Any suggestions for increasing milk supply?

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

It is really hard dealing with low supply. I was wondering, what makes you think your supply is low? It would help if you could tell us a little bit about your baby's weight gains in the first 3 mnths of your baby's life? And how have things gone since then? Breastfeeding is usually as simple as "the more you feed the more you make" But most people don't realise that babies feed 8-12 times in 24hrs. Babies usually gain 150+ in the first 12 weeks and around 100g per week after that.

[beaver]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and experiences. DS was 3.38kg at birth and on discharge approximately 7 days after his birth, he weighed 3.65kg. At 3 weeks of age, he weighed 4.47kg, at 4 weeks of age, he weighed 5.15kg and at 6 weeks of age, he weighed 5.49kg. I noted that around 9-11 weeks that he was still continued to sleep as a newborn, was more difficult to settle, not very interactive, napkins were not full as they were, my breasts were not as full (I assume that they just settling now and that he had all he needed) and feeding DS was difficult had to give him the dummy to settle him and then put breast put in mouth and encourage him to suck. Seen C&FH Nurse who discovered that in the past 5 -6 weeks that DS had only gained 200g when they expect him to gain 125mg per week at least - He became such a more happier and interactive baby, so different to how he was between 9-11 weeks! Medication helped, first week he gained 540g and second week he gained 320g but I noticed this week, when I decreased the medication down to 2X10mg every 24 hours that his napkins weren't as wet and that he started to need to use an artifical comp again (20 - 120ml, it varies) so I increased my dose to 2X10mg every 8 hours as I was meant to in the beginning and I have started to take Fenugreek, Emu Oil and Blackmores Breastfeeding Gold Tablets. I will take the advice of having porridge in the morning for breakfast and introducing Activiate into my diet three times a day since I do not drink milk. Certainly will try to Rescue Aid to get me off to sleep and rest more... Planning to introduce Alphapha and Blessed Thistle capusles too... At least when I stop medication, I will still have the natural remedies to continue with! Thank you so much... PS Also expressing for 5 min on each side of breast and going to try to express every 4 hours over the night. I do need to get more rest cause I am always stressing, cleaning etc. so that wouldn't be too great for the let-down :/
It works... Love breastfeeding so much and it is such special time with me and DS

[Kmn]

I think that you might want to try the feed really often thing for a day or two. Something like 2 hourly during the day plus whenever overnight.

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

I don't think that you are very far off course. While babies grow very quickly in the first 3 mnths, it slows down after about 12 weeks and you would expect "around" 100g per week. 125g per week is probably on the high range
The bottom line is the more you feed the more milk you make. You don't need to eat anything to have enough milk. Activite is a complete furphy. OK if you like it as a drink - but don't "make yourself" drink it thinking it will magically make more milk.
The simplest way is to feed more often. Sneak in a few extra feeds. If you do "feed play sleep" (not that I recommend that - but lots of people do it) then try feed, play, feed sleep. If baby is fussy in the evening, give a cluster of feeds - it makes this time go more easily. If baby goes to bed early, wake for a "dreamfeed" before you go to bed.
Many mothers use motilium longterm with no problems (I don't believe you would be one of them) but you can feel confident that you can use it for as long as you need to feed.

[Janie]

What Barb said LOL! Seriously, she saved our breastfeeding relationship, it's worth using her suggestions I know it all sounds too simple, but it really isn't ,that's how breastfeeding is designed to work - feeding more=more milk

[beaver]

Lol I am one of those "feed, play, sleep" people but I will offer the boob to him after play after all you can't overfeed a baby so "feed, play, sleep, feed" is it lol. I was surprised this morning that my breast actually leaked (the more dominant side). We'll work it out, ultimately I want to be able to feed him until he is ready to wean himself off - Love it so much! I think the combination of medication, Fenugreek, vitamins and minerals, expressing, offering him boob all the time, more fluids and food will help. . . Fingers crossed

[Cassius2]

i reckon you are on the right track! and great news about the boob leak!! (ahh the things we get excited about as mummas lol!).

i also found that keeping myself on the elevit helped alot. i didnt realise how tired i was and was running on low vitamins for my own body ITMS. so i jumped back on and made sure that i had a bit more rest (i used to be outdoors ALL the time when DD was a young baby). in the end i would come home in the afternoon and just potter quietly around the house...oh and i also endeavoured to drink alot more water...it made a difference to my tired levels which i am certain also then helped with the supply ITMS...

HTH and you are doing fantastically!