Breastmilk Is Drying Up

Hi J. ~

Try Mother's Milk tea. It can be found at any healthfood store. n fact, we also get it at Basha's. It has fennel ans aniseseed and fenugreek (to name a few), which help to stimulate the milk flow. My son is 10 months and I still drink 2-3 cups per day. I also get the herbs in bulk to help on the days when I am stressed and am not producing as well. I flow fabulously when I continue my routine and drink the tea daily. I can tell the difference when I stop.
Good Luck...hope this helps. I know many Moms who drink this tea, by the way. It has a pleasant taste.

My cousin had the same problem and she took an herb called Marshmallow root. If you go to a health food store they will let you know what works the best but this one works wonders for her for all 3 of her children. Good luck.

Have you tried the mother's milk tea or fenugreek? There is also this stuff I am using that I found online that seems to be helping the best. Let me know if you are interested.

Hi Janelle, First, just try not to stress because that will make it worse. And remember, it's all about supply and demand so either keep trying to feed and keep pumping to try to get your milk supply back.

Good luck!

Drink enough water, eat real oatmeal, & try Healthy nursing tea. If necessary, pump after feeding... Keep pumping for 5 minutes *after* the last drop falls.

Are YOU drinking enough water??? YOU need at the very least a 1/2 gallon. I would go for more. It's starting to get really "warm" in Phx. So that should help you at least want to drink more. I never had your problem, sorry. BUT my son did stop nursing cold turkey, for that you need parsley and sage and you can take it in capsule form, available from the health food store. You end up smelling like a chicken for a few days, but its worth it! lol. Good Luck, I hope you can get some good advice.

There are tons of herbal remedys you can try. Mother's milk tea or More Milk pills or tincture, are all things you can get at a health food or good breastfeeding store. They contain Blessed Thistle and Fennel Greek. Also eating a bowl of oatmeal daily can help too. Your best bet would be to talk to a good certified lactation consultant. Jeny Bailey at Every Mother and Child in Mesa is great. Good luck. J.

I understand how devastating it can feel to not be able to feed your baby. In August of 2006 I had my first child and had the same concerns. The thing that everyone told me was just pump alot. If you are feeding your baby and she/he is not drinking enough to keep your milk supply then I was told to pump after every feeding for at least 5 or 10minutes. It was really hard but my milk supply did come in and after a few months I no longer needed to pump so much. I hope this works for you as well but if it doesn't then please keep in mind that it's alright to bottle feed your child. Breast milk is best but sanity for you is also needed. Especially when you have another child to take care of. I promise everything will be ok in the end and your baby will get enough food.

E.

When I was nursing my son, I too had problems unknowingly due to my thyroid, but I invested in a device called Lact-Aid www.lact-aid.com/prodcat.htm#systems . You can use expressed milk and/or supplemental formula. I was able to keep nursing until about 4 1/2 months, but I think that was more because I pretty much gave up. I was told not to pump but nurse, nurse, and nurse. Good luck and don't let the stress get you down because that in itself can cause a problem. My prayers are with you and your daughter. Good luck and God Bless.

Make sure you are eating enough. Snacks and what not through out the day. Also there is a natural tea the can help you produce more milk. You can get it at the health food store and it will say on the front of the package what it is for. You can also get it at the grocery stores that have a natural food area. Like Basha's.

How do you know that you are not producing enough milk for your baby? Have you been counting the number of wet and poopy diapers she has? The La Leche League website will have the number of dirty diapers she should have. The number is different for cloth and disposable diapers, because disposable ones are more aborbent and don't have to be changed as often.

Remember that in most cases, the more your baby nurses, the greater a supply of milk you will develop. If your baby is nursing all the time, that's good! She is building up your supply to meet her needs. Remember that your milk supply will lag behind your baby's demand for a day or so.

I agree with the suggestion to spend a relaxing day in bed with the baby, nursing whenever she is remotely interested. Other moms also have good suggestions to stay hydrated and eat small, nutrious meals.

I had a similar problem and I was told to take an herbal supplement called Fenugreek. It did seem to help, but the stimulation of pumping every 3 hours or so got the milk going really well. My son is now 9 months old and I just stopped because it was too hard to find the time in the middle of the day to pump. Anyway, you can find Fenugreek at the health/vitamin stores. Good luck.

L.

Hi J.,
I found when I breastfed my son that eating oatmeal every day increased my milk supply as well as drinking one beer a day. Have you spoke to a lactation consultant? I found my best resource was a place in Mesa called Baby, Mother and More on Gilbert and Southern. You may want to try calling them and seeing what they suggest. What kind of pump are you using? They have the hospital grade pumps you can rent for $30 a month. Maybe the pump you have is not enough stimulation. I hope it works out. Good luck.

How often are you putting your baby to the breast and pumping? Do it every hour or 2. When pumping to increase milk supply, to ensure that the pump removes an optimum amount of milk from the breast, keep pumping for 2-5 minutes after the last drops of milk. You might want to try going to bed with the baby and being skin to skin. That means you will need to have someone else take care of the 5 year old for a few days. Concentrate solely on the newborn. Losts of water is important (at least 2 liters per day. There are also herbs and teas for increasing milk supply and also Brewer's yeast has been used (2 tbsp morning and evening mixed in a drink. Make sure you are getting enough protein in your diet...snack on nuts.
Hope all this helps.

I am a Newborn Care Specialist and I tell all my multiple Mom's to go to the Health Food Store and get Lacation Support it is a herbal suppliment and it really produces for my twins moms. Now I don't know about your specific problem but I would try it. I also know that the Dr. can perscribe a medication that will help with supply, but I am more natural and would try that first.
Good Luck
Nancy
###-###-####

When my milk production was drying up I too took a lot of herbal remedies. But herbs alone did not help as much as I would have hoped. I had/have twins so I know I wasn't resting enough, I strongly suggest you try to rest as much as possible.

Also, I would nurse one baby and place the pump on the other breast. This does 2 things: 1) increased the milk flow to your child and 2) stimulates demand which should increase your milk production. I used this tactic for about 2 weeks and I really noticed an increase in my supply.

What I didn't know at the time was that I was experiencing a form of depression. I took herbal remedies, but also opted for an anti-depressant that was safe for my milk. Once I got myself in order, my milk flowed nicely.

Good luck to you. You'll succeed in nursing your baby, just be patient and try herbs or other methods to create more stimulation.

There are a few things you can try. There is the 24 hour cure. Try to get someone to help you with your son so you can stay in bed for 24 hours with your baby and nurse her every time you think she is interested. You can also take fenugreek it is an herbal suppliment you can find it in tea form at Bashas it is called mothers milk tea. The pill form may be better but you have to take alot enough that you start to smell like maple syrup. :-) For me that was at least 2 pills 3x a day my girlfrind took alot more. I got mine at GNC. As far as the beer is the darker the better. Try to relax and drink lots of water and keep eating try to remember to eat lots of small meals. You can also try to contact a lactation consultant your local hospital should have one on staff. Good luck I hope all goes well for you.

The water will help, but also make sure you are eating enough calories. Sometimes the urge to get rid of the baby weight makes us diet sooner than we're ready. There are herbs available that work for some people. There is a lactation consultant named Mary at the Baby, Mother and More store in Mesa that could give you some more guidance: you could call the store ###-###-#### and see about making an appt. with her. Or find a lactation consultant nearer to you - but these wonderful people will find a way for you to breastfeed if it exists, all the time keeping your baby's health in mind. Good luck!

Hi J.. Congratulations! I read all of the responses from others below and I hope they are helpful, but I wanted to let you know that I was desperate to breastfeed and the statement by one of these advise-givers that its rare a woman can't produce enough milk to feed is not accurate! If a woman is not able to produce and makes a reasonable effort to increase supply to no avail, then a child can by nourished with the next best thing and the woman should not feel ashamed or consider this a failure. I almost got roped into these thoughts, and my daughter is as intelligent, healthy and appropriately growing as any breastfed child. Some women, whether its stress, diet, age, or otherwise, CANNOT provide the ideal amount of breastmilk and its okay to admit defeat and try something different.

The health food store has some expensive capsules called 'lactate support' that really helped boost my milk supply. There is also something called mother's milk tea. You can find it online or probably a health food store, or mother's/baby type store.

Kudos on your conviction to keep breastfeeding. I highly recommend herbal lactation teas. The one I drank every day was from Traditional Medicinals and called "Mother's Milk". I made a large cup in the morning and drank half then and half later. (You can put it over ice if you don't love the taste - I didn't love it, but didn't dislike it either - kind of got used to it over time. Drinking large dilute cups of herbal tea helped with my water intake as well which is crucial when you are breastfeeding). I was amazed at what a difference it made. I bought it at Wild Oat's, though it is probably available elsewhere. There are also other brands, which probably work, but I can't speak from personal experience. Good Luck!!
D.

Since it seems like you might be open to unconventional ideas, I'll pass along what I do. This was suggested under the table by a doctor friend and it worked for me after having premature babies... low milk production is common with that. Have a "real" beer (I used Sam Adams) and take a nice warm shower or bath. I've used it 3 out of 4 babies and it saved us!

My midwife suggested beer. Yep, beer. A dark beer is best and try to go with an import or a microbrew as they do not have preservatives. She suggested 1 to 2 beers per night. In the end, I made too much milk, but I so looked forward to my beer at night. You already know about the water so keep that up.

I have a few homeopathic books that recommend a few remedies for too little milk production. The paragraph starts with "see a professional homeopath" but then gives a few suggestions:

Ignatia amara 200C potency: give if there is a direct correlation between the loss of milk and the emotional strain connected with having a new baby. Give one dose.

Pulsatilla nigricans 30C potency: emotional indicators are weepiness, changeable and irritable moods, or an increased need for attention and sympathy. Take a daily dose until the milk has increased or stop if there is no result after a few days (time to try a new remedy if there is no result).

Dulcamara: for low milk supply in woman who get cold easily (are "chilly").

Urtica Urens: for regulating milk supply, especially in the beginning when there doesn't seem to be any cause for a low supply. Give this remedy when there is no emotional/mental sypmtoms that would guide you to another remedy.

Whole Foods and Sprouts carry homeopathic remedies, but you'll only find them in the lower 6c and 30c doses. Go for the 30C potency. For 200C, you have to see a homeopath (although you may notice you can find Belladonna and Arnica in this dose in the store).

I also read you can put caster oil directly on the breast.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please email me. I'm not a homeopath, but I've been treating my almost 3 year old since he was 4 months old with great results.

Good luck. I know how important this subject can be.
B.
____@____.com

Hi J.. I can imagine how stressed you must be about this - which unfortunately doesn't help milk production either. I've nursed 4 little ones and I'm expecting my 5th baby in May and I can tell you I've come across all sorts of nursing obstacles - fortunately there is usually a solution! (I nursed each of them between 16 and 22 months) I highly recommend you start taking Fenugreek capsules, available at Sunflowers, Wild Oats, etc. It has a maple scent and you may even smell it on you if you sweat a bit =), but it's not an offensive odor. Anyway, it's meant to help increase milk production and I tried it when my 3rd child was hospitalized three days after she was born and she was having difficulty nursing due to weakness. Believe me, after using it a couple of days I woke up one day and did not recognize my chest! =) Also, call the hospital where you gave birth and see if they have a lactation clinic where you can speak to a laction specialist. Best of luck to you!

I had a problem producing milk when my fourth child was born five years ago. I talked to a lot of people and a homeopath recommended herbal supplements like fenugreek and milk thistle.
I used both and they seemed to help. I don't know if it would be right for you, but it's something to look into.
I wish you the best.

I was told to breastfeed my son for as long as he would on each side up to 15 minutes and then to use a double pump for 15 minutes right after that and it brought up my milk supply really well. Keep drinking tons of water and see what happens. It worked for me after they had to give me a lasik in the hospital for my edema. You can also use a herb called fenugreek, not sure how it is spelled, but it worked for me with my first son.

J., check out this website. There is a lot of great advice on it. Be aware however that this site is extremely pro-breastfeeding. Some of the advice I had to take with a grain of salt. http://www.kellymom.com/ Also, check into taking alfalfa tabs. I believe they can be helpful as well. Another resource is the lactation consultant at Baby, Mother and More. Her name is Mary and she’s wonderful. You can email her with questions and she is available for private consultation for a very minimal fee (I believe it's $30). http://www.milksmile.com/ I didn’t see her email address on the website but you could probably call the store and Chuck would give it to you. If not, and this is something you’re interested in, let me know and I should have her card at home somewhere.

LOTS OF PROTEIN AND WATER! With my first baby I started to dry up at 7 months, so I drank an herbal tea every day called Mother's Milk (I got it at GNC or Hi Health) and my milk came back full force. There are also stronger concentrations and tinctures of herbal mixtures that aid milk production (like Fenugreek) you can take that might even be more effective. Try Desert Sage Herbs on Alma School & Warner (www.desertsageherbs.com, phone is ###-###-####) for freshly mixed herbal tea that is potent and effective at helping me keep up a healthy milk supply. Ask for a blend of Kim Lineweaver's recipe (or you can have the rest of mine as I no longer need it. Seriously--just email me if you're interested in trying it before you purchase any). Try to eliminate stress from your life, as that can hinder milk production. And if you worry about this too much, it will only make it worse. But I got very stressed when I started drying up because I really wanted to nurse for a year, so I know it's easier said than done.

With my second baby I asked my doctor upfront what I can do to prevent drying up and she said her biggest advice was LOTS of WATER WATER WATER and PROTEIN in my diet. So I eat a whey protein shake every day (bought the powder at Costco) nuts, peanut butter, beans, fish, tofu, and meat. I don't like meat much, so my diet was very deficient with my first baby, but now that I'm aware, I'm very careful and eat high-protein and high-caloric foods since I went underweight last time. I think that's why my body started drying up last time. I've also heard brewer's yeast can help.

Good luck! I was able to produce milk and nurse my first child until he was 1 year old after thinking it might be over at 7 months. I hope you have success as well.

Hi J.,

Congratulations! Sorry that you are having trouble. I had two months of trouble until my daughter was breastfeeding well. I drank Mothers' Milk Tea from Traditional Medicinals to up my production. My good friend sometimes makes up to 3 cups of tea a day and she swears by it. I also have the occasional beer. After awhile I also realized that relaxing and napping/sleeping also helped. Your daughter might not be sucking properly which would not stimulate your milk production. My daughter latched on very well, but was a poor sucker. It just took time and patience. I read recently that after the trauma of birth many babies don't breastfeed well and that after a spinal correction nursing improves.

Good luck,
H.

Hello J., Sorry to hear of your nursing challenges...I can relate. My daughter was born 5 wks. early, and did not have a good 'latch' at first. I too was a bit frantic, but persisted in trying as often as she was hungry. One day, it just clicked. How's your little one's suck strength, and is one breast more productive than the other?(Nursing 'experts' never seem to mention that) Are you able to nurse on demand? Also, do you experience a decent 'let down'of your milk as baby starts to nurse? For me, it was a combination of all these factors that contributed that made for a successful nursing relationship with my daughter. I emphasize 'relationship' because I feel that too often all the praise/blame is laid at the mom's feet, not factoring in baby's temperment, apetite, and feeding style. Sometimes it's a tougher 'fit' than others, so don't beat yourself up about it. Breastfeeding is far from the effortless, allegedly instinctual enterprise some would have us believe it is! That being said, I think it's great you're persisting. You might try a nursing tea like Mother's Milk, or the herb fenugreek in capsules(at health food stores). The best of luck to you!

As a lactation educator, I can't say enough good things about this product: http://www.motherlove.com/product_more_milk_plus.php

It works quickly - and well! Some local health food stores carry it - like Sunflower Market, etc so call around.

Best of luck!

Brewer's yeast!!! Get the powdered stuff, not the tablets, you can mix it with yogurt or juice, or put on salads (it has a slightly smoky flavor and doesn't taste good, IMO, but it WORKS! I've just eaten spoonfuls as well to get it over with quickly) At least 2 tbsp a day. I have an excellent lactation cookie recipe I got from a local midwife too, if you (or anyone reading) would like it, send me a pm with your email address & I'll send it to you (word attachment). (it's an oatmeal - chocolate chip cookie, w/ brewer's yeast & flaxmeal)

Also try eating oatmeal for 1 or 2 meals a day, the oats are supposed to increase milk production as well.

Definitely stay hydrated & make sure you're getting enough fresh fruits & veggies, to keep up the supply, but the brewer's yeast is a great way to quickly increase milk production. And like other's have said, nurse often, as much as your LO will eat! But I'll bet you're doing that already, given your other stated natural approaches.

I would NOT follow the advice about the beer, I have read studies that prove that it does the opposite - kinda like how you feel really warm from alcohol, but actually your body temp is lower. The beer makes your breasts FEEL full & heavy, but the babies are gettting LESS milk when they nurse not more.

I have always had problems with not having enough breastmilk and I have had 3 children. With the last one I took Fenugreek tablets - you can get them at Bashas' in their vitamins and health section or at a Sprouts or Whole Foods. I also went to an herbalist who had organic teas and I drank a raspberry and fennel tea. It sounds weird but it was so good and it seemed to help in combination with the fenugreek tablets. I hope this helps.

J.,

I would contact a lactation consultant IMMEDIATELY! At two weeks, you should be breastfeeding 8 - 12 times/24 hrs - on demand for however long the baby wants. Breastfeed completely on one side before transitioning to the other side.

Question: Did you ever feel engorgement when your milk "came in?" It typically comes in 2-7 days after delivery. If not, there may be a hormonal issue going on.

Question: Has your baby regained her birthweight?

You really need to see a lactation consultant. You can find one in your area by going to www.breastfeeding.com and clicking on Find a Lactation Consultant in your area.

Hope this helps.

L.

L. Kandell, MS, RD, IBCLC/RLC
AFFILIATED NUTRITION CONSULTANTS, LLC

J. - I know how frustrating this can be. I spent a lot of nights crying my eyes out because of problems with b-fing. There is a great website called kellymom.com that has a ton of info, hints, etc.
Also, if you are supplementing with formula your production will go down. It takes about five days of almost constant nursing but your supply will go up. Also, are you on any antihistamines or decongestants? There are a lot of meds that will decrease production.
Another thing I really reccommend is to meet with a lactation counselor. Your midwife should have some contact information for you.

Best of luck and please don't give up quite yet. And, if you do eventually give up, don't beat yourself up about it. You've given your baby the cholustrum, which is the most important.
Hugs,
A.

have you tried Mother's Milk tea? (http://www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisp...)
you can find it in a lot of grocery stores and pretty much all the natural stores. it has herbs in it that are proved lactogogues (stimulate milk production.) i used it some when my child was older and i was working full time to make up for the fact that i wasn't in constant contact with him any more.
you may also want to read this: http://www.mothering.com/sections/experts/mojab-archive.h...
and get in contact with the Albuquerque La Leche League Hotline at ###-###-####. My cousin was in La Lache League and gave me tons of invaluable advice when my son had problems latching on when he was tiny.

Good Luck!

please contact LeLeche League. Do a web search and there are some very active chapters here that can help you. Also, there are herbs and things that can help, I am with a naturapathic doctor that can tell you what to take at www.naturallynurturing.net.
Le Leche League can really help though.
D.

I also had my gall bladder removed, but just two weeks after giving birth. I had no problems breastfeeding after that, in fact breast fed til he was over a year old. So I don't think your milk drying up the first time had anything to do with the surgery. I've heard of other mothers who didn't produce enough milk too, so it must just be a body thing. They make good formulas now a days, so try not to feel guilty about it. You did your best and it is beyond your control.

Hi! You're baby is still so young and this is all so new to her. (You're a pro at it because you've done it before, but remember it's a whole new thing for her!) Are you sure she is latched on correctly? The best way to stimulate milk production is your baby sucking. If she's not latched on and sucking properly that can cause a problem with proper stimulation. I always thought the pump would do the same thing, but I've read that it's not as good as what the child can do. Another thing you can do is take Fenugreek. When my period came back I noticed that during that time my supply would decrease a little. I checked with the La Leche League and they said that was fine. I bought mine at GNC. Continue to use the breast pump, but what I was told was to nurse first, and then pump out anything you can right after she's done feeding. I guess it's supposed to trick your body into thinking it needs to produce more! If you can call your local La Leche League and ask them to help you. Your midwife should be able to help you also. It's been a while, but I read a great book called So That's What They're For by Janet Tamaro and it has a lot of really good info in it and it's a very easy read! I hope this helps! Good luck and congrats!

Hi, You may get some help from the La Leche League. A group of mothers helping mothers with brest feading. Brewers Yeast may help. A glass of beer. I successfully nursed 10 babies. Try hard to relax and rest. Good luck. Grandma JO.

I would suggest you keep breastfeeding. Put her on each breast for about 5 min. then offer her a bottle til shes satisfied. Slowly your milk will increase , if you are really nervous this may not be allowing your milk to let down. I did this with my baby til I felt he was getting enough breast milk. He had no problem with it. Try to relax . The only way to increase breastmilk is to stimulate your breasts, by putting baby there . Remember supply and demand, the more you put the baby to the breast the more milk you will produce. Always remember to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration for yourself. Teas, oatmeal drinking more milk or water does not produce more breastmilk these are all myths.

Hi J.,
Congrats on new baby and the homebirth! How very blessed you are to have had that experience! I am so happy to hear you are breastfeeding, too, and admire your determination to do so. It is a wonderful gift you can give yourself and your baby. There are many herbs that increase milk production. I found this list at http://www.cerean.net/breast-pump-herbs.asp. You use these herbs to make a tea, and even just sitting back, relaxing to drink the tea, can help! While your fluid intake is important, so is your diet and rest. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating nutritious foods? Pamper yourself! If you are able to have a post partum doula, that would be ideal. (She mothers the mother so mother can mother the baby) LaLeche League is a wonderful organization that offers lots of resources, encouragement, and information, too. Contact them. http://www.lllusa.org/ They have local leaders who can help with breastfeeding problems. Hang in there and let me know how you are doing. I send you lots of healing white light!
C.

the same thing happened to me. I did the same things you did and I even tried taking an herb called fenugreek, which one woman told me made her breasts overflow... but still nothing. some people say brewers yeast works. maybe I'll try that next time. the pediatrician said it was probably stress-related. all I know is I felt horrible about the whole situation! best of luck to you :0)

You probably already are, but put your daughter on frequently even if you don't think you've produced any milk. Maybe try drinking milk thistle tea. The ladies at BestFed here in Phoenix recommended it when I was suffering a cold and my supply started to decrease. I wasn't crazy about the taste but I think it did help a little. Also now that it's spring and allergies are flaring, resist the temptation to take any antihistamines because they can dry up your milk. I'm nursing my 8 month old and my allergies are pretty bad but I'm toughing it out. Best of luck and congrats on your new baby!

I used a natural herb called fenugreek.

I recently got the flu and have also had trouble with my milk supply. Here are a few suggestions that may work. First, I have been taking an herbal supplement called "More Milk Plus" that I got at the health food store. It seems to be helping me, but definitely consult your doctor or midwife before taking it just in case. Also, eat oatmeal and try drinking beer (non-alcoholic is probably best). Something about the oats and hops in beer helps the milk supply. Keep pumping and nursing because the best way to get the milk to come in is to have your daughter nurse. Try taking your daughter to bed with you and nursing a ton for a day or so. Lastly, relax. It's hard I know, but sometimes the more we stress the worse it gets, so try to relax and take deep breaths and imagine that you have lots of milk to give your daughter. I had a very hard time and stressed a lot and even had to give my son formula a few times (not the end of the world) but my milk seems to be back to full strength. I continue to take the herbal supplements, as well as eating oatmeal and drinking the non-alcoholic beer. Good luck!

Hi J. I know that breastfeeding is such a sensitive subject for women but it isnt something you can force. The thing is if you are getting frustrated about it, then it is time to supplement with formula. Formula is made for those who cant nurse or who choose not to but it made to be as close to breastmilk as possible. I nursed my daughter until 6 months and am so happy I was able to do that, I know it doesnt happen that way for everyone. Nurse until you have no milk left but make sure your baby is happy and well fed you will both benefit from that in the end!! Good luck

Hi J.,
I applaud you for your efforts and concerns. I would suggest talking with a lactation consultant. I know of an excellent one who offers free support groups as well. Her contact information is:
Doris Christensen
###-###-####
http://www.pump-n-go.com/

Good luck!

I don't have any advice personally, but I would really recommend contacting La Leche League and looking for a certified lactation consultant. They should have some great advice for you. Also, have you asked your midwife? Sometimes they too are lactation counselors or consultants. If you call the store "Babies Mother and More" they have a lactation consultant on staff who gives free advice over the phone.

We had a homebirth with a midwife too here in the East Valley. Cheers! :)

HI J.,
I had similar problems breastfeeding my first, she actually lost weight her first 2 months. Here is what I did following the advice of our pediatrician and a lactation nurse.
1. Medella makes a gadget called a supplementer. It's basically a super tiny stray that attaches to a small bottle of formula. You tape the straw to your breast when breast feeding and as the baby sucks she gets not only your breast milk, but also the formula. Because the formula lasts longer than your breast milk the baby keeps sucking and in time this stimulates your body to produce more milk. It's a great device and I totally credit it with allowing me to breastfeed my daughter until she was 9 mos. You will probably only need to use it for a month or two.
2. There is a tea called Mother's Milk, that helps increase milk supply.
3. And this was recommended by the lactation nurse, drink non-alchoholic beer. The barley and hops help produce milk. I know this one sounds really crazy.
Best of luck.

Hi J.,
I too had my milk sort of dry up for my third child. It was great with my first two and I was younger (I was 31 when I had my first and 33 with the second). My daughter was born when I was 37 and she was small and I was trying to breast feed her. She was not gaining enough weight and the doctors were very concerned. So they suggested I start supplementing and I did but that made even less milk come in. After some emotional times I decided that she would be better off with formula. It was very difficult (for me, not her) at first but after a few weeks she started gaining weight at a nice rate. The nurses and doctors were very satisfied that I made the right decision. It's hard when you intend to breastfeed but sometimes it just doesn't work. Please don't feel bad. My daughter is now 4.5 years old and she's a healthy, happy young lady. I hope this story helps. Congratulations on your new baby and good luck.
B.

J.,
Hi! I want to share with you a way to help your milk production- alfalfa! It works! I have a health and wellness company and have testimonies of ladies on alfalfa having better milk when thier milk was drying up. Let me know if you would like to hear more...J.

It is very rare that a woman cannot provide the milk that a child needs and, while this is a possibility, it is not very likely. First and foremost, be sure that your daughter is suckling whenever she needs because this is the signal to your body to create more milk. Some breastfeeding moms prefer to pump much of their milk and feed it by bottle, but this usually leads to a shortage of milk because pumping isn't as effective as a baby's suckling in inducing milk production. A couple of great websites to check out for more detailed advice include http://www.drjacknewman.com/ and http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/for-nursing-mothers/... where you can ask questions of a lactation consultant. Good luck in resolving this problem. Breastmilk is so important for your child and it's wonderful that you are working to make this happen.

Hi J.!
Drink TONS of water!!! If you are dehydrated- even a little, it's very hard for you to produce milk!!! Also try mother's milk tea. You can find it at Sprouts or probably Trader Joes. The name may be a little different, but the teas work amazingly!!! Don't give up! I know it's so hard sometimes, but it's soooo worth it to give your baby the healthy start in life! Good luck!

I heard that if you drink a beer per day it helps you produce more milk.

there is an herb called fenugreek that works wonders, take 3 right before each feeding. The max you can take in a day is 15.

try the herbs fenugreek and blessed thistle. I was faced with the trouble of reduced milk production when my baby was about 4 weeks old. I was able to get production back up by: taking herbs, nursing first and then pumping an hour later, resting with the baby and lots of patience! It sounds like you are determined, you can do it! Also, find a lactation consultant. Often, they have other ideas that can help. Good luck!

Hi J.,

I have 4 boys, the youngest is 5 mos, and I've had trouble with milk production every time to some degree. With my first I was advised to supplement, and that made things even worse since I wasn't getting enough stimulation. Since then I discovered several things - the ones that have worked for me are the nursing teas (personally, I like the taste of the Yogi Tea one best), and taking fenugreek and vitex supplements. As you already mentioned, lots of water helps too. When my babies were as young as yours, I also tried to spend a couple of days really relaxing - even staying in bed if possible - and just letting them nurse as much as possible. That helped a lot. It did take me a few weeks to really get my supply established even with all of that.

There are a number of breastfeeding support groups here in Tucson too, and it may be worth meeting with a lactation consultant. The Tucson Birth & Women's Health Center is a great resource for that sort of support.

Best of luck to you!

-S.

Hi Jenella,

I also had a problem producing enough milk to feed my son. A few things that helped me, besides what you are already doing were: Oatmeal, Avocados, and a supplement called Fenugreek.

Good luck and hang in there!

Are you demand feeding? Feed as much as you can, as it is supply and demand. Also, you can drink Mother's Milk Tea http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.j... which is avalable at sprouts, and many grocery stores. I would call your midwife and get some suggestions too. Drink tons of water, take naps when your baby does as much as you can (maybe someone can watch your five year old for a few hours so you can sleep), and eat lots of protein and veggies. Good luck!!!

There is a natural herb you can get called Fenugreek, that is used to help increase milk production. I have used it with great success. You can find it at GNC or any health food place.

Hi J.,
Good for you for not giving up! I ditto the advice on calling the lactation consultant at Baby Mother and More. They are located on the SE corner of Gilbert and Southern; phone number is ###-###-####; website www.milksmile.com. I have heard many, many good things about the consultant there. Also, I had a friend that drank Mother's Milk tea to help her production, and she swears by it. She said it is available in regular grocery stores (not sure if it is in the tea aisle, or the natural foods section).

Someone also mentioned 'how do you know you are not producing enough'? She is right. Remember that you can't judge it by how much *you* are able to pump. Your baby can get WAY more out the pump can (unless it is a true hospital grade pump). If she is making enough wet and poopy diapers a day, that is your gauge. (I'm not sure what the count should be - the Baby Mother and More store will be able to tell you).

Lastly, something that really helped me a lot was going to a mom's support group every week. I go to the one at Banner Baywood on Fridays from 10-11:30 (walk through the entrance to the Women's Center, and immediately turn left into the conference room). You do not have to have delivered there to attend. It is informal and supportive, and there is a lactation consultant there to help you out. It helps to talk with other moms who have gone through the same thing. I have heard Gilbert Mercy also has a Friday mom's group, but I don't know the details. Banner Gateway is starting one on Thursdays at 10 starting in a couple of weeks.

Don't give up! You can do it!
T.

Have you consulted La Leche League or a breastfeeding specialist? There are herbs and teas that are good for encouraging milk production. A knowledgable person at a small herb store could be a source of information. And of course rest is important, but how many mothers of newborns who also have another child can claim they get plenty of rest?

A few thoughts, some of which may be repeated.
1. See a lactation consultant right away! Or, call your local LLL.
2. You may very well be producing milk, but just can't tell by pumping. I've feed three kids with no formula, but you couldn't tell if you went by what I pump. I'm a horrible pumper.
3. There is a breastfeeding class in Albuquerque, but it's not for a few weeks. Still, it might help at the time:
http://www.bodymindandspiritabq.com
There is also a new mom's group with moms that might be able to help.
4. Keep up your water and fat (quality fat) intake, as well as getting some breastfeeding teas.
5. Nurse as much as you possibly can. Get help for your other child and get naked and nurse, nurse, nurse!

It might not be as bad as you think. Please get help right away. The cost of an LC is much less than the cost of a year of formula!