Increasing Milk Supply

I am definitely drinking enough water - 32 ounces today before 9 am and I am eating enough, but my supply sucks! Most days, I am definitely not pumping enough to meet what DS is consuming at daycare (12-14 ounces during a 9 hour period). Here is what my day looks like:

6:15 am - pump and nurse (if he STTN, I can get 4-6 ounces - if not maybe 2 ounces)

8:45 or 10 am (depending on when I have a free period) - pump and get 3-5 ounces

12 pm - pump and get 2-4 ounces

2:45 pm - pump and get 2-3 ounces

2 late afternoon/evening nursing sessions

7:30 - bedtime nursing

8:45 - pump (maybe 1 ounce) and then go to sleep!

DS' nights are unpredictable - he can STTN or be up 1-3 times. If he STTN, then I have no problem keeping up with demand.

Today, I started having oatmeal for breakfast.

What else have you done to increase your supply? I feel like I am either pumping or nursing ALL day!

ETA: Not sure if this is important, but DS is 4.5 months.

Message edited 9/9/2014 11:12:36 AM.

Increasing Milk Supply

Some people just have low supply no matter what they do. - I'm one of them and it's why we have had to supplement from day one.

Things I've tried that have worked for other people, not necessarily for me - Fenugreek, Lactation Support supplements, Mother's Milk Tea, Motherlove supplements, steel cut oatmeal, lactation cookies.

The only thing that has worked for me is domperidone but it is difficult to get b/c it's not sold in the US unless you have prescription and a compounding pharmacy near you.

ETA: I also now use a hospital grade pump which helps a bit too.

Message edited 9/9/2014 3:45:25 PM.

Increasing Milk Supply

Bump

Re: Increasing Milk Supply

14 oz for that amount of time sounds like too much. Are they paced feeding him? Your supply is likely fine, and he is being overfed. This is very common with daycares/babysitters unfortunately. Supply issues are extremely rare. It's usually something else that can be fixed.

ETA that supplementing does lower your supply so if you don't want to do that I would try pumping more at work. Maybe on your way too and from work if you can't get away any more?

Message edited 9/9/2014 8:14:05 PM.

Re: Increasing Milk Supply

I made lactation cookies when DD was born. They were very helpful. I'm going to make a batch tomorrow since DS was born a few days ago. FM me if you're interested in the recipe.

Re: Increasing Milk Supply

When that happened to me I started pumping for longer sessions, but went to every four hours...then every 6 etc. I found I had to pump around 25-30 ms a session....thank god for hands free bra and battery pack pump. The other part that is important is drinking tons and tons of water....tons! Good luck.

Re: Increasing Milk Supply

Increasing Milk Supply

Thanks ladies. I think he might be being over fed or the pump is just not as efficient. I might look into a hospital grade one. I have medela pis.

I literally pump right before I go to work and right before I leave work. 14 ounces is definitely on the "high end" and means he's getting about 1.5 ounces an hour while I'm gone. The daycare provider BF her baby so she is aware of trying to pace DS with his bottles and she definitely tries to hold him off when she knows I'm coming soon.

So far I have not really supplemented as I'm just getting 14 ounces. I do power pumping - I'm pumping for 30-35 mins min during my off periods. I teach so I don't really have much flexibility.

Re: Increasing Milk Supply

Have you replaced the membranes on the pump. They can develop tiny tears, which will make the pump less efficient. You should replace them every few months.

To help your supply, try More Milk Plus and Mother's Milk Tea. Add in pumping sessions on the weekend to help supplement during the week.

Re: Increasing Milk Supply

how many ounces/feedings are they giving him while you are at work? is he on a schedule with feedings? i had trouble with DD and the daycare feeding her...they would give her bottles too often - they didnt know if she was cranky bc she was hungry or tired or just being a baby. they would give her bottles that she wouldnt finish bc they were feeding her too often. once we got her on a schedule it made things easier. with DS (who is 3+ months old) I got him on a schedule around 2 months. this has helped tremendously and while i am at work i know my mom sticks to it (hes not in daycare) so if he is due to eat at 2pm and its noon and he is cranky she knows not to give a bottle.
i also think if you LO is sttn sometimes and not others, maybe stop the middle of the night nursing sessions and get him to sleep another way (a pacifier maybe)? this way you can get the 4-6 ounces early morning.

have you tried pumping less frequently? everyone is different, but i learned for my body, if i pumped every 2 hours i got pretty much the same amount as if i pumped after 4 hours (give or take half an ounce).

in terms of increasing your supply, i found fenugreek tea helped me. people recommended more milk plus but i didnt notice an increase when taking it so I stuck to fenugreek tea

Increasing Milk Supply

I found mother milk tea helped me a lot. Like 2-3 cups a day. It's okay tasting and sometimes I would add a touch of raw organic honey to it. I also took fenugreek pills but don't think they helped much.

Coincidentally my cousin made these amazing oatmeal cookies w chocolate chips and I ate so many took some home with me and the next few days I had SO much extra milk!