Need Advice for Increasing Milk Production

My first baby has a short piece of skin that ataches from the bottom of his tongue to the bottom of his mouth, so it made it difficult for him to latch correctly. I didn't realize it wasn't supposed to be painful each time. I ended up pumping most of the time on the low suction setting and that helped milk production and ended up feeling a little better when he did eat from me.

Red raspberry leves in a capsuke or tea. Nettles is great and more milk plus by motherlove. All these are excellent in increasing milk and will provide wonderful nutrients as well. I wouldn't breastfeed w/ out it!!!

A.,

I too had very sore, cracked nipples. I swear by the "soothies" that they gave me in the hospital, my husband bought out every store in town the first month of nursing! You can find them at pharmacies and they got me through.. the lanolin was too sticky for me and made me hurt worse. This enabled me to nurse more because it was a bit more bearable. Also, while I try to not take medicine, I was taking 3 ibuprofen every 8 hours.

Personally, I'd put away the pump, get REALLY comfy, sit back and try to nurse as much as you can because that is the surefire way to boost your milk production. And send your husband out for some Soothies! They also make some teas for this which would be worth a try, I've heard good things about that. The last thing is, try different positions because that will help your nipples to not be as sore. Once we got the "football hold" down is when my soreness began to subside. I read "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" and found some good information there too.

I really hope that helps you, I know what you're going through and I can say that I almost didn't make it. But now my 9 month old loves to nurse and it never hurts, and I love it too! It's worth every toe-curling moment!

A. congrats on your new baby! I just had a little boy in march! Nursing issue are a real pill! But here is some info for you!...
is your babys latch okay? if he has a good latch and you are not dealing with those kind of issue your nipples will start feeling and being okay again in the next 2weeks.
With my first we had some major issues. I thought she was not getting enough either because she appeared hungry all the time. I think that because my nipples hurt so bad I didn't allow her to nurse long enough. I thus created a very lazy nurser. Alas all that can be corrected! If you think that may be happening let me know and I will further explain.

Pumping is actually NOT a good way to monitor milk production. A lot of breasts do not like pumps and will not perform for them. If you really want to pump try hand expressing. It is very easy and much better for sore nipples! The best way though is just by how many diapers your baby is going through a day.

How often do you nurse? You should be around the 2 hour mark for day time and most likely 3 at night. Although some babys will clusterfeed as certain times of the day. Does your baby have his days and nights mixed up?

On your nipples... Lanolin is good! You may also want to consider these also. A nipple sheild. I have never used one as I didn't know about them with the kids I had that they would have helped BUT I know lots of women who used them in the beginning and couldn't live without them. There are many different brands and I really do not know which is best but here is a link for you!
http://www.allegromedical.com/maternity-care-c527/nipple-...=

Also if you are using breast pads- the disposable ones can really irratate nipples. They have chemicals and stuff in them that are just not good. Cotton is better but sore nipples will still stick to cotton. The best is wool! It is lanolin rich, absorbs more, is antibacterial and cleans itself. I know it sounds like hogwash but its true and it works! My new baby is the first one I have used wool with and it is my first baby that I did not have nipple problems with! So there ya go and here is a link!
http://www.danishwool.com/products/item/nursing_pads.html

Keep plugging away A.! It will get better! If you really think your milk is low then there are lots of different herbs you can take. Dandelion root, alphalpha, and marshmallow is my fav combination. Fenugreek is also very popular. And drink lots and lots of water!

I really encourage you though to look more at the diaper usage before you try to increase supply- chance are you are good on supply but have really sore breast- lets fix that issue!

If you want to chatt more just e-mail me!..M.

Hi A.,

Congratulations on the birth of your son! I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with breastfeeding. The good news is both the sore nipples and the milk supply issue can be turned around. I've been a lactation consultant on a volunteer basis with LaLeche League since 1990 (retired now) and have coached hundreds of mothers through such issues.
your LC is right that the solution for low milk supply (if, in fact, your supply is low) is to nurse more frequently. Obviously, your sore nipples need help, too. Sore nipples are the result of less than perfect positioning and/or improper latch on. How much milk you can extract with a pump is an inacurate way to measure your supply. No pump is as efficient as a baby at getting milk out of a breast. The best way to know how much milk your baby is getting when he nurses, is to count wet and poopy diapers. You should see 8-12 wet diapers in a 24 hour period. There are a lot of things to talk about with sore nipples and milk supply. Feel free to contact me off line or may you would rather talk with an active LaLeche League leader. You can find them in the white pages of the phone book under La Leche League or on the internet at www.lllofga.org.
one more thing - the Atlanta are hotline number is
###-###-####> The recording there will give you the names and numbers of leaders available in your area to help. they're dedicated to supporting breastfeeding moms and it's FREE!!

Hi A.,

I'm breastfeeding a newborn too! My lactation consultants at Memorial Hospital had a few suggestions to help me out.

first I use a soft, flexible breast shield from Medala -it's available on-line, at the lactation office at Memorial & at Target (although they only sell the 'standard' 24mm size). I used it at first because my baby wouldn't latch on, but I also found out that it helps protect my nipples from getting worn out by his sucking. it has holes in the end so you wear it while nursing & the baby sucks the milk right out. ask your consultant if it's an option for you.

also, they recommended an herb called Fenugreek to help boost supply. it's available from GNC at Oglethorp Mall. they suggest taking 3 capsules 3 times a day.

and keep pumping, it reminds your body to make more milk. however, what you pump is probably less than what your little boy gets himself. baby's are much more productive nursers than any pump.

finally, I found that my milk increased around Theo's one-month birthday. I too was worried he wasn't getting enough, then after nursing for a few weeks he seemed to get more & nurse longer at a time.

Best wishes for a happy & full baby,

~P..

mum to a 12-pound 10-weeks-old breastfed baby.

If you have a big boy, like mine 81/2 lbs. And 10lbs. Then just realize that you may not produce enough. Supplement if necessary. As far as your production there is a drug i think fenegren? Cant remember spelling it is for nausea normally but has been known to cause over production in milk. Your lactation consultant or doc would have to prescribe. Also, make sure you have a good pump like medela. Other ones, just dont work, they will make you sore.

Hey there! Congrats on the lil one. I like what one person said on here about 3 oz should be enough for one feeding. Did you breast feed your daughter too? I know every child is different. I breast fed both my boys. The one thing I look back on with my younger son, he was the biggest and i thought he was starving because he was feeding every 1 and 1/2. I never asked the Ped about it til i had my daughter and told her i couldnt go through that again. She said babies need to suck to soothe themselves and she said i should of tried a paci. Thats what i would try. If your pumping 3 oz out of each breast right now, all i can say is wow...seems like alot to me. :) There is a tea too i tried. It doesnt have caffiene in it either. I wanted to say it was cranberry. Let me look it up and get back to u on that ok. I remember it helped. Many Blessings!

When my sister was having a low production of milk, she went to a health food store and purchased mother's milk tea. This tea really helped, and is available at most health food stores. She highly recommended it when my milk supply started decreasing with my youngest.

Medela has some shield to prevent the friction of your clothes with your nipple when they are sore, and it also allows them to get some air between feedings. Three ounces of milk is about average for a 3 wk old baby, I was only producing 2 oz. try to alternate nurse one time and bottle with breast milk for the next feeding. After nursing your baby, clean the nipple area (don't use soap) and pump to make sure that your breasts are empty, and as soon as you feel more milk coming down, pump some more. I was using the pump every hour and nursing every other feeding and by 5 weeks I was producing 6 to 7 oz. If you nipple are extremely sore, take a day or two off, use the pump every hour and try to teach you baby with the bottle nipple how to latch. I your baby does not open wide take the nipple out and try again. Just keep doing your best, Breast feeding is not as easy as it sounds, but with time it will get better.

Hi!! I'm 23 too and I have a 1 year old son Chase. Your lactation consultant is right! If he is hungry NURSE!!! : ) even though it feels like the worst pain ever, it is the only way to truly increase your supply. I had suggestiopns for teas and holistic remedies but none worked better than just nursing my son whenever he wanted it. My mom told me something one day and I laughed but now that my son is a year old I understand it...as soon as your body has caught up with the demands of your baby his demands wil have changed. It is so true, as soon as my milk supply would increase he would have slowed back down...lol. Good luck and props to you for breast feeding! Do it as long as you can it is so wonderful!! And remember just like labor pains the pain of nursing does go away!

First, to cut down on the soreness of your nipples, you can try nipple guards to ease the pain. When I breast fed my children, I was told to drink milk, juice or water while I was feeding my baby to help with production. My son was a big eater and I was always feeding him too. The drinking really helped me. And if you fill up when he's asleep, pump and put that milk on reserve so that on the next feeding, if he is still hungry coming off of the breast, he can still have breast milk in a bottle. Your body will increase milk production when it realizes that a lot of milk is going out. It may even be a good idea to pump when he gets done feeding to help speed up the process. Hope this helps.

Hey, Congratulations on the new baby! Don't worry about the milk - it will take about this long for your baby and your boobs to get in sync. I'd forgotten with my first, or else it was different, because what I remember with her was a constant overabundance, but with my new one, born February 3, we took about a month to get it together. The nipple soreness will go away soon, too. Try not to supplement, or your production will never catch up. And definitely stay hydrated. The oldest prescription in the books is a Guinness and a banana. If you're a beer lover, this is great for you, if not, then maybe this isn't the best for you. But the yeast in beer helps milk production. Do you have What to Expect the 1st year? They go over all the diet (and beer) stuff. Good luck with that baby boy. Aren't you just in love with him?

I stopped producing milk while breastfeeding my oldest daughter who is now 21. I had gone to Six Flags with my boyfriend, and I had no milk for the next few days. My mom and dad told me to drink a beer, and amazingly, that solved the problem and I began to produce milk again. It should work to increase your milk production too. I know it sounds crazy, but it worked for me!

Hi there, three ounces should be enough for one feeding. Maybe he is just going threw a birth sprut at this time. I breast my daughter for 13months but she only weighted 6lbs 7 oz at birth. On the other hand my step mother-in -law she had the same problem as you my little brother- in- law weighed just about ten lbs at birth.He wanted four oz immediately after birth. My step mother- in - law only nursed for a month . She produce fast enough. She would very sore after nursing and sometimes would blled even while using the lanolin. When she went for six week check up. The dr. told to give it up and put him on formula. Well he is three years old now and he looks like a little line backer. Whenever I take him out with people think/ swear he his about five years old. Maybe you have a little line backer too. Hang there if you , but if you can't; don't be too hard yourself.

Why didn`t you try Healthy nursing tea .?????

Don't wait for your breasts to "fill up" to determine when it's time for another feeding. There is always milk in your breasts for your baby, and more milk is made while you feed. Studies have shown that fat levels in milk are higher when the time between feedings is shorter. This means when you offer the breast again minutes after the last feeding (when your breasts may still feel "empty"), your baby is getting high-fat milk that will help him gain weight.

Nurse longer. Don't limit the length of your baby's feedings to a predetermined number of minutes on each side. Allow your baby to finish the first breast before switching to the other side. This gives baby an opportunity to fill up on the high-fat hindmilk brought down by the milk-ejection reflex. If you switch your baby to the second side too soon, he'll fill up on the watery foremilk, which will make his tummy feel full but may not give him enough calories to grow.

Sorry to be so long winded, but it is a lot of good info., I hope it helps.

Hello! My son used to do the same thing, except he wasnt still hungry. He just used me as a comfort tool instead of passifiers and thumb and stuff like that. He just wanted to be there with me. He would really eat but as soon as I took him away from me, he would throw up almost all of what he ate.And he ate like every 30 minutes in the beginning. I was very sore like you are. If your son is really eating, maybe you could try taking a quick warm shower to make some more milk.(or at least that may make the flow better) Well, good luck!!!

Hi Annissa, I knwo this is hard. I had my second son and he is 18 months old now. I jsut weaned him about 1 month ago, but when I brought him home, he was what lactation called a nibbler. Which means he did not open his mouth wide to latch. My nipples were dry cracked, I went through a tube of Lanolin a week for about 10 weeks. I finally made it but the ONLY way to get your milk supply up is to feed the baby more often. If you pump it all out, when you feed you baby , there is not enough there for him. Another thing is go see the lactation nurse and make sure he is latching on correctly. That is how I found out mine was a nibbler and I jsut had to be patient for his mouth to get a little bigger to latch correctly. If you have a desire to nurse your baby, stay away from the pump until he is about 2 months old and your milk will be at the level youneed it and more.

go to your health food store that is nearest to you and look for mothers tea....drink it 3 times a day and soon enough youll be overflowing....there are diff types but i used the one in the purple box i forget what its called...or try calling the lactation consultant that is at the hospital where you had your son, she will be able to tell you exactly what to do

All I can say is the more you nurse/pump the more milk you will produce. Also make sure you stay well-hydrated.

A.,
Always drink water while you are nursing (or at least right after and right before). You have to have the fluids to make the fluids. If the water supply is there then the more you pump/nurse the more milk you will produce.

There are different methods for dealing with the pain - quite honestly the best one for me still is a combo of proper latch practice and time. Even after a year and a half my little one gets lazy with her latch sometimes and it hurts the nipples - the key is awareness.

A friend of mine would do four-six hours on one breast then switch to the other. That worked for her. For me I just switched the breast each time she fed and the production built up so that she only needed to nurse off one side each feeding - by doing that you allow him to get the fattier milk (hindmilk) which comes last and is more filling.

There are so many options. The sore breasts will go away/heal eventually, but it will take time - I think it was 6 weeks before mine stopped hurting. And it could be that your little one is going through a growth spurt. They always seem hungry when that is happening.

Good luck - know that it gets better! Drink that water and make sure you are getting enough protein
M.