Teas for Increasing Milk Supply

I've read that avocado and sweet potatoes stimulate milk supply.
Also, Kellymom has been so helpful for me. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

No advice on the tea, but eating oatmeal made a HUGE difference in my supply.

Hi,
Have you heard Healthy Nursing Tea by secrets of tea???? It`s great worked with me.

Pump when you're not nursing. The more demand for milk, the more your body will work to keep up it's supply. Tried and true!

Also, something my LC and pediatrician suggested, have a beer. It helps you relax, something in it helps you produce, and helps you destress. One beer is not bad for baby, but healthy for your supply!

I also had a low milk supply with my first, second, third then finally with my fourth I figured out that I really wasn't getting enough water or putting him to the breast enough. I make skim milk, not whole. He had to eat more often than most (every hour, seriously) and every time he even had a sip I kept an 8 ounce cup on the counter and made myself drink the whole thing within the first 5 min of him finishing (in my mind replacing what I hoped he was getting and then some). It worked - none of the other teas etc. that I had tried with all the others helped as much as these two things.

Ok this may sound strange but I've heard it works from a number of people. Have you tried drinking Guiness? I'm not a beer drinker but I know for a fact that when I drink a glass of wine I always get full (I am currently nursing). A friend of mine was told by a LC to drink a guiness in the morning (interesting breakfest choice) to help her supply. It must have worked b/c she is still nursing. I guess there is something about the hops and the alcohol that does the trick. I know some people are really freaked out about alcohol while nursing, but as long as you aren't getting drunk I think it's ok.

What makes you think you are cursed with a low milk supply? Every 2-3 months your baby is SUPPOSED to be tugging/pulling breasts, eating many times close together, etc... it's called a growth spurt and is normal.

What works best for most Moms is the combo of Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle in pill form.

Most women who think they have a diminishing supply are just hyper critical of themselves and truly have a very normal supply.

I too experienced a drop in milk supply when my daughter was 2-3 months. I was, however, able (with a lot of effort) to produce enough to breastfeed her until almost 16 months without the addition of formula. The story is to lengthy to print, but just wanted to share a couple things that helped.
1) If you pump, wait at least 1 hour after a feeding to give your body a chance to recover. Also, renting a hospital grade pump is well worth the money.
2) Nurse every 2-3 hours and don't supplement with formula unless baby is not gaining/maintaining weight.
3)Try to nap with baby nearby--research says this helps increase milk supply.
4)Eat a balanced diet and don't overdo the fluid consumption as sometimes it can actually hinder milk production.
5)Exercise light to moderate as weightloss can interfere with hormone balance needed to make milk
Hope this helps. R., nurse midwife mom of 3

I had the best results with a tea called Breastea from breastea.com. I went from pumping 1/2 ounce to over 5 ounces. Really you just have to try it and see how it works for you because every mom is different.

Also make sure to eat plenty and keep taking your prenatal vitamin. My LC told me that some women just have low milk supply. I'm one of them, but I can keep my milk supply up pretty good with Breastea and pumping every 2 1/2 hours.

I just wanted to say great work - it sounds like you have been persistent!

Sometimes kids will get frustrated when they go through a growth spurt, because it takes time to get your milk supply up. I used the more milk...something. Then I went the under-the-counter route, and started taking domperidone from Canada. I would not recommend doing so without working with a lactation consultant, but it made a big difference at a fairly low dose.

The good news is that at 6 months you can also start introducing solids. I also tried everything - I found that fluids made a difference more than most things. I also heard that you need to make sure you have enough protein.

Good luck.

I breastfeed our youngest for a year. My lactation consultant told me the best way to keep supply up is to pump and/or breastfeed every two hours, drink plenty of fluids and eat a healthy meal. So by 3 months in I was like a milk factory; I started pumping out additional milk to store in the fridge.

If you are not pumping; you may want to start to help your supply. Just a suggestion. (i did have the tea, but with the lactation consultants advice I didn't need it.)

Have you tried taking a Calcium with Magnesium supplement? I just heard that once you get your period back you calcium dips and it is harder for your body to make milk. It is number 7 on this web page but there is lots of different info on the web about it. I could not find the Calcium with Magnesium tablets, so I just take one Calcium and one Magnesium pill.

http://lactinv.com/breastfeeding_qna.php?article=increasi...

Hello S.,

Breastfeeding challenges are not easy and it seems that you are very committed to nursing your little one! Good for you for doing your best and giving him what he most needs right now. After my suggestions I wanted you to read a bit about Breastfeeding From Within which was written by a Birthing From Within Childbirth Educator and Lactation Consultant. I think it will help you with the emotional side of nursing your baby. You might find it more helpful to copy and print it out so you can read it in a more relaxed place instead from the computer. Also, around 6 months of age babies do go through another growth spurt so he will want to be getting more milk from you. Breathe in and out. Soften your belly, widen your heart. Breathe in and breathe out. You will supply him with what he needs with some more support. It sounds like all the things you have been doing should increase your milk supply. I have heard moms have very good luck with Baby Mother and More in Mesa, Az. The staff there is extremely knowledgable with breastfeeding issues. It is a man who owns the store and he helped a friend of mine increase her supply so much with a special concoction (I don't think it was just a tea), that she couldn't keep up with the overflow!! Hopefully he can help you too.
The store is at 1235 S. Gilbert #8 Mesa Az ###-###-####

Best wishes with the ebb and flow of nursing your baby!

A., mom of 4
birth and parenting mentor
www.birthingfromwithin.com

(article below)

Breastfeeding From Within
By Virginia Bobro

Birthing From Within encourages and teaches "doing the next best thing" when it comes to making decisions within the flow of labor and birth. The same mind-set is important during postpartum and breastfeeding. In the days, weeks, months, and even years that a woman is breastfeeding, she will face numerous obstacles, detours, and unexpected events. How she prepares prenatally and how she views these challenges can make a difference in her ability to cope.

As a breastfeeding counselor, I support many breastfeeding mothers who have to change their perception of what a "successful" breastfeeding relationship is. Some mothers need to wean much earlier than they hoped. Others need to supplement with bottles or formula. These are opportunities to re-envision what it means to nurture and nourish their babies. Many mothers are humbled when the "breastfeeding fairy" presents them with difficult circumstances and spoils their fantasy that nursing is easy and blissful.

When breastfeeding does not go as expected or hoped for, a mother can feel regret, anger, blame, grief, and guilt. Inevitably, this negative self-talk begins to affect her self-esteem and attitude, her ability to receive support, and her relationships with her baby, partner, and others in her community.

So, what can be done?
In addition to learning practical things that make breastfeeding easier, do this:
♥ Learn and practice mindfulness.
The same pain-coping practices you learn to help you cope with labor can help you postpartum when you need to still your mind, quiet negative self-talk and deal with physical discomfort and stress. (See Birthing From Within, pp. 213-238).
♥ Get a breastfeeding "reality check."
Breastfeeding is natural, but not always straightforward and easy. Very few women sail through breastfeeding on calm seas from beginning to end. Even for the most vigilant captain, storms arise outside of her control, and still, she can do the next best thing. When women know that they can influence but not control what happens, they can see the wisdom of preparing for all possibilities.
♥ Set up your breastfeeding support system.
Having a supportive crew onboard in the first months of motherhood can make all the difference. Welcome meals, errands, and compassionate listeners. When breastfeeding gets rough, support is needed to keep going and not get mired in "what ifs" and judgment. You need to hear acknowledgment that you are doing your best, not more advice and information.

♥ Focus on connecting with your baby and yourself as a mother
Come to breastfeeding with an open heart. To the degree that you can, let go of your ideals and goals, such as breastfeeding exclusively for six months. Just hold the intention to do the best you can. When you love yourself and feed your baby in love, this is the heart of breastfeeding from within

EXERCISE: Feeding with Love

When sitting (or lying down) to feed your baby, try this:

Begin to notice all the sensations around you, beginning with your baby:
Look at her face, notice the touch of her skin, take in her smell and her sounds.

Then begin to bring your attention to your own body: Where does your body touch your baby's body? How is your breath moving in and out of your body?
Where do you feel relaxed and open?
Where does your body feel tight, tense, or closed?

Gently and mindfully breathe into those places, softening and releasing anything that is unneeded in this moment. This may take several minutes. Go slowly and do not expect perfection!

As your body lets go of anything extra, feel your heart opening.
Allow yourself to inhale the presence of your baby, loving her in this moment and loving yourself as well. With each new breath, feel into your baby's heart, visualizing a connection that endures beyond feeding time.

If feeding is difficult, your focus may return to the task of latching or monitoring the feed. Do what needs to be done, then, when you are ready, take another conscious breath and return to your opening heart.

Dear mom, kudos for your commitment. Attend a la leche league meeting, they are throughout the valley and are free unlike most lactation consultants. Check out the website lllaz.org (I think) for the group closest to you and their meeting time. What my LLL leader told me was that nothing increases supply like more feedings. Let your baby nurse for comfort, don't use a pacifier, sleep with your baby, and when you introduce solids, feed them to your baby after you breastfeed. Your period will decrease supply temporarily that I know of. I have heard the nursing tincture at www.herblore.com works. Good luck!

Updated

Dear mom, kudos for your commitment. Attend a la leche league meeting, they are throughout the valley and are free unlike most lactation consultants. Check out the website lllaz.org (I think) for the group closest to you and their meeting time. What my LLL leader told me was that nothing increases supply like more feedings. Let your baby nurse for comfort, don't use a pacifier, sleep with your baby, and when you introduce solids, feed them to your baby after you breastfeed. Your period will decrease supply temporarily that I know of. I have heard the nursing tincture at www.herblore.com works. Good luck!