Low Milk Production for Breastfeeding Mom. How to Increase?

I have to ask how you know how much you are producing? If you are pumping and bottle feeding that could be part of the problem. Milk flows much better for the baby than a pump.

Keep breastfeeding. If as many people claim to not produce enough milk then the human race would not survive since all those moms before would've had starved children. Lactation is a body's response to stimulus. It starts with the birth of the baby and continues only if you continue to try to feed. Also, it's normal for baby to lose weight after birth so don't blame that on too little food. What baby is getting at the beginning is little in amount but big in nutrients and calories. If you supplement and baby doesn't feed as often, your body will respond by thinking you don't need alot and it's a cycle that ends with what you feared in the first place. Trust your body as all mothers before formula has. I know I'll get hate about how it's a woman's choice and blah blah blah I shouldn't judge. Yes, feed your child. But Americans are very spoiled and it is very easy because everyone is supportive of formula here to give into believing you can't do it. Honestly, I had to feed or try to feed all the time. It's a full time job initially. We just don't have the time with work and what ever else we do to split our time. But the honest truth is that you can do it. If adoptive mothers can start lactating by putting a baby to their breast then a birth mother can certainly do it too.

And please don't think I'm making you feel bad. I'm just sad that by "empowering" women to make a choice, we have inadvertently taken away the most amazing thing we can do and that is grow a human being inside of us, birthing him and feeding him. We make people. How can anyone tell me I can't do it and there's something wrong with my breast? I can't fathom it.

And as far as your diet is concerned. If you live in a first world nation, you have enough nutrition even if you were poor. Even third world moms have enough...sort of. Baby will get their food, they are parasites and what extra you don't consume, they will take from your body anyway. It's natures way of procreation and ensuring the survival of species. So as far as diet is concerned, eat for yourself. You're not eating extra for baby. You're eating so baby doesn't eat into you so to speak. =)

A breast pump does not do as good of a job as a baby does at getting milk from the breast. How much you are pumping does not indicate a low supply. Not everyone responds well to a breast pump.
The more you let your little one nurse, the more milk you will produce. Breastfeeding is supply and demand. My suggestion is to stop supplimenting and put your baby to your breast at every oportunity and let her nurse as long as she wants per side. Don't watch a clock and take her off after 10 minutes to force her to switch sides or anything like that. The longer she nurses the more fatty hind milk she'll get and the more milk your body will produce.
Kellymom has a wonderful article that has help for decreased pumping that might be helpful.
http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/pumping_decrease/

All of the answers so far have been spot on. Stay hydrated, rest when you can, and nurse frequently to stimulate your body to product more milk. That being said some moms find that drinking gatorade (I drink the zero calorie kind), eating oatmeal (including instant oatmeal or homemade oatmeal "lactation" cookies), drinking a dark beer, mothers milk tea or fenugreek capsules can also help boost milk production. Each person's body responds differently so it may take a few trials and errors to find what works for you.

For me, I drink a lot of water and usually have one gatorade and a bowl of oatmeal evry day. My family and I usually keep a supply of oatmeal cookies for quick, nutricious snacks as well. I tried fenugreek but it made my little one very gassy.

First off, do you really need to supplement? You can tell a lot about input from output - in other words, check the diapers to know if she's getting enough. What makes you feel that it's low? Do not compare your milk to formula amounts. Your milk will change as her needs change. Second, remember that a pump is never as efficient as a baby. Third, remember that their stomachs are very small. 2-3 oz every two hours is 24-36 ounces a day. That doesn't seem low to me.

Here are some links from Kellymom.com that I think you should read.

http://kellymom.com/pregnancy/bf-prep/milkproduction/

http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/basics/decrease-formula/

This one mentions 25 oz as an average for breastfed babies per day. So 24 oz is not off track.

http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/#howmuch

What are you using to determine that you have low supply? How are you determining that you are producing 2-3 oz every 2 hours?

Here are some signs that people often think are low supply that really aren't:
http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/low-supply/

Also, 2-3 oz is perfect! It's quite a bit even! A lot! A breastfed baby generally takes in 24 oz over a 24 hour period. That averages out to around 1 oz per hour, so if baby is getting 2-3 oz every hour, that's perfect! Breastmilk grows with the baby, so you never increase this and weight doesn't factor in at all.

Sounds like you don't have a supply issue, you have a confidence issue! Let's build your confidence! Your body is doing exactly what it is supposed to do and feeding your baby the PERFECT amount! No need for supplements! You are doing AWESOME!

Here's an article on how to get rid of those supplements:
http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/basics/decrease-formula/

Hope this helps.

J., I drink a glass of water 10 mins before and after breastfeeding.
I also do massage with my breast. I put cooking oil in a mug, steam it and store it in a jar. That's my breast massage oil.
You can see how to massage in internet, be gentle so you don't get bruised.
Your baby also need to latch, it will stimulate more milk effectively than just pumping.
Don't try to do diets. Your body needs it to make milk and to recover from delivery ( it is a big job!) Don't worry, if you are breastfeeding you will lose weight eventually.
Dont think too much about weight, stress can make breastmilk low in production.
Try to relax: get a warm shower, massage, read some books and so on.
I usually breastfeed my son while watching Friends( only when baby was sleeping).

Are you pumping, is that how you know how much is coming out? If you are nursing that often, and producing that much, you are just fine. Nursing really is the best way to build up your milk supply (I have relactated from scratch, and had always had a low milk supply, I know about building supplies). If you stop supplementing, and just nurse, your supply will probably be up to what your baby needs in just a few days to a week. You may have to nurse a little extra during that time, just nurse whenever your baby wants it, although it sounds like you are making plenty right now.

Eat Oatmeal! If you have to take Fenugreek. Its 3 pills, 4 times daily for 3-4 days. Only try after you have nursed the little one as much as possible. Good Luck!

Here are some things that help boost your milk supply.
1. Take 3 capsules of Fenugreek three times daily with food
2. Remember to drink lots of water. I always drink 23 oz of water at each nursing session with my son.
3. Consume up to 3 servings of raw nuts (not roasted and salted) such as almonds, cashews and macadamia nuts per day
4. Eat steel-cut oatmeal up to twice daily
5. Consume at least seven raw or cooked servings of leafy green vegetables per day

Good Luck!

I would highly encourage visiting a lactation consultant. I had a low supply as well, and they go over everything with you and make you feel better about all the options. I went to Milkalicious in Aliso Viejo, not sure if there is something similar that near you but they were amazingly helpful. I ended up taking motilium to increase my supply and it worked great, but I'm not sure you need that yet. Sounds like you are producing enough. Keep it up!

Go see a lactation consultant. There are many reasons this may be happening. Mine for example had a week suck that in turn did not stimulate my milk. I had to pump and supplement my expressed breast milk for months until she learned how to suck.

Eat Oatmeal and pump for a few minutes after every feeding. Your milk supply will increase within a few days.

As every says, the best way is to nurse like crazy. Or, if you are giving formula, empty a breast whenever you give the baby formula. And remember, the only way to empty the breast is to hand express, which can feel and look wierd, but is the most effective. And the breast pump will only extract 70% of milk, the baby will get about 70-80%. So, don't rely soley on the pump.

Keep up the nursing you are doing great!!!

have the baby weighed if you are worried, but i'm sure it's fine.

Nurse, nurse, nurse your baby!!! THAT is the best way to increase your supply. Also, do not supplement unless your doctor tells you to - otherwise, you're just teaching your baby that food comes easier from a bottle.

At 3 months, I was nursing my babies for about 30 minutes every 2-3 hours. And I only did single-side feedings, meaning the right breast for one whole feeding then the left breast for the whole next feeding - no switching. The longer your baby sucks at the breast, the more of the fatty hindmilk she'll get.

Don't "diet". Make sure you are eating plenty of healthy, nutritious food - lots of veggies, fruit, protein and complex carbs. Drink about 2 litres of water per day. You can increase your intake of oatmeal and brewer's yeast by finding a recipe for 'lactation cookies' and having a few of those for a snack in the mornings.

Also, this is a typical time when your body is adjusting to the act of nursing and so you may not be experiencing that engorgement that you previously did. That often leads women to believe their supply is low and then they supplement - but THAT is what decreases supply.

Good luck!