Milk Production Slowing Too Much

When my milk production slowed I started taking an herbal supplement called Fenugreek. My peditrician actually suggested it. I take 2 tablets a day and I have seen great improvement.

Start taking Fenugreek - it's an herb. 3 capsules, 3x a day.
Eat brown rice, apricots and sweet potatoes and drink water until you feel sea sick!

Is there any way you can also nurse more often to bring up your supply? I know that more pumping is great, but it seems like babies can really get our bodies to respond. Just go crazy on nursing for a while--that might help! Also, I've heard that nursing hormones are highest in the morning (esp early morning). Perhaps you can pump at that time to augment that effect. Good luck! really challening.

It is possible that the anxiety you feel about not producing milk is causing your milk production to slow, or at least for you not to be able to "let down" when you pump. I'd suggest having a glass of wine and a nice bath, then pumping when you are very relaxed.

How long are you pumping? it may take a few minutes before your milk starts to come out. Find something to distract you from worrying about pumping while you pump... read to your baby, watch a movie whatever.

Good luck with this. You are a great mommy!

T.

Hi K.,
I suffered through thrush too! It was so painful to nurse but I gritted my teeth and let me latch on and did so as oaften as I could. Your son is a better suction than any pump and you need to get him latched on and as often as you can. The more he nurses the more your body will respond. Its kind of a supply and demand thing. Let him nurse often and in between pump. You can drink Mothers Milk Tea and take fenugreek tablets. If that doesn't help go to Motherlove.com and get some More Milk Plus tincture. It works when nothing else will. Good luck and don't give up!

K.,
Milk production depends on your eating also. I breast fed & formula fed my boys. When my son bit it, I cut him off completely. He never wanted it after that. Some babies want more, but having a supplemental milk works. It takes more than 3 days to dry up. I hope this info helped.

There's a tea you can drink. I think it's called "Mother's Milk". There might be more than one brand. Traditional Medicinals is one brand. Many friends swear that regular consumption of this tea helps great with milk production. Of course, you have to keep stimulating the breasts as well.

Hi,
There's lots you can do to get your milk supply back. Acupuncture and herbs are excellent. Enough sleep and LOTS of fluids are important. Pumping more is good. Dark beer , non-alcoholic if you can find it, before bedtime really helps. Its the hops in there that helps. Fenugreek is a great herb for improving milk supply. Get it at Rainbow Grocery or Whole Foods. There is also a good supplement called More Milk Plus in a tincture form. Cammomile tea , red rasberry tea, nettles tea, mothers milk tea, are all good, make it strong, many teabags ,and drink plenty. I've treated myself for this many times successfully and many women as well. Good Luck!
About Me; Mom of 2, and acupuncturist in SF specializing in all things pregnancy and Mom and kids.

I've heard that Fenugreek is very helpful. And while you'd have to dump a post-beer pump, a dark beer can really help get things moving.

I know it is stressful when your supply slows down. Keep pumping or have your baby nurse as often as possible when you are with him. Most of all RELAX!

Remember, even if your supply doesn't come back, it's okay. Don't beat yourself up about it. The important thing is that he gets the nutrients he needs.

Good luck!

It might be because you are pumping instead of nursing. I notice a huge difference in the amount I was able to pump vs. my babies ability. She could get 2-3 let downs and my pump could only get 1, no matter how long I pumped. If you can bare it, try nursing more and pumping in between. Good luck!

Make sure you are using a hospital grade pump. I had a single user pump that did not work nearly as good as the hospital grade pump I rented. You can get the supplement More Milk Plus at Whole Foods and I used that for a few weeks.

You've gotten some great ideas here. I wanted to add a few. Keep up on your water intake and eat oatmeal. Both of those things have helped keep my supply up. I have been nursing/pumping for 11 1/2 months! Keep up the great work, you can do it!
You can also find great information re: nursing at kellymom.com

I know you got a lot of this one already, fenugreek. You can get it at a health store where they sell supplements. Goodlife Nutrition is a great place to get supplemental needs.

Maybe you should supplement or just give them formula. He is 6 months old and will be weaned soon anyway so why not start now? I know it is hard when your body stops producing milk,we all want to breastfeed longer. I would try nursing more and less pumping and see if that helps.

Eat and drink A LOT and sleep. A glass of water for each time you nurse and your regular. Getting enough sleep and food. Your body needs these to produce. Lots of fluid and water way important!

I would also suggest calling a lactation consultant. They are free or low cost. I used one and she was AMAZING when I was nursing the first few weeks. I almost gave up. To find one near you, call the hospital where you gave birth and they can give you a list. Most will come out within 24 hours. If in Sacramento, Sutter Hospital has a list of women in every area.

About me--mom of 4. Work full-time. Nursed 3 kids for 6-8 months. Still nursing the youngest at 2 years (never thought I would make it through 1st week or nurse this long).

Hi K.,

You can try eating almonds. They help with milk production! You can soak them in water with the skin on, and keep them in sight to munch on throughout the day.

Hi
I've had issues with milk supply (certainly after a BAD bout with the stomach flu).
Fenugreek and Mother's Milk Tea will help, promise.
Drink loads of water.
Good luck

Fenugreek and Mother's Milk tea worked wonders for me. Talk to your doctor/lactation consultant to find out how much you should take. Everyone is different. Also, I've never heard about the almond trick, but it is also worth a try. Plus the added protein will give you more energy! Good luck. Also, I wouldn't necessarily start with weaning your baby unless you are ready. I'm not sure whether that poster breastfed her baby or not, but remember do what feels right for you and your baby!

Hi K.,
This is gonna sound crazy, but I say it because it worked for me. I had thyroid problems when my daughter was born and my milk began to dry up when my daughter was 4 months. A nutritionist recommended carrot juice, large amounts of carrot juice. I drank a quart a day for about two weeks. That and lots of water. I was also told to pump every 2-3 hours no matter how little was there to stimulate production. All of this brought it back for me.

Hey there, you have received a lot of great info already. I have a 5 month old and when I returned to work when he was 2 months old my milk dropped by half. I tried Fenugreek and Mother's Milk tea and they really seemed to help. It was hard to get my supply up in the first place and when it dropped by half I was devastated. I had my son two weeks early and I guess by body didn't want to produce milk right away so I had to pump every hour to get my supply in. I found that if my pump was up too high then it would make me sore. Try turning it down just a tad and see if that helps. It did for me. At first I thought the more it pumped then the faster my milk would come in...Nope!!! So try turning the pump down, go to a health food store and get the Fenugreek and Mother's Milk tea, and then breath...stress will make your milk drop too. Good luck!!!