https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:11:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-low-milk-supply#post-88626 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:39:11 +0000 erwoo 88626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And make sure the oatmeal you eat is the old fashion one and not the quick 1-minute kind. I've read that makes a huge difference. That was my mistake with #1. Hopefully I will have a better experience with #2 in a few weeks. Also, papaya in a light broth pork rib/fish soup is good too. I don't know if you remember, but my supply was drops in the beginning and I was able to breastfeed exclusively for 8 months. Granted, no extra supply except for when I pumped for a month exclusively b/c of his eczema and that was enough to extend me a little bit.<br /> Good luck and I hope you can get your supply back up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-low-milk-supply#post-88619 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:21:45 +0000 MegWag 88619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How can you tell if your supply is low? My son is cluster feeding in the morning and evening lately and not as much during the day. He's a week old tomorrow. The midwife weighed him today and he'd only lost 4 oz. (well below the 10% weight loss limit that they'd worry about) so she wasn't concerned, but...<br /> I can't really feel let down or a feeling of emptiness or fullness in my breasts. I'm not really leaking or dripping and I can't tell how much milk I'm actually making. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-low-milk-supply#post-8849 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:12:31 +0000 yin 8849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The EP board on iVillage was a great source for me. You can read Part III on Supply Issues from their Beginner's Guide. I know you're pumping a lot already, but you could possibly try to power pump a few times a week.</p> <p><a href="http://forums.ivillage.com/t5/Roll-Calls-Introductions/Updated-Beginner-s-Guide-looking-for-input-and-any-additions/m-p/116687945/message-uid/116687945#U116687945" rel="nofollow">http://forums.ivillage.com/t5/Roll-Calls-Introductions/Updated-Beginner-s-Guide-looking-for-input-and-any-additions/m-p/116687945/message-uid/116687945#U116687945</a></p> <p>I noticed that when I was stressed my supply would take a huge hit. Only recently have I started to decrease my pump sessions, and I am so much more relaxed now. I don't spend most of my time worrying about when or how I can fit in my next pump session.</p> <p>Take some time for yourself. I know that's really difficult with a newborn, toddler, and working as hard as you do. Sometimes it's the small lifestyle changes that can help your body relax and possibly increase your supply. Wishing you the very best! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-low-milk-supply#post-8827 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:45:47 +0000 LivsMama 8827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Bee - It took me a long time, but I was determined. If the Fenugreek doesnt seem to be working, try adding blessed thistle, Goat's Rue (MAKE SURE its for BFing though. Theres a different goat something thats bad for BF moms,) nettle leaf, and/or fennel seed as well. The combination of those herbs makes the fenugreek more potent. MMP has a combo of some of those, which is why thats pretty effective. If you try adding the MMP though, Id suggest the capsules if you dont mind shelling out a few extra bucks. Or get the Alcohol free version. The taste is gross. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-low-milk-supply#post-8333 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:16:29 +0000 Becksabee 8333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started out with a low supply, but I've been able to increase it. It took 2 weeks for my milk to come in! I've been drinking Mother's Milk Tea, drinking lots of water, and nursing/pumping as often as I can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-low-milk-supply#post-8295 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:36:11 +0000 Mrs. Bee 8295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@livsmama - thanks for the tips! i have mother's milk tea and fenukgreek capsules on the way, so hopefully they make a difference! as far as pumping/breastfeeding any more than I'm doing (as close to every 2 hours as possible and i pump after i breastfeed to get every last drop), i don't think i can add any more sessions.</p> <p>wow i can't believe you don't pump at night and were able to increase your supply so much! i'm not supplementing with formula, but i do wake up in the middle of the night and it is BRUTAL! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-low-milk-supply#post-8104 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:16:28 +0000 LivsMama 8104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@themcmom-Im here! Ok, I struggled BADLY with a low supply for about a month. I didnt decide to BF until Liv was 5 days old, and by then my milk had started dwindling already. She would nurse for 30 minutes and get less than an ounce (based on before and after weight) and so we HAD to supplement with formula. I was pumping and only getting drops...but now Liv is EBF since she was about 5 weeks old (she will be 15 on friday) I know this is tough-but here is what I did. I was religious, and now I have an oversupply, which for me is awesome. I have a freezer stash of over 100oz, but I pump each day for the next day so I rarely need to dip into it.</p> <p>*Pump every 2 hours. 2 hours from the start time, not the finish time. it will be discouraging at first to only see less than an ounce at each pumping session, but in about 2 weeks it should greatly increase. I KNOW thats a huge PITA, but its the best method. I never pumped overnight, but Id pump up to about 10pm and start at 8am the next day. If you have to supplement (not sure if you are,) if you give her any formula,make sure you pump for that feeding so your body knows that the baby is eating.</p> <p>*some people think this is weird, but I used a Medela Supplemental Nursing System for a few weeks. Liv would essentially be nursing, but getting the formula. She associated the breast with food, and my body got the message that baby needs more milk. This isnt recommended once you start producing adequate amounts of milk though, as mixing milk and formula can be bad for the baby (their liver has a hard time processing the large proteins that result from the mixture.) </p> <p>*I take More Milk Plus Capsules daily (4 of them) along with 12 Fenugreek. I started at 9 a day and moved up to 12 at the recommendation of my LC, as that was the magic number that made me start producing more. The LC explained to me that for some people, FEnugreek alone doesnt work (similar to MMP alone) but in combination, it has great effects. I also drink 3-4 cups of Mothers Milk Tea (by Traditional Medicinals) daily, and I eat oatmeal every morning. </p> <p>*something to try-I notice a drastic increase in supply if I drink a dark beer at night. Usually a guinness or a dark IPA or an oatmeal stout. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-low-milk-supply#post-7886 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:38:47 +0000 chopsuey 7886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started off with a low supply.. just enough to satiate my LO. I didn't know that I could take supplements to increase.. so there were days where my LO and I would lie in bed and she'd be latched on suckling for 2+ hours. It was exhausting.<br /> My supply gradually increased and now I'm producing more than enough. I have to stay super hydrated though, otherwise it'll decrease a little. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-low-milk-supply#post-7778 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:52:19 +0000 Coastinganon 7778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pumping right now to no avail. Baby C (who has yet to be officially blog-nicknamed) is cluster feeding and I'm pretty sure starving. She's down to below 9 lbs and was born at 10 4.8. Pedi is having us go back today to see if she's at least gained an ounce since yesterday. If not, we're headed to supplementation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-low-milk-supply#post-7712 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:47:16 +0000 themcmom 7712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Livsmom, where are you? She's the pro at this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-low-milk-supply#post-7711 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:37:48 +0000 Mrs. Bee 7711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been trying to increase my milk supply by taking more milk plus like I did with Charlie, but my milk supply is soooo much lower this time around! It's so depressing. I can't even leave the house anymore because I have no stash, and Olive will starve. With Charlie I was able to freeze a ton of milk.</p> <p>I've been breastfeeding, pumping, and taking more milk plus throughout the day, but my supply hasn't increased at all. Maybe I'm just more tired/stressed this time around?</p> <p>Did you have a low milk supply? Were you able to eventually increase it? </p>