breastfeeding tips on loss of milk flow?

Question

i cant seem to produce enought milk to meet my son needs and he is already 3 1/2 months. does someone know what i cAN do?

Answer 1

First of all, how do you know you're not producing enough milk? Is he gaining weight? Is he healthy? Is he active and responsive? If he is doing all of the above things, you are most likely producing enough milk.
The amount of milk you pump has absolutely nothing to do with your milk supply and production. I have been breastfeeding my daughter exclusively for 8 months, and I can barely pump an ounce.

The best way to increase your milk supply is to put your son to the breast at every feeding. Then, once he is finished, wait about 20 minutes and then pump each breast for 10 minutes. Continue this cycle for a week or so. The more your breasts are stimulated, the more milk they will produce.
You can also go to the health food store and buy a tablet called Fenugreek. It is known to help boost your milk supply. There's also a tea called Mother's Milk you can drink several times a day in addition to the pumping and nursing that will help you.

Answer 2

How do you know you're not meeting your sons needs?

Are you supplementing with formula? This seems the logical thing to do, but it is counter productive as he will suck less on you and your nipples and your brain are not getting the message to make more. Cut him back an ounce every few days so he can stimulate you to produce more. He should be having something like 6 wet diapers a day.

If you are feeding him solids, again you have to back off of that too. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that the babies don't need solids until 6 to 9 months, and I believe that in the last few years they have changed it to 9 to 12 months. My three had only breastmilk until 12 months and then a very gradual intro to solids and their teeth are strait and strong and they are all slim and healthy.

If you have more breastfeeding questions look on the LaLeche League Website.

Answer 3

Drink a lot of water. There is also a tea or herbal remedy I've been told about called Mother's Milk that is supposed to help the milk production. Im not sure if I'd use it, but my boss did when she wasnt producing enough milk and her baby is fine. Maybe try pumping and feeding him in the bottle, you can pump often and keep the flow going steady through out the day.

Answer 4

If you just started birth control, stop. Even the ones reccomended for breastfeeding moms can stop milk production, and as a result, i dried up without realizing it until it was too late, i found out when my son was always hungry, and nursing so much that it so painful I would cry when nursing. I had to start supplementing with bottles, and when i pumped, i got barely anything, It was too late for me, but if you pump between feedings, it will boost your supply, because the more you take out, the more your body produces. so if the pill isn't an issue, just pump between feedings, so that more is coming out. the milk you express can be frozen for 6 months in a regular freezer, or up to one year in a deep freeze. just date the containers, and save them for later, or whenever you need a break from nursing and dad wants to feed the baby. Call the hospital where you delivered, and talk to a lactation consultant, and if your local hospital doesn't have one, there is always la leche league, and others out there to answer your questions

Answer 5

Perhaps you are just feeling this way because your milk production has settled down and you aren't getting engorged or leaking?

If you are having low milk supply:

Have a "naked day." Stay in bed with your baby and encourage as much feeding and sucking as possible for a couple hours. Do it every morning (or evening). You'll start getting milk supply at the time of day you do this.

Also, nurse off both breasts. My baby is an effecient nurser and gets what he needs in like 5 minutes. I don't feel like the breast is emptied, but if I offer him the second when he gets lazy with the first, I notice my milk increase in the next couple days.

Answer 6

Breastfeeding is all about supply and demand!! make sure you are eating a good healthy diet and if you are concerned your son isn't getting enough milk, talk to your doctor or midwife.

Good luck

Answer 7

ok i had this fear with my first son. my cousin from Germany told me to drink 1 beer a day. the yeast in the beer helps stimulate the milk. it worked for me but it might not work for everyone ( and it was just about the time he turned 4 monthes)

Answer 8

drink alot of water when your feeding make sure you have a glass of water.make sure you have a healthy diet.if your baby is putting on wait and is settled he is getting enough milk.