https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:40:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-621294 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:03:08 +0000 hellobeeboston 621294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: yay!!! excellent news! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-621254 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:56:54 +0000 bunnylove08 621254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>glad to hear your production has increased!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-621244 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:54:47 +0000 kiddosc 621244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yay! I know how hard it is to worry about milk supply day in and day out. I'm glad you're seeing a boost! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-621238 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:53:25 +0000 sunny 621238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yay glad you are producing more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-621231 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:52:36 +0000 mrs. wagon 621231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: glad to hear things are going better! I was just reading your post about dropping her off and the wrong room, etc. and felt stressed FOR you :( I know the transition is rocky but you are doing such a great job. Keep on keepin' on with the pumping and all the milk supply work, get plenty of rest and hydrate!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-621179 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:44:24 +0000 78h2o 621179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm happy to report that my supply seems to be getting better! I made the cookies, am drinking the tea, drinking more water, taking the more milk pills, doing more skin-to-skin, hand expressing after pumping, and trying to sleep more! I have enough milk for tomorrow, so no supplementing this week. Phew! Hopefully I'll be able to pump a little extra over the weekend to get ahead again. Thanks so much for your support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-613112 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:50:45 +0000 78h2o 613112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: Thanks so much. I'm sorry that you are struggling with supply as well! I haven't tried the beer, I might try that. I'm ordering those pills now.</p> <p>@Amelieisme: Thanks, I appreciate it.</p> <p>Well, I pumped a total of 9oz today and she drank 11.5 in my absence... She didn't eat between 3:45 and 7:45pm though (although sitter tried a bottle), so she may need me more another day if she can't wait for me. I'm not sure. I'm actually closer than I thought though. I don't work tomorrow, so I'm going to do a lot of skin to skin and pump/nurse all day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-612796 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:38:02 +0000 matador84 612796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like I have started a million threads on this exact same problem! I totally feel your pain. It has been so hard since DS is older (6 months now) and needs more BM at daycare than 8 oz a day. I feel like I've tried everything and my supply is destined to fail! </p> <p>Seriously though, I would try anything! There is a great lactation cookie recipe on the boards, just search for it and dump a ton of brewer's yeast in there. Order MMP from amazon (mine is on the way!) I called my OB's office and he prescribed me Reglan, which I think has helped to maintain my supply more than anything. Drink tons of water, pump extra whenever you can. Drink a dark beer. Buy mother's milk tea. I don't think it tastes that bad and I think it is helping my supply also. I took fenugreek for 9 weeks but I don't think it helped me a whole lot, but this is just me!</p> <p>I do wake up in the middle of night occasionally to pump...I am going oz to oz here. Lately DS has gone through teething and a growth spurt so he has been up in the middle of the night more than he used to so I pump in the morning when my alarm goes off before I get him up and I usually get 2-3 oz then and it rounds out his daycare bottles. </p> <p>There is a lot of good info on this thread. I feel ya! It is hard and freaks you out! Stay at it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-612589 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:11:40 +0000 Amelieisme 612589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: yes, I know. I hated to even consider supplementing with formula when he was EBF. I was hellbent on not giving him any at all, but at some point it was a choice between giving formula or him not getting enough to eat so...we added a little formula. And it really did decrease my stress level and didn't seem to hurt my supply at all. Just some encouragement if you do end up having to supplement that it doesn't mean the end of breast feeding AT ALL. Good luck in getting your supply up! Drink lots of H2O! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611982 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:58:35 +0000 mrsmenow 611982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am so sorry things have been rough for you. PP gave great ideas, just wanted to chime in and let you know I am thinking about you:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611888 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:38:43 +0000 78h2o 611888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlek: @Amelieisme: I will consider supplementing if I simply don't have enough milk to give her or am getting too stressed out. However, I really want to keep trying to get my supply up first. I'm afraid if I start suppplementing, that might make my supply worse. However, if I do have to supplement, I like the idea of formula at night, since she might sleep better. Then I could pump at night and give her the breast milk at daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611880 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:35:12 +0000 bunnylove08 611880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry about your situation. I'm supplementing my DD with formula and breastmilk. It was hard for me too but she needed the nutrients and she nurses from me whenever she can. </p> <p>You can also try some mother's milk tea. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Mothers-Milk-Tea-Bags/dp/B0009Y8AGI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1362429279&#038;sr=8-2&#038;keywords=mothers+milk+tea" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Mothers-Milk-Tea-Bags/dp/B0009Y8AGI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1362429279&#038;sr=8-2&#038;keywords=mothers+milk+tea</a></p> <p>You can buy them at any health food store or vitamin shop </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611859 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:30:28 +0000 78h2o 611859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: Yeah, I'm thinking maybe 3-4 bottles since she's at daycare for a long time... maybe something like this: nurse 4am, nurse 7am, bottle 9am, bottle 12pm, bottle 3pm, bottle 5pm, nurse 7pm, nurse 10pm? Except that I told daycare to give the bottles whenever she seems hungry... I gave them 4 bottles, 2 x 4oz, 1 x 3oz, 1 x 2oz. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611683 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:36:26 +0000 Kemma 611683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry to hear life is rough at the moment, sending you hugs!</p> <p>I'm not sure if you've heard of it but it's not uncommon for babies to reverse cycle once Mum goes back to work. Basically baby feeds less during the day then more frequently during the evening and night. I think that if you can manage some extra feeds when you are with baby this should boost your supply and take the pressure off your pump requirements.</p> <p>Hang in there Mama, you're doing a wonderful job!</p> <p>ETA LO will be far more efficient at removing milk from the breast than your pump so she'll be getting plenty of milk during her nursing sessions :-)</p> <p>And another thought, LLL usually recommends around 8 feeding sessions in the course if 24 hours, so if LO fed twice before daycare (wake up and on drop off at day care) and three times before bed (pick up, "dinner" and bedtime) plus two bottles at daycare then that's pretty much her daily requirements! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611650 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:27:22 +0000 Amelieisme 611650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am sorry to hear about your current situation with your husband! How stressful.</p> <p>I agree with @78h2o try giving a little formula here and there in order to take the stress off. I had to start doing that a little later than you are (5.5 months) but it really relieved my stress about producing enough milk. And I was able to play catch up a bit. Our schedule now is that he gets BM every feed, except the one right before bed, he gets a formula bottle and I am able to pump one more session a day because of this. It really made the whole breast feeding thing a lot less stressful.</p> <p>Hugs to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611610 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:16:30 +0000 littlek 611610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I started supplementing I still had a very good freezer stash. I just started adding in a few bottles of formula so LO could get used to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611499 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:49:37 +0000 78h2o 611499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.SK: Thank you so much for your input. My LO is 3 months old today. She will be at daycare for 9-10 hrs, then have a babysitter for 2 hours at my house on Mon and Wed. Thursday will be a little shorter day for me. I told the babysitter today to give any leftover milk first if she's still hungry before I get home and to use freezer milk second. I had heard 1-1.25 oz per hour, so I'm hoping that's enough. Maybe after today I'll have a better idea of what I need to send. </p> <p>I got 2 oz is 30 min, posted here and continued for another 30 and got 2 more oz... but I can try to do 15 min sessions more frequently if my schedule allows. I don't know what their plan is for feeding her at daycare. I told them to feed her whenever she looks hungry. They have some other bf babies, but most seem to be on formula.</p> <p>@sunny: Yeah, and not just stress, but LO and I were moving around and staying in different hotels last week, so our schedule/routine was off and I wasn't drinking as much water, etc. I went back home though for the time being. I'm glad to know that your supply recovered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611356 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:07:36 +0000 sunny 611356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry to hear about your troubles with your husband -- stress is a huge problem for supply. The first week I went back to work my supply was terrible. I pumped 3x the first day and barely got 6 oz.</p> <p>It only got better the next week after I stopped stressing a bit. I think the main thing that helped was that we had a small extra stash I dipped into. I think once the pressure was off me it helped. I also ate tons of oatmeal, used MMP, Fenugreek and drank lots of water. I know formula isn't what you wanted, but would knowing that its in your back pocket ease your stress a bit? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611343 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:02:45 +0000 78h2o 611343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: That's a good idea. I'll try to do more skin-to-skin. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611337 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:01:50 +0000 Ms.SK 611337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You are going to be ok. It is a vicious cycle but you will make it! Call in your BF support - STAT and if that is us on HB great! You can do this - I EBF twins just keep up your determination! How old is your LO, I can give better advice knowing that.</p> <p>You will find it is going to be easier to build your supply once you are separated from your Little One. It is easier to get milk when you are away than trying to fill in pumping sessions between feedings.</p> <p>The 13 oz you sent could actually be to much. All you need is 1 oz per hour of separation. The best milk calculator and information is on <a href="http://www.kellymom.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.kellymom.com</a>. There is a lot of information there.</p> <p>Also, no need to pump for half an hour. My LC told me 15 min. max no matter the output. Make sure your sessions are no more than 3 hours apart (from the end not the start). You could do every 2 hours for a week if your job will allow you.</p> <p>Amazon has the More Milk Plus the cheapest (about $25 for 120 pills and free shipping). I ordered them and got them 3 days later, no need to pay for expedidted shipping. I take it daily and it does help. They also sell at Whole Foods for about $40 for 30 pills. </p> <p>It may also help you knowing that there was a time my supply went down from 24 oz a day (this is not the norm but remember I have twins) to 11 oz. IT DOES COME BACK, and it can come back in a big way. This increase happened over 2 days!</p> <p>Also, how will your DC space out the feedings? Is your DC breastfeeding friendly? I have seen plenty of stories where the DC tries to use BM like formula. They are not the same so don't let them tell you they need more. Let me know about this because I can give you more advice. </p> <p>I hope some of this helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611303 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:43:09 +0000 immabeetoo 611303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: sorry to hear you &amp; your husband are having troubles - and that your supply is taking a hit. :( Hope stress eases up; my lactation consultant said skin to skin can do wonders for supply, maybe snuggle up tonight with LO? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611233 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:25:09 +0000 pelikila 611233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: Yes, those are the MMP capsules. I would first try just the MMP capsules for a few weeks and see if that alone does it for you (4-6 capsules a day was what I needed). Some people find success with just MMP and some people need a bit of a boost of just fenugreek or blessed thistle, etc. The less you've got going on to get the results you need, the better so try to slowly introduce things so you don't over do it. MMP capsules have Fenugreek, blessed thistle, nettle and fennel seed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611203 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:12:45 +0000 78h2o 611203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, these are the pills I have: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gaia-Herbs-Lactate-Support-60-capsule/dp/B0036THLJK/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1362416940&#038;sr=1-3&#038;keywords=more+milk+plus" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Gaia-Herbs-Lactate-Support-60-capsule/dp/B0036THLJK/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1362416940&#038;sr=1-3&#038;keywords=more+milk+plus</a></p> <p>Should I get the more milk ones as well?<br /> Are these the right ones? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Motherlove-More-Milk-Vegetarian-Capsules/dp/B000ITVRD2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1362417152&#038;sr=8-1&#038;keywords=more+milk+plus" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Motherlove-More-Milk-Vegetarian-Capsules/dp/B000ITVRD2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1362417152&#038;sr=8-1&#038;keywords=more+milk+plus</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611189 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:05:33 +0000 78h2o 611189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: yeah, i'm going to look into that because I feel like more gets sucked in than should. </p> <p>@pelikila: Ok, I'll give that a try. I used to hand express before I had a pump, so I do know how to do it.</p> <p>@travelgirl1: Thanks lady. It seems that I simply MUST eat cookies... I might be able to tolerate that, lol. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611177 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:03:43 +0000 pinkcupcake 611177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: I'm really sorry to hear about you and your dh :( sounds like you are going through so much stress right now. </p> <p>Before going they RX route, I'd try more milk plus, fenugreek and blessed thistle. I saw a huge increase in milk when I took all three together. Adding a pumping session at 12-1am will prob help too. The more you pump/nurse = increase in m ilk production. </p> <p>Also, easier said than done but I'd try to get good sleep,, eat healthy, and stress less... That could all help milk production too. Best of luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611165 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:01:16 +0000 hellobeeboston 611165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: yeah - I actually started a new post about the proper fit - I got a smaller breast shield and have noticed a much greater output! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611164 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:00:59 +0000 pelikila 611164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: You don't want to totally sleep deprive yourself but if you can slip in more pump sessions, do what you can. I really think if you hand express at the end of each pump session (if you aren't already) you'll be surprised at how much more milk you can perhaps get. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611159 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:00:37 +0000 travelgirl1 611159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: I'm so sorry you're going through such a rough time right now. I'm on my phone so can't write loads but will comment again when I get to the laptop. In short though, I had supply issues lately and lactation cookies with a load of brewers yeast in them really helped, as did more milk plus and some meds from my OB. Getting more sleep (easier said than done when you're stressed) helped me hugely with supply, and maybe pumping after midnight when milk production is high. Also, I wear milk collectors that press on your boob and collect any leakage that can then be added to a bottle - every little helps! Big hugs, hope it all gets easier for you soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611156 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:00:10 +0000 78h2o 611156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PrincessBaby: Thanks, hon! I may try to make those cookies tomorrow. My mom sent me some brewer's yeast... I will also call my OB and see if they can prescribe something.</p> <p>@hellobeeboston: That's good to know that your body got used to the pump and produced more. I'm going to try to have a lactation consultant look at my pump, since I'm not sure it fits me as well as it could. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/crap-my-milk-supply-sucks-and-my-lo-just-started-daycare#post-611135 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:52:53 +0000 78h2o 611135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pelikila: Thanks. I'm taking some other pills my sister gave me... I think I'll order the More Milk Plus... I'll try anything. I am pumping right before bed, but not waking up to pump. I nurse her at 7, she goes to bed, I do a dream feed ~10 and pump a little before bed, she nurses around 4 am, and then again at 7am. Should I wake up at 12-1am to pump? </p>