Hello. By no fault of my own, my breast milk supply is starting to become low as I had difficulty in the past so I am taking a number of supplements to help build supply and also expressing. I'm a single mother and after being locked in the house for a number of months, I let loose after meeting someone and just doing things to make me feel good and increae my confidence but in the same, I really let my supply suffer by allowing DS to have formula, very little rest, poor diet etc.
So my plan of action is to start tomorrow. I am currently taking the following tablets three times at day at 6am, 2pm and 10pm:
2 X 10mg Maxalon
2 X Alfafa Capusles
2 X Fenugreek Capusles
2 X Blessed Thistle Capusles
1 X Blackmores Breastfeeding Gold Vitamin Supplement
1 X Iron Supplement (I am very low in Iron)
1 X Emu Oil Supplement (Rich in Omega 3,6 & 9)
1 X Calcium Supplement
I plan to have oatmeal for breakfast in the morning and try to drink at least a minimum of 2L water per day. I will try to eat lunch and dinner with snacks. I have no appetite and sometimes it was 4pm by the time I thought to have something to eat. I just wonder if anyone could recommend any foods that are thought to be helpful in increasing milk supply.
I also desperately wanted to know if anyone could recommend when I should express milk. My C&FH Nurse recommends expressing 5 mins of each side after feeding and I have heard other people recommend to express each side approximately 1 hour after a feed. DS feeds every 2-3 hours and I have no issue giving him an artifical comp as a BF. Any other suggestions would be great. . . I am more or less planning to stay at home and do nothing but focus on feeding. I feel terribly guilty about "going off the rails" but sometimes we all need to get out for our own sanity, not that it was out all the time but just going out shopping or meeting friends during the day. Oh mother's guilt, what a fabulous thing.
Looking forward to any and all suggestions xoxoxo
that is a lot of supplements... I have no idea about them, whether it is right or not, just seems like a lot, especially three times a day?
As for the expressing... to increase supply, I don't know what's the 'proper' way to do it but I would think you could do both (or either).
Breast milk production works on supply & demand, so more out = more in.
5 minutes each side after feeding makes sense to empty the breast, and if you are feeding every 2-3 hours, would probably be enough to get your supply up in a few days.
Expressing between feeds would work the same way.
i agree - that's a whole lotta supplements! as far as i understand it, what you eat is more about keeping you healthy rather than increasing supply. there is a recipe for lactation cookies floating around somewhere & alot of people seem to have had success with them. i've tried them & even if they don't help with supply, they're yummy!
how old is your DS?
i just wanted to say - don't beat yourself up for going off the rails. i'm no expert but it seems that supply can be increased even after a significant break in regular feeding. it's incredibly tough sometimes to find a balance between being mum & being yourself & i reckon it would be even tougher without a partner to give you support.
Wow i agree i think that is ALOT of supplements.
can i ask if anyone knows why Maxalon? Isn't that to stop nausea?
Don't beat yourself up, your allowed to enjoy yourself and it is really hard finding that balance, even when you have someone else around to help.
I think if you can try and express a little b/w feeds thats great but PLEASE don't lock yourself inside all day everyday trying to increase your supply, you need to have an escape and the more your stress about it the harder it will be.
I have heard those lactation cookies are meant to work wonders, also if you have a good breastfeeding and pregnancy multi they work wonders too.
Zarava Butterfly - it can help increase your supply as well. I haven't used it myself (can't), but alot of people with supply issues use it
Beaver - I'd be checking with an LC about all those supplements. Maybe choose one or 2. The best advise I have would be feed, feed, feed. Attatch him every hour if you like. Express in between if you feel like it. Its up to you when you do that.
I'd just spend 3 or 4 days with your baby, just feeding. Let him use you as a dummy. Supply = demand, so the more you feed, the more you'll make
Goodluck x
Oh, & give the above mentioned lactation cookies a go. They've worked great for other members
Last edited by ~clover~; March 29th, 2010 at 08:47 AM.
Don't be too hard on yourself about going out and catching up with friends, you don't have to become a hermit just because you have a bub. I know you mentioned going for coffee and shopping, if you're shy about nursing in public there may be some good parents rooms in these shopping centres/areas were you could take bubs for fequent feeds whilst meeting with friends. I often drag my girlfriends to the rooms with me, so I've got someone to chat with
A big congrats on taking positive steps to increase your supply it can be so hard sometimes. Wishing you and bubs all the best xxxx
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that is a lot of supplements... I have no idea about them, whether it is right or not, just seems like a lot, especially three times a day?
it can be so hard sometimes. Wishing you and bubs all the best xxxx
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