How do I get my breast milk supply back up?

Question

I recently got sick with the flu and now my milk supply has dropped significantly. My baby is freaking out on me because she is hungry. I try to nurse her and there's nothing. I got maybe one good feeding today and the rest have been barely anything. What can I do to get it back up? I don't want to formula feed. HELP!!!

I didn't stop breastfeeding when I was sick, I kept breast feeding and she never got the illness. But now, a couple of days later is when my milk supply has dropped. That's why I'm stummped.

Answer 1

Oh dear, don't listen to Madison. Google "relactation". It is possible. You should take fenugreek, it's herbal and can help your supply. Also, keep trying to breatfeed, but also try to pump. You should pump at least every 2 hours, but keep trying to breastfeed your baby. Why did you stop breastfeeding when you were sick? There is no need to stop breastfeeding when you are sick.

Oh ok, I thought you had stopped. I apologize, my mistake.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/60/1/116
Roy E. Brown M.D., M.P.H.1

1 Departments of Community Medicine and Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Fifth Avenue and 100th Street, New York, New York 10029


Relactation refers to the physiological process whereby human lactation is initiated at a time unrelated to the postpartum production of milk. This phenomenon has also been referred to as induced lactation or, in some instances, interrupted lactation in women who have weaned their infants and wish to resume breast-feeding. The relactation process can also be used to promote an increase in the milk supply of women who are already lactating.

Although relactation is an accepted fact in many cultures, even well-trained pediatricians in both the developed and developing countries may be unaware of the potential relactation has in good infant care

Answer 2

First, calm down! Getting upset will further suppress your milk production.
Do you remember when she was born? Did you have too much milk or not enough? It adjusted, didn't it? Breast milk works on a demand/supply process--the more she nurses, the more your body will make. But it takes about three days for supply to catch up with demand.
Is she willing to nurse? If so, try to take it easy for a few days, relax, comfort her and nurse as much as is possible (or comfortable); your milk will come back. Supplementing now with formula is exactly the wrong thing to do, since it will discourage her from the suckling which is what stimulates your milk to increase.
You don't really know that those feedings were "barely anything". Trust your body to do as it was designed to do, and trust your baby and yourself to be a good nursing team, and you should be fine.
To cover any concerns about your baby's health and well-being, definitely check with your pediatrician.

Answer 3

foe the next few i would mix breast and formula, at the store u can find good ones now that are close to breast milk. and in the mean time express as often as you can, this should bring up the supply, it worked for me when i was sick.

Answer 4

Keep nursing your baby. It's what's best for her. Drink plenty of non-caffienated and non-carbonated fluids, esp water. The flu may have dehydrated you. And get a breast pump. The more you stimulate the glands, the more you'll produce. Hang in there.

Answer 5

Keep baby going to breast, then pump to stimulate production.

Answer 6

Hun, you have no choice right now but to use formula since you are not producing enough milk. You need to think of her health before anything and she needs to be eating enough. Formula feed her for right now so she can actually eat and talk to your doctor about your options.

Answer 7

You should drink alot of milk and dairy products, that always helps produce milk.