Increasing supply

[writingislove]

I've been struggling with my supply since day 1. It recently got worse due to stress, and I'm trying to increase it. I've been taking fenugreek and I'm trying to pump after feedings, but my LO is a cluster feeder so if I pump, by the time she's hungry again I pretty much have nothing to offer her and end up warming the milk I pumped, which defeats the whole purpose. How do you successfully pump between feedings to increase supply without draining all the milk to offer your baby?

 

[dustergrl]

Talk to a lactation consultant. If you can't, try this: Since the breast is never empty, I'd put her on after you pump. Even if she isn't getting a lot that way, she is still stimulating your body to produce more. Keep her on for at least five minutes on each side, or until she gets fussy, and then feed her pumped milk. Babies are more efficient at getting all the milk out than a pump is.

I have found oats to really boost my production. I eat Cheerios and chewy granola bars.

 

[writingislove]

I do have free access to an LC, so that's a good idea. I eat Cheerios every day and just started eating oatmeal yesterday, so I'm hoping that will make a difference.

Off topic, but our LOs have the same birthday.

 

[noon_child]

I've been struggling with my supply since day 1...if I pump, by the time she's hungry again I pretty much have nothing to offer her and end up warming the milk I pumped, which defeats the whole purpose. How do you successfully pump between feedings to increase supply without draining all the milk to offer your baby?

The breast doesn't need to "fill up" for your baby to get milk. In fact there isn't really much space in the breast to store milk between feeds, so a lot of the milk a baby gets is produced while they are feeding. However a baby who is having problems feeding (tongue tie, poor co-ordinated sucking, thrush in mouth etc.) may rely on the fast let down they get initially and then not bother to suck the rest of the time to get the milk that is being newly produced. Sometimes babies who develop bottle preference also refuse to do the hard work of sucking.

If you believe LO has a good latch, then trust that your baby is getting milk because breasts can't get "empty" (because they don't really get full -engorgement is oversupply and once your supply regulates you won't ever think you have full breasts because milk is made to order) and offer her the breast as often as possible.

 

[stormcloud96]

I did Fennel Tea and have had oversupply issues. I just used fennel seeds to make the tea. I read somewhere that you should pump after the morning feed, as that's when you either get the most or get the longest between? I don't know but works for me. Good luck!

 

[RaspberryK]

What exactly is it that makes you think you have low supply? X

 

[dustergrl]

Off topic, but our LOs have the same birthday.

Aw, I call Dorian my little groundhog!

Let me know what the LC says.