How do I increase my milk supply?

Question

I am breastfeeding and I just don't seem to have enough milk. My 2 month old is always still hungry after I feed her. I've tried feeding her more often, pumping more, and drinking more water. Nothing seems to work. Any ideas?

Answer 1

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing.html

This is the most common worry for new (and experienced moms too!) especially since breast aren’t see though and don’t have ounce markers on them.
You CAN'T nurse too often--you CAN nurse too little. It is normal for newborns to nurse every 45 minutes to ever 2-3 hours. They have tiny stomachs (only about the size if their little fists) and breast milk is fully digested in approximately 90 minutes!

Infants, thrive best when allowed to feed as they indicate their needs. NURSE ON DEMAND!! At the very least, this should be every two to three hours during the day and every four to five hours at night for a total of eight to 12 feedings every 24 hours. Calculate the time between feedings from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next. Most feedings usually last 20 to 40 minutes, but do not watch the clock during the feeding. This is normal and it will not last forever.

DO NOT TRY TO PUT YOUR BABY ON A FEEDING SCHEDULE. A study found “ that many women experience success in schedule feeding their breastfed babies during the first couple of months. However, these women have an unusually high rate of milk supply failure around 3-4 months”


During the 1st 6-8 weeks, he will perfect his nursing skills so that he will need less time to consume the same amount of milk. Keeping him near you at all times will help you to be aware of his early hunger cues (rooting, fussing, etc.) so that you can feed him without allowing him to work up into a hungry, stressful cry. Minimizing your baby's crying in this way will also be less stressful on you and the other members of your household.

During growth spurts baby will nurse constantly. Breast milk is a system of supply and demand. Baby suckles more so you will produce more milk to meet his growing needs. This is normal and does not mean you don't have enough milk. Do not supplement or use a pacifier, as this can be detrimental to the delicate balance of the supply and demand system.


Don’t use a pacifier -a study has documented that pacifier use is associated with a shorter duration of breastfeeding, while another study found that mothers who utilize pacifiers for their infants frequently exercise a higher degree of behavioral control while breastfeeding, often leading again to shorter duration of breastfeeding overall.



Also, if he is comfort nursing there is nothing wrong with that, that is part of breastfeeding, bonding and comforting your child. Babies also require nearly constant human contact for proper development. A newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breasts, and the security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three. - Dr. Grantly Dick-Read

Under 8 weeks you are still building your supply, the non-nutritive sucking helps to make sure you have enough milk. Breastmilk is all about supply and demand. If you don’t let your newborn suck at the breast during the 2-3 growth spurts they have by the age of 6 weeks, you will have problems with supply, a fussy baby, a frazzled mom and it will all lead to early weaning.

Newborns simply love to be touched and cuddled. The skin to skin touch helps you and your baby bond, comforts your baby when she is upset or uneasy with gas or colic problems. Hence, touch is a critical part of growth and development

DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS
Get plenty of rest
Eating oatmeal daily works for some woman
Fenugreek supplement 3 capsules 3 times per day
Beer and wine DO NOT increase supply!

The time between feedings will eventually stretch out and feedings will become part of life rather than your whole life! ;) Your baby will establish more of a feeding pattern, which will make life more predictable. The patterns that he establishes, however, will be his patterns and will be appropriate to his unique emotional and physiological needs. And these patterns will change as he grows.

Rememebr if baby is having at least 6 wet diapers each 24 hour period, and is gaining weight (your local health department should weigh your baby for free) he is getting enough milk.

Have you seen a Lactation Consultant or a La Leche League Leader? (A LLL Leader will help for FREE and might be able to visit you at home.) http://WWW.LLL.ORG
Get advice from other breastfeeding moms at the LLL forums http://forums.llli.org/index.php

If you need more assistance or have more questions feel free to email me by clicking on my avatar then on ‘Email Noggin Mama’ Please make sure to include your email address in the message or I will not be able to respond to your questions as the yahoo! answers message system limits the length of the message I can send and usually the info I have will not fit in the message. I'd be more than happy to help you.

Answer 2

Make sure that her latch on is correct. She may not be fully stimulating the base of the nipple and this would be necessary to activate more milk production. If you aren't sure if she is latching on correctly, contact a lactation consultant at your hospital. They have them on staff at most hospitals and they can often visit you at home and help you with positioning, etc. Good luck to you and keep trying.

Answer 3

First relax, and double you fluid intake, drink tea, any herbal other than peppermint. Tastes better than water anyway! BTW, sometimes they are just thirsty. Maybe a small bottle of bioled, cooled down water...a pacifier if she is unsettled. It is hard to figure out in the beginning if it is true hunger or something else. They more it stresses you, the worse your supply will be.

Answer 4

u can try adding a bit of garlic and fenugreek seeds to ur diet...

moreover all kids during the 2-6 month undergo growth spurts....so they give us a feeling that they r hungry...

what i used to do was feed the baby as much as i can and then feed her lil formula/ordinary milk diluted with 2 times water with spoon...bottle can be avoided as its easy to feed a kid with a spoon and using bottle might lead to nipple confusion

hope this helps

Answer 5

Breastfeeding women used to drink heavy beers likes stouts and porters because of their nutrient value.

Answer 6

Talk to your doctor, you may need to find an alternative or accompaniment to breastfeeding.

Answer 7

eat healthy and keep doing what your doing. she could just be a very hungry girl. talk to your pediatrician about it as well as yor ob.

Answer 8

My sister drinks a tea that is supposed to help. I think she got it at the grocery store, or maybe a baby store.