I know there's a remedy or two to help increase my milk supply. My daughter is about 8 1/2 months old and our whole family just got over a minor bout with the stomach virus. It seems to have affected my supply. What is the herbal supplement or what can I do aside from adding another pumping session (already pumping 3 times a day at work) during the day to help increase milk production? Any suggestions would be helpful...thanks!
STILL NEED HELP...I haven't tried the Fenugreek supplement yet, need to get that. But I've tried having oatmeal almost every morning for the past week as well as a couple days of drinking the mother's nursing tea and it hasn't gotten any better as well as drinking as much water as I possibly can. In fact my last pumping session that I just did, barely got an ounce when I used to get close to 4! Does the Fenugreek really work, and how expensive is it? Or do things slow down before they start to boost up. Also, I may be close to getting my period...that could really affect production as well. Am I right on that? I'm hoping. I don't want to wean just yet.
Mother's Milk tea seems to work for some people. You may also need to pump more often (both sides at the same time) to stimulate production.
I pumped full time with my first for a year, because he never learned to latch on. Fenugreek did help me a little when my production slowed down around 9 months. My daughter is now 8 1/2 months old and I do breastfeed her and pump one side in the morning. I am AMAZED at the increase in milk I get if I drink a few extra glasss of water the day/ night before. My advice... DRINK LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER! So healthy for you too! :)
Hi B.,
Congratulations on your baby girl! It is a huge commitment to pump at work and you should be proud of yourself for doing that for your baby! I wrote an article on pumping and working that also has great tips for increasing your milk supply. Take a look: http://www.pumpingtips.com. Also, you can eat oatmeal (the kind you have to cook - steel-cut oats), take fenugreek (take enough so that you smell like maple syrup) and drink some of the mothers milk teas. Let me know if you have any questions after reading my article as well. I am happy to help!
J.
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There is Fenugreek tea, which I believe is available at Whole Foods Markets. You could try a few cups of that every day. If you don't like the taste of herbal teas, try adding a bit of honey. Also, don't forget the usual stuff like taking a multivitamin every day and drinking plenty of fluids. Nursing makes you thirsty to begin with, and the stomach virus took some fluids out as well, I'm sure. Good luck! My whole family just dealt with the stomach bug too last week - ugh!
Have some oatmeal for breakfast - 1/2 c. quick oats, 1 c. of milk (soy or whatever you like), 1 banana, 1 Tbsp walnuts, 1 Tbsp raisins and nuke it for 2 -1/2 minutes. Yum!
Fenugreek is the herbal supplement to increase milk production. I have gotten it at GNC. I began by taking 2 capsules 2 times/day. Recently my supply seemed a bit low again, so I went up to 3 capsules 2 times/day. The Fenugreek has worked great for me as my production has been low since day one. I also have started pumping one side while my daughter nurses from the other side. It's a great way to add a pumping session without any extra time commitment and it helps to boost my stored milk supply as well.
Try Fenugreek. You can get it at GNC stores. You take it several times a day untill your urine smells like maple syrup. (It is used in in syrups for flavor and sweetness). It may also turn your milk a light greenish color, but its not harmful to the baby. Take up to several thousand milligrams a day. It can be used in conjuction with Blessed Milk thistle, but its harder to find. Youc an also try oatmeal consumption to help. And don't forget to swim in fluids while you do this :)
there have been some great suggestions already.
the only other obvious help would be to really step up your water/fluid intake.
Try Healthy Nursing Tea by secrets of tea....I am breastfeeding mom of 12m and continuously using this organic tea which is without preservatives and provide me plenty of milk factory...WONDERFUL!!!
drink more fluids, stay away from caffiene, pump more often, ask your doctor about "reglan" if things dont improve, soaked "fenugreek with rice" works acc to to websites, try it
Lots of fluids and make sure your diet is back to normal. Keep up your pumping sessions, even if it seems you're not getting as much. Both the herbal supplements that were mentioned plus the oatmeal worked for me too. Good luck!
Fenugreek is the herb - try Organic Mother's Milk tea. I've also heard eating oatmeal helps. Try to relax. Your supply will pick up in time.
Hi B.!
Glad to hear everyone is getting better. If you had a stomach virus, then you are probably dehydrated. Drink a TON of water. Any type of herbal thing that I have ever tried usually took a day or two, but you will notice an immediate result by increasing your fluids. Drink drink drink!
There are many things you can do, some work better than others and everyone seems ot be different: Mother's Milk is one (you can get it at whole foods-either pills or a liquid), Fenugreek is another herbal supplement. Some say oatmeal helps to increase supply, as does beer. I have heard Guinness is the best, but I had a friend who drank O'Douls (non-alcoholic) and it worked great for her. Good Luck.
I agree - drink LOTS of water.
