my baby is one month old, and i dont have enough milk.?

Question

this makes me frustrated. what can i do to increase my breast milk. i dont like to feed my baby any other kindda milk just yet. please help me.

Answer 1

You never really stated what makes you think you're not producing enough milk. We produce milk based on supply and demand. The more often you nurse your baby the more milk you'll produce.

If you're simply concerned that your breasts are no longer swelling up like they were a few weeks ago then relax as that initial period of engorgement you more than likely had when your milk first came in 'relaxes' a bit with time and if I recall it was around 1 month. The milk is still produced, but you won't feel as 'full'.

If it's just baby feeding often then you can relax on that too as some babies do (mine did) so long as your baby is producing the recommended number of wet diapers per day (if I recall at 1 month of age it's about 8 to 10 wet per day) and your baby is gaining weight then all should be fine.

If you have any other concerns you really should seek the advice of a lactation consultant or your doctor. As one of my friends said to me when I was pregnant, "Hiring a lactation consultant at 50 bucks an hour is still cheaper than buying formula".

Good luck.

Answer 2

Congratulations on your new baby. I had similar problems with my son (7 months and still nursing). I had a lot of PPD issues that contributed, so I stopped nursing all together for about a week and a half. I started back up again by taking Fenegreek (herbal supplement). I took 3 capsules, 3 times a day and I nursed every two hours. You should notice a change in about two days and then you can stop taking it, however I continued because I was terrified to stop. Don't be surprised when you start smelling like maple syrup (your sweat and urine); this is a side effect and will go away as soon as you stop. I also called the hospital where I delivered and got help from the lactation specialists. My son was not latched on correct. Good luck and try to hang in there. But if you decide to formula feed DO NOT feel guilty, what is good for Mom is best for Baby.

Answer 3

there are many ways you can help yourself to produce more milk.
1. make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids, especially water.
2. supply = demand for a nursing baby. if you are in a position to not give your baby a pacifier let your baby use you as a pacifier, instead, even if the baby is not necessarily hungry at that time. just sitting around and snuggling with the baby and letting it latch onto you will help stimulate the milk process and help you make more milk.
3. if you are supplementing with formulat or a bottle then make sure you pump whenever your baby is getting that other food source. that will help to ensure that you are making enough milk to meet your babies demands.
if your baby is only nursing and not getting a suplement and if your baby isn't getting it's sucking satisfaction elsewhere and if you are getting enough fluids then you should be just fine to make enough milk for your baby. if you have already started suplmenting make sure you pump as often as you possible can to get your supply back up. and also, how do you know you're not making enough milk? maybe you're just nervous that you aren't when you really are. pump sometimes just to get an amount and then you'll know because you might really be making enough. and remember, the most important thing is that your baby gets as much breast milk as you can give and even if that means pumping instead of nursing then great! and even if for some reason you have a medical condition that prevents you from continuing, at least you've made it this far. lots of mothers have already given up at this point.
check out www.breastfeeding.com for help, also.

Answer 4

What makes you think that you don't have enough milk? Many times moms think they don't have enough because they can't pump any, or because baby is still wanting to suck for comfort.

Anyway, the only way to make more milk is to nurse more often, the breast works on feedback, make sense? The more you nurse, the more milk you make, and so on. Drink plenty of water, and just make sure to nurse every two hours or so...sit down, relax, put your feet up. Stress can decrease milk, and so can dehydration.

Good luck, please try to contact your local laleche league, they are usually a good support and have lots of information that is proven, instead of a bunch of old wives tales, which you might pick up here.

Answer 5

No. Absolutely not. Babies that young cannot digest cow's milk proteins. Cow's milk also has too much sodium, potassium, and chloride for them at this age, which can tax your baby's kidneys. Your baby would probably just vomit it all back up. Not only that it is not balanced like breastmilk or formula. It does not contain enough nutrients that a child under 12 months needs. If you find that your supply is low,talk to your babies doctor about your options. You may need to supplement with formula if there isn't anything else.

Answer 6

Fenugreek. It's a herb that you can buy at the health food store to increase breastmilk production.

Mothers milk tea. Has fenugreek and a bunch of other herbs to increase supply.

Oatmeal. Forget what exactly how it works, but it does!

Water water water. Keep drinking!

"Nursing vacation". If you don't have other kids this is fairly easy to do. Lay down with the baby and watch a movie while baby sleeps. Lay topless so that baby can access your breast whenever he/she wants to feed.

Nurse nurse nurse. Don't offer any other sort of sucking object. No soothers, no bottles, etc.

:) Keep up the good work! You don't need to feed your baby any other milks, your breastmilk is perfect.

Answer 7

It may sound disgusting but you can buy breast milk from other women in your area and from online!! My daughter is 6 years old and i still have plenty breast milk so maybe you should ask a sister or cousin if they are still producing milk!

Answer 8

Go to your health food shop and ask what they recommend.
I know that Fenugrek is supposed to boost your milk supply. Try that :)

Congratulations on your baby, and for making the decision to breastfeed!

EDIT: I just found this in the 'Best of Answers' and thought it might be helpful for you. It's long, but full of great ideas...give it look-see and hopefully it will point you in the right direction :)

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkN9deJCXpcBxjZAiVjzYyqG1KIX?qid=20060814191803AANYDRo

Answer 9

Drink lots of fluids, water, juice etc. I was also told to eat soups. They also make a tea for breast feeding mothers I forgot what it is called but it helps increase their supply.

Go here http://www.lets-yada-yada-yada.com/register.php?referrerid=110and go the the "Crunchy" forum it's called MMMMCRUNCHY and they will know FOR SURE what the name of it is.

Answer 10

the more you pump and breastfeed the more your baby stimulates the milk flow. I would try pumping/feeding every 2 hours if possible.