Need More Milk!

I highly recommend La Leche League. You can find information on their website www.llli.org and you can look up a local leader that you can talk with one on one to get some good ideas. They have information on the best plan for pumping to improve supply, various supplements that increase supply and even a couple of medications that increase milk production.

Good luck.

My first piece of advice would be to stop supplementing with formula and nurse as much as possible. By supplementing you're just decreasing your supply even more. Breastmilk is created by supply and demand.

You can't really gage your milk production by how much you pump. Pumps are not nearly as efficient as your baby is at getting milk.

Drink plenty of water (at least 64 oz of water a day). Try eating oatmeal every day, it can be instant oatmeal for breakfast, oatmeal snack bars, oatmeal cookies, etc. It helps to stimulate milk production naturally. Nurse often, every 2 hours, and pump after nursing. If you miss a nursing session, make sure you pump.

If you need to you can get a prescription from your doctor to help increase your milk supply.

You can also try fenugreek, which is an herb. Be very careful though, do your research and ask your doctor first. You can't take it if you are taking certain medications or have certain health conditions. Also, herbs are not regulated by the FDA, so you never know what you're going to get. You have to take so much of the stuff your urine and sweat start to smell like maple syrup... but a lot of women say that it helps.

Some women say a beer a day helps with supply. I wouldn't do that though unless your little guy is sleeping through the night so the alcohol has time to leave your system. Plus, studies have been done, and there is no real proof that it helps.

Check out www.kellymom.com. It's a terrific breastfeeding resource. Also go to http://www.lllusa.org/. I really think you should find a lactation consultant if you haven't already. You can find one on that website, your doctor can refer you to one, or the hospital where you delivered probably has one on site. You also might want to check out a local breastfeeding support group. Some hospitals have them, or you can probably find one on the lll website.

Good luck!!

The way to get MORE milk, NURSE, NURSE, NURSE. Keep hydrated (drink lots of water) and NURSE. I never got alot when I pumped either and wondered if my son was getting enough, they can get more when they NURSE than we do when we pump.

Good Luck

Hang in there! Your milk production is probably increasing even though you can't pump a lot out right now. I noticed the same thing when I pumped; that one side made more than the other. When your baby is young, like yours, they nurse so often that it's difficult for your breasts to keep up enough to satisfy the baby, but rest assured, they do keep up. Your baby could be going through many growth spurts & your breast will need some time adjusting to the new demand for more milk. There's nothing wrong with supplementing with formula, but, if you didn't want to do that, just nursing your baby 30 minutes later or an hour later. You do start to feel like a cow being milked constantly, but I remember doing that with my baby especially when she was that young. Eventually, you won't be nursing that often & when you pump, you'll get so much more milk that you'll be freezing it.

Hi A.,
I also had low milk supply when my girl was born in November. I've seen a lot of good advice here in the responses to your question: take Fenugreek, eat oatmeal, drink beer and mother's milk tea, stay hydrated, eat plenty, try to sleep.
I disagree with people who say stop supplementing. You MUST provide adequate nutrition for your little one. I wasn't producing enough milk for the first six weeks and didn't realize it. My baby was growing very slowly. We eventually figured out it was because she couldn't get enough milk from me. Yes, if you have no issues nursing only will increase supply. But if you have extenuating circumstances (your surgery), your breasts may not be able to produce enough milk or it may take a while to get to where you need to be.
One thing I haven't seen recommended that worked for me is using a hospital-grade pump to pump with. Call your hospital and rent one -- most local hospitals have a rental service. The suction is much stronger and you will get better results that with even the most expensive widely available regular grade pump.
I stopped nursing and began pumping exclusively with a hospital-grade pump. It took several weeks, but my supply is up now to where I haven't fed her a formula supplement in eight weeks. I have even been freezing some!
Good luck, hang in there and keep trying.
A. P.

Have you tried a natural supplement called Fenugreek (sp?)--GNC sells it. It worked like wonders for me. Take a couple w/ a glass of water and after a few days my supply noticeably increased. Also make sure you are not taking things like antihistimes that decrease your supply.

A. I went through the same situation, what I did was called my OB and she prescribed me a medication that is give to women who can not produce enough milk or when they have adopted and they would like to breastfeed their child, well anywho I would definently check into that, it work like a charm for me. Another think for me was home remidies (these work the best) drink as much liquids as possible milk is a must, oatmeal, oatmeal, oatmeal this helps out a lot. Well I hope my small advice helped you.

I stressed about nursing and that stress slows milk production.

Try to relax about it. There are also things you can do to help increase milk production - certain things you can eat or drink. Drinking gallons of water might help. Be sure you are getting rest...I know - so much easier said than done. Have you tried nursing while laying down on your side? Check with a lactation consultant.

Otherwise - once I supplemented my first child - he was happier and then of course I was too. Don't feel guilty about supplementing. There is nothing wrong with giving your child the food they need. He is getting from you all the best of the nursing - except a full tummy...so nurse and supplement and enjoy every minute of both!

I think oatmeal works for me. I eat a bowl of oatmeal every morning. I have always been a pretty big milk producer though. I pump at work 3 times a day and get 16-18 ozs. I do believe drinking water helps too.

PS I wouldn't cut out the supplementing unless your doctor says it is ok. Any breastmilk a child gets is a benefit to them so you do what you can. Some people on here are little pushy when it comes to breastfeeding.

I know there's no proof, but beer did help me. (And I hate the taste, so there's no ulterior motive:-)
There's a certain hormone that it increases, which apparently I get low in.
I know breast milk is best, but do what you can and then don't beat yourself up. It's not good for you, the baby, or your milk supply!

I am sure I am repeating things said already. First off, lay off the bottle feedings and offer the breast on demand. Second, Fenugreek works REALLY well, but you need a combination Fenugreek and Marshmallow root....Works wonders....Natures Sunshine has a combo suppliment. Gook Luck!!!
~A.~
#7 due Oct 7th

I also didn't make enough milk and was having to supplement with formula since my son was 6 weeks old. I was no longer able to breastfeed him at all at 3 mos. He is now 5 mos. old. I was pumping every 2 hrs. and after every feeding trying everything. It was so stressful. One of the nurses at my pediatrician suggested taking the herbal supplement Fenugreek. It didn't work for me, but did for her. You can buy it at GNC. I also tried Mothers Milk Tea (at health food stores). It's worth a shot. But if these things don't work, don't beat yourself up like I did. There is no reason to feel guilty. My son is perfectly happy, healhy, and content with formula. Good Luck!

Needing to supplement can be so stressful because of the pressures that we, friends, society, lactation consultants, even people at the grocery store put on us. I had the same problem with my twins. I started with formula in a syringe with a tube attached. The tube would sit on my nipple and while the baby nursed she also got formula. Then, I would nurse FIRST and finish with a bottle of formula.
I went through phases where I supplemented more and less as time went on. As long as you are producing milk you have the potential to increase your milk supply.
I did find that the more I nursed the more milk I produced. As a working mom I would nurse almost exclusively on the weekends and found that I pumped more milk at work on Mondays and it dwindled as the week progressed but went back up after a weekend of nursing.

Hi A.!
My M-I-L is a lactation consultant and I had problems with my last baby with milk supply. She had me power pump and it really does help. You pump for 10 minutes, off for 10 minutes, pump for 10 minutes, off for 10 minutes, etc for a full hour and feed as you normally would. You will see results. Please don't go by how much you pump-it isn't as effective as the baby nursing. Also, most women get different amounts from each side of their breast when pumping. If you have any questions, you can contact me by email. If I don't know the answer, I will ask my M-I-L. I hope that this helped!
M.

Hi,
You can use an herb called fenugreek. I have a thyroid problem and so that causes milk supply issues. With Fenugreek, I was able to breastfeed for a year. You can also get metropol, a prescription from your doc, to improve supply.
Hope this helps.
V.

I would try mother's milk tea (also comes in capsule form) which can help increase milk supply. Also be sure you are well hydrated! I hope this helps your supply increase!

Remember that you baby can ALWAYS get more out of you then a pump can. Your baby is what stimulates your milk supply, not a pump. The way that the baby sucks is different then the pump no matter how good the pump is that you are using. Maybe try pumping some before feedings instead of after. That way your baby is always the one draining you. Let him suck as long as he wants too. Don't pump so much that there isn't enough left for him but enough so that he has to work a little more for it. Then your body will get the message that it has to make more. Also remember that it is ok to suppliment sometimes if you need to. I had to give my oldest a bottle every night before bed because I just didn't ever have enough at the end of the day and she nursed for nine months. Don't give up, it will come.

Hi, I'm M.. I breastfed my two children for 1 1/2 years each. And when I wanted more milk, I DRANK TONS OF WATER and I also tried the breastfeading tea found at most nutritional stores and in an emergency I had a beer. Beer naturally relaxes you and you excrete breast milk faster and more. Since you probably haven't drank since before you got pregnant---you only need 1 bottle. I called around to advanced hostpitals with breast feeding specialist and they said not to consume more that two beers ever when breastfeeding. And they said you could have one or two and your milk will be fine. And I only did it once and my milk came flowing.

He might be having a growth spurt. One of the major spurts happens around 6-8 weeks, and it can last anywhere from a few days to a week. He'll be hungrier and want to eat more often than usual so your breasts will be empty most of the time. This will mean less for the pump. If you feed him on demand, your supply should increase when it's all over. If he is gaining weight and has at least 5-6 really wet diapers a day, he is getting enough. I think frequent poops (3-4) are also a good sign, but I've heard that some babies start pooping less at around 6 weeks. Gauging output from a pump can be stressful. It took me a while to bond with my pump.

I'm an intensive care nursery nurse. Have you tried taking fennugreek suppliments. It's been know to increase milk supply. Also you can have your ob get you a prescription for reglan which also can increase it. The more frequently you either pump or feed the more milk you'll produce so try not to let more than 3 hours go without pumping or feeding. If your baby eats every 4 hours try pumping midway, 2 hours after pumping so your body has time to produce more milk. And finally drink lots of water, the more you drink the more milk you'll produce, have some water to drink while you feed him.

A.,
have you seen a lactation consultant? there should be one through either your ob, pediatrician or even the place where you delivered. they can be very helpful. i went through a period of not producing much, and my lactation consultant suggested an herb, i think it was called fenugreek. there is also tea you can drink that should be at any healthfood store, or in the healthfood section of your local grocery store. also what kind of pump you have might affect how much you can pump. and making sure you are getting enough calories. (if you have a thyroid condition get it checked) but a lactation consultant can be a great resource!!!

there is a suplement called Fenugreek that is supposed to help with milk production. Also the more you feed him/ pump the more you should produce. The more you suplement the less you will produce. Did you have a lactation consultant where you delivered? IF so call the hospital and ask to talk with them. Are you getting enough water in your diet this will also effect your supply. Just do your best, relax and if it doesn't work know you did what you could. This does not make you a bad mom. You might also talk with your doctor. Good luck!

There are supplements you can take called Blessed Thistle and Fenugreek to increase your milk supply. I used these after my first was born because she kept losing weight and I lost my supply when she wouldn't latch on correctly. They did help. I got them at the Whole Foods store, and I think you take 3 tablets of each three times a day.

My mother always told me to drink milk and eat oatmeal, but my midwife told me to take MARSHMELLOW ROOT capsules found at any natural health food store maybe even Wal-Mart) and they worked WONDERS! It was so convenient! I don't really like Oatmeal.

I have a 12 week old, and I was only able to make a half ounce total every few hours. I worked with a lactation consultant at the hospital. We decided to continue breastfeeding and supplement with formula after each feeding. We just had to up the amount of formula as he grew. At first it was really hard. I felt like less of a mother. After I accepted it, and saw my baby growing and healthy, it ended up being a good situation for us. I was still able to bond with my son, and he got the antibodies from me. My husband enjoyed feeding him, and it was easier to wean him off of breast milk. I breastfed until I had to go back to work when my son was about 11 weeks old. However it was around that time that he started prefering the bottle because it was easier. My advice is to work with a lactation consultant and to remember that your anatomy has nothing to do with your ability to be a good mom.

A company called Motherlove makes a great herbal tincture to increase your milk supply. It is completely safe and has worked for me. motherlove.com Good luck. I know it is hard, but hang in there.

M. (mother of 6 month old boy)

A.,

I had a similar issue in that I wasn't producing enough milk and had to supplement.
I ended up having to give up breast feeding all together when my daughter was ~12 weeks, and I was heartbroken.

I've only skimmed what others have said, and it looks like most everything has been covered.

One option I didn't see mentioned is going to Kangaroo Kids.
http://www.kangarookidsonline.com/
They are a great resource for nursing moms. I think everyone who works there is a trained lactation specialist. If you can get there, they will give you free consultation on anything related to breastfeeding such as whether the baby is latching on properly (my daughter was not) They will also come to the house if you can't get to them. They also have a nursing mom's group that meets weekly that is a great support group (you can and are encouraged to bring the baby). And if you haven't been there, they are a great consignment shop, and have couches where you can sit and breastfeed... They were a great resource for me.

I just want to echo 2 points others have made:

1. Stress definately affects milk supply, and I know from personal experience that trying to feed, pump and supplement takes a ton of time and can get stressful. So try to find a way to enjoy the time you are with the baby, and not stress about if you are producing enough milk.

2. If you are giving the baby any breastmilk, then your son is getting most of the benefits of breastfeeding: bonding with Mom, antibodies to help immunity, nutritional completeness. It isn't a bad thing to supplement, the baby can and will do just fine even if you were to stop breastfeeding all together.

Good luck, and enjoy your baby! Mine is 11 months now, and I can't believe how quickly she has grown up!

A.

You should try to pump your breasts for as long as possible, unless they become tender, until you only see the milk coming out in a drop or two a minute. I had that same problem and that is what I was told. Also, no matter how much your child drinks, continue pumping every two to three hours a day until the milk starts flowing as much as need. if the problem continues, I would talk to your doctor and see if they have a remedy or other advice. My mother had problems with milk production as well. She ended up having to formula feed.

I'm sorry to hear about your milk supply. With my 1st child (who was born at 28 wks.) my supply started to dry up. I was put on a prescription medication called 'Reglan' (my son was on it for reflux). I don't have any other suggestions, but I know a little of what you are going through.
God Bless!

I took Brewer's Yeast tablets, and my milk supply increased lots. BTW--if you're going to drink beer to increase your supply, try a red beer.

Hi A.! You may want to contact your local La Leche League for more support and they will give you some really good suggestions like herbal supplements (fenugreek), more pumping, less supplementation... and how to go about doing all of that in a way that doesn't compromise your sons health and your milk supply. Also, it sounds like your situation is a little more complicated by 'the multiple surgeries' so extra support is definately needed. Here's the link to find your local group (or call a leader). Meetings are free and very, very helpful!!!!
http://www.llli.org//WebUS.html
good luck and hang in there,
K.

A.,
I too had difficulty producing enough milk to keep my baby breastfed. (He was 8lb 14oz at birth). We ended up supplementing before we even left the hospital. Once home, I felt like I was trying to breastfeed all the time, only to have to supplelment with formula after every feeding.
With all of that being said, I gave up(or into)formula feeding and my baby was much happier b/c he was full! Formula feeding was not our plan, but his happiness was more important and things went really well from that point on.
Don't be too disappointed with not being able to produce enough-just focus on what he needs/what will make him happy and go from there!
Best of luck and congrats!!!

I hope this doesn't offend anyone but this is what worked for me... i had the same problem when my son was breastfeeding... i tried everything and went to several different lactation consultants and pumped and pumped.. found out later that the pump actually will diminish your milk supply after time. You need to have the milk sucked out all the way to the hind milk and then some... and therefore it will start producing more milk. I also had the one breast produce more and this worked for both breasts.... After your son is finished and has gone to bed get your husband to suck on your breasts until he gets to the hind milk... and even though none is coming out suck beyond that for a few more minutes... you will find that more milk will start to come in. Eventually you will find that you are Engorged with milk again... you just have to get past the hind milk a few more times and further than your son will go. I had to have my husbands help because it is hard to get your baby to suck on your breasts when there is nothing in there. I hope this didn't offend anyone but I only know that this works... trust me it works. I told the lactation consultants about what eventually worked for me and they all agreed that it was a good method and made sense.

My second to last baby I had the same problem. I tried and tried to breastfeed and it just seemed like I didn't have enough milk. I thought he was my last baby and I wanted to do it "right" and breastfeed only, no formula (in the past I have breastfed and supplemented with formula and after 3-6 months it became formula only). I went to a local breastfeeding support group to get advice and no matter what I did, it didn't cause me to produce any more milk. I felt like such a failure, like I was letting my son down.

Anyway, I had a surprise pregnancy with my daughter (she was born in January) and I have been breastfeeding her. My attitude going in was I am going to do whatever it takes to keep my baby healthy and growing. If I wasn't producing enough milk, I made her a bottle. No big deal. I think it all had to to with my attitude because after awhile I found myself breastfeeding only and not needing to supplement. So who knows? Just do the best you can and thanks to today's excellent products, breastmilk or formula will help your baby grow healthy and strong.
-D.

EAT,EAT,EAT,EAT,EAT,EAT,EAT. Make srue you are intaking enough calories. You need to eat more when breastfeeding than you did when you were prego. Lots, of good calories, got of water, and only supplement if you really have to. Otherwise your body will not feel the demand. And there is a huge difference in pumping and "feeding" for demand. The power pump idea is a good one. But, again. If you are not suppling your body with the food to make the milk then it's a lost cause. Good luck. EAT!

Hi A.. Good for you for trying breastfeeding despite some obstacles! Some things that work to increase milk production are oatmeal and root beer. Both were recommended to me by a lactation consultant and really helped. You can also take the supplement Fenugreek. It will make you smell like maple syrup and it does give some people an upset stomach. I know many women who have used it successfully.

Good luck and remember that supplementing is ok if you need to do it. Your baby is still getting so many benefits from any nursing.

I am using "Healthy Nursing Tea" to increase my breast milk and getting sufficient supply. I'd suggest all moms with low milk flow to try this tea.

have u tried fenugreek?

Amy,
I feel your pain!! I nursed my daughters, now 7 and 5. there is a tea that you can drink called Mother's Milk. you can find it at Whole Foods. it will increase your supply and help you sustain your milk levels. it is perfectly safe.
hope this helps,

While I, too, have found that a lot of moms on this site push breastfeeding....but I'm one of them and I find that to be great!! I breastfeed and have the entire time with my 8 month old and will continue to as long as I can! Anyway, your question sounded like you were wanting to know how to increase your supply, so that shows you, too, want to continue breastfeeding....good for you! I agree with everyone has said (except for I haven't heard of oatmeal, but who knows?!) Stimulation, drinking water, mother's milk tea, and beer are all ideas the lactation consultants I have worked with have suggested. Continuing supplementing is a tough one because you need to stimulate more and if your baby is getting full with formula, you won't get that stimulation as much and therefore, you're body won't know to make more milk! Plus, pumping can only do so much (like another mom said, your baby is able to get much more than a pump). You may want to contact a lactation consultant if you continue to have problems for one-on-one help.

Have you called the lactation consultants at the hospital you delivered at? They were a huge help to me after I gave birth in November. In addition, you could contact Le Leche League and have a consultant come out to your house and offer assistance.

Also, give yourself permission to stop breastfeeding if you are just too exhausted by the whole process. You aren't a bad mommy for recognizing that each pregnancy is different and you aren't super-human!

This is a bit delayed of a response. I'm playing catch-up on e-mails. You may have heard this anyway, but I would use warm compresses for a few minutes before nursing and it would help tremendously.

My son & I went through a round of thrush and my milk supply dropped. The warm compresses for a bit longer took care of my supply getting back to normal. Good Luck!

Malt is supposed to stimulate milk production, but I would ask my doctor before drinking any containing alcohol. You can always add malt powder to milk and drink it. Or, try a health food store.

To increase milk supply I would stay hydrated and well nourished. Also, there is a tea by Yogi Tea called nursing Mom's tea. The main way to increase your supply is frequent nursing. I would nurse your baby first, then if you feel like your baby needs more give a little formula. If you do it the other way around, your baby will suck with less vigor therefore less milk will come out. Lastly, you said when you pump you get a total of 3oz. Just remember your baby is more efficient than that, he probably gets closer to 5oz. That is plenty for a feeding.

A.:

I struggled with milk supply with my first, and can sympathize with the stress of this situation. Please don't be too h*** o* yourself.

My supply GREATLY decreased after starting birth control pill. This time I am doing the "mini pill" and it seems to be working fine. I would recommend eating oatmeal and doing a herbal tea or pill. See your local natural foods store. Also, there is a prescription to improve supply check with our OB to see if they will precribe it.

Good luck.

I had the same problem. I got really sick after my baby was born. I also was taking stuff before I had her that was, I think drying up my milk. I tried some natural supplements and a couple drugs, 3 different pumps. I did not think that I would ever had problems. One of my breast is a lot bigger than the other one and my right makes more than my left side. My baby is 2 and a half months. I get very little when I pump. I used a hospital grade pump. I used Fenugreek and mother of love supplement. If you go to this website or call the lalacha club or talk to a lactation nurse that may help. Call me if you want to ###-###-####. S. is my name. This was heartbreaking and so frustrating and exhausting. I am supplementing too.
S.

Hi, I completely understand your situation. With my first, I had problems producing enough...stress was part of it. I used everything possible and was able to breastfeed for at that time recomended 2 years. When I was pregnant with my sextuplets, I breastfeed as much as possible...my body was honestly drained, stressed, tired...all the above. The hospital hooked me up with a milk bank based out of Texas, with their milk and my own we were able to provide good quality breastmilk for 9 months. Most people don't know about this...just wanted to put it out there for an option. Good luck-breatfeeding really is the best choice if you can.

"Milk Thistle" from your local health food store!! Everyone I know, including myself that has tried it has produced more milk. Very healthy for your milk also! It comes in pill form so you can swallow it.

Good luck!

If you want to try the beer route, just buy non-alcholic beer. What you need are the hops in the beer to stimulate your milk supply.

I went through exactly the same thing when I came back to work 3 months ago. I went and talked to the lactation specialist at St. Lukes South where I had delivered and rented one of their pumps. I had been getting 2oz per session and I was really working for it...wringing out my breasts like an old dish rag!!! With a stronger pump, I easily get at least 4oz per session. This pump helps you 'let down' easily & has made all the difference for me.
You can rent them month to month ($55 first 2 months, $35 3rd month, $45 each month after that) and they call me each month and ask me if I want to renew or return it. I have one of the $300+ electric pumps, but it didn't come close to working as well as this one.
I know what the pressure feels like when you want to feed your baby. I have cried on more than one occasion in the last few months from worrying about my milk supply. (I even had my daycare provider spill 6oz of my milk which about put me over the edge!!!) Just stick with it and do what you can...keep nursing and pumping whenever you can, but if you need to use formula once in awhile - SO BE IT!!! My son just turned six months old and it has been a lot of work to keep him on breastmilk to this point.
Know that you are not alone and do what works for you and your baby. Best of luck!!!!

Your doing the right thing...you can't get what you don't have. My son was a greedy little thing & he would drain both of my breast & I had to give him formula as well but guess what we STILL bonded. It's what you do with your child that matters & he's now about to be 23 & has a place but sub-let it out to his friend because he's not ready to move away from his mommie:-). Long as you love on your child & reassure him that your there nothing & no one can take that away. Good luck & God Bless!

A., I had trouble at first as well. I had a wonderful lactation consultant that helped me, but other things that worked really well for me was acupuncture, this helped my milk come in extremely well and also a tea reccomended by my acupuncturist called mothers milk. I found it at my local grocery store and it didn't taste bad either. Hope this helps!

I had twins so there was never enough milk. You can take the following supplements. Raspberry leaf, Fenugreek, and there is a prescription called Reglan that ups Prolactin levels in the body. I could ALWAYS tell after I took it, I had a lot more milk. By the way, the supplements were recommended to me by my OB.
Good Luck, OH, and pump every hour or two to tell your body to "turn up" the milk production!

A. - My first suggestion is to get the book "Baby Wise" Most likely you are not feeding for long enough at a time. The best time to pump is after your morning feedings. Say your first feeding is at 6:30 am, feed and then wait one hour before pumping. As far as pumping goes it takes a little while to build any sort of supply. Then you next feeding should be a 9:30 am, pump again one hour after your 9:30 feeding. I wouldn't pump any more the rest of the day. It will take a few days to increase your supply. You are the fullest in the morning so you could also get up a few minutes before the babies first feeding and pump for no more than 5 minutes at that time. Again it will take a few days to increase your supply. In reality you should be feeding on average 15-20 minutes on each side. Now my first child took 20 minutes to each on each side, but my second child only took 5-7 minutes on each side. Feeding every 3 hours is plenty. Babies like to suck, so try your clean finger or pacifier. You really shouldn't have supplemnent until later. 2-3 ounces should be enough at this age.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. I was able to breast feed my first child for 10 months, started supplementing at 6 months, I never had to supplement with the second one and just stopped breastfeeding my second with is 11 months now. - L. Mehrhoff

Is the baby losing weight --if so go with the formula if not then go with what U are doing --if U are real worried then contact your doctor.

verify with your doc about the milk thistle. even "natural" supplements can counteract meds we take. (ie folks on blood pressure meds cannot drink grapefruit juice!)

Welcome to the world of parenting past twenty! I was 35 when I gave birth to my first (and only) baby boy!

My right side STILL always gives more than my left (at almost 11 months), so don't worry about one side producing more, just keep offering the opposite breast first for each feeding (ex: right first then left at this feeding, then the next feeding offer left first then right, back and forth).

BREAST IS BEST! My beat advice is to stop supplimenting altogether. You are training your body to produce less, so it will. If your son needs more milk, let him nurse longer and/or more often. This stimulates the nipple better than pumping, and tells your brain to tell your body to produce more milk. If he cries because he isn't getting enough, this also triggers the body to produce more. Hang in there! Don't worry too much, because at 8 weeks, he might not need 6-8 ounces at a time. My son has never been able to take more than 5 ounces of my milk (at daycare) at a time without spitting most of it up. Breastmilk is packed with more nutrition in exact amounts needed by an infant than formula, so he may not need as much volume.

One other thing I learned is 'power pumping,' where you pump for twelve minutes on, twelve minutes off (rest) for an hour straight. I did this after my son went down for bed, and I believe it helped! Drink PLENTY of fluids (water, juice, decaf. tea, etc), and get plenty of rest (I know, difficult to do right now!).

Also, read through these threads. There is a LOT of helpful advice out there!!
http://www.mamasource.com/request/6243162567687012353
http://www.mamasource.com/request/7378046593099890689
http://www.mamasource.com/request/12130383917320503297
http://www.mamasource.com/request/2027736262743425025
http://www.mamasource.com/request/7094504113873879041

www.KellyMom.com is a great resource, so is La Leche League. Best of luck to you and God Bless!