Hi out there kong time...no questions lately....
So here it is. I want to help start up'ing my supply becasue I want to be able to pump and store milk for when I finally feel able to leave my new one. He has been nursin g like a champ now for almost two most. I have been drinking the Mothers milk tea which I know has some amount of the fenugreek stuff in it. I took the Fenugreek supplements for a few days but found that when I sweat I smelled awful. I smelled like the tablets. I stopped taking them becuase it was gross. So my question is..Are there other ways to up supply other then taking those tablets? I know drink lots of water. I love the mothers milk tea. I am just afraid that if i pump both sides he will want to eat as soon as I am empty. My other question is what is the average time you think from when you empty your breats to when they have enough to feed again?? My mom had no idea. So break it down again...Any toher supply ideas and how long does it take for you to fill up again? Thank you this is the longest I have made it nursing and I am very excited and totally loving it!!! I still get afraid he isnt getting enough to eat but I think that is just how it goes when it comes to feeding your children all around. Thank you in advance!!!
I had luck using Mother's Milk Plus (I think that is what it is called). It's a liquid tincture in a blue bottle, they sell it at Whole Foods. It's the only herbal supplement that I noticed an increase in my supply with.
I know it smells, but that is what I found really helped... I took 8 tablets a day for 10 days and that seemed to do the trick! My suppy really went up with it. I know of nothing else, but also would be interested....
Hope you can solider through with the fenugreek.
T.
I took fenugreek in *capsules* and never had any trouble with them--I didn't take them and nobody smelled them. Mother's Milk Tea for sure. Also brewer's yeast, but only if you're not prone to yeast infections.
Regarding how long it takes to "refill" after pumping, I've read that you're never completely empty, because your body is always making a bit. The key to production is to get them as empty as possible. I rarely had trouble with baby wanting to nurse the moment I finished pumping. If it really worries you, pump one side each time. They don't have to be perfectly in synch!
Another way to do it is to nurse first, then pump the rest of the way to empty. This would be to get your supply increased, not so good for storing large quantities.
Another good way to boost production (up to 1/3 more by some accounts, but even 20-25% would be nice, no?) is to do breast massage. This empties the milk sinuses (milk-producing glands) by moving the already-created milk on down into the breast. Then your body works to replace what's been removed. You can feel these glands where the breast meets the chest wall...easiest to find near the armpit, but work your way around massaging gently. If you do it while nursing, you and baby will notice the extra flow. If you do it while pumping, you'll see the difference. It really worked for me!
Finally, I should warn you that if you're freezing milk, you really have to put it in the very coldest part of the freezer (if you have a chest freezer, that's better). A self-defrosting freezer can ruin milk by slightly thawing it repeatedly as it runs its cycle. I lost a good portion of what I'd stored that way!
warm bath before nursing
warm packs each side right before pumping
or warm shower
pump more requently - smaller amounts - 30 minutes after feeding/ every feeding (30 min before if you can too)
mom of 3 weeks/ 3 year/ 6 year/ 12 year old boys
9 years nursing experience (so far!)
Hi E.,
I don't know how feasible this is, given that you are taking care of three active boys, but what worked for me was adding one pumping session at night, about 30 minutes after my LO went to sleep.
At first, I barely pumped 1/2 ounce at this pumping session, but by the end of the week, my body was producing 3 to 4 ounces.
My daughter was a terrible sleeper at 2 months (she had acid reflux, so the poor thing woke up a lot) - so, sometimes, she'd wake up crying right after I had pumped. Yes, my boobs were empty, but she wasn't really hungry at that time - she had eaten 1.5 hours ago - she was just uncomfortable and needed comfort.
Again, I don't know how feasible it would be for you to add a daily pumping session to your already jam-packed day!! Believe me, it was tough to do and I only had ONE child to care for : )
But if you can do it, it'll boost your supply and you'll be able to stock milk for times you need to slip away.
FYI - I also drank mother's tea every day and took 1 to 2 fenugreek tablets a day starting around 3 months postpartum. These also helped, but then I didn't smell funny on the fenugreek! I know of other women who complained about the smell, so you're not alone.
Hey there E....My understanding with breastfeeding is that it's all about supply and demand and that the best way to get the supply going is to increase demand (that is: pump or hand express after you've breastfed). There are some great books at the library that could help answer some questions...I really like Dr. Jack Newman. Here's some of his advice online: http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml
