https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:56:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-706391 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:15:24 +0000 Kemma 706391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LLL recommends at least 8-10 nursing/pumping sessions per day to really get a good supply going and whilst night wakings are a pain, the extra nursing is really good for supply!</p> <p>As I understand, breastfeeding one baby requires an extra 500 calories per day so I imagine twins would require even more calories. For me personally, I gave to eat outrageous amounts of food to maintain supply, I also drink a fair amount of water. You want to be eating good, nutritious and calorific foods, plenty of fats, carbs and protein. You could try adding a smoothie or protein shake into your diet in addition to your normal meals and a good multivitamin could be helpful too.</p> <p>Skin to skin can be really helpful for encouraging supply, it's even more effective when combined with a "boobymoon". Basically everybody gets topless and jumps into bed for the weekend! Forget about chores and the housework and just concentrate on nursing on demand and resting up with your gorgeous babies :-)</p> <p>Lactation tea and cookies are great and as pp's have said, oatmeal is a well known galactalogue.</p> <p>My last recommendation would be to contact your local LLL or Multiple Birth Club so you have some good, knowledgeable ladies / families on hand to support you and help when needed.</p> <p>You're an absolute rock star for breastfeeding twins, keep up the great work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-706334 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:54:43 +0000 sunshineandsushi 706334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel your pain!! I really struggled with supply in the beginning for my twins. I ended up moving to EPing because of it, but after 6 weeks, something clicked and I somehow started making enough to exclusively feed them breast milk. I tried Mothers Milk Plus, Mother's tea, lactation cookies with oatmeal and brewers yeast, fenugreek capsules and blessed thistle capsules. After 6 weeks, I stopped all of it and ever since I've been able to pump enough for both of my boys. Every time they ate, I pumped for at least 15 minutes. I also drink tons of water and make sure to eat plenty of food throughout the day. </p> <p>This thread may help some too - <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-twins" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-twins</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-706229 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:46:44 +0000 edelweiss 706229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>to establish my milk supply, my LC recommended that i rent a hospital grade pump and use it for 10-15 minutes after *every* nursing session (well, i was allowed to skip pumping once every 24 hours) for around 2 weeks. my LO was a very sleepy nurser, so his nursing wasn't enough to stimulate my milk flow. it was a lot of work, especially in the middle of the night, but it got my supply up and eventually i had an oversupply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-706066 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:18:28 +0000 travelgirl1 706066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lactation cookies with brewers yeast really helps me. I posted a recipe on here once that's easy to find and make. Good luck, you're doing awesome feeding two babies at once! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-706065 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:18:08 +0000 meganmp 706065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped for half an hour after they ate during the day, and it really helped! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-706058 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:12:42 +0000 threeplusme 706058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried breastfeeding my twins but they had a poor latch so I ended up pumping for a year. I used a hospital grade pump to start, first from the hospital where I gave birth and then I rented one from my lacatation consultant, you can even rent them from babies r us. I had the medela one. I think that really made a difference in establishing good supply. I pumped 8 to 10 times a day to start. Good Luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-705980 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:28:52 +0000 Mrs. Train 705980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Drink lots of water. I had to supplement when my twins were really little because they just ate non stop. I had to supplement until they started eating rice cereal at six months then I had enough. Keep it up you are doing great!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-705975 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:26:38 +0000 WALLAROO 705975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been eating oatmeal for breakfast, More Milk Plus 4 times a day with just 1oz of water and nothing for 15 min before and after, Mothers Milk Tea occasionally, and staying hydrated. The babies are tandem nursing almost every two hours during the day so I don't really pump during the day. I only pump once about two hours after they go to bed and get about 4oz. I'm hoping that being consistent with MMP &amp; MMT will increase my supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-705969 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:23:35 +0000 Mrsbells 705969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Drinking lots of water and eating oatmeal worked for me </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-705960 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:18:15 +0000 sarac 705960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you eating A TON? Always to fullness, with lots of fat and carbs? I was amazed at the increase in my consumption, with just one tiny baby. With two, I honestly think I might have needed to double my calorie intake. My supply really suffered early on if I had a day where I ate less. Maybe this could help you get a boost.</p> <p>Also, do you have the best possible lactation consultant? Have you tried working through the list of herbs and such that boost production? Some of them sound like voodoo, but they work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-705032 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:16:52 +0000 purrpletulips 705032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had about a 4oz increase each day by eating oatmeal for breakfast and taking a double dose of prenatal vitamins. </p> <p>Since I don't like hot oatmeal here is my cold oatmeal recipe although you could eat this warm/hot too.</p> <p>combine in a bowl and let soak in the fridge overnight:<br /> 1/2c thick or steel cut oats<br /> 1 c skim milk<br /> 1 soup spoon of flaked sweetened coconut<br /> 1 soup spoon of raw sunflower seeds (add a little crunch)<br /> 1 soup spoon of either dried cranberries or blueberries </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-705030 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:16:18 +0000 kiddosc 705030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would also suggest that you try to get them to eat more often during the day. That stimulation is the best thing for your supply. Make sure that you are eating yourself too! You can't make milk if you're not nourishing your own body. I was hungrier nursing than I ever was pregnant. It probably wouldn't hurt for you to speak to a lactation consultant about the best supplements for you. There's so much information online about it, but I was never really sure on what was best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-704971 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:01:10 +0000 swurlygurl 704971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pretty much started off with supply issues, so I feel your pain!</p> <p>Something I wish I had done differently, and will do with #2, is to feed every 2 hours from the beginning. I think it would have helped me establish a better supply. It doesn't work for me now because I'm back to work, but if you could fit it in, and your boys would eat that often, I'd start there?</p> <p>I also started taking MMP, MMT, Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle, and was able to increase my supply by 8 oz after only 9 days, and it's still climbing.</p> <p>Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-buildincrease-supply#post-704956 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:56:54 +0000 Mrs. Blue 704956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am really struggling to be able to feed my boys without supplementing, but I feel a little bit lost on what I should be doing. I think I need to take Building Your Milk Supply 101. </p> <p>The boys are one month old tomorrow. I can usually pump about 1.5-3 oz. total, which is definitely not enough for both boys. When I nurse, they almost always need more and I have to supplement with either pumped milk or formula. The boys eT every 2.5-3 hours. I know I'm probably drinking too much coffee and not enough water. I've tried Mother's Milk Tea, but I've only used it sporadically. I tandem nurse, so each one eats on one side only, and then the next feeding, each eats on the opposite side. I pump anytime they don't nurse, so I'm pumping or nursing about 8 times per day. If I feel like they didn't eat well, I pump after nursing, too, but never get more than a few mililiters on each side.</p> <p>What are your best tips to build/increase your initial milk supply? No tips are too basic! </p>