How to increase breast milk when the supply is less?

Answer 1

Nurse more often, your body will respond by creating more.

I also tried taking fenugreek & that seemed to help some.

Answer 2

#1 Get some rest... (ya I know, easier said than done)

#2 Get plenty of fluids and stay hydrated.

#3 Pump or nurse frequently and on a regular schedule

#4 Take fenugreek supplements available at any healthfood store.

#5 Avoid Sage and Peppermint - some herbs can deter milk production, sage and peppermint are a few of them.

#6 You can drink Mothers Milk Tea (basically just another form of Fenugreek) , Eating whole oatmeal (Not instant), Drink a beer (I't NOT a myth, and It's not the beer that does it, it's the Brewers Yeast, so if you have an aversion to alcohol, you can just eat the brewers yeast...but it's so gross...that you'll probably need a drink just to get it down...)

**doodle - Hops or yeast...they both taste like poison..lol I think I'll just stick to the beer

Personally I take More Milk Plus made by the "Motherlove" company...and it worked wonders for me!

And if you're running low....try to get an extra pump or nurse in during the day and it will help boost your supply.

Good Luck!

The supplements are great...but the best thing to do is to increase the number of times you nurse or pump everyday, it will trick your body into thinking it needs to make more milk...and then it will.

Answer 3

While most of what everyone is saying is true.. Switching breast, nursing as frequently as possible and pumping. It's also important that you are eating and drinking enough fluids too.. To properly breastfeed you need an additional 500 calories per day and you should be drinking 10-12 glasses of h2o or watered down juice.. The beer drinking does nothing to increase your milk supply that is a myth... good luck and hang in there

Answer 4

Don't be fooled into thinking your supply is less..it probably isn't, unless you are supplementing your baby with bottles of water, milk, or juice. Each bottle you feed tells your body that it does't need to produce milk for that feeding, so you should pump your breasts whenever you give a supplemental liquid of any kind. Your body will eventually respond to this.
Remember that just because you're breasts are not engorged anymore doesn't mean there is not milk--it means your body has adjusted to the amount needed by baby.
Beyond that, make sure you are drinking plenty of water, at least 2 L per day, and eating plenty of food, at least 2200 calories. If you are dehydrated or starving yourself, your milk supply will go down.

Answer 5

How do I get my milk supply up and then keep it up? Two things are the most important to make sure you have a good milk supply.

* Frequent stimulation of your breasts. Your baby does this best by correctly latching-on and having a good suckling pattern at the breast. The use of a double electric, hospital grade pump may be used if your baby can not give enough good stimulation.

* Frequent and complete emptying of your breasts. Emptying your breasts stimulates your breasts to make more milk. And, the amount of milk your body makes decreases if your breasts are not emptied. Making breastmilk is done on the "supply and demand" rule. The more milk taken from your breasts, the more milk your body makes.

What can I do to increase my milk supply? Following are some good ways to help build your milk supply.

* Make sure you are using correct breastfeeding methods to position your baby and help him latch-on. Ask your caregiver for the CareNotes™ handout about how to attach your baby to the breast.

* Breastfeed your baby more often, at least 8 to 12 times every 24 hours. Allow him to breastfeed until he falls asleep or pulls away from the breast. Unwrap your baby from his blankets if he is sleepy. Switch breasts every five minutes to keep him awake especially in the early weeks after he is born.

* Use a double, electric breast pump with a double collection system. Pump for 10 minutes right after you finish breastfeeding once you have a let-down. Do this after as many feedings as possible. Using a pump gives extra breast stimulation. And, pumping after breastfeeding empties your breasts more completely which is helps increase your milk supply. At first you may not get any milk out when you are pumping. But within 5 days, your milk supply should increase.

* Keeping a breastfeeding diary is also very helpful. Include the times you have breastfed, and the times and numbers of your baby's wet and dirty diapers. Also, write down any supplements that you give your baby and the amount of breastmilk you express when you pump.

Answer 6

The most common ones are

1. Nurse more frequently; pump or express between feedings.
2. Eat oatmeal a several times a week.
3. Drink fenugreek tea daily.
4. Drink beer (low alcohol) a couple of times a week. (it's the hops not the alcohol. Brewer's Yeast doesn't seem to do it).

There is also a medication that helps, but you'd have to check the LeLecheleague.org site for that.

Answer 7

The more you breastfeed-the more milk you have. If you need to increase it ....use a pump. Pump for 5 minutes after you breastfeed and your body will think you need that much for the baby and you will start making it. Also-pump more frequently when you are not feeding your baby. Pretty soon your body will catch up..I promise.

Also-if you get in hot water---your breasts will fill up with milk

Answer 8

I was told to drink lots of water and increase my caloric intake and massage my breasts to increase the flow, but unfortunately for me, I wasn't able to and had to formula feed my baby, I really wanted to breast feed too, spent a fortune on Pumps, but the good news is, that he is thriving and doing extremely well on the formula, and we are bonding just fine, for the first three weeks he got all the colostrum I could produce which helped build his immune system, so if for some reason you can not produce more, try supplementing with a good baby formula. Good luck and Blessings

Answer 9

I have had that problem and had to go to a lactation cunsultant a couple of times. there is a tea called mothers milk tea it is suposed to up your milk supply.there is also these herbal pills that are all natural there called fenugreek you can get it at most health foods stores.i believe you have to take 2 three times daily. and if all that doesnt work they put me on a pill called reglan. it helped a little i still have a hard time with my milk supply but this did help. you have to make sure that you are hydrated.hope this helps good luck and keep trying its the best thing for your baby.

Answer 10

OATMEAL have always seems to burst my milk supply. And also plenty of water and some sleep.
For a quick result, the best is OATMEAL, cannot tell you why, it is just based on personal experience. I discovered it before i even read about it, every time i would eat OATMEAL, my breast would be painfully full!
Good luck and enjoy the breastfeeding experience, it's really worth it!

Answer 11

First and forremost, make sure you are drinking lots of water...Then oat meal and beer are great for boosting the supply...Dont exactly know why, but it is...I always start with a beer...just love it! hehehee...Also, if this does not help, there is Mother's Milk tea that can help.. Tastes yummy too!