milk supply tablets?

[princessellie]

u know these milk supply tablets? fenugreek and all them? how low does ur milk supply have to be to take them? ive thought for a while that my milk supply is low but shes still putting on weight, she just always seems more hungry...is it completely safe to take these tablets or are they only like an emergency kind of thing?

also, does anyone else know any other ways to increase? have just read about porridge, didnt know that so am gna have some this morning

x

 

[jenstar]

Yes as far as I know they are all safe.

A girl I know stopped the fenugreek though because it made her smell baaaaaad, really stinking sweat. It didn't affect me at all that way though. I also used domperidone with no ill effects. Other techniques would be to double pump both sides at once or to do switch feeding/ pumping of 5 or 10 mins each side and keep swopping. Also different positions to ensure you are getting all the milk ducts drained.

But if Leyla is putting on weight ok you maybe don't need to do anything at all.

 

[Mervs Mum]

I took fenugreek. My supply must have been fine because she was gain weight find etc. I'm just greedy! They do make you smell like a cross between a curry and maple syrup! The can make you sweat more too. Milk ducts are pretty much the same as sweat glads so they go into over drive too.

I eat porridge every morning and I think thats as good. Motilium travel pills also stimulate it but I wouldnt touch them as they are a chemical and not natural.

She's only tiny still - with BM digesting so easily she will probably still be feeding every 2 hours or even more at this stage honey. Back yourself - if she's gaining, weeing and pooing and seems happy otherwise then your milk is probably fine.

 

[Michy]

Fenugreek is most effective when taken for the first 2 weeks after birth while hormones are in control of your milk production, before supply and demand mechanics take over. However it is still supposed to have a positive effect on milk production whenever it is taken.

It can upset LOs tummy tho and when I was taking it I think it made my LOs colic worse, he was extremely windy, so I stopped.

I know I'm a bit different because I pump to feed, but the only thing that really worked for me was to pump pump pump! If I had a few days of intense pumping my milk supply really increased.

 

[Sovereign]

took fenugreek. My supply must have been fine because she was gain weight find etc. I'm just greedy! They do make you smell like a cross between a curry and maple syrup! The can make you sweat more too. Milk ducts are pretty much the same as sweat glads so they go into over drive too.

I found this too!

 

[princessellie]

hmm so maybe i should just pump more, i just find that when im pumping i can only get 4oz! like 3 from first and 1oz from second! that cant be good can it, i used to be able to get 4oz easily out of one then same from the other

im also worried that if i do pump its not draining as well as leyla would do it, and that there wont be enough left for her in my boobs if im pumping all the time?

x

 

[Mervs Mum]

The more you pump the more you'll be able to get. And the more you pump the more you'll produce.

First time I pumped I got an ounce after about half an hour!!! I couldnt believe it!! I then got a bit more and a bit more. I remember I used to get excited about getting 3 oz!! I can get 9oz now!! If you get in to a pumping rountine that helps.
In the morning you will get more and pumping one side while feeding on the other will produce more too.
I used to get up with my eldest, about an 2 hrs before my LO woke and pumped both sides - I'd have at least a full feed and plenty of time for them to refill before she woke.
Now I just pump one side and she has the other as she wakes a bit earlier these days.
Try pumping at the same time each day. Preferably in the morning and while feeding. If you arent feeding, make sure you look at your baby or their picture. This will help too.

 

[Michy]

I do think tho that now is your best time for increasing supply because once you get to 11/12 weeks your supply is going to be established and I understand harder to increase production after then.

I have recently dropped from 12 pumps a day to 6 pumps a day and haven't taken a drop in production at all, so am guessing that my supply is pretty stable now.

I also think (just what I have found) that pumping works best if you try to simulate a growth spurt, so I would have 4 days where I pumped say every 3 hours and then 4 days where I pumped every hour and a half. This is how I steadily got from producing 2oz a day to 50oz.

Also remember to pump between 1 and 4 (or even better let LO feed then) because that is when your prolactin levels are highest.

 

[princessellie]

thanks everyone

x

 

[mommyof3co]

Yeah fenugreek is all natural and completely safe...it does make you smell like maple syrup though...the longer you take it the stronger it smells. But if you are worried you can take some and see, but make sure you are drinking lots and lots of wate, that alone can make a huge difference

 

[Mervs Mum]

I do think tho that now is your best time for increasing supply because once you get to 11/12 weeks your supply is going to be established and I understand harder to increase production after then.

I have recently dropped from 12 pumps a day to 6 pumps a day and haven't taken a drop in production at all, so am guessing that my supply is pretty stable now.

I also think (just what I have found) that pumping works best if you try to simulate a growth spurt, so I would have 4 days where I pumped say every 3 hours and then 4 days where I pumped every hour and a half. This is how I steadily got from producing 2oz a day to 50oz.
Also remember to pump between 1 and 4 (or even better let LO feed then) because that is when your prolactin levels are highest.

Wow Michy! I still cant believe how well you have done for such a long time exclusively pumping - amazing job girly x

 

[Michy]

Can't believe I am still going either! I really thought that when I dropped pumps my supply would steadily decrease and I'd gradually move over to formula, but it just hasn't happened, I just produce the same amount!

 

[Mervs Mum]

That's brilliant Michy xxx

 

[1st_baby]

I want to BF my second one although im not pregnant yet I will be in 1-2 years and will be coming here for advice ..im not giving up this time lol

But i was wondering can I get the Fenugreek stuff here in canada ? My SIL is trying to get PG and if i could help her get some of this (if she needs it) it would be great

 

[Mervs Mum]

Ebay usually have some.

 

[1st_baby]

ahh good ty hun !

 

[princessellie]

is the ebay one safe? is there anything i should look out for to see if its real or not? and cant u buy it in somewhere like holland and barratt?

x

 

[1st_baby]

Im gonna have a look around my local natural supplement stores see if they have it

 

[Mervs Mum]

You can get them in a good health food store - not sure about Holland and Barratt but they arent too hard to get hold of.

 

[princessellie]

cool, thanks, will have a look next time im in town

x