I need help on how to Increase my supply..

I want to know what I can do to increase my supply? I am willing to take, drink or eat just about anything to give me an extra little boost!

Here is my story:
This is my second baby, I was only capable of BF/EM for a month with my son who will be 4 this month, At that time it was only 8-9oz per day.  Fast forward to now, my daughter is 9 1/2 weeks old, it took us a month and a half to get her to fully latch on without a shield. I've had 3 visits to the LC and 2 of those she gained 3-4oz after nursing, but it took about 45mins to get the job done. I started out this time tripple feeding in the hospital, then I can home and continued it until my milk was really going. She was gaining well with tripple feeding, slowly but surely.

She had a week where she wasnt gaining anything and we were exclusively nursing with only 2-4 pumpings. The pediatrician said lack of calories was causing her to be fussy and not gaining. So he wanted us to give her at least 25oz/per day. We still have yet to achieve this from a bottle as she refuses it at times. But I still nurse on top of pumping and bottle feeding.

Now I am pumping 4x at work from 1pm-12midnight and when I am home I try to pump another 3-4x and nurse her when she wants to eat as apose to bottle feeding. My husband does the main bottle feeding for her while I am at work during the evenings and sometimes at home cause she will refuse them from me. I have managed to get 8 pumings per day a few times, but mostly 6-7 is normal for us. Right now I am averaging 16oz per day pumped, on my highest days 22oz.

*also I have been taking fenugreek for 7weeks and every now and again I take a two week supply of special blend. I did see some what of an increase- but I am not making enough, cause she still takes any where between 2-10oz of formula/day and the pediatrician doesnt want us to stop that for fear that her calories will cause her to be fussy again.

What can I do to get more milk in? I am averaging 6-7x pumping and 3-5x nursing.

If you have any questions or in my babble I forgot important information to help diagnose, let me know.

[Sweety09]

Are drinking enough fluids? I was going to tell you to pump more but I think you are pumping alot already.

I am also breastfeeding my twins but have a very good supply. I have always heard that the more you pump the more milk you get.

I pump from 2-3 times when I am at work and I get around 12 oz each pump and it takes me around 10 mins each time. Then when i get home I don't pump I only breast feed them so as for the weekends, since I am home with them. They do run out of my milk so just in case I gave my babysitter formula and she said they only take about 2 bottles per day. If it was only one I would have plenty but for the two and not being able to pump more times at work then this is what i can do. I think the only thing you can do is pump pump pump... what machine do you have?

[Caralea]

Hey Sweety long time no talk,

I have a modela symphony. I pump like crazy or crazy for my schedule any way. I've been keeping track each puming by the cc/oz and it only seems to increase by the half ounce here and there. For instance last night my first two pumpings was 4oz total both breasts, the next pumping was 3oz and then my last one of the night was 2oz... It's helpful that she isnt a huge eater and has a small frame, so she has been growing in the 25%. I just thought I would need more than 16oz per day.

I do nurse her when I get home at 1am and off and on through out the early morning, so I am hopful that that is what is getting her by. I am pumping 6-8x per day, plus nursing and my hubby bottle feeds when I am away.

Here is an example of a day with 8x pumping.... I nursed her 3x in the morning, pumped 8x = 16.5oz, in addition to being nursed my husband gave her 17.5oz of EBM and no formula. So I was shy 1oz for the day if she was completely satisfied and still gaining weight.

I have tried to nurse, pump and nurse again to get the most milk out.. I was also advised to pump for 12mins, wait 12mins and pump for 12mins again similar to cluster feeding. I still dont see much of an increase. I really wish I could be a milk fountain- heck if I had more than enough to feed my girl and extra I would pump/nurse for the whole year and donate the extra to those in need!!

Any other thoughts? I dont know how I can get more pumpings in. I already have my alarm set every 2.5-3hrs so I remind my self 9x a day. =( Glad I am still feeding her, but wish I had more!!

[Sweety09]

You know what? I've heard that if you drink a bear every other day or every now and then, it helps so you can probably give it a try.... of course you can drink non-alcoholic beer which has exactly the same effect. :)

http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-true-that-drinking-beer-increases-a-breastfeeding-moms_10303158.bc

[nola0805]

Wow - I am so impressed that you manage to pump that much - you are my hero.  I am doing good to pump twice while I am at work.  I have also been struggling to pump enough for my growing boy (he is 6 months old and 95%ile for height and weight).

A very well known and reputable website about breastfeeding: kelly mom ******* says that the average women should get from 1-3 oz (total from both breasts) for each pumping session, and most women need to pump 2 times to make one feeding.  A baby is just more efficient than a pump at getting the milk out.  So it sounds like you are right on target.  I notice that I get about on oz an hour - in other words it if it has been 2 hours since I last fed or pumped, I get about 2 oz and if it is has been 4 hours, I get 4 oz.  Sweetey - I have no idea how you do it - 12oz each session - that it so amazing - you are so lucky.  

My supply really went down a few weeks ago and here is what helped me:  Fenugreek, plenty of water, oatmeal every am (the natural, whole oat kind - not instant), and a half a beer most nights.  The oatmeal seems to help the most.  Also someone else recommened hand expression and what I do now is hand express for a few minutes after each pumping session and I almsot always get another ounce out - I think this realy helps empty my breast more fully, which then signals my body to make more.  I also hand express after my guy goes to bed to get an extra 1-2 oz for the next day.  There are several videos on you tube showing how to hand express.

Good luck - I know it's hard but it sounds like you are really committed to giving your little one as much breast milk as you can and that is admirable.    

I know that when you were nrusing ecluiesdlyt she was nto gainign well, but it might be a good idea to try nursing more at home rahter than pumping - it at least nusing as muych as you can since she should be gettig more from the breast than your pump.  

[Caralea]

Funny thing.. I was advised my by family and peers that drinking a small glass of wine before the last bed time feeding would help your baby sleep.. I tried drinking a glass of wine 2hrs before her last nursing session and got her to sleep 8hrs!!

As for the nursing- I am doing as much with her when I am at home and on the weekends, but still trying to remind my self to pump in addition to that. I have to go get freezer bags tonight cause I ran out of fridgerator containers this week- THEY ARE ALL FULL!! Woo Hoo.  I am going to start taking one 5-6oz portion (usually 2 pumpings) that I pumped for the day and freeze it to give my self a break later on when she gets a bit older. The rest is going into the fridge for her to use with in 2-3 days. I really want to buy a deep freeze! But I dont make enough to justify that yet. LOL

I know sweety is my hero 12oz, that is almost my whole day and I have to work my butt off for it. Tonight so far though I have almost 10oz in 4 pumpings (3p, 5:30p, 8p & 10:30p). After work I go home and baby and I shower together, then nurse and she is out!! Maybe I'll try the 1/2 beer before the shower and see how it goes.

Should I be pumping after baby nurses in the morning to ensure emptyness is occuring?? My pediatrician still doesnt think she is successfully pulling milk... so I worry about her not making my milk supply go up cause I am not empty each time.

[mum2beagain]

It really does sound like you are doing everything you can, pumping after feeding for 10 minutes or so is a good way to signal to your body you need more milk. Are you getting enough rest, fluids and nutrition. You have set yourself a very demanding pumping schedule and I worry maybe you are not resting enough, maybe you can try longer pumping sessions and space them out a little more, so your total minutes over all is the same but you rest longer in between. As the others have mentioned oatmeal is good (the real stuff not instant), fenugreek tea, and a non alcoholic beer a day can all help

[Caralea]

Unfortunatly I know I am not getting enough sleep, especially after going back to work.. I work 1pm-12midnight Mon-Thurs. Plus we've had at least 1hr of OT each day and some on Fridays, it has sucked to come back to this.

I do my darndest to drink as much water and juice and milk. As for the eating- well I dont eat breakfast very often cause I am so tired and want to stay in bed!! Lunch is usually on the run weither I make something at home then eat it at work or make something when I get to work.. I hate this schedule any more cause I am eating 2 meals per day at work and they are not usually as healthy as I could be having at home with my family!!

I for the most part have tried to not pump in the middle of the night, but that seems to be the best time for it- it also depends on when I get home from work. No matter what though I have my 4 sessions at work and the rest of the day is kind of made up as we go. MarLea has done a great job in the mornings, I change her diaper from her 8hr sleep session, then lay her in bed with me to nurse as she pleases. It is great bonding time for us and more rest for me!

I should start getting my self up, eat some oat meal then lay back down with her to nurse. So I am at least getting something to start with. If I could only be a bit healthier or afford it for that matter. =/