how can i increase my breast milk supply?

Question

i have to pump all milk due to latch problems ........and now i am getting only 1/2 ounce each breast every 2 hours and need to increase my baby is 2 months and drinking 30 + ounces a day and i want as much as possible to be breast milk

Answer 1

Try your best to be relaxed. You have to be relaxed when your pumping. Pump in the morning when you are fullest. The more you pump the more milk your body produces. Wait a little while though you dont want to pump every 30 minutes! This is sooo hard in the beginning . You would think that it would be such an easy and natural process but its rough. Stick with it though it gets easier as time goes on. It is such a rewarding experience for the child as well as the mother. Dont be discouraged! Hang in there!

Answer 2

Good for you for pumping!! To key to increasing your milk is making your body think that the baby needs more. The more stimulation the better. You can stimulate your nipples inbetween feedings to cause more letdowns. This tells your body that the baby is feeding when it isnt but will create more milk. Oatmeal, and fennel seed tea are natural ways to increase your milk. There is also a drug called Domperidone that will increase your milk. Just remember, the more stimulation the better. Pump whenever you can, and manually stimulate the milk to let down as well. Hope this helps and keep up the good work!! Have you spoken with a Lactation councellor about the latching problem? Maybe they could help.

Just to add too. Make sure you're drinking enough. When my daughter was around 4 months, my milk started to slow down. I realized it was because I wasn't drinking enough. I started drinking more and it solved the problem. The person that recommended renting a professional pump like the kind at the hospital is right. They work much better.

Answer 3

I would talk to a lactation consultant or La Leche League for help. Pumping isn't always a good indication of supply. There are some things you can do to raise supply, drink lots of water, eat oatmeal, fenugreek and blessed thistle caplets. You can also try massage before pumping, compressions during pumping and a gentle shaking of the breasts to help milk let down. An LC can show you about all these things. Good for you for keeping up with nursing even with latch problems! 30 oz sounds like a LOT for a 2 month old so check with the pediatrician and LC, newborns will often eat beyond what their body can process, especially from a bottle.

Answer 4

I had the same problem, I wanted to breast feed so bad because it's what's best for the baby. I know you said your pumping every 2 hours, but you might have to pump like every hour just to get your milk supply back. It works as a supply and demand,the more often you pump the more milk you'll produce. If your baby is sleeping through the night, and your not getting up in the middle of the night to pump than that's also why your milk supply could be dropping.

Answer 5

I learned quickly how to make more breast milk. I nursed my son for sixteen months and pumped for my friends adopted baby for a year at the same time.

The thing to remember is your breast is never empty. It will always make as much as you ask it to. Keep a glass of water near you while nursing or pumping. I usually kept a half gallon next to me. Press on your brest while feeding and it will extract more milk. If you pump use a bra with wholes in the nipples and your hands will be free for drinking and pumping. YOU WILL NOT PRODUCE MILK IF YOUR BODY IS LOW ON FLUIDS!!!!!!!! Don't supliement between feedings until you supply is made ( not about the kid not taking your breast, more about your milk supply)

Your breasts will also make milk at the time of day you ask. So for example I would wake up and feed my son at 8 am. Then I would pump another 16-20 oz of milk for my friends kid. I only had to pump that one time, I did not go around leaking the whole day because I did that every day, so my body knew it was the time of day to produce more milk.

Good luck and blessings to you,
Rebecca

PS Don't believe people who say there milk dried up on its own. It does not do that unless you quit drinking enough water or having hormonal issues...such as taking birth control pills. Your body works great on its own. It will do what it takes, with good nutrition.

Answer 6

First off latch on problems can be fixed try to breast feed every chance you get because the more you try the more likely the baby will take it . Here is a website for breastfeeding supplies there is a tea calles mothers milk tea that is supposed to help with produceing more milk . http://www.breastmilk.com/breast_care.htm
I wish you the best of luck any more questions for me email [e-mail] I have breastfed my child (I am still breastfeeding ) and I did have latch on problems at first

Answer 7

drink as much water as you possibly can.

I'm sorry you have to pump so much...I'd see a lactation consultant and work on the latch-on problem if you haven't already. Some women--like me!--never got anywhere near as much supply from the pump as from baby.

Pumps can vary too in how effectively they work. I'd say if you're not currently using a top-notch pump, get one. Again, consulting with a lactation consultant would be great.
Your pediatrician or other healthcare provider could probably recommend one.
good luck!

Answer 8

One piece of advice not covered by the others - consider renting a hospital grade pump, if you're not using one already. These are more effective than most consumer pumps. Check with your hospital or a lactation consultant to find out how to get one. Good luck and hang in there.

Answer 9

Oh you poor dear! I have a 5mo old and have exclusively breastfed. You need to get YOGI TEA, NURSING MOTHER. I can personally vouge for it. It will increase your milk in as little as a day. It tastes like licorice which I don't really like, but honey can help that. I sent it to a friend who also has a 5mo old and she loved it as well. You will have so much milk you will HAVE to pump to relieve it. You can get it at most WholeFoods or natural food stores, as well as Drugstores.com. Hope that helps.

Answer 10

Drink more water and juice. Pump more often. The more you drink and pump the more milk you will produce. It worked for me.