I am looking for suggestions from breastfeeding moms who have needed to bump up their milk supply. I strictly breast feed my 5 1/2 mo. old baby girl, and will be starting her on some cereal when she is 6mo. later this month, I haven't been pumping at all because I am ALWAYS with her and didn't see a need until now. I am now seeing a need to have some expressed milk on hand for mixing with the cereal. I seem to only have the amount of milk that she needs...nothing extra. She is satisfied and gaining weight, but I can't get anything out when I pump. I pumped alot with my son, so I'm aware of the best times to try it etc...but I'm thinking that by waiting this long my supply has gone down to just the necessity and was wondering if any of you know how to build it back up so I could express extra.
Aside from using these methods, I would just start pumping after she nurses, as often as you can. More demand=more supply. You should start to see an increase after a few days.
If all else fails, you can mix the cereal with formula.
I too had a problem with pumping enough for my son, only I found out it wasn't a lack of supply as much as it was an aversion to the pump. I pump in the morning when my supply is at its most. I nurse my son on one side and pump at the same time on the other. It's a little tricky, but I'm able to get pleanty of milk this way. Good luck!
I had a hard time pumping as well. Actually before I went back to work I was freaked out, because I could barely get together an ounce and I was worried that I couldn't pump enough for her - well once I HAD TO it actually worked out just fine, even though I hated it.
My only suggestion would be to stick with it, probably you just have some subconscious aversion to pumping and once you get used to the thought again it will be easier.
I am a parent coach and I recommend Mother's Milk Tea made by Traditional Medicinals to the nursing parents I work with. You can get it at most drug stores, like Rite Aid.
It is not too late to boost your supply. Your body will respond to stimulation. I would add in a pumping after your baby feeds first thing in the morning, when your prolactin levels are the highest.
You can also try fenugreek, an herbal galactagogue.
Two things that helped me up my supply a bit was drink more water and eat oatmeal. We forget when we are breastfeeding that we are losing most of the water in our system. Make sure to drink plenty of water and do it before you get thirsty...cause when you're thirsty, that's an early sign of dehydration. For some reason the oatmeal helped up my supply as well. I just ate a small bowl in the morning every day...helps. :D
I had the same problem: plenty of milk when my son nursed, but couldn't get much from pumping. I finally decided to just mix his cereal with formula, since he was getting mostly breastmilk anyway. Lots of people mix cereal with water, so I figured formula was a nice middle-ground.
You don't need to start cereal so early. She's fine with just breast milk for a year, and even longer if she still seems happy. I wouldn't be in a rush to start if everything is going well now.
I read through the other comments quickly so I could make sure I wasn't repeating anthing unnecessarily.
There are two posts that I can relate too...
I drank the Mother's Milk Tea, which did seem to help, and the other thing that I did- and I honestly believe it is the main reason i was able to boost my supply- was that I would pump on one side while my son ate on the other. It was a little tricky at first, but our babies are the greatest trigger for us producing milk. By pumping while feeding your body is happy to make as much as it needs too- or at least mine did. When I was finished nursing on one side I would still have my son nurse on the other, even after pumping. Your body may hold out on your pump- but it won't hold out on your baby. Just make sure to drink lots of water.
Always make sure to keep a decent supply in the freezer- even if you think you may not need it right away. You never know when it may come in handy, and it is no fun panicking because you don't know how you are going to feed your baby.
It may take longer or be more difficult, but you can still increase your supply. The best way to do it is to pump when you are full. When you would normally feed baby, pump first, then feed on what you think is an empty breast. Baby will still be able to get some and will continue sucking which will signal your body to increase production. Since she is getting less, she will just feed sooner for the next feeding, but there will be enough left over that she will not be going hungry. Until your supply picks up, you should probably only do this once a day so baby doesn't get frustrated.
you could also pump for 10 minutes after feedings when your daughter has been satisfied. If she is sleeping through the night or at least a long stretch when you first put her down at night then pump in the evening 2-3 hours after she goes to bed. Once you are able to pump the amount of milk you think you need extra each day then you can drop the 10 minute pumping sessions and just do the 1 in the evening right before you go to bed. It is never too late to increase production. Women who have never given birth can lactate and successfully breastfeed all it takes is regular and frequent stimulation of the nipple and emptying of the breast.
I had the same issue. At first I just expressed a few drops with my hands straight into the bowl after getting it going with a hand pump. When she was just starting cereal, it was such a tiny amount that a few drops were enough. Later I just mixed the cereal with water which worked just fine. Also, cereal does not have to be the first food. Avocado or sweet potato are also really good choices. We tried avo first with both our girls.
I have used herbal supplements to increase my milk supply. Mother Love (you can find them online) makes a number of supplements which include Fenugreek and other herbs that help increase the supply.
Best Wishes.
I'm currently going through the hoops to increase my milk supply. After two Lactation Consultants and sifting through the web, here's what I've come up with for increasing my supply from 1 oz. to 12 oz. pumping in just 2 weeks:
Rent a hospital grade pump
Drink lots of water (64 oz minimum) and eat every 2-3 hours
Pump as often as possible (goal of 8 times a day for 15 min)
Fenugreek PLUS Blessed Thistle. Take three times the dosage on the bottle (this recommendation from the lac consult)
Prescription Reglan if you really need it
Relax! You'll get more let down if you can get some quiet time to pump (before baby wakes up in the morning and right before bed is great)
Opt for other first foods. I second the suggestion to use avocado as a first food instead of cereal. Great amounts of iron in it without any questionable garbage mixed in.
When I went back to work I would Breastfeed & then pump right after for about 10min. I would only get a little bit but slowly your body will make more (as it thinks the baby needs more). I also got "Mother's Milk" tea. Good luck!