Whats the secret?

[GeorgeousGirlBubbas]

Can you please tell me what the secret is to feeding for as long as possible. With first DD i manged well for 3 months but then the milk just seemed to disappear. With the second DD i got to six weeks and i was gone??? I want to feed for as long as i can again. I loved breastfeeding :)

Let me say though that i am a very active person, i like to excercise maybe five days a week. Do you think that this affects the milk? I want to feed but will this mean i have to stay put and not do much to keep my milk?

[Fuchsia!]

i find drinking a glass of water before and after feeding. It helps with milk supply. Otherwise i have know idea! I am really lucky, with both my kids the milk has just seemed to be there! I guess the more they drink the more your body produces

[punkbaby]

Keep your fluids up. Also one thing to remember once your milk settles in usually around 6 weeks you can start to feel empty, like you have nothing, this is where bubs usually starts to get a little unsettled, just because they are going through a growth spurt again etc and we can tend to think we have no milk bubs isnt getting enough etc etc. If bubs has lots of wet nappies then they are getting enough :) I also found this eratic period happened around 5-6months too but it soon passed again. I know when i was feeding my girls i didnt even feel like i had milk, but they drank and were happy so they were getting it! I didnt experience that let down experience i guess.

Bubs is now nearly 6 weeks and i dont have that let down anymore i still feel kinda in between empty if that makes sense but i have lots of milk shes thriving and doing really well, i just make sure i eat well sleep well (if i can) an drink alot of water.

Good luck and you can still be active just make sure you replace any fluids that you lose, ie if its hot drink more, if you have a good work out drink more etc etc if you do find that you feel you dont have much supply give the ABA a call, they are great :)

[AM]

What made you decide your milk was not there? I am asking, because some women think that if they cannot pump much, then they have no milk.

The fact is, you never really run out of milk, if your nipples are being stimulated enough, then your body will create enough milk to supply the demand.

There are however, some things you can do to ensure your baby is spending enough time at the breast.

*Exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months - no bottles, no dummies, no water, no solids.

*Completely demand feed, give the baby access to your boobs 24/7 and allow as much comfort nursing as bub wants.

There are certain things which can help to keep your supply tip top, and they are: sleeping in the day with your baby, eating oats (I have them for breakfast) and you can drink mothers milk herb tea as well.

Having a good diet and not getting run down helps keep you on top of everything.

Drink to thirst, make sure you are well hydrated.

Use a sling, so bub is right in position at the breast, so breastfeeding is extremely easy.

Co-sleep so bub is right there for night feeds, and you get the minimum of disruption.

I don't think exercising would have much of an effect, unless you were getting dehydrated, and if the time away exercising was interfereing with demand nursing.

Women can sometimes think they have lost their milk if bub goes on a nursing strike, these can be worked through, most of the time.

Sometimes bub will be fussy on the breast, and it can be believed that mum has no milk, but usually this will simply be something such as a sore tummy, sore teeth, or perhaps a growth spurt, where bub can be fussy while your milk supply catches up to demand.

Sometimes feeding constantly can be misinterpteted as not enough milk, but this is completely normal, and are just growth spurts.

Sometimes mum begins to feel empty and thinks she has no milk, but this is not true, usually it is just the milk supply settling down and the supply is exactly equalling demand. Your breasts are constantly producing milk, every second, and your breasts are NEVER empty, it is a lot about trusting your body.

There are of course true cases of low supply, and there are loads of galactagogues which you can take to help boost the supply, and a last resort can be to take medication if there is no other option.

During your next pregnancy, I would definitely recommend that you join the ABA, and get to know all of the local breastfeeders, so that when bub is born, you will feel comfortable asking for advice if you need it. And their support is fabulous.

I have been breastfeeding for 3 years and 9 months so far.

All the best :)

[GeorgeousGirlBubbas]

Wow, thank you for the in depth replies, i will register with ABA and i am going to persevere this time round. :)