keeping up the milk supply question

keeping up the milk supply question

besides fenugreek, what are the other 'natural remedies' for keeping up milk supply? I hear a lot about mother's milk tea? or some thistle thing? and how much fenugreek do you take a day? (i already eat oatmeal every morning, so I have that part covered..)

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

I don't know much about fenugreek. I drank mother's milk tea everyday until Maiah was 6 months old.

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

Can you please fill me in on fenugreek,mother's milk tea & oatmeal.

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

I took fenugreek 3x a day (2 pills) ?? when my supply dipped. It came up within a couple of days.

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

I have NO clue why the oatmeal works but it does. Regular is better than instant but both work. You can even eat oatmeal cookies (homemade) and that will help

Fenugeek is an herb and so is Blessed Thistle. Most healthfood places have Fenugeek but I hear Blessed Thistle is harder to find.

You also need sleep (ya, right) and less stress. Both help increase your supply. Adding a pumping session works wonders as well.

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

Nurse, nurse, nurse!!! The more often you nurse, the better your supply will be in response!! And think positive ..... if you think you're not producing, you won't. Don't know why, but its true.

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

Ive just slept well and drank plenty of water. Been going on 20 months now.

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

20 MONTHS!!!! Oh my GOD that is amazing!!!!! You must be a pro!!!!

Thanks for all the advice guys. I am going to up my fenugreek as I was taking less than what seems to be standard (I confirmed this with my new LC as well..). I think I'll skip the Bless Thistle or whatever it is cause it sounds kinda funky!

I am just so excited that right NOW I have 2 - yes TWO 4 oz bottles of breastmilk in the refrigerator!!!!

My mom is coming tomorrow for 4 days, and those bottles mean MANICURE FOR SOPHIA'S MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

yay jenny!!! you deserve it!

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

Jenny, it will be a while before you make lots of milk to pump out several ounces at a time. It took me 3 months to establish my supply.

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

---

Posted by NIHA

Jenny, it will be a while before you make lots of milk to pump out several ounces at a time. It took me 3 months to establish my supply.

---

I know. I wish it didnt' have to take so long! I get so excited when I see that little bottle filling up!

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

I was able last night to get a true pumping session in - my mom gave a bottle of expressed milk (that I was so proud of I wanted to save it instead of giving it to the baby. My mom had to pry it from my hands!!! )

So I pumped for around 15 minutes and got 2 oz. Which is one ounce more than I used to get. So something is working. Now - should I have gone for more time? Would there be another let down? I experienced 2 let downs I think. The first was right off the bat (I was leaking when I sat down to pump though) and then around 5 minutes in, it just turned on like a faucet. I definitely find that thinking about Sophia brings it on for sure.

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

if you still have milk keep going! massage the breast a bit during pumping..makes a difference for me.

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

I think they're right ... pumping takes practice. At first, I was only able to get about 2 oz, but now I can get about 4 in about 10 min.

I know exactly what you mean about not wanting to give it to her at first ... you worked so hard for it! But its a great feeling!

On the flip side ... I was SO MAD when a bottle SPOILED on me ... .... Pouring it down the drain was agony!

Go enjoy your manicure ... you definitely deserve it!!!

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

Pump until no more milk is coming out. I used to reposition the nipple shields as things slowed down so I could try to stimulate different milk glands.

Re: keeping up the milk supply question

That helps me too Victoria.

And a little side note: (TMI) my nipples are getting cracked from pumping. I thought that could only happen with actual BF, but I was wrong. I may need the larger sized horns. My LC told me to put a drop of olive oil on your nipples to help ease any friction of the horns.

I am adding this in case anyone is experiencing the problem too. Who ever thought I would talk about my nipples on a chatroom?