to drink what seems gallons to keep my supply up. More more more water. If you think you've had enough, drink some more. Lol.

devinsmommy31115 · June 2015

Try drinking a Gatorade or 2 a day, it really helps with hydration and supply.

leibas · June 2015

I found this article today from a breastfeeding support group in my city and thought it was very helpful.

https://breastfeedingusa.org/content/article/magic-number-and-long-term-milk-production

djoliet · June 2015

Also I do a power pump for my very last pump of the day and its helped tremendously. Power pump for an hour: 20 minutes firsf pump, rest 10 minutes, pump 10 minutes, rest 10 minutes, and pump 10 minutes

myjessesgirl · June 2015

Much respect for you full-time working and pumping moms! I just started back, too, but only three days a week. And I have been fortunate to get to go home during the day sometimes. I do pump every morning after her first (or second) feeding. I have a huge supply in my freezer now since I've been pumping since she was three weeks old and I hardly use the stored milk at all. I think I'll stop the morning pumping when she's about six months old and on more solids. But for now I'm paranoid that my supply will decrease and I'll end up needing to supplement (mostly because of the cost). Thanks for all the great ideas on here. Good luck to you all with your pumping! Hope you can keep it up!

pittelk · June 2015

I take fenugreek, eat lactation cookies, and my doctor actually precribed me something to increase my supply and told me to drink as much powerade and water as possible.

babyh310 · June 2015

My milk didn't come in for about 3 weeks, and I tried all sorts of things to get it to come in. I'm now back to work 4 days per week and pumping every 3 hrs (I try to pump at the same times he would be eating to stay on his schedule and keep up with him). I feel like my supply is lowering, I'm barely getting enough. I started taking fenugreek again but it gives both of us gas and I hate seeing him in pain. I am now dairy free bc he doesn't tolerate dairy - any good recipes for dairy free lactation cookies??

adelems · June 2015

Look up "boobie bites" on Pinterest . Just use dark chocolate (find ones with no diary) chips or no chocolate chips . They are yum!!!

adelems · June 2015

Oh it's actually booby bites but these are what I make and I love them!

https://www.icanteachmychild.com/booby-bites-energy-snack-for-nursing-moms-everyone-else/

NickandKylen · June 2015

4-5oz per feeding is a pretty huge amount for a breastfed 3 month old. We don't need to keep upping the quantify of milk they eat like formula fed babies do.

crsanchez87 · October 2015

I made the booby bites! They are delicious, I replaced chocolate chips with dried blueberries, added some pecans, and upped the brewers yeast and I love them! They are sweet, but not too sweet which was my fear with the choc. I also picked up a herbal supplement from my local health store, they are capsules and they have fenugreek, blessed thistle, goats rue, and a couple of other herbs that I have seen as supply boosting. I like them because the recommendation is once a day which is easy for me to remember and keep up with. I don't know if it's placebo effect or if it the boosters already kicking in but I've pumped three times today and I've gotten 4 ounces each time, which is definitely an improvement over the 2 ounces I was getting!

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