Hello Mommies,
I have a 5 month old who is breastfeed excusively and its going great so far, I also breast pump once a day, just so she can be used to the bottle if I have to get out of the house for a while( LASINOH Breastpump, which is the breastpump), and MAM bottles which are a god sent, my daughter wouldn't take any bottle other then this....anywayz to the question...do you guys have any receipes or juice, smooties that are good for lactating mothers, which can also help with milk supply..I want to increase supply by eating a healthy food instead of using other alternatives..
I tried Fenugreek, Mothers MIlk tea, Milkmaid tea, NOthing did help...:(
Thank you for all your wonderful advices, I really do appreciate it :)
my midwife says lots of protein! So meats, cheeses, beans and rice... And stay hydrated, eat a balanced diet... and prenatal vitamins.
Try eating more whole grains (oatmeal each morning for breakfast is a good one) and make sure you're drinking enough water.
Smitha,
I'd recommend checking out www.kellymom.com and searching "low milk supply." It is the most comprehensive breastfeeding resource I've ever seen. And they discuss every method I've ever heard of to increase your supply.
Just in general, lots of nursing moms swear by oatmeal to help with milk production. Other than that, the best way to naturally increase your supply is to nurse and/or pump more. I work full time so I pumped a lot. I needed to double pump (both sides at the same time) for at least a half an hour to maintain my supply. Pumping is an art and a science - and it takes a lot of work to do it successfully.
:-)T.
I make myself oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (a very yummy way to get my oatmeal in, which does help with supply for me), and if I really need a boost I'll take Lactate Support capsules by Gaia Herbs (http://www.gaiaherbs.com). Fenugreek alone didn't do much for me, but the Lactate Support capsules send my production into overdrive.
Most important for me, though, is making sure I stay well hydrated. I usually drink about 3 liters of water a day. If I dip much below that, my supply decreases noticeably.
i don't have any recipes - but the best (only?) way to increase milk supply is to nurse or pump more often. Your milk increases based on baby's need. How often are you nursing? Is she emptying the breast at each feeding? Try adding a 'dream feed' - i do this at 10-11pm before i go to bed, pick him up (without necessarily waking him) and nurse him -- you could also add another pumping session at that time. Other than that -- drink lots of water! Best of luck!
Is it that your milk supply is really down, or is it that you aren't feeling let-down anymore? Around 3-5 months is when most moms don't feel the let-down anymore and think they aren't making enough milk.
I've never found that those things you lsited helped very much with a lot of moms. Dark beer seems to work best, even though I hate beer....it worked.
If you are using hormonal birth control (Pill, minipill, Nuva Ring, Mirena IUD, Depo shot, etc.), this could be the reason for the decreased supply. If you stop, the supply will usually correct itself. There are also a few foods (but not oregano!!) that can cause you to produce less milk. The most common of these are sage and mint.
Remember the baby is always more efficient at extracting milk than any pump will ever be.
Oats and more oats. I love steel cut. Trader Joe's has quick cook steel cut that take 10 minutes. I mix 3/4 cups of milk w/ 3/4 cups water (bring to a boil), a dash of vanilla, a dash of cinnamon, pour in 1/2 cup of oats and stir occasionally for 8-10 minutes. Slice in fresh strawberries and yum!
Guiness beer (any oat beer)...in moderation also helps bring up supply.
This is great:
http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isaleanshake.dhtml and then add this:
http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isapro.dhtml
Breastfeeding moms need more of EVERYTHING! Feed yourself well so your baby can eat well.
B.
I'm in the same boat. The most important thing is that you're getting plenty of calcium and calories to support your body. I've been making yummy smoothies with hemp powder (packed with vitamins, fiber, etc), skim milk, banana and frozen berries. It's heavenly, easy to prepare and nutritious!-www.weelicious.com
I breastfed exclusively for 15 months. I basically stuck to the same diet. Lactation is all about supply and demand. The more the baby eats, the more milk you will make. There is only 1% of women in the world the really cannot breastfeed. It takes a lot of work, and I commend you for doing it! If you are not making enough milk, it is probably because you decreased feedings. Try pumping while nursing. I could never fill a bottle when I pumped alone. ( I was left with sore nipples) However, when I pumped while I was breastfeeding, I hardly need to press the pump! It takes a little practice, but you'll get used to it after a while. Hope this helps! let me know if you need anymore breastfeeding tips! It truly is the best gift (aside form life of course)...
