Quuestion for breast feeding moms-how can I produce more milk?

Question

I have a have 3 month old baby when I pump I get about .5 ounces every 3 hours-I have tried everything from warm compresses, fenugreek, drinking lots of water, massage, feeding/pumping longer and more often. I have worked with a lactation expert and they have been unable to help-this is very fustrating. I would love to breadt feed only but I have to give formula as the little the baby gets from me is not enough, and as I work 10 hours and only get about 3-4 ounces in that time for the next day. Any ideas I havent tried-anyone else have this issue? please help.

Answer 1

Sounds like you're trying everything--are you eating right and drinking LOTS of fluids? My midwife/lactation expert told me to drink an 8-oz glass of something (water or other uncaffeinated drink) every single time I sat down to nurse. I only had low output for the first couple of weeks, but by 3 months I had gallons--I felt like a dairy cow (my son was a BIG eater). I think all the fluids, eating right, and the fact that I initially pumped during AND in between nursings helped me most.

Are you using a professional electric pump or a handheld? I was lucky, I had a Medela Pro Pump that worked great and quickly. I would nurse on one side and pump the other simultaneously like I had twins. I also nursed really really frequently, but I stay at home with my son too--I nursed for 13 months before weaning him. I still miss it.

Keep trying! It's a wonderful experience if you can make it happen.

**Hey, just re-read your question---I don't think you're pumping often enough at work. My son wanted to eat a LOT more frequently than 3 hours--you have to simulate a normal eating schedule in order to produce enough while you're away from the baby. Pump every hour for a while and increase fluids until you're getting more--your workplace has to allow it for the first year for nursing moms--it's covered under FMLA. Besides, they should be understanding if you've already returned to work so soon anyway. Good Luck.

Answer 2

I hate to say that unfortunately babies suckling is the only really guarenated method of producing more milk; the more the baby sucks the more milk you produce. Expressing cannot mimic the same way your bub drinks from you, thats why your milk has decreased babies remove the milk better than what a pump can. You are very lucky you have done this for so long I had a friend that only lasted six weeks doing it this way. The lactation expert should have told you this. I guess just feed your bub skin to skin as often as can when you can, if you wish to continue this way. Your baby will be requiring more milk to as he gets bigger so this could be more frustrating; Don't be to hard on your self you have done well for 3 months espeacilly if you are working as well on top of this.

Answer 3

Just keep trying, pumping doesn't work for everyone, but even 3-4 ounces is better than all formula.

Pumping at night when your hormones are highest, right after nursing. You can let down many times during a nursing session.

Get a better pump if you can, the pump could be part of the problem.

eta: Eating oatmeal every day also helps for some reason.

Answer 4

more herbs than fenugreek: http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/herbal_galactagogue.html

more tips on increasing supply: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#increase

did your lactation expert have the IBCLC credentials after her name??? if not, find one - that stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant - they have the highest breastfeeding education, and must keep w/ a strict continuing education program to keep those letters!!
find one here: http://www.iblce.org/ (Kelly from that link above is an IBCLC, which is why her website is so incredible!)

La Leche League are trained experienced mothers who volunteer their time to help others... they don't have the IBCLC education, but often have more experience (both personal and in helping others) and passion for the cause than doctors or nurses.
find a group/leader here: http://www.llli.org/webindex.html

try to pump more frequently at work, nurse as much as possible when home, even if baby is not hungry offer a few sips... every bit of stimulation helps that supply and demand system get stronger.

Answer 5

First of all, congratulations on your new baby. It sounds like you've been trying incredibly hard to make breastfeeding work. There are definitely some things you can try that might help. It may be tough to bring in a full milk supply at this point, especially since you and your baby are separated every day. However, any breastmilk your baby receives is beneficial.

It would really be a good idea for you to have in-person support. Was the "lactation expert" an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant)? This is the only true professional organization for lactation consultants; it requires extensive education, experience, and testing to become certified. If you weren't working with an IBCLC, it would be worth it to consult with one. Even if you did see an IBCLC, you might want to consult with another person for more ideas and a better plan.

What sort of pump are you using? If you're using a pump that you purchased, even if it's a double-electric pump, it's simply not going to be effective enough to help build your milk supply. You'll want to rent a hospital-grade, double electric pump.

You'll also need to increase your pumping frequency. In order to provide your body enough stimulation to increase your milk supply, you'll need to pump 10-12 times a day, including at least once at night.

Is your baby breastfeeding at all? No pump is as effective as your baby, so encouraging your baby to breastfeed will help your efforts. Again, you'll want to breastfeed or pump at least 10-12 times every day. You will probably also want to pump after your baby breastfeeds; you won't get much if any milk, but it will stimulate your body to increase production. If your baby is reluctant to nurse, try skin to skin contact (you with no shirt or bra on, your baby in just a diaper). You can wear your baby in a sling to increase skin to skin time. You can also sleep with your baby to encourage more nighttime nursing (much easier than pumping at night!). An IBCLC can talk to you about using a supplemental nursing system - a bottle with a tube attached, so your baby can nurse at your breast and receive any supplemental formula through the tube. This increases the amount of breast stimulation, which will help your supply.

There is a prescription medication called domperidone that can help increase milk supply, when combined with increased frequency of breastfeeding or pumping. Your lactation consultant can help you decide if trying this medication is appropriate for you.

Finally, it would be good to evaluate why your milk supply isn't adequate in the first place. Did you have significant blood loss at your baby's birth? Postpartum hemmorhage and anemia can affect your ability to make milk. What were the early days of breastfeeding like? Are you on any medications (over-the-counter or prescription) or do you have any chronic health problems? Some medications (like the birth control pill) can seriously impact milk supply. Have you been tested for hypothyroidism, which often affects women after giving birth and can affect your body's ability to make milk. Again, an IBCLC can help you sort through these possibilities.

Good luck in your efforts. Your baby is lucky to have you working so hard!

Answer 6

It sounds like you did try a lot of things already.

You breasts make milk when the hormone prolactin is being released by the brain. Prolactin is often called a "mothering hormone" and is released in highest quantities during breastfeeding but in not so high during pumping: that is why your production might still go down even if your pump as often and as long as you would have fed your baby.

Pumps are also not as efficient as the baby in getting the breastmilk out, and as long as less milk is being removed less milk would be made next time. You have to use a good quality pump and preferably the one that allows you to pump both breasts at a time - this stimulates the prolactin production more.

If it is not too expensive for you, Medela Pump-in Style is an OK choice though nice hospital grade pump such as Lactina is better. For me the pump made all the difference. Back in the US, I had rented one of those from the hospital but I am not sure which way to go in Singapore. Medela website does give a list of distributors
http://www.medela.ch/ISBD/en/gen/contact.php?country=69
so you might want to contact them to find out how to rent one.


Prolactin production might also be inhibited if you are stressed out about so just try to relax (easy for me to say, I know it) and choose a quiet place to pump. Have a picture of your baby to look at and a a worn item of her clothing on your lap, try to think of your baby and doing your best for him/her (prolactin is a mothering hormone and so production of it does depend on the presence or signs of your baby)

When you get home try to get your baby next to your baby as often as possible, skin to skin is better as this stimulates prolactin production.

For reasons unknown prolactin production is also highest at night so if you can do not give up on night feeds - they are often the most nutritious as you and the baby are quite relaxed. Night feeds are easier on you if you BF lying down - throw a cheap futon on the floor or, if your mattress is firm, and you and your partner are OK with it, BF in bed makes wonders for tired moms.

Dietary suggestions (such as drink a lot milk) are usually culturally biased and are not reasearch backed.

Even one feed a day is better then no breastmilk at all so don't give up completely: you can always give formula during the day and BF in the evening only - and your breasts will adjust to it.

Pumping and working is not easy, but rewarding so

Good luck!

Also check out www.llli.org
www.breastfeeding.com

Answer 7

I have heard that they use to give women beer to make their milk come in more. I don't know if it works, but it might be worth a try. Drink one and wait an hour then try to pump again. It takes about that long for the alcohol to pass out of the milk.

Answer 8

My wife drank a herbal tea. It really worked for her. I can't remember the tea, but hopefully this will give you a better direction. As with anything ingested, consider possible interactions with drugs or other herbs you might take or wish to take. You might even check with a doctor if you are already on something. But it did work for her.

Answer 9

I usually hear that a berastfeeding mom should eat lots of healthy foods like vegies. I am from Iloilo, Philippines so they usually suggest to drink soups of vegies or any soups like chicken soup --} tinolang manok (chicken in vegie soup), sinigang na baboy (sour pork soup). It'll help you produce more milk. And don't forget to drink lots of water.

Answer 10

When I was breastfeeding my mother used to tell me to drink lot of milk myself, eat lot of calcium -fortified foods and drink lots of water. But I would also recommend you not stress over it - apparently stress affects production of milk. Lack of milk can also be hereditary. Formulas are just as good - so you can give your child a combination of both your milk and formula...