how can i produce more breast milk?

Question

My baby is 4 months old now and i have been breast feeding the whole time except at night when he has one bottle. Over the last 2 months one breast stop producing milk and now it seems im not producing enough at all,........

Answer 1

Have you looked into a breast pump??? Call your Dr, and let him know immediately, he will have the best answers for you and not here on yahoo!!!

Answer 2

I really wonder where people get the stuff they post here in their answers.

You DO NOT need to drink milk to produce milk. You DO NOT need to force yourself to drink lots of fluids. Just drink to thirst! If you are getting thristy, then that's a sign that you are already dehydrated and that's not good. Water is great for you, but so is fruit juice or tea. Drink milk if you want it but you DO NOT have to drink milk to make milk!? (What do people think cow's drink?!)

Is it possible that you have favored one side over the other and that caused one side to produce better? For example, a right handed mom may be more likely to put the baby on the left breast to have her right hand free for other things. Make sure you are alternating breasts with each feeding.

What makes you think that you are not producing enough milk? Many times moms think this when they DO NOT have a supply problem. It's important to note that the feel of the breast, the behavior of your baby, the frequency of nursing, the sensation (or no sensation) of let-down, or the amount you pump are NOT valid ways to determine if you have enough milk for your baby. See the link below to learn more.

Milk production is all about supply and demand. The more you nurse or pump, the more milk your body will make. It's better to nurse or pump more frequently than to have longer sessions. This is more likely to boost your supply. You can add in some pumping sessions if you want to help cue your body to make more milk.

Is your baby gaining weight? Having at least 4-5 wet disposable diapers per day? Does he seem content after feedings?

Answer 3

Do you always start nursing on one side and then switch? You need to stimulate the breast by alternating the sides you start the baby nursing on. Also, are you getting enough fluids yourself? It's summer and hot so you're probably a little dehydrated. If nothing I've suggested helps, check for cysts and clogged milk ducts (though you'd have probably noticed these as they can be painful).

You can always supplement breast feeding with a bottle once the baby's gotten all that's available in order to be sure the baby is getting enough nutrition.

Answer 4

Does the baby fall asleep while drinking on one side only? Make sure he starts with the other one first the next time. Does the baby fall asleep after nursing from you?...then it seems he is getting enough.....but if he cries and seems to be wanting more, then maybe you are right. I realized I wasn't producing as much after around that time. In fact I think what happens is that your breasts give only as much as demanded. Just because you are not exploding with milk like in the beginning, doesn't mean you are drying out. If your baby continues nursing on a regular basis you are still producing milk, although it doesn't seem like it.

Answer 5

Frequent breastfeeding or stimulation to the breast by using a hospital grade pump will help. Around the clock every 3-4 hrs 15-20 minutes each side or pumping will help. Eat oatmeal, fenugreek pills help but are not a magic pill. Pay no attention to what you may be pumping, cover the pump, don't think about it watch TV. Baby draws out more than the pump which sometimes discourages mom thinking she is not producing enough. good luck don't stress and try to relax.

Answer 6

I used Mother's Milk tea, an organic tea found in nearly all health food stores and many large grocery stores--the key ingredients are fennel and fenugreek. And I found that sipping hot tea helped me to relax better. I also used a breast pump regularly, which helped me to monitor "production"--although I never ever got as much to store as I know my son was eating.

There are also a number of prescriptions that your doctor can prescribe to help improve milk production. Contact the Breastfeeding counselor at the hospital where you delivered to get professional advice first (especially about the one breast that is not producing at all), then contact your OB if necessary for a prescription. I will warn you, I tried one prescription and made me very weak and lethargic; that's when I started drinking the tea faithfully.

Answer 7

the same thing happened to me with my son i was bottle feeding more than breast feeding so i lost my milk now i have a 2 month old what i do is breast feed all day but throw in a bottle or 2 a day and its working

Answer 8

the amount of food and what you are eating will affect the amount of milk you will produce. also, for some reason, the more you use the breast pump, the less milk your body will produce. i had trouble nursing my 1st child, i wasn't eating enough and my milk dried up in 3 months, i was sad. my second child, i learned from my mistakes. i ate better and kept nursing for a lot longer.remember, you may not be pregnant anymore but your body is still supplying supplement for two as if you were still with child.

Answer 9

Try eating oatmeal and drinking Mother's Milk Tea. Also because you supplement with one bottle, your milk production is going to be lower. It is best to avoid that one bottle a day if possible, or to phase it out over time so you can produce more milk. More stimulation of the breast=more breast milk. Please see my Kellymom link for more information on increasing low milk supply.

Answer 10

You need to drink LOTS of water. Plus, your milk supply should increase as the demand for it increases. Make sure you alternate sides faithfully, and I recommend taking baby off that bottle, it can affect your supply. Its like youre telling your body you need less milk, because you are going hours at night without feeding. Try just letting your baby nurse as often as he/she wants to. DONT give baby a bottle. Your body should up prduction as baby needs. If not, you need to see a doctor. They may be able to give you something if you really messed up your supply bad enough. But first, try upping your water intake, it can have a big effect on your supply. When I first had my daughter, I was thirsty as heck all the time and drank like a gallon of water a day. I ended up having an insane ammount of milk because of it. Once my water drinking normalized and my baby got herself on a natural feeding schedule, things were just right. Except, your baby may be having a growth spurt, and is more hungry at this time. In that case, it may take a little while for your milk supply to adjust to babys new needs. You may have to feed more often. Good luck!

Answer 11

Don't substitute any thing and try pumping in between feedings (just a little so you don't take milk away from your baby) so that your breast will get used to it and start producing more. Try massaging your breasts throughout the day. Good luck! I breastfed my daughter until she was 17 months old.