Breast feeding difficulties?

Question

I am breastfeeding my 31/2 month old daughter and lately my milk production is decreasing. She eats and then is very hungry. How do I increase my milk supply. I have tried pumping and it is not working.

Answer 1

Dear Kimberly
is that 3 and a half months?
Avoid caffeine( tea /coffee/chocolate) and any other diuretics no coca-cola!
Don't overexercise . Don't diet: breastfeeding will gradually take off all your baby fat Drink plenty of water,all the time and eat /snack when feeding.You need more food now than before you were pregnant.
Check in with your health worker/doctor tomorrow,if you're worried: there are so many benefits to you both to keep breastfeeding
Contact the "La Leche League" they're on the Internet and helped me a lot .
Do you still feel a "let down" when baby cries?
I'm sure you & baby are both going to be fine and congratulations on your baby and the good care you are taking of her,I fed until my daughter was 3 and a half years (just nightime in the end) and she was hardly ever unwell or fussy: any bugs they get are passed from baby to you whilst feeding and then your body makes the antibodies to the bug and passes it back to baby in your milk,you are doing the most natural and amazing thing for her.
Best wishes to you both.
ADDITIONAL TO ORIGINAL ANSWER:
P.S My milk started reducing when I started a new mothers' exercise video routine. Maybe through sweat or I suspect some "cavewoman" reflex the medics have no info on.
Anyway, I stopped the exercise and my milk came back,in this situation you just have to "Do what works for you"
Do follow up the La Leche League contact,they're brilliant.
Excuse this open reply but e-mail contact failed. and I'm convinced everyone should be encouraged to try breastfeeding to see if it can work for them.
ALSO : could baby be hungry because she needs to start on her first solids?Ask your health visitor,we started on baby rice_ you buy it in a packet and then add milk as instructions I tried to feed it by holding baby in her usual feeding position and slowly dripping it into her mouth/lips for her to try.It's like very runny fine porridge. It took a while before she got used to this and actually ate it! It went everywhere for a while until she got the hang of swallowing it!
About exercise: my theory,we haven't changed childbirth since cavewoman's time. Frantic exercise in her time would be to escape danger,this is not the time to stop and nurse so I guess milk production shuts off to allow escape and survival. Gentle exercise could be the answer but just where the body starts shutting down milk production to help you "escape" who knows.
Hope some of this helps

Answer 2

First of all, make certain that your supply really *is* low. If your baby is acting hungry after nursing that could be a sign of a growth spurt rather than low supply.

The main signs of true low supply are:
-inadequate weight gain from your baby
-not enough wet/poopy diapers (see links for more info)

If you're not getting much from the pump, that's pretty normal and not a sign of low supply (I know mamas who can't pump a drop but have plenty of milk for their babes), and if she's fussy, that could also have other causes, particularly a growth spurt (and 3 months is a standard time for a growth spurt).

If it's a growth spurt, then you should just set everything aside and do nothing but nurse your baby (as much as is possible for you to do). It'll pass in a few days or a week, and is your babe's perfectly normal way of increasing your supply.

If your supply is genuinely low (and from what you've said, I'd bet it isn't), I've included some links that have good advice.

Answer 3

In general, supply should meet demand. But when it doesn't there are herbal remedies you can try, or medications you can take.

I've had great success taking Mother's Milk Tea three times a day. You can get it at Whole Foods and other health food stores. It contains fenugreek and blessed thistle, which are safe for breastfeeding mothers, and increase milk production for many (but not all) women. You can find more info here: http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html

Your pediatrician may also be able to prescribe medications to increase supply: http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/prescript_galactagogue.html

Answer 4

make sure you are dringing lots of water
Corn is a good source to increase milk. I was having that problem about a month ago and I wasn't drinking enough water. And now I drink water like it's going out of style and now I keep changing my breast pads about 3-4 times daily compare to 1-2 times.

Answer 5

What they said and also more frequent feedings will stimulate more milk production. Just do the opposite of weaning. When you wean her from the breast, you will gradually cut out feedings. To increase milk flow, increase the feedings. Your body should adjust naturally.

Answer 6

She is probably hitting a growth spurt, and that is why she wants to feed more. Keep nursing her on demand. Drink lots of water and keep yourself hydrated throughout the day.

Answer 7

Express more often- the more you stimulate, the more you will produce. It's hard to get anything when expressing because you will only be making as much as your baby needs, and nothing more, but please stick with trying to build up your supply.
Ask you health visitor for help.

Answer 8

I am not saying you should automatically do this, BUT if you end up giving her formula do NOT feel guilty about it. You need to get your baby fed no matter what kind of guilt trip people put on you about it.

Answer 9

Le Leche League has answers and assistance for most of your needs - click link below for more info
http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/increase.html

Answer 10

water!!!