Breast feeding: low milk supply

[sarahkahealani]

I had my son 11/14/13 and he was 33 weeks 6 days so I know how vital breast milk is for him being premature. My first day after he was born I had to work very hard for a few drops but as the days went on I made more and more until I was able to fill 2oz containers each time I pumped. Now that my son is up to 35cc of milk in a bottle plus 15-20 minutes breast feeding every 3 hours, my milk supply has plummeted. I thought the more he fed and the more I pumped the more milk I would produce. But it's the opposite. Now I'm barely making 20-25cc each time I pump. It's stressing me out. I don't want to put my son on formula but if I can't make enough milk to sustain his growth I don't have a choice. Any ladies have this problem and had success with any methods to boost milk production? I don't want to take any supplements, herbal or not. Thanks.

[tlynn289]

Fenugreek tea can help low milk supplies.  Our local herb store also has a bunch of natural ways to increase milk supplies if you have a herb store near you I'd check with them

[Angela24xx]

Try having a video of your son crying whilst you express or doing it when you are with him if you don't already your body is designed to feed him and may not produce enough because he isn't feeding directly off of you. You are doing brilliant and should be so proud at what you have managed so far, I hope I can manage to bf x

[mrsMartinez91]

Oatmeal (not instant), drink lots of water, Lactation cookies, mothers milk tea and fenugreek. Some mom said even gatorade helped.

[sarahkahealani]

Thanks ladies! I've heard about oatmeal. I'm going to try it tomorrow morning and so forth to see it if helps. And I've heard about finugreek but I also heard it can upset baby's stomach :( being that he's premature I didn't want to try anything quite like that yet. But thanks everyone! I feel better now and I'm definitely going to try it.

[4thonecoming]

You can take fenugreek and it will help your milk supply come in also blessed thistle will help. You can make a tea out of them both and make sure your drinking a ton of water and eating good. I had the same problem because my last daughter was in the nicu, good luck

[harribee]

I've had to start supplementing at 3 weeks cos my son wasn't putting on weight fast enough. In the evening my boyfriend gives him a bottle feed whilst I pump some milk to keep my supply up. Initially I felt like I was failing my baby by not being able to feed him but I've realised now I'm doing all I can and some milk is better than none. Hope things work out for you, and try not to stress :) xx

[rasberryxtreme]

Oatmeal! Make stove top oatmeal, not instant because it isn't whole oats. I eat oatmeal every morning and since I started I went from nursing on demand and pumping 8oz a day to nursing and pumping 12-13oz a day!

[RockRose]

Sarah,  you're doing fine.  Trust yourself.

[sarahkahealani]

Thanks! My fiancé says the same thing: don't stress. I'm going to talk to the nurse when I get there for his next feeding and maybe there's a solution where he can drink what milk I do make and supplement formula for the rest of his needs. I love bonding with him during feedings and I wish it were easier but I'll do my best and in the end the main concern is his growth and development, whichever way that is.

[RockRose]

Sarah,  don't stress out over this.   You've tried very hard to breastfeed,  and keep doing that as much as you can produce.  It sounds like your baby is getting what you produce,  and still needs more.

I'm a huge fan of breastfeeding and I get kind of irritated when moms don't value it.  You are NOT in that category - you are doing what you can but your baby may not be getting enough nutrition from that alone.

My mother,  my niece and my former boss all nearly starved babies to death trying their best to breastfeed.  Don't do that,  dear.

You're doing fine.  Breastfeed what you can,  and supplement what you must.  It will all work out fine.