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Breast Feeding Question...
I know this is the pregnancy forum but I know so many of you ladies on here have had babies and have been successful breastfeeding. I need some advice on how I can up my milk supply. I know there are herbs and some foods that are supposed to help out with it... SO any suggestions ladies?
I am having that problem with pumping now! I feel like my back is going to break lol! The hands free aspect is awesome too! (on a side note) Poor Marley, since last night when she has had more breast milk then formula, she ended up spitting up (well it was more like vomiting poor baby) every single time she had any amount of it so that is definitely keeping me motivated to keep up with the pumping and getting her as much as she can!
Yeah I really want to get a hands free pumping bra. I got the pumping pals hands free bar when I got thier shields. I don't care for it.
You should look into thier angled shields. They are a back saver. You don't have to lean forward and worry about milk leaking.
You should look into thier angled shields. They are a back saver. You don't have to lean forward and worry about milk leaking.
I once cut up a bra and made a home version of that. It looked shriekingly hilarious (Frankenstein bra) but it really worked, and it was such a blessing to have free hands.
Ya know I didn't even think of a shield! That would probably be a really good idea to give it a try. I was also having problems having to sit and hold the suction cups for a half an hour or an hour but I found that medela makes bras that hold the cups in place so you can pump hands free =) I bought one yesterday and it is a god's send! It is tight enough that I get even better suction and it has also helped increase my supply by about an oz each side!
I'm glad that you are seeing an increase in your supply.
I had to use a nipple shield with Kaelynn because she was use to the feel of the plastic from the bottle nipple. She now nurses like a champ. I'm trying to figure out how to wean from shield and go bare nipple with her but all she does is bob her head a round looking for the nipple.
Maybe give it a try to help with her latch
I had to use a nipple shield with Kaelynn because she was use to the feel of the plastic from the bottle nipple. She now nurses like a champ. I'm trying to figure out how to wean from shield and go bare nipple with her but all she does is bob her head a round looking for the nipple.
Maybe give it a try to help with her latch
Losing- the tea actually tastes really good. I was really surprised to how well it tastes but I also but a little bit of honey in it and it actually tastes really good. I like tea so it wasn't a stretch for me to drink it. I really feel like it is helping. I doubled up this afternoon (2 tea bags) and it was even better that way (not so watered down). I def recommend it.
I take the flax seed 3 times a day (one pill each time). The lactation consultant should definitely be able to help you although the one here wasn't very helpful at all-she was very short and not very helpful.
How many times a day do you take the flax seed oil? I don't remember the mg of the fenugreek I bought, but I was taking 3 three times a day, per my LC's suggestion. I'm gonna talk to a LC while I'm in the hospital, and see what they can do, it's a big hospital but there's a lot of people here...I'm hoping I can get a hospital pump if I need it. I don't know how long they keep you in the hospital here, but hopefully I'll get some help while I'm there.
What does the mothers milk tea taste like? I'm not one to drink tea-type drinks so I haven't bought it.
I am taking fenugreek (2-610 mg capsules 3 times a day), flax seed oil (2 capsules), and alfalfa (2 capsules 3 times a day) and drinking mother's milk tea twice a day. I have also tried the dark beer (I have one sam adams a day) and have been drinking plenty of water (I feel like i am drowning myself in it!) and am pumping every 2-3 hours. I can't get Marley to latch on because she is supplemented with a bottle because of her jaundice and I think there is some nipple confusion going on so pumping with the symphony pump (medela) that I rented. The pump also has the 2 minute stimulation phase on it and I have found that I need longer to produce more so I end up using that phase on and off until I get a good flow and then I use it on the highest suction. It seems to be working really well.
I must say that it is definitely a difficult thing to try to succeed in breast feeding if you have a low supply and it is definitely easier to give up then it is to try to struggle through it but I feel like it is definitely an important part of being a mommy and trying to give Marley everything that she needs.
Also the Mother's Milk Tea is awesome! I highly recommend it and it has definitely helped with the supply. You can buy it at Babies R Us.
I must say that it is definitely a difficult thing to try to succeed in breast feeding if you have a low supply and it is definitely easier to give up then it is to try to struggle through it but I feel like it is definitely an important part of being a mommy and trying to give Marley everything that she needs.
Also the Mother's Milk Tea is awesome! I highly recommend it and it has definitely helped with the supply. You can buy it at Babies R Us.
That's great that you're doing better!
What all are you doing? With Elijah I had low supply issues, and tried fenugreek and then reglan, not together and it didn't help. This time I really want to be able to breast feed. So what all are you doing that's helping?
What all are you doing? With Elijah I had low supply issues, and tried fenugreek and then reglan, not together and it didn't help. This time I really want to be able to breast feed. So what all are you doing that's helping?
Hey! I am actually doing a lot better. I started drinking the mother's milk tea yesterday and it seems that it is really making a difference (I am still taking the 3 different herbs) and I have to remind myself to eat and drink as much water as possible but I am definitely doing better =) I just absolutely refuse to give up on this and I swear as hard as it is I just refuse to not let it go well easy or not. The hospital pump definitely works better than the petite playtex pump that I bought and hopefully I will only need it for a month to get my supply up.
It's not necessarily that you are doing anything wrong, some people just have low milk supply. Many of the women in my family have that problem. Just keep trying and giving her what you can get, every drop counts. With the hospital grade pumps you really have to play around with the settings to find whta works best to trigger your let down. Also massaging the breasts during pumping helps. Sometimes I ahve actually have to squeeze it to get the milk out. Atleast giving her SOME breastmilk is giving her the antibodies and other essential nutrients from you that she needs. I know it's hard not to feel bad about it but remember, some is far better than none. Another thing, since you just rented the hospital grade pump yesterday, give it a few more days, it will take a day or two for your supply to adjust.
Aw! I'm so sorry that you're having all of these problems with your supply. But it's nothing that you're doing wrong! You're trying everything you can think of to boost your supply. I think it might be related to your severe case of PCOS. Some women just don't have a good supply. I know you're discouraged, but keep trying for a few more days and maybe it'll work itself out. I can't really offer much advice, but I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I know how much you wanted to bf! :(
Aw I am sorry. I am really starting to feel discouraged. I did rent the hospital grade pump yesterday and have been using it every 2 hours. Marley does not latch well (thanks to the introduction to the bottle to help get rid of her jaundice) but I really want her to have the breast milk. I have been taking fenugreek, flax seed, and alfalfa and drinking tons of water and even having a beer after pumping and I am actually getting less than I was with my playtex petite pump. I really can't understand it. I am really starting to get discouraged at this point and it is very heart breaking for me since I had this problem with my last baby also. I really can not understand what I am doing wrong...
I never did a reglan shot, but I have taken the reglan pills...they really helped me with my last baby. they helped a little this time, but not as much as I would have liked. That blood loss I had really screwed me up.
Reglan(sp?) shot actually. There is no way in HELL that I would ever do the depo shot.
@ Mumita I never really have the engorgement problem, and even with the initial engorgement that I had (for 3 days after I had her) I would pump and still NOTHING. I went out and rented a hospital grade pump and I have been pumping every 2 hours (even through the night) and I have tried everything I swear and I am still only getting like less than a quarter of an oz each side. It is starting to get really discouraging. I am def calling the LC tomorrow to see about the reglan shot and see what else she can suggest for me.
@ Mumita I never really have the engorgement problem, and even with the initial engorgement that I had (for 3 days after I had her) I would pump and still NOTHING. I went out and rented a hospital grade pump and I have been pumping every 2 hours (even through the night) and I have tried everything I swear and I am still only getting like less than a quarter of an oz each side. It is starting to get really discouraging. I am def calling the LC tomorrow to see about the reglan shot and see what else she can suggest for me.
oh, something that worked wonderful for me....eat lots of carbs like potatoes, corn, rice, beer, that would always increase my supply by an oz atleast on each breast.
well then thats definitely a hormonal issue. I would rather do formula than a depo shot if you plan on having any more babies. I honestly dont understand how they haven't prohibited the use of depoprovera in this country, the side effects are worse than the benefits.
do you ever feel engorged? because sometimes I would skip a pumping and become very engorged and then I would pump out double the ammount and the next pumping would be more too...sometimes you got to get creative with the boobies :) Keep trying, any little bit of breastmilk is great for your baby.
do you ever feel engorged? because sometimes I would skip a pumping and become very engorged and then I would pump out double the ammount and the next pumping would be more too...sometimes you got to get creative with the boobies :) Keep trying, any little bit of breastmilk is great for your baby.
Thank you ladies. Mumita I am very aware that you have to feed the baby on demand and she has a very lazy latch so I have a double electric pump that I use about every 2 hours and my actual supply has gone DOWN. I called the lactation consultant today to ask about what I could do and she said there was no reason that my supply should be nil until I told her about my severe case of PCOS. I told her what I started taking the fenugreek and pumping every two hours... and she said I could get the shot but I have heard terrible things and side effects that you can get from it and it is just not something that I think would be for me. I had the exact same problem with my second son but that was before I was diagnosed with PCOS (even though I still had it then) and no one could give me an answer why.
Mumita very true!!
You can not take Blessed thistle during pregnany as it has been used for many years to abort babies. it also does or can cause intestinal movment and loose bowels for the same reason.
You can take the mothers milk tea and fenugreek though. It will not help though unless you are nursing. they are used in conjuction.
Best luck to you nickieb85! I applaud you for your efforts in BF yor little girl. I suggest the motilium you get from the UK. I used it and know plenty of woman who adopted and used it, you need no perscription. Look on Jack Newmans site gor the info. I got it off there after taling with another LLLC.
You can not take Blessed thistle during pregnany as it has been used for many years to abort babies. it also does or can cause intestinal movment and loose bowels for the same reason.
You can take the mothers milk tea and fenugreek though. It will not help though unless you are nursing. they are used in conjuction.
Best luck to you nickieb85! I applaud you for your efforts in BF yor little girl. I suggest the motilium you get from the UK. I used it and know plenty of woman who adopted and used it, you need no perscription. Look on Jack Newmans site gor the info. I got it off there after taling with another LLLC.
Well none of the herbs will help unless you pump or put the baby at the breast. your breasts will not produce more milk if its not more stimulated. your breasts have to fill up and empty out completely for your body to realize that your baby needs more milk.
I upped my supply for 2oz at each pumping to about 16oz each pumping (double pump) I started pumping every two hours, I would feed my baby on demand which was every 2 hours and then I would pump out what was left over. Then after a couple of weeks I increased the time between pumpings to every 4 hours and then I had more milk...and then after a month or so I would pump every 6 hours and then I stayed there for a long time because I was over producing milk. and then to wean I kept distancing the times between pumps. I would also pump in the middle of the night or bf my baby so I wouldn't have to pump and then I would pump again first thing in the morning and right before going to bed.
You have to make your body believe that your baby is demanding to eat all of that. If you supplement and don't pump or nurse at the times your baby is eating then your body will produce less until you dry up. If you have to supplement, first BF your baby and if your baby is still hungry then give him a bottle but make sure that your baby is emptying out bost breasts before you give bottle.
You can do all this along with the herbal supplements but the supplements will not do anything unless you empty out your breasts often.
I upped my supply for 2oz at each pumping to about 16oz each pumping (double pump) I started pumping every two hours, I would feed my baby on demand which was every 2 hours and then I would pump out what was left over. Then after a couple of weeks I increased the time between pumpings to every 4 hours and then I had more milk...and then after a month or so I would pump every 6 hours and then I stayed there for a long time because I was over producing milk. and then to wean I kept distancing the times between pumps. I would also pump in the middle of the night or bf my baby so I wouldn't have to pump and then I would pump again first thing in the morning and right before going to bed.
You have to make your body believe that your baby is demanding to eat all of that. If you supplement and don't pump or nurse at the times your baby is eating then your body will produce less until you dry up. If you have to supplement, first BF your baby and if your baby is still hungry then give him a bottle but make sure that your baby is emptying out bost breasts before you give bottle.
You can do all this along with the herbal supplements but the supplements will not do anything unless you empty out your breasts often.
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