What can you do to increase your milk supply when nursing?

Question

I have tried drinking lots of water, nursing more often, drinking "Mother's milk tea" and taking and herbal supplement called Fenugreek. Is there anything else I can do? My son is only 2 1/2 months old, and wanted to keep breastfeeding as long as I possibly can. Is there a prescription medicine that I can take?

Answer 1

Well, I might seem the least qualified to answer this question but I think you may find this helpful.
The thing to remember is that both your and the baby are completing for water, so drinking more water should help. You said you are drinking lots of water but it could be how you are drinking it. If you drink a lot of water all at once then your body will expel it before it has time to convert it to milk. The key is to drink it gradually, and before you feel thirsty. I know the recommended amount is your total body weight divided by 2 in ounces.
Personally I would recommend staying away from medications and supplements even if they are 'safe'. I would not suggest taking anything that you would not feel comfortable giving your child directly. Your body does not act like a filter unfortunately, so everything you use it passed-on to to baby in the milk.
And keep pumping even if it means you have to through it away.

Good luck I hope this helps.

Answer 2

I had a problem with milk supply. With my first child I went to a lactician and we would weigh the my son before a feeding and weigh him after. He was not getting any milk from my breasts. It was a good thing I followed my instincts and went in after 4 days at home with him. I was basically starving him. I tried pumping and pumping but still nothing. I supplemented with a feeding tube for about 2 months and then gave up. With my next three children I still pumped but I also took a drug called Reglan. There was a little more milk in my breasts with the last 3 kids but still not enough to feed them. I think if you have been breast feeding for 2 month then you must have a pretty good supply going now. Talk to your doctor to see if he can prescribe reglan and make an appointment with a lactician. Also my lactician also told me to drink a beer a day. It did not work for me but I had a very extreme case.

Answer 3

I've tried many things, too. Drinking water is essential, though - you need to replenish liquid outtakes, plus it makes milk less concentrated - babies are also thirsty, they need just to "drink".
There are these drops sold in stores like "Whole Foods" called "More Milk" ("Motherlove" is the name of the brand; there are varieties - "More Milk Plus" etc.) that seems to be pretty good. Otherwise, what helps me is pumping all the milk - somehow breastpumps massage really well. Also try taking a shower directing water on breasts or taking a warm bath (with water level up to sholders).

Answer 4

Don't breastfeed on a schedule. That is a sure way to hinder the milk supply. Breast feed on demand. Dont limit the nursing time on each breast, that hinders supply as well. Let him eat on one side until his heart is content then offer the other breast. If none of that works you can always pump and that will tell your body that you need more milk and your body will step up production accordingly.

Answer 5

water intake is one key item,however there are several things you can do without useing medication. fruit juices like noni juice, orange, kiwi,carrot,and others. also cut back on your salt and sugar intake, as they hold liquids in the body. i know saying reduce your own milk intake may sound odd, until you realize that milk and milk products in your own system build up the pflegm content in your own body and reduce the transfer of water and nutrients between cells. it may also add to calcification deposits in the breast tissues, slowing or blocking regular flow during nursing. try to keep your own system as healthy and well running as possible,your body will serve you better. you may also want to modify your intake of fried or starchy foods as well. hope this can give you and your child a little more satisfaction. good luck.

Answer 6

Breastfeeding is supply and demand. If you want to increase your milk supply then either nurse more or pump when you are not nursing.

Answer 7

get a breastpump with two things on it and pump both breasts at the same time. that will make the milk come in more. oh and if you think your running out of milk, your baby is going through a growth spurt and in about a week your milk will come in and it will hurt lol!!

Answer 8

Ok, the first question is: IS your supply really low.

Now, in most cases it isn't. If your baby is making wet diapers and gaining enough weight your supply is fine. However that isn't going to make you worry any less. My baby was 20lbs and I would still have days where I was freaking out because I was worried he wasn't getting enough milk *lol*

"It's important to note that the feel of the breast, the behavior of your baby, the frequency of nursing, the sensation of let-down, or the amount you pump are not valid ways to determine if you have enough milk for your baby."

What if you're not quite sure about baby's current weight gain (perhaps baby hasn't had a weight check lately)? If baby is having an adequate number of wet and dirty diapers then the following things do NOT mean that you have a low milk supply:
(Click the link for more detail)

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#supply

*Your baby nurses frequently
*Your baby suddenly increases the frequency and/or length of nursings.
*Your baby nurses more often and is fussy in the evening.
*Your baby doesn't nurse as long as she did previously.
*Your baby is fussy.
*Your baby guzzles down a bottle of formula or expressed milk after nursing.
*Your breasts don't leak milk, or only leak a little, or stop leaking
*Your breasts suddenly seem softer
*You never feel a let-down sensation, or it doesn't seem as strong as before
*You get very little or no milk when you pump

Please click the link as the article goes on to discuss ways of increasing your supply.

Luckily however I grew up seeing people breastfeed. It pains me everytime people stop breastfeeding because a breastfed baby is acting perfectly normally. Breastfed babies do NOT act like formula fed babies, they just don't. And there is nothing wrong with breastfed babies.

Don't believe the people who tell you "Some babies just aren't satisfied with breastmilk" or "Some babies just can't get enough milk" or "Some women can't make enough milk". 99% of women (who haven't had breast surgery) can make enough milk, often for twins. And ALL babies get enough from breastmilk, how dumb is it that we think they can't. What do you think happened before formula, babies died of starvation?

Even moms in third world countries who are skin and bone and don't get enough to eat, let alone a well balanced meal make enough milk for their babies and you will too. The only difference between them and us is they know how to breastfeed and have the support of other women to help them with it. They don't have the problems associated with bad latch (like low supply and nipple pain).

Human babies are designed to eat small frequent meals. These meals are meant to digest quickly. This is because human (and primate) babies are meant to have constant contact with mom. They can not defend themselves, they can not outrun predators (like a baby horse for example). They need the protection of mom. They also need the constant contact and interaction with mom for their brain development.

People worry that breastfed babies do not seem as "satisfied" as breastfed babies. Think of how you act after a reasonable nutritious meal full of veggies compared to how you act after you overeat at Thanksgiving. Do you act more satisfied after Thanksgiving? Do you seem sleepier, more content? Sure. Does that mean you should eat that much food, particularly starchy, fatty food EVERY MEAL of EVERY DAY? NO! Formula feeding is like that, it sits in the stomach, it makes babies feel very full. It is what it is. However, let us not forget for a second that by DEFINITION the breastfed babies are the "normal" ones.

If you think formula feeding is good because you know exactly how much the baby is getting look at all the questions on here from formula moms asking "How much?", "How often", "How do I get my baby to drink more (or less)", "Is this normal". We are moms and we worry no matter what.

Try to trust in yourself, breastfeeding is the best possible thing for both you and the baby. You have enough milk and your baby will thrive!

Answer 9

no sorry no medicine or prescriptive drug, they generally have the reverse effect! take baby to bed for a night, a day and another night and rest and feed and feed and feed. every time you feed baby have some food and drink yourself, keep your fluids up. after a day and 2 nights you should be OK. it worked for me although its hard to rest when you have other kids, i know, i have 2 others!

Answer 10

drink one beer a day, the yeast in the beer will produce more milk. But only drink one, there is not enough alcohol for the baby to get. But it really does work, my mom did it to me, and i do it. Goodluck. (it will also make nursing a little more comfortable.!)