How Do I Increase My Milk Production?

Drink a lot of water! I tried Fenugreek and it didn't help, it made things worse by giving my daughter a gassy belly.

J.,

A brewer's yeast supplement will act as if you are having a beer each day. Brewer'a yeast is good for you and you can get it in capsule or powder form at any health food store. You can also use a supplement lactate support or fenugreek. Both of these should be available at some health food stores, sprouts or on line. Good luck.

Really the best way to increase is to have a schedule you follow. if baby breast feeds at the same time every night, you might see an increase...also make sure you drink lots of water.

Up until a month ago, I was breastfeeding twins. I never actually had them feed at the breast (because they were three months early, their mouths were too small to latch on) so all I did was pump. I pumped for 7 months and after only three months I noticed a decrease in my supply. I was no longer making enough for both of my babies. I talked to a lactation consultant at the hospital where my kids were, and they told me to ask my gynecologist for a prescription for Reglan 10mg (also called Metoclopramide if you want to research it on WebMD). It is usually prescribed to babies who have problems with reflux, but in moms, it increases milk supply. The dosing is kind of weird, though. It is a twelve day schedule. You take 1 pill on the first day, 2 pills on the second day, then on days three through ten, you take 3 pills per day, then 2 pills on day eleven and 1 pill on day twelve. So all in all you will take 30 pills. I found that this helped immensely. I went from making only enough for one of my babies, to making enough for both of them, and still having extra left over to freeze. I know that you said that it is hard for you to pump at work, but now they make a pump that fits right in your bra and you can pump hands-free into one of those milk collection bags that can be sealed for storage. Then when you are done, you can just excuse yourself saying that you have to go to the bathroom, and remove the pumps and bags of milk. Extra pumping is really the key to more production. I know that it is hard to go back to work and still have to pump, but it can be done (even if you don't have the most sympathetic boss). I weaned myself from pumping almost a month ago, and my twins still get breast milk that I have frozen for them. Good luck and I hope this helped.

oatmeal really helped me... you can also take blessed thistle and fenugreek. look at kellymom.org or .com?? it's an incredible site for nursing moms. I was also on the yahoo group pumpmoms which gave tons of advice.

C.

I had a problem with my milk production and was advised by my pediatrician and lactation nurse to take fenugreek. You will smell like maple syrup but it works. Good luck!

I ran into the same problem when I went back to work. Truly the best solution is frequent pumping and using a hospital grade pump. As for food and drink, consume lots of water and take herbal supplements like fenugreek.

Fenugreek worked well for me. I took the pill form because I did not like the tea, but both make you smell maple syrup. WEIRD, but at least it's a good smell! and LOTS of water. But overall your milk supply usually corresponds with how much you're feeding/pumping, so the more you do either, the more milk you'll have. Good Luck!

Hi J.,
I am having that same problem. Im a sahm but my daughter has heart problems and was put on a specific "diet" so I havent been able to produce enough milk to accomodate it. I did a little bit of research on herbs that you can take and Ive heard that Blessed Thistle increases the supply and there is also a tea called Mothers Milk. I know that you can not get either at stores like Walmart, Frys, Walgreens. I think you would have to go to either the Vitamin Store or Hi-Health/ GNC type stores. If you happen to find another remedy or find that these help, Im scared to try them w/ her heart medications that shes on, please let me know either on here or at ____@____.com I helped in some way.

H. B.

Hi J.!

There is a breast feeding support place called Best Fed at Thunderbird and 51st Avenue. Call them or stop by, they should be able to give you some great advice on this subject. Also, here a link to their website:

http://www.ebestfed.com/index2.html

Good Luck and don't give up! L.

What you drink your child will too, so I would stay away from beer whether or not it is said to do it. I went to a lactating consultant when I was breatfeeding and she tole me that it is how often and how long you breast feed on each side. The more you breast feed the more you will produce. Pumping does not help you produce more milk, you need the childs sucking and saliva. The child is the only one who is able to get the "high milk" is what I was told. Look up online for lactating consulants. They are free and amazing help, I would of lost all my milk by my second month if not for them. The doctor I had was not helpful in fact the information he gave me is what lead me to losing my milk more. good luck.

Taking fenugreek really helps. You can get it at GNC and most places that sell supplements. It makes you smell like maple syrup, weird huh, but it really worked for me!

Fenugreek is an herbal supplement that helps to increase your milk supply. Doctors will say that its debatable on whether it really works but I can honestly say that it does. I stopped taking it for a little while and my milk supply went down, but as soon as I started again my supply went up. There is also a tea that works the same way called Mother's Milk but you would have to drink alot of it to get the same results as the Fenugreek. You can get both in the Natural Foods section at any Fry's (not sure about other stores) and at Sprout's Farmer's Market :)

Just one little side note....the Fenugreek will make you smell like maple syrup, especially when you sweat. Seriously :)

Beer helps, anecdotally, because it often has barley in it. You can drink Pero instead and get more barley for less calories and not have to deal with that whole alcohol thing. :)

Oatmeal is the classic galactagogue food, along with fenugreek as an herbal supplement. Most people who try fenugreek have to take enough that they smell like maple syrup before it works. :) You can also do a google search on "lactogenic food" for other ideas.

In general, more protein + more H20 = more milk.

If you feel you may be having more of a pumping problem than a supply problem, using some of the massage or letdown tricks out there may help. I found this technique to be very effective when I was pumping: www.lactationinstitute.org/MANUALEX.html (NSFW, drawings of breasts).

You can consult your local lactation consultant found at the hospital you gave birth or thru the la leche league. You can take fenugreek and drink mother's milk tea but it will mostly likely come down to pumping more- milk is all about supply and demand. You can purchase those bras that will allow you to pump hands free if that will make it easier to do during work. Good luck

hi! i went through some issues too, when my daughter was that age. there is a type of tea, called mother's milk tea, and that really helped to increase production. it is found in organic sections of most grocery stores. i was also told to eat a lot of oatmeal, not the instant kind, but the regular kind... i didn't try it, but it might work. also, just drink a ton of water...

i hope this helps, good luck!

I think what you are thinking about is brewers yeast (not beer) that has been known to increase milk production. Brewers yeast is often used in vegetarian cooking and has a nutty flavor. It is available at most grocery stores. I did the same breastfeeding schedule with my daughter when she was an older infant. I think your fear of decrease in your milk production can also cause your fear to come true. Try to relax about how much/often you are breastfeeding and let it happen naturally. Good Luck to you and your baby J..

Hi J.,
Who told you that 'beer' will increase your milk supply? Do they not realize what they are telling you? Beer is alcohol, and if you drink that, it will pass thru your milk supply, to your baby. I really hope you don't try that. Anything you eat, drink, or any medicines you take will pass to your baby thru your milk supply.
Try reorganizing your time better during the day to pump more. That will help. The more your nurse/pump, the more milk supply you will have. The less you pump/nurse, your milk supply will think that you are not needing it as much and will decrease. May be some other Moms will have some more helpful suggestions. I hope you find something that works. If you find yourself not having time to do the pumping or nursing, then switch to formula. Talk with your doctor first. Do not drink beer though. Best of luck. G.