Any suggestions for increasing milk supply?

[beaver]

Hi

I was experiencing difficulties with my supply approximately 3 weeks ago and was prescribed Motilium but instead of taking the prescribed amount 2 X 10mg tablets three times per day for the first 7 days, I took 1 X 10mg tablet three times per day and didn't realise this until day 7 when I was advised to continue as I have been able to increase my supply so I went the next 7 days on 2 X 10mg tablets twice a day then after 7 days, I decreased the amount as advised down to 2 X 10mg tablets once day but I have been on this for approximately 5-6 days and my supply being to become low again. My GP agreed to give me another script for Motilium to start the process correctly but I can't stay on medication to BF DS, I am wondering if anyone else has any suggestions about increasing my supply... I have purchased Fenugreek tablets (2 tablets three times a day), I am taking Emu Oil capulses (Rich in Omega 3, 6 & 9 that supposedly assist increasing the supply) and have also order Blessed Thistle. Willing to try anything to keep DS BF until he is 18 months lol (unless the teeth murder my breast lol)... PS Also expressing 5 mins on each side after feeding him... Nil attachment issues!
Cheers, Cary

[feeb]

Well done on what you are doing so far.

I had lots of issues with supply, I started with Fenugreek but it upset my belly and DS1 bely so I stopped, I took Motiluem and thought it was hopeless did nothing.

I had success with Blessed thistle and Alfalfa capsules.

I am not a person who gets a let down and can express (even now while Tandem feeding)

Good luck with it and don't stress too much about it as that decreases supply also, be guided by baby wg gain, output and how settled bub is.

Hugs keep up the good work

[Ryatha]

Well done on getting this far. BFing is a journey and there are ups and downs. I struggled early on to get a decent supply as well. So I let DD2 feed all the time and rested a lot, slept as much as I could and ate really healthy. So in addition to that I had Activite which is like milo someone on here recommended and I found that it really helped. I also had rescue remedy to help with my let down as I took a long time to relax and let down.

Both of those helped a lot, I now don't have any issues and she is 7.5 months old. hope some of this helps GL

[onthefly]

You can find some more suggestions here

Have you gotten advice from the ABA or a lactation consultant? They are very helpful in addressing any underlying problems that might be causing problems with your supply.

All the best~~

ETA - just wondering
How old is your baby and how often is he feeding?
What have his weight gains been like? How many wet and dirty nappies?

[Janie]

I'll wait for you to answer Marcellus' questions before going into it further........

but I just wanted to let you know that I had supply issues with my DS, and I ended up taking Motilium for 6 months (until he was 9 months) and we then went on to BF until he was over 2 . In the end it was more for my peace of mind I think, but however it helped, it did help, and we had a very long and successful BFing relationship!

[shazzi]

I can remember freaking out about my milk supply and it is such a stressful thing.

I read that oats are good. i love porridge for brekky and i find that if i have oat porridge regularly my supply increases and DD has trouble drinking as i have too much. I do not know if anyone else has found this with oats.

Good luck and make sure you do some nice things for yourself.

[attc]

I had a lot of troubles with supply too. I had nurses telling me to put him on formula and give away the BFing - so helpful...not.

I went on Motilium for a couple of months - I didn't like being on drugs for so long, so ended up seeing a Naturopath and replaced the Motilium with natural herbs. I also drank Weleda nursing tea (which I still drink every now and then just to make sure things are going OK).

The other thing I found to be very effective was to spend 24-48 hours lying down with bub, just feeding when he wanted to and getting as much rest as I could. This seemed to kick start the supply things.

I did continue the herbs and tea for quite a while as I ended up quite paranoid - I think they both helped. DS is now 12 months and we are still BFing (albeit on one side only - he rejected the other side when teething and I was too lazy to keep up the supply by expressing etc).

I regret listening to the midwives who told me not to feed too frequently in the beginning (as this would set up a 'snacking' mentality) - next time I will feed when bub wants it....

Good luck...

[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!