Ideas to Increase Milk Production ...

Drink fenugreek tea. The tea works better than the capsules. You can find it in bulk at most health food stores. Tastes a bit maple-ish.

I've heard a beer(such as a good ale) a day helps to, but have know experience with this.

K.

First of all Congratulations on breastfeeding for 6 weeks. Like you, I was very concerned when I went back to work that I wouldn't be able to keep my production up either. Well, I'm very proud to say that after a lot of worrying I am still breastfeeding my 8 month old and still pumping once a day. I would recommend pumping on your babies schedule as best as you can. What I would do is nurse my baby at the babysitter's right before I left for work so that away it wasn't time to pump right as I walked in the door at work. Then I would pump 4 hours apart so it worked out to be around 11:00 am and 3:00 pm and then I would nurse my baby as soon as I got home from work. As much of the baby nursing as possible will help your production more than anything. Also, you MUST drink your water. I'm saying when you think you've drank enough, drink more. It is the number one thing for increasing milk supply. Also, you should have a electric double pump for as much as you'll be pumping. I have Medela's Original pump-in-style and it has worked wonderfully for me. When all else fails your doctor can prescribe a drug called Reglan which got me through a drought one time. I know how hard this can be but it can be done. Please message me if you would like to hear more from me. I love helping new moms on this subject b/c I had no one to really talk to about it or help me out so however I can help! Congratulations and best wishes.

I am so proud of you! Breastfeeding is hard on married, stay-at-home moms and you are doing it as a single, working mother.
I just wanted to add a few ideas. Do you carry a picture of you son for when you pump? It might help. As might some of his
clothes or a blanket that he has used. I have also heard of mothers recording their baby's cry. I know that when I was breastfeed I only had to hear a baby cry and my milk would start to flow. Loose fitting tops and bras are also important so you don't restrict milk production.
Keep up the good work.

#1 - RELAX! I used to bring the lavendar baby wash to work to wash my hands & stuff before I'd start. It helped me relax & reminded me of why I was putting in all the effort.

#2 - Drink Plenty of water. Water makes Milk.

#3 - Don't get discouraged. I pumped 4 times a day when I first went back to work - 15 mins each. I'd only get 2-3 oz total each time at first, but after a few months it was more like 10-15 oz. I didn't have to suppliment until my daughter was about 10 months old.

Enjoy this time - it's over before you know it.

Congrats,
L.

I called the Breast Feeding Consultant at St. Johns & they suggested for me the herb FENUGREEK & take 3 pills- 3x a day. It worked for me. Try that or call the breast feeding consultant yourself & they can give you a lot of ideas!

Make sure you are not taking any antihistimines which will dry up the milk....

M.-

My little girl is 8 months old, and the last month or so I felt like my supply was dwindling. I recently bought some Yogi Tea for nursing moms at Whole Foods, and now I'm full as can be. I'm back to pumping 8 oz per session, where a few weeks ago I was lucky to get 3. I had been using the Traditional Medicinals Mother's Milk Tea, but the Yogi tea seems to be working much better.

I've also heard great things about Fenugreek (it's in the tea).

Good luck!

Yours in health-
Dr. Alyssa

Hi M.....Congrats on your new little one!!! Yes life is a wonderful blessing. You are giving your little one a great start by breastfeeding!!! Your milk is a supply and demand sort of thing....the more you pump, the more milk will be supplied. If you can pump every 3 hours at work your production will increase. When my girls were younger I pumped every 3 hours and I stopped pumping when they were around 8 months old and had enough milk supply for them until they were 10 months old!!! Also make sure when you do pump more often you are drinking plenty of water....or non caffeine drinks!!! Good luck and God bless you!!! B. W from Illinois

If you can afford it, I REALLY recommend renting a hospital grade pump for a month or two. I didn't think it would be much different than using my Pump in Style, but it was SO much better. It had a much less mechanical suction (more fluid than just on/off) and had 2 settings just like your baby-- softer/faster for before let-down and stronger/slower for you to switch to at let-down. This helped get more milk out because it was more like baby AND I was more relaxed (it was more comfortable). The BF consultant at your local hospital will probably also counsel you on other ways to increase your supply, such as adding one more pumping session a day (or night) at home and Fenugreek pills (I'm fairly certain the pills are more potent than the tea). Also, eating oatmeal for breakfast every day seemed to help me (I mix 1 flavored packet with one scoop of plain oatmeal).

ALSO-- the BF consultant told me that if I feel like my supply is dwindling, take baby to bed with you for 24 hrs and nurse as often as you can get him to. This makes your body think he's going through a growth spurt so it will increase production. Turn off the phone, let the dishes wait and just relax (this was my favorite way to increase my supply!)

I increased my water intake and ate oatmeal. That really helped me. I didn't want to take any meds. The oatmeal I ate was maple brown sugar. I believe maple has the same natural ingredients as fenugreek (this is an herb you can take to increase milk production-it works for many women but not all).

You can also try to get in another 1-2 pump sessions while doing this as the stimulation can trick you body into thinking the baby is eating more and therefore increase production.

Hope this helps.

I would just keep pumping while at work and nursing him when you get home, like everyone has said. I also would try and nurse him as much as you can while home on the weekends. Your son is old enough now that your body adjusts to the demand. Keep breastfeeding as long as you can! With my first child everyone said to me...are you about done with that? You only need to do it for the first few weeks. I didn't really have a good support system when it came to breastfeeding and ended up stopping around 6 months. I went a little longer with my 2nd and even longer with my 3rd. Don't let anyone discourage you! You will have tons of support on mama source.
Congrats
N. =)

Drink lots and lots of water and try oatmeal. Oatmeal worked for me. Someone mentioned fenugreek... it helps some women, however it does have side effects and can be dangerous for some women & babies. Do your research before taking any supplements and speak to your doctor. They do make a prescription drug that helps with milk production too.

Here are some links about fenugreek & other herbs:
http://www.breastfeeding.com/reading_room/herbs.html
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html

Fenugreek helped me go from very little milk production induced by a major illness and antibiotics back to full milk production! DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!! Contact your hospital or peds office Lactation Specialist to help you through!

To increase my low milk production, I have successfully used an organic tea called Healthy nursing tea.

I wouldn't really worry about it too much. When I went back to work my baby didn't really take bottles very well from his care provider. Instead he would eat like crazy before and after as well as freqently during the night, something called "Reverse Cycling". The biggest thing that affects my milk supply is stress, the less stress the more milk! So take it easy and best of luck.

I breastfed both of my children for 1 full year (they both weaned themselves). From my experience and research, I learned that it is definitely a supply and demand thing. You pump/feed on a regular schedule and your body will do the rest. Of course it does help to make sure you are drinking lots and lots of fluids as well as eating a well balanced diet. You are already doing the best thing for your baby and the fact that you are so willing to ask questions is a wonderful thing!

Hi, 45 yr old Mother of four and steps and currently raising three of mine and two step grands 3 & 5yrs old..

This sound bad, but to help mik production while away.. of course eat right and drink plenty of liquids - Make a recording of your infant crying.. Use what ever media you have. While at work listen to the recording of your baby (helps to have a photo of baby crying, while listening to the cry. This triggers a natural response and your milk will release. Then your milk production will encrease.

I learned this when My son now 11 was unable to hold down ANY type of formula. He was five days old and found him to be unable to take formula and he was dehydrating and losing weight fast. I had to bring my milk back in. A lot of it and fast. This helped! Also take with you to work clothing that your baby has worn. This will have his scent and the three senses will work together then,
YOU GOT MILK!

Take care, Dani

I think they make pills for that...

hi there! congrats to you for wanting to continue brest-feeding after returning to work. i stayed home for 12 weeks and then went back to work full time...i too continued to pump at work. my son ate sooooooo much, but to keep up the supply i would eat oatmeal and yogurt. that's what 'his' dr recommended to me. i was able to nurse my son for 16 months with no problems what-so-ever. i also drank lots of root beer...not sure if that has anything to do with it...but i stayed away from pepsi since that is my addiction. :) i think if you pump AS SOON as you are starting to get that "full milk" pain...then you will be ok. i would also squeeze a little at first to get the milk flowing into the pump. i had an automatic pump that worked great. the whole 'crying baby' thing works as well. i work at a bank that is in a grocery store and every time a baby would cry...i would leak. it was amazing how the woman's body works! hopefully you can keep going and stay supplied. when you are home...just nurse as much as possible and you should be fine! good luck to you...it can be done!!!

Drink, drink, drink. Keep drinking liquids. Also, try to pump as often as he would eat.

The best advice I can give you is to increase your fluid intake that is the biggest mistake nursing mothers make is not enough fluids. Everytime you sit down to nurse or pump you should have a glass of water or juice. Also try consulting a lactation specialist. Ask your sons doctor to recommend one.

It sounds like your on the right track, only way to keep the milk production supply going is to eat right and drink lots of water. Make sure you stay hydrated. Drink the water even if your not thirsty. Its what my lactation consultant told me, just keep nursing as much as u can while your home and do the pumping at work. The more you nurse the better the supply will be.

Congrats your your little guy. He was born the day after my birthday.

G.

Good for you for pumping! It takes a lot of work, but I found it to be worth it. I didn't start having any real supply issues until about the 6 month mark and I did supplement with about 6 oz. of formula per day. Anyway, oatmeal and root beer work great, as does fenugreek, which you can find at health food stores. (This will make you smell like maple syrump and it does cause stomach discomfort in some babies, although most people I know use it successfully.) Also, start your pump on rapid but slow suction and then when you get a letdown, switch to slower but harder suction. Pumping right after a feed when you are with a babe might help too. I noticed that when I was pumping, I often had two letdowns, so if you have time, pump until you get that second letdown. Good luck!