How do I increase my breastmilk supply?

Question

It seems to have dropped off so much that I am having to thaw frozen breastmilk and feed to my baby. I know I am not drinking enough water. I have started drinking more now. Is there anything else I can do? I have been nursing my baby often, but she gets frustrated and crys because I don't have enough milk for her.

Answer 1

Drink tea.

Answer 2

If you can, try renting a pump for a week. They are pretty cheap from a pharmacy, and they are much easier than hand pumps. Ideally your daughter will keep stimulating your supply by being at the breast a lot, but the pumping can be done in between feeds (I know it's tiring, but just a week can make a huge difference). I had a similar problem and I drank lots of water, tried to get LOTS of sleep (go to bed with your baby even--for me it was 8pm in the first month or two), drank fennel tea (you can buy the fennel seeds or tea bags), and tried to relax about it (the anxiety doesn't help).

Check out La Leche League--they have pages of info on getting your supply up. Sometimes I find if I just let my baby hang about at the breast for a few hours--while I watch tv or read or email--he keeps sucking even while asleep and it gets the supply going. You might also have what I have--one breast produces a lot of milk (I can hear him sucking vigorously for a long time), and the other produces less and has a slow let down. So he gets frustrated and wants the other side, because he has to work at the slow side so much. If he's really hungry I give in and let him have the fuller side, but if he's just sleepy, I give him the slower side and he nurses it with more patience and helps stimulate that side. It's quite common for women to have different supplies on each side.

Good luck! And please check out La Leche League!

http://www.lalecheleague.com/

Answer 3

Drink Mother Milk tea you can get it at GNC or any vitamin store. Also oatmeal with milk helps. Soups that have broth. Soy milk with a handful of crushed peanuts you warm them up together. Make sure that the peanuts are finely crushed. drink at least two cups of this. A glass of beer helps too due to the yeast that the beer contains. All of these have helped me out. Still nursing going on 11 months.

Answer 4

you need to pump once your daughter gets frusterated and stops trying to drink if she just stops when the milk stops your body thinks its making the perfect amount you need to pump for i'd say at least 10 min after she stops and your milk supply will slowly increase do this all the time milk is just supply and demand if you demand more your body will come up with it also you can try a beer i heard it increases milk supply from a friend who had twins the hospital sent her home to drink a beer and come back to see if she could get a bit more breast milk she said it worked alrite good luck

Answer 5

Birth control pills ( even the mini-pill) can reduce supply, as can antihistimines.

Eating oatmeal can help with supply. Others swear by fenugreek.

Avoid alcohol, and drink plenty of water, but only to satisfy your thirst. Too much water can interefere with your supply too, if you're forcing yourself to just keep chugging it down.

Answer 6

Drinking lots of water should help. I have also heard about the oatmeal and the beer/wine thing

Answer 7

Make sure you're eating more than three meals a day, and a good tip I was given is to drink one beer a day!

Answer 8

You need to breastfeed more often and make sure to eat lots of carrots and tuna. If you miss one time to give a bottle then it will decrease. Stress makes milk decrease too.

Answer 9

not really ...drink drink drink....juices ect. the more the baby sucks determine how much and how often to let down milk. but if your not getting fluid you cant make milk...

Answer 10

Oatmeal, oatmeal, oatmeal!!! Lot's of water and juices. Remember, everything you eat goes to your baby. Spices foods and chocolates irriates them as well.