Milk Supply Low

I personally took an herbal supplement called fenugreek and had great results. You will notice a strong maple syrup smell when you pump - but that was the only "side effect" that I had. I had gotten to where I would pump for twice as long as usual, to MAYBE get an ounce. I started taking the fenugreek and was quickly back up to producing the amount I was before I slowed (sometimes more). Hope this helps :D

My supply was low a few months ago & i was freaking out. The lactation consultant recommended that i drink non alcoholic beer & take 2 fenugreek pills 3x a day. My supply was back in less than 2 days.

Good luck!

C.

I'd look up the La Leche League in your area. They're usually nice women who know all the tricks. kellymom.com is also a good source.

Pumps aren't as good as babies, so just because you can't express a lot of milk doesn't mean your baby doesn't get the milk when he nurses. There's a whole complex let-down reflex that gets the milk really flowing, and you might not be getting that with the pump.

I wouldn't wean if you and your baby are still enoying nursing. If you have to supplement with formula when you're out of town and just pump a few times a day to keep your milk suppy during that time, you'll both be fine. Then just go back to nursing on demand when you return.

Try Fenugreek, which you can get at any health supply store, like GNC. You should take more than the recommendation on the bottle. Your milk supply WILL increase. You will notice a syrupy smell coming from your skin, but milk will increase!

Well, the only thing I can think of is that perhaps you are not drinking enough.
The fact that he is not nursing as much will certainly affect your supplyand unless he increases the frequency of nursing, I am afraid that your 5 days away may spell the end of nursing for him.
There is no reason to feel guilty, circumstances are just causing this.
If you pump regularly while you are away it might be possible that upon your return he could be interested in nursing vigorously.
But if you take the opportunity of being away to wean, there is nothing wrong with that.
In any case, use the "don't offer, but don't refuse" way of weaning and he will eventually get the idea that there is no more milk there.
Also if he is drinking from a cup that will help.
Do not be afraid to let him grow up and go on to new adventures.

Sounds like it is time to stop feeling guilty. Sounds very natural to me that your milk supply would decrease as his needs decrease. It also sounds like you have 2 very healthy children with a smart mom who gave them the wondeful benefits of breast feeding. I breast fed 2 of my children and they are normal happy young adults now. Just try to enjoy the time you do have left with the great bonding and know that the bond is a lasting strong one. Go on your trip and he will be 11 months and almost old enough to wean any way. Good Luck I am now a SAHM and trying to build a business. Cakes are good all the time.
Living With Intention
S. J

J.,
You may already be doing this, but make sure you always nurse him before he eats any solids. It is pretty normal for milk supply to get lower as your child gets older, and although you don't feel he is ready to stop, he will probably do just fine if you skip a feeding. The extra time in between nursings will give your body more time to store up some milk for the next nursing. I remember feeling like I was denying him if my son wanted to nurse, but after a couple of times, and either giving him a solid or distracting his attention it was fine.

Pump in the morning, usually more milk from not nursing as much through the night. Also it will help to pump one side while he nurses the other. His nursing can stimulate a better milk let down. Even if you don't think he's getting much milk, keep nursing. Even if he's just getting a little bit, it's still important.

I know for a fact that there is or are herbs that help w/ milk production. Might want to contact your local health food store.

Remember to drink drink drink!!! Everytime you nurse and/or every hour drink a glass of fluid. I have also heard that beer can help.

I agree with Sarah. Dont let your pump be the gauge at how much you are getting off of your breast. The way I figured that out was after pumped, I squeezed my breast and more milk would shoot out...literally shoot out. (sorry for the TMI) seemed like my daughter was able to get more out of me than the pump. If you want to increase your supply, try to feed him AFTER you pump yourself out. Keep doing that for a week and your supply should increase. Drink lots of water too. That helps flush you and keeps you hydrated and healthy so your body can build that supply. but I think your supply is fine.

Don't let pumping be your guage. The pump doesn't do nearly as good a job at stimulating the breast as your son does. Continue nursing as aften as he wants until he's ready to stop. Offer water with his meals but nothing else, just nurse any time he's thirsty.
Here are some helpers for increasing supply:
Old-fashioned rolled oats for breakfast (not instand oatmeal)
3-4 Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle capsules with each meal (do this for 72 hours)
hydration
relaxation (the more you worry, the more your supply can be affected)
nurse on demand, not on a schedule
Google "Laction cookies recipe" they are delicious!!

Just remember, your breastmilk becomes more concentrated with everything he needs the less you nurse, so he's still getting a lot of nutrients and antibodies even if he's not getting a lot of liquid.

Oh! And have you tried hand-expression after using the pump. It usually works better because you can kind of squeeze out the milk from against the chest wall toward the nipple more like the way the baby's mouth stimulates the breast instead of only using suction. Google something like "expressing milk by hand" and you can find out the best way to do it.

Good Luck! :)

I was told once to eat a chocolate bar. Don't know if it works because I never did it. I was full enough for 10 kids nursing my first and with the second was low also on milk but since I was diabetic I refused to eat something like that.
I would recommend speaking with a lactaion specialist or your dr.

Hello dear,
I can understand just how you feel about not being able to breastfeed. Use Healthy Nursing Tea by secrets of tea.Natural tea that increase your milk supply frequently...

Hi, J.! I'm sure you already know, but your son is able to pull out much more milk than you can express with a pump. One of the tricks I've learned over the years is to go to a quiet place to pump, then use a hot towel or washcloth around your breast prior to pumping to help dilate the milk ducts. You will have a much easier time with let down and end up with more milk. One of the other things I used to do is while he is nursing, simultaneously pump so you can get the good let down that he has caused from nursing. I may sound like a bad mom, but I would slowly start weaning him to a sippy cup and to cow's milk. I did it with my boys, and they were just fine. That way, when you are out of town next month, you won't have to worry as much. You've been an awesome mom for nursing him this long! Awesome!!

So many moms think their supply is getting too low......you are paying way too much attention to this. Your supply will get lower as he gets older, just because that is the natural progression of his breast milk needs. If he had not gotten any solids up to now, your supply would still be there. But, since he is old enough for solids, your supply naturally decreases so that you only produce as much as he is consuming. Just relax.....pumping is not an accurate count of what you are producing, so don't use that as a measurement. If he is happy and growing, then he is getting what he needs.

As for your going out of town for 5 days, don't use any more of the frozen milk. Save whatever else you pump between now and them. Have some formula on hand in case he needs it while you are gone. A little bit of formula for 5 days will not hurt him. Especially if it is mixed with some of your breast milk, so he still gets some of the ingredients of the breast milk that is not in the formula......he may be more likely to drink it that way also.

Have you tried Fenugreek (I am not sure of the spelling) but it is an herbal that was recommended to me - up to 8 capsules a day although the bottle refers to a different purpose & dosage it worked for me. My OBGYN was also able to provide a perscription for me to increase my milk supply. Talk with your doctor if you have not already. My son never nursed properly and I pumped exclusively as a working mother until he was almost 10 months. I noticed a difference when I took them (or missed a day) & so did a friend of mine. I only quit when we had a busy schedule with company so I could not keep up with the constant pumping, but I heard many times that pumping alone would be impossible for very long, so I was glad I could give him that much.

LOVE this site, I get lost there when ever I have free time :-)
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html
It sounds like you nurse on demand right? If so then wonderful, if not then you may want to think about increasing the AMOUNT of times you actually nurse. Also nurse on BOTH sides at each sitting. Think of a boob as a milk jug, when it's not full to the top the body releases hormones saying 'OOPS need more milk!' (even if it's just to 'top off' the jug lol) but when the jug is full the body stops producing more milk and your supply goes down the longer the jug is full.
If you nurse, even for just 3-5min a breast, every hour or two your body will think the demand has gone up so it will start making more milk. Breast pumps are good to help with supply but baby is still best. If your son doesn't want to nurse that often then I would suggest using the pump every hour for 5min a breast. MAKE SURE to pump BOTH breasts every time. Don't stress about how much (or little) you get out as it may take a few days for your body to pick up the supply. If you are really wanting to keep nursing then you could also look into getting a product that helps to INCREASE your milk supply http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/herbal_galactag... here is a list of herbs that can help.
Good luck and a great big HOORAH for you for nursing your children for so long! Don't let ANYONE give you grief over how long you nurse as long as it is still working for both you and your child! (btw, nursed my daughter till she was 32 months and am now pregnant w/ my second and plan to nurse as long as we see fit again.)
OH! CAN NOT believe I forgot to link you to Dr. Sears! His 'Baby Book' was my second Bible w/ my daughter lol. Here is a link to his site about increasing milk supply http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T022800.asp

First of all good for you for starting your own cake business! I hope it is going well!

Have you tried any supplements? Fenugreek seed comes in tablet form or tea (the only thing with the tea is that you have to drink a lot of it for it to work. But its nice for the cold months to have a warm drink, and why not help your milk supply?) There are a couple of different supplements as well, but the names escape me right now. You can find these at any natural foods/medicine shop or at a hospital pharmacy. (I bought some at Community N. Hospital pharmacy. They were really helpful there.)

My milk supply did the same thing! Don't be discouraged! TRy the supplements, keep pumping. Every little bit helps, especially during the flu season. But maybe you want to try to supplement with a little formula, just in case your supply in the freezer isn't enough for your 5 day trip.

Good luck!
A.

Are you nursing or pumping at night? I had a drastic drop in my supply when my son started sleeping through the night. It came back after a week of pumping at least once between 12am and 3am and once between 10pm and 4/5am. I now make sure that he nurses or I pump during the night since it is when prolactin levels are highest.

There are alot of things you can try. Mothers milk tea but it tastes bad! Also for short term use you can use a medication called reglan but long term it has some side effects.

I nursed all my kids well into their 2nd year (stopping between 15-22 months). With all of them, I noticed a big decrease around 9-10 months old, when they didn't need to nurse as much. It wasn't a problem at all. They got plenty of food and milk and thrived. Keep in mind also that their calorie intake naturally decreases around 10-12 months as their incredible growth rate slows down.

I also never pumped. Some women just can't. I successfully breastfed my kiddos but they rarely got pumped breastmilk. My oldest did because I was determined, but even when waking up engorged I'd be lucky to get an ounce or two in 30 minutes of pumping! Once the 2nd and 3rd babies came along I didn't have that kind of time! I say just go ahead and give your baby a bottle of formula (my breastfed kids rejected every kind except GoodStart2, which your son is old enough to have) when you aren't around. Since pumping isn't doing much right now it won't hurt your supply. You can try to pump when you are on your trip and resume nursing when you return.

As for increasing your supply, drink a TON of water. Way more than you think you need. Also watch any meds you might be taking. Almost all cough, cold and allergy medicines are very bad and are a great way to dry up your milk supply quickly (which is why non-nursing women take them to get over milk engorgment issues). When it says a medicine is 'safe' for nursing, it just means it's medically safe. It can still destroy your milk supply and be listed as 'safe' for nursing if there's no medical side effects for the baby.