I have a 2 month old baby and I am nursing. How can I increase my milk production?

Answer 1

First of all, what makes you think you don't have enough? Many women think they have too little milk--most often this is *not* the case.

The only common reasons women can't produce enough milk are a hormonal imbalance or previous breast (or chest) surgery. If you are using hormonal birth control (the Pill, minipill, Depo, Nuva Ring, Mirena IUD, etc.), you may want to choose a different birth control method. Your supply will probably increase. You may also want to have your thyroid tested--an overactive or underactive thyroid can cause supply problems, and treating it will usually fix things. If you are pregnant or have PCOS, there may be no way to increase your supply easily or possibly at all (particularly in the case of pregnancy). The same is true of breast/chest surgery, although it may be better with any future children.

If you no longer feel full, can't pump much, and don't leak, this is *usually* a sign that breastfeeding is going well. When your baby is first born, your breasts don't know that you didn't give birth to twins or even triplets. They overproduce. At some point (it can be 2 weeks or a year after the birth), your body adjusts to the needs of *your* baby. Then you get the above signs.

If baby is fussy at the breast and not gaining well, it is more likely that you have too much milk than too little. This is particularly true if baby sputters or chokes a couple of minutes into feedings and/or has frequent green bowel movements.

If you still think you have too little milk, you need to nurse more often--at least 10-12 times in 24 hours (the more often, the better from the perspective of increasing your milk supply). Even if you use one of the other methods below, you need to nurse this frequently or they won't work. If you are exclusively pumping, you would need to pump even more often, as pumping is never as effective as a nursing baby.

Fenugreek is the *only* herb with scientific evidence of its effectiveness at increasing milk supply. If you haven't had a significant increase in your milk supply with high nursing frequency, you can try fenugreek. Start by taking 1 capsule 3 times a day for 3-4 days, then increase to 2 capsules 3 times a day for the next few days. Keep increasing until you are taking an effective dose *for you* (usually 2-4 capsules per dose). You will recognize this when your sweat and urine smell like maple syrup. Continue at that dosage for at least a week--or until your milk supply picks up enough. Stop taking it gradually (as at the beginning). Fenugreek is not recommended if you have asthma or diabetes, and if you or baby has an allergic reaction (very rare), stop taking it.

Do *not* drink "lots". It won't help, and it may harm your milk supply--one study showed that women who forced liquids actually produced less milk than those who drank to thirst. The results were not able to be replicated in later studies, but it is *absolutely* clear that drinking more than you need will not help in any way.

Do not pump if baby will nurse. A baby is always more effective than a pump.

Do not use an herbal blend. First of all, you are increasing the risks because you can be allergic to or have a nasty side effect from 6 or more ingredients instead of only 1. More importantly, they all contain fennel. Fennel has the odd property of increasing milk supply for some women and decreasing it for others.

Answer 2

Try feeding every two hours (if babe isn't hungry then pump, just make sure you're getting milk out every two hours) and increase your water intake. You should be drinking about 64 oz of water a day if you're nursing - or so my doc told me lol. Also try not to stress. It's normal to only get about 1-2 oz of pumped milk during the first few months. I have to stare at or hold my 1 month old when I pump and I can get a LOT more milk while I pump.

HTH

Answer 3

This may sound simplistic but nursing frequently is the first rule. The more the baby suckles at the breast, the more milk your body will be stimulated to produce.

Fenugreek is an herb supplement that can be taken to boost production. I had both a midwife and a lactation consultent recommend this to me.

Is your baby underweight? That would be the only reason you should be concerned about milk production. If his/her weight is on target and is making enough pee/poo diapers then the baby is getting all he/she needs.

Answer 4

Not sure if you are nursing exclusively or supplementing with formula. If you are supplementing you need to gradually stop - as you stop supplementing, your natural supply will increase. Milk production works on supply and demand - the more that your baby suckles from you (or the more you pump), the more your production will increase...if you are exclusively nursing and still not producing enough, you probably should see a lactation consultant.

Answer 5

Keep in mind that although you may think you are not producing enough milk you probably are. How can you if tell the baby is getting enough milk?

There are several ways a mother can tell whether a baby is getting enough milk. One is by the number of wet diapers he has in a day. Make sure he has at least six wet diapers per day with pale yellow urine, beginning around the third or fourth day of life. An infant should also have several small bowel movements daily (there may be one after every feeding in the first few weeks). During the first week of life, an infant should have at least two stools per day. From about 1 to 4 weeks old these should increase to at least 5 per day. As a baby gets older, bowel movements may occur less often, and may even skip a number of days. Bowel movements of breastfed babies usually smell somewhat sweeter than the stools of formula fed babies.

A baby’s feeding patterns are also an important sign that he is feeding enough. Listen for gulping sounds to know that a baby is actually swallowing the milk and not just sucking. Also look for slow, steady jaw movement.

A baby should be steadily gaining weight after the first week of life. During the first week, some infants lose several ounces of weight, but they should be back up to their birth weight by the end of the second week. A pediatrician’s office will weigh a baby at each visit. Keep in mind that a baby may breastfeed more often during growth spurts.

That being said:

There is a few things you can do to help increase your milk production.

The first thing to realize is that your body will produce milk in relation to what if feels your baby needs. This is why mothers of twins and triplets are able to breastfeed.

The more your baby nurses, or alternatively, the more you pump, the more milk you will produce. Also, the length of time your baby is on the breast will indicate to your body if you are producing enough milk. It is better to leave your baby on one breast for 15-20 minutes and make sure the baby is drinking the hind-milk. After if the baby is still hungry then switch to the other breast.

Try to have at least 8- 9 nursing/pumping sessions per day. Also, if possible, try to sneak in 2 pumping sessions during the day, in between nursing sessions.

Drinking water will help, if you are dehydrated, but if you are properly hydrated - drinking more water will only make you want to pee more.

Try these home remedies as well (can be bought in pill form from your local health food store, GNC, vitamin shop):

Fenugreek
mother's milk tea (A blend with Blessed Thistle and Fenugreek)

Try contacting your local hospital. See if they have a lactation consultant on staff, or if your Ob/Gyn can refer you to one.

If they do charge you anything, it is usually on a sliding scale fee. I have yet to see any of the lactation consultants turn any mother away seeking assistance for breastfeeding issues for financial reasons.

Reglan can also be used as a pharmacological alternative. This should only be used as a last resort and it must be prescribed by your doctor. (Your Ob/Gyn in conjunction with the pediatrician.)

Please refer to this webpage for more information on Reglan. It is not for everyone, but quite a few of my fellow preemie moms were on it while their kid(s) were in the hospital.

http://www.breastfeeding.org/articles/reglan.html

Also, try these websites:

http://www.lalecheleague.org/

http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/resources/breastfeeding-promotion-org.htm

http://www.motherandchildhealth.com/Breastfeeding/Becky/increase_milk.html

Good Luck

Answer 6

well you can increase your milk production by using a breast pump, which allows your milk to circulate in order to flow out of your breast. Also if you are under stress it can stop the flow of your milk but once you start and the baby is feeding it will signal the brain to produce more milk.

Answer 7

Claire is most likely proper. Just remember *to nurse earlier than a bottle. * even if your nipples damage maintain going. Everyones damage, if you happen to discontinue and take a look at again it's going to start all over. Push by means of it! You are able to do it, it's going to get higher. *make sure your consuming and drink a lot. That was once key for all my babies. If you dont devour or drink there is nothing for baby. * AND pump or nurse everytime little one eats. So your physique gets use to his tummies time frame. Just right luck!

Answer 8

drink a can or half a can of bud light or bud weiser...the yeast helps increase milk production and does not harm ur baby...i am breastfeeding my 1 1/2 month old and it helps a lot...if you cannot produce enough milk...u can also add half formula and half of ur breast milk i have been doing that for a while and my baby is fine with it..

Answer 9

Claire is undoubtedly proper. simply take into account *to nurse earlier than a bottle. * even though your nipples harm preserve going. everyones harm, if you happen to give up and check out once more it's going to begin far and wide. push by way of it! you'll do it, it's going to get bigger. *Make definite your consuming and drink tons. that used to be key for all my infants. If you dont consume or drink there's not anything for youngster. * AND pump or nurse everytime youngster eats. so your frame will get use to his tummies time period. well success!

Answer 10

Feed, Feed, Feed. It is simple supply and demand. The more the baby eats, the more you will produce. If you are still worried about it you can try Fenugreek which is an herbal supplement. I haven't used it but I know a few who swear by it.
Enjoy feeding your beautiful baby.