Hey moms,
My baby is just getting over thrush and my milk supply has gone down dramatically because I breastfed her as minimally as I could. I couldn't breastfeed her because of the damage it was causing on my nipples, and I didn't have a breast pump on hand to use. But I am not ready to stop breastfeeding her, especially because she refuses to drink formula, and I don't think she's ready to eat solely solid foods and water. So if anyone has any tips on how to increase milk supply, I would appreciate your time to make a comment. I have heard of an herb that can help, I believe its called Fenugreek. If anyone has any information about it or where I can get it.. that would be great too. Thanks in advance!
P.S. she is 7 1/2 months old. She eats rice cereal and baby fruit food... but loves breastfeeding. The damage to my nipples is bad, I have cuts around my nipple, which are probably gonna take at least 2 whole days of not breastfeeding to heal enough that they wont open when I BF.
I used fenugreek and it worked. I got it at Wal-Mart. But, be prepared to smell like maple syrup! This is what is used as a maple syrup flavoring for cheap maple syrup. Everything will smell like maple syrup - sweat, pee etc. But, it worked!
If you go to Safeway (I would think other stores would have it but I shop at Safeway and Tj's) , in the tea section, there is a tea called "Mother's Milk" by Traditional Medicinals. I used this with all four of my kids. My last child, I only had one breast "working," so my other breast had to supply enough for my son. I never used used formula-- I am just now weaning him and he's 16mos-- so it should work. You may want to start off drinking several cups throughout the day until your milk supply comes back to how you want it and most importantly drink LOTS of water. They also have a similar product at babies r us, I have used that before also, it is just more convenient for me to get Mother's Milk at Safeway plus I believe it was cheaper. Don't give up. It will come back.
Fenugreek works well. Also take a hot shower and relax, it tends toup the supply. If you dont have a pump you can express milk by playing witht he nipples and squuezing them to start production and put excess milk into a cup. They have to be used to supply milk. If you nipples are having issues try using lanisoh nipple cream. what kind of dmage is it doing? Is the kid not latching properly you might want to check with a BF expert to help you out.
I agree with the other ladies that you should be treated for the thrush as well. You should be able to nurse through it and not cut back feedings. Usually antibiotics are prescribed for the mom when baby has thrush and is nursing.
Anyway, on the fenugreek - it worked great for me! I got it at a health food store. I would also suggest nursing more often until your supply comes back up. The more your baby is latched on (even if they aren't actively sucking) the more your body will get the signal to produce more. That, in combination with the fenugreek should work, but I would get started right away! If you could get a hand pump that would be helpful too. You don't have to have the industrial kind to benefit from it. If you use the hand pump for a few minutes on each breast after every nursing with your baby, it will help increase supply too. Even if nothing is coming out (since you just fed the baby), it's still the "action" on the breast that signals the body to produce more. Hope that helps. :)
I have been drinking an herbal supplement called healthy nursing tea to build my supply that was extremely low. It helped a lot and I was able to exclusively breastfeed my baby.
Use lanolin cream for your nipples.
Did you get treated for thrush too, at the same time as your daughter? if not it can return.
To increase your milk supply, direct nursing is best, on demand... and it will increase according to your baby's needs.
When you decreased your feeding her because of your painful nipples... how was she getting fed? Be careful she does not get dehydrated. How old is she?
Drink lots of water as well... this helps milk production.
All the best,
Susan
You should be treated for yeast as well. I would nurse as often and for as long as possible. I would even pump in between. Your breasts work on supply and demand - ask for more milk by nursing and pumping alot and that is what you will get!
Earth Mama Angel Baby makes the best nipple butter I have ever seen - loads of doulas and midwives use it and it is all natural and safe for baby. I would use it before and after feeding and nursing to really hydrate your nipples to avoid cracking.
Drink plenty of water and eat well. Earth Mama Angel Baby also has breastfeeding teas - basically what you want is fenugreek. But the real key is nursing often - VERY often, to ramp up your milk supply.
:) K., Cape Cod Breastfeeding Moms on FACEBOOK
http://www.mymammasmilk.com
I used the fenugreek and blessed thistle together. Get them at Vitamin World cheaper. You have to use a lot and drink tons of water. Try to nurse more frequently (I know it will hurt) You are doing the best thing for your daughter Please continue.
First, make sure your own thrush gets cleared up- see your doctor.
For your nipples, you can get a nipple shield at target or babies r us to protect your nipples until they heal while you still nurse. Hopefully baby will take it with no problems. It is a little plastic cover that goes over the nipple, made my Medela. Then be sure to give them lots of air time in the open air, and use lanolin cream to soothe them.
For your milk, I used an herbal supplement called More Milk Plus by Mothers Milk. I got it at Whole Foods. Any natural food store like that should have it, or GNC. It has the fenugreek along with blessed thistle and a couple others. My lactation consultant recommended it to give my milk supply a boost when it dropped. I used one bottle and it did help. I have heard the Mother's Tea is great too. Also, make sure you drink like double the water you usually do, and eating oatmeal will help.
The biggest thing that helped me boost my milk supply was double-nursing. I would put him on one side, then the other when that side was drained, then back to the first side, then again on the second side. You have multiple letdowns while you nurse, and sometimes he could get more milk from it the second time, and also it was double the sucking stimulation.
Always make sure she nurses before you give her solids, never after. And it should only be about 20 minutes between nursing and solids, so that you don't space out your feedings. She is definitely not ready to be on solids only, she needs formula or breastmilk til she is a year. When my milk supply dropped my son was 9 mos, and there was no way he could get by on just solids. I did have to supplement with formula for about 2 weeks, after I nursed him as much as I could. But by doing the More Milk supplement and double nursing before I gave him a bottle, I got my supply back up to where it was before and stopped using formula completely. I only gave as much formula as I absolutely had to. All the tips I gave you were given to me by the lactation consultant, just fyi. Good luck!
