Supply - question for the experts

[lovemybub]

Okay all you breastfeeding experts. I know that if you want to build up your milk supply you should feed your bub more often, but I'm wondering what exactly it is about feeding more often that helps increase the supply.

For example, is it actually draining the breast more often that increases the supply, or is simply stimulating the breast more often (by either feeding or expressing) good enough?

Am a bit low on supply today after yesterday's fiasco (see the "Breast refusal" thread), and although bubs is feeding fine again today, I feel like I have hardly any milk. She also prefers one breast over the other, and so I'm a little worried about the non-favourite being under stimulated, and therefore dwindling in supply and starting a catch 22 kind of situation.

Okay. Hit me with your advice girls! :yelclap:

[Oscar's mum]

I am certainly no expert at all, but I think that stimulating the breast ie the feeding or expressing will also increase your supply! I don't believe it actually has to be drained completely for this to happen! As I said I am no expert but!

[Rainbowbrite]

I dont know how it works, only that it does :thumbsup: If MJ has a "sucky" day & drinks heaps, then by the next morning i'm huge, lumpy & will leak from the side i'm NOT feeding from :eek: They also refill quicker somehow :p She drains them ok though.

Sorry I didnt help much, but i dont know how they work :)

RB

[Oscar's mum]

I just found the following, don't know how much help it is though.........

Your milk will vary in colour often from one feed to another. Sometimes it can be watery but nevertheless it will still be filled with nutrition. As your baby grows the composition changes to meet your baby's needs. Your breasts will produce in response to your babys sucking. When your baby starts to suck the sucking will be strong and fast as the flow of what is called formilk begins. As the feed progresses your will notice that the sucking becomes more rhythmical. This is when the nutritious hind milk that's rich in fat's and other nutrients is reached.

[Funkychicken]

In Shelia Kitzingers book "BREASTFEEDING" she says the best way to increase your supply is to spend a weekend in bed with bub just feeding as much as possible. This increases your supply by making your body produce more and you resting is also one of the best ways to increase supply. We get so busy running around here and there and it does catch up with us. Our supply is affected by this so resting for a day or two can do wonders.

[1stbaby]

I am no expert....only been feeding for 6 weeks but a midwife told me that you can tell your baby has had hind milk if they come off the breast with that drunk look on their face...has anyone else heard this?
I was told if I wanted to increase my supply in a 24-48 hour period to express regularly after feeding...Its hard work though.
Interesting reading Sal008's point is interesting because I found when I had a day of rest and just concentrated on feeding, it really worked wonders.

[Oscar's mum]

Our supply is affected by this so resting for a day or two can do wonders.

I think that is to ensure that you get the whole let down! As I said previously though I am not an expert!

[RachWA]

Feeding bubs more often or expressing even 20ml extra after a usual feed increases your milk supply because your body remakes the milk taken from it.

The more milk taken the more your body thinks it needs to produce. It is good to get feeding back on track and then allowing the milk to settle to what your baby takes.

It is recommened that you drink 2-3litres of water a day to also help your supply.

[Mumma_al]

I was told that sleeping or having a nap in the afternoon set your breasts up for the afternoon feed. But I know that having a nap is easy said than done

[Notchalk]

Two factors affect the supply and demand thing with BF:

Stimulation (suckling)
Milk Removal

When your breasts are 'empty' (you know they are never really empty) and the baby is stimulating the breast trying to get more, the milk is made faster, on the spot.

When a lot of milk is left in the breast, milk production is turned right down.

Also as the breastfeeding relationship goes on, it becomes much more efficient, ie, you don't produce much more than the baby actually needs, and if you feed at the same times each day, your body knows when it needs to make milk, not storing it for hours 'just incase'.

The only true way to tell if your bub is getting enough, is by wet nappies.

But as someone else said, the best way to increase supply, is to demand more! Spend 24 hours in bed with bub and feeeeeeeeeeeeed. Also drink lots of water, eat well and sleep. If you want to, you could try fenugreek capsules, one three times a day ( I think it's meant to be that much). I had a supply scare one day, and took one capsule, had a nap, and woke up with melons! I'm quite sensitive to it I think!

Good luck!

Jo

[MariaO]

the nap definitely works (if you get to do it!) I found that if I slept for an hour in the evening and then expressed i produced way more than if I had not slept.