Ideas for boosting supply

[Funkychicken]

I've discovered after a weigh in that my 4 mth old bub isn't gaining anywhere near what he should be. My supply seems to be low so I was wondering what everyone else who has been through this did to boost their milk supply. I have started taking Fenugreek capsules and I'm putting him to my breast at least every two hours. He seems so hungry and after my let down there doesn't seem to be much more there for him. Is there any other foods that can help or ones I shouldn't be having? I fed my first two babies with a huge supply of milk so I'm a bit baffled. Actually, I'm pretty devastated-I feel like I haven't been doing the right thing by my little bub. He is really happy so I think he is fulfilling his hunger just not enough to be gaining enough weight. Any suggestions??:)

[draught]

Sal
Isn't it hard when you are doing everything right but they don't put on weight? My lactation consultant was a big believer in improving the quality of your milk rather than the quantity. Her idea was that we don't have enough animal protein in our diet - instead of cereal and fruit for breakfast she said we should have pate and toast or savoury mince, or sardines. Then instead of a yoghurt snack have a sausage roll. For lunch don't have a thin slice of ham on a sandwich - have a piece of steak....etc, etc, etc. I certainly found that the days I ate lots of animal protein I had a happier and more settled baby, so I think there is something in it. So maybe try changing your diet and see if the increased protein and fat in your milk helps.

Hope you find something that works for you both.

[Goosie22]

I'm pretty devastated-I feel like I haven't been doing the right thing by my little bub. He is really happy so I think he is fulfilling his hunger just not enough to be gaining enough weight. Any suggestions??:)

:hugs: He is Happy is all you need to focus on dont worry about not gaining weight. I agree with the increasing animal protien to boost your milk quality can work. All the things you are doing will increase your supply, but that still may not increase your babies weight gain, the CHN will encourage you to start cereal or comp with formula and for what just so you meet their normal standard?

[Bessie]

This might be an old wives tale but it worked for me... I was in Greece visiting rellies and there they get bf mums to eat honey... as bmilk is sweet maybe there is something in it? I remember well eating a honey pastry and then my milk came in much more, it was quite dramatic really.
I just did a search and found this http://au.health.yahoo.com/041101/25/1v0d.html?r=967673065 so perhaps there is some truth...
I remember that you shouldn't give honey to bubs under 1 but bf seems to be OK > http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-foods.html
"Can a nursing mother eat honey?
Honey is not a problem for mom to eat. The gut flora of adults and children over a year old are able to fend off the botulism spores that may be present in honey, and render them harmless. Since the spores would be killed in your gastrointestinal tract, they would not make it into your bloodstream and therefore cannot be present in your milk."

ATB, keep persisting, I'm sure you are doing right by your bub, also try to relax (hard with other children I know) as it could be an oxytocin thing? I think this is related to let down, and is called "The mothering hormone".
I found this link which recommends expressing to stimulate your milk supply http://www.pregnancyandbabycare.com/faq.asp?newsid=16142
"At the same time as getting this fixed, it should help you to express very, very often - at least 8 times in 24 hours - until you are confident your baby is expertly removing milk. Any fewer times expressing than this will not boost your supply - it's hard work but it's essential, and you will be able to wind down expressing when your daughter begins to feed effectively."
I googled "boost milk supply" and there were lots of similar articles, this one looked good too http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html
Good luck!

[Funkychicken]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I really think there is a combination of factors happening here. Hamish is slightly tounge-tied and at birth it was looked at but because he was gaining so well, we decided to just keep an eye on it. This may explain why he isn't latching on as well as he used to. He latches on and then slides his mouth down the nipple so he is just sucking the nipple. I did notice this a few weeks ago but my let down was still really strong so I figured it wasn't too much of a concern. I'm going to call ABA tomorrow as they were wonderful when my DD self weaned at 10 mths (5 years ago). I have been trying to express today repeatedly, both manually and with an electric pump and was lucky to get about 20mls all day. It's so frustrating as I have always been like a jersey cow when it comes to feeding my babies.
He is due to be weighed again on Tues and we may have to see a specialist about his tounge. I'll take it one step at a time, starting with ABA tomorrow. In the meantime I guess I'm looking at another night of hourly feedings.

[Milly]

Also, bear in mind that the current charts that the MCHN are using are based on predominently formula fed babies who gain weight at a much faster rate than breastfed babies (WHO is bring out new charts sometime this year that reflect breastfed babies). Also, it is not unusual for weight to plateau at times. Just as long as there is some gain and your baby is showing other signs of thriving (alert, bright eyed etc etc) then that is a good sign that your baby is progessing just fine. And remember as well that the baby gets more milk feeding directly from you then what you see when you express. For example, I know that my supply is good, but if I were to express now this very moment I would be lucky to get a few good mls as well (and my baby fed a few hours ago too). So, don't always take the expressed quantity as a sign of supply. Popping your baby directly onto the breast, as you are already doing, every couple of hours should really help and it will take a day or two for supply to catch up too. So, just keep at it if you are worried about supply. Also, supply can drop temporarily of your period is returning. Could that be a possible factor too?

Definetly give the ABA a call and have a chat to a Counsellor as well and you may get some other hints as well.

Hang in there:)

[Funkychicken]

Also, bear in mind that the current charts that the MCHN are using are based on predominently formula fed babies who gain weight at a much faster rate than breastfed babies (WHO is bring out new charts sometime this year that reflect breastfed babies). Also, it is not unusual for weight to plateau at times. Just as long as there is some gain and your baby is showing other signs of thriving (alert, bright eyed etc etc) then that is a good sign that your baby is progessing just fine. And remember as well that the baby gets more milk feeding directly from you then what you see when you express. For example, I know that my supply is good, but if I were to express now this very moment I would be lucky to get a few good mls as well (and my baby fed a few hours ago too). So, don't always take the expressed quantity as a sign of supply. Popping your baby directly onto the breast, as you are already doing, every couple of hours should really help and it will take a day or two for supply to catch up too. So, just keep at it if you are worried about supply. Also, supply can drop temporarily of your period is returning. Could that be a possible factor too?

Definetly give the ABA a call and have a chat to a Counsellor as well and you may get some other hints as well.

Hang in there:)

I think you may have nailed it for me! I got my period back this morning :thumbsdown: That in itself was a bit of a shock. I had 9mths and 7 mths period-free respectively with our first two, so I wasn't expecting it so soon. It also has probably contributed to why i was feeling so inadequate at the moment. Generally I am very confident and capable when it comes to breastfeeding and this whole episode has had me declining emotionally over the last few days. This evening I am feeling a lot stronger which is fairly normal for me once my period has started.
Thanks again everyone.:D

[Goosie22]

Glad your back on track:)

[Tamz]

Glad you found out what the problem was. AF definatly drops your supply.

Oatmeal helps with milk supply, i make cookies :) yum yum

Good luck with everything :)

Tamz

[Frazzled]

That is def your problem Sal, the same thing happened to me - I got my AF after 7 weeks:eek: and thats when I has big issues and E stopped gaining weight altogether:thumbsdown:

I know now that next time I will take better care of myself and eat and rest more, I think that had a lot to do with me.

Really look after yourself. Don't be surprised if bub is unsetteld while you have your perios because often it changes the taste of your milk - so my doc says anyway?

Drink Sustagen. Drink heaps of water, they told me that while my supply was low that I should drink 3 litres a day. Have you tried expressing in between as well? Cashew nuts.

Good luck and DO NOT BEAT YOURSELF UP!!! You are doing the best you can and remember thats all any of us can do:hugs:

[Milly]

That is good that you found out what it is. You can still succssfully keep breastfeeding. Just keep up what you are doing and your supply will right itself. It may just be a bit funny for a little while. But it will get back on track. I have a couple friends who have successfully kept breastfeeding after their period returned and went to feed til toddlerdom too. I got my period when My DD was 10months old but we kept feeding for another 3 months. One friend got her period in the first three months and she has fed 12 months plus. So breastfeeding can still be done if you want to keep going. So, don't stress too much.

All the very best with sorting it out and still give that ABA Counsellor a call for those extra hints as well and to talk to someone about it. It will be easier to get ideas on supply tips or other things now that you have a diagnosis for it. :)

[munchkin05]

bens weight gain has always been slow so we have been to lactation consultant etc to see if i was doing it right but even once he started solids his weight gain is still slow they say its cause hes just using all his food up because hes very active

i rang king edward hospital here in perth and they said goto my doctor and tell them i want a prescription for a drug called motillium its main thing is to treat reflux but that helped my milk supply heaps and it doesnt effect ben at all

[Funkychicken]

I spoke with a counsellor from ABA today and after explaining what is happening, she didn't seem to think I need to be too concerned. I actually feel like I have increased my supply over the last day or two-mainly from feeding Hamish at every oppurtunity. He is feeding throughout the night and seems to be more settled in the night also. The counsellor said that the hormone changes that come with a returning period may have been enough for him to notice the difference in my milk-hence his not latching on and guzzling as he was.
I feel so relieved that I have gotten on top of this for now-one of my worst fears would be to have to put my baby on formula. I know that may sound selfish to an extent but I really think formulas is putrid stuff. I fed my DS#1 for 14.5 months and planned to feed DD for at least 18 months but she self-weaned at 10 months and I was devastated. It took some time for me to accept it was out of my control. All of this has come flooding back as I have dealt with my current situation and I think I was really fearing a similar thing even though this has been an entirely different situation. I plan to feed Hamish for at least 18months and hopefully beyond that.
Tomorrow I'm taking Hamish to be weighed again but I'm not too concerned now as he is just such a happy little soul.:)

[draught]

Well done Sal! Sounds like you are on top of it. I agree with you - without wanting to put anyone who uses formula down, I have been very blessed to be able to avoid either of my children having it yet. I am:fingerscrossed: that number 3 will be the same.

[Funkychicken]

:smiliedance: HAPPY, HAPPY ME!!:smiliedance:

Hamish and I visited the health centre today and he has gained 100 gms in the last six days!!:yelclap: I was so relieved when I saw the scales go up-all the hard yards of extra feeding over the last 6 days was soooooo worth it.
Now it's up to me to maintain it so more nights ahead of feeding him up until we feel like we are on top of this and can establish routine again.
Thanks again everyone for your support and advice-you girls are great!:D

[Tam-I-Am]

Hey Sal,

I went through similar things with DD (as you may remember - you posted on my thread at the time!) - and kept saying to my mum that I felt so selfish - she pointed something out to me that helped me, that I think might help you.

Feeling as though you want to continue breastfeeding, and feeling put off by any other type of feeding, ie formula, is nature's way of ensuring that your baby gets the best that it can for as long as it can. Therefore its not selfish - it just natural!

I'm glad your supply has evened out, and good work - 100gm in 6 days is a fantastic effort!:hugs:

[Funkychicken]

Hey Sal,

I went through similar things with DD (as you may remember - you posted on my thread at the time!) - and kept saying to my mum that I felt so selfish - she pointed something out to me that helped me, that I think might help you.

Feeling as though you want to continue breastfeeding, and feeling put off by any other type of feeding, ie formula, is nature's way of ensuring that your baby gets the best that it can for as long as it can. Therefore its not selfish - it just natural!

I'm glad your supply has evened out, and good work - 100gm in 6 days is a fantastic effort!:hugs:
Thanks Tami.:)