Nursing Stresses

Hi N.,
I agree -you need to remove in order to boost supply. I work 2-3 days a week and on the days that I am home I nurse him every 2 hours. It is a bit much, but it really helps my breasts refill. I would also recommend switching to the "More Milk Plus" tincture by Motherlove instead of all the Fenugreek. I actually put the tincture into a cup of Mother's Milk Tea and drink that a few times a day. You can also try switching sized of the flanges on your pump or try the "soft" plastic ones instead. Those really helped me.

If all else fails, the medicine Reglan is shown to increase prolactin levels in the body which usually results in a very quick and almost shockingly great increase in milk supply. This medicine is a powerful drug and needs to be taken only after you have done your research. I tried it and ended up having a bad reaction so I stopped after a week, but it worked, and it worked fast. There is another med called dompederone that is not widely available in the U.S. but works in the same way without the same side effects. I think these medicines are last resorts and I highly recommend talking to your OB or a Certified Lactation Consultant to get more info.

If you need to talk, let me know - I was in your shoes and I know exactly how you feel. Best of luck and congrats on nursing up to this point!!

T.

N.,

It is appearing that you are doing a lot of things that I would of recommended, however, one thing you may want to consider is "stress". With my second child, I to had difficulty and what it boiled down to was the stress I was under at the time. Plus, the less milk I produced the more stressed I became. I truly feel that that it plays and important role. With my first and third children, I had less demands placed on me and had no difficulties.

Also, you may want to consult with
1) a lactation consultant-additional tips.
2)healthcare provider-to make sure there is not an underlying medical reason.

Sincerley,

H.

H. R. Stein RN,BSN, CIHWC, CLE

How long are you at work? You may need to add one or two more sessions while you are working to boost your supply. I work 8-9 hour days, and I had to pump 4 times a day to keep my supply up. Also, when you are home with him -- I'm not sure how many times you feed him a day -- but you might want to think about adding another feeding or two in between your current feeding schedule. I have been told that the only sure-fire way to increase supply is milk removal. Feed him as often as you can/he wants and your supply should increase (as long as it has not been several weeks since you have noticed a change). I had to nurse/pump 7-8 times a day to keep my supply up.

Hi N.,
Have you been to the dr. lately? You may want to look for some underlying medical reasons your milk is low. I say this because I just found out I am pretty severely hypothyroid, and I have noticed that it has affected my supply. You might want to find out the underlying reason your supply is low. It might be something very treatable.

Good luck,
T.