https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 26 May 2026 15:45:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1154618 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 09:31:20 +0000 Bookish 1154618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@heartonastring: Thanks &lt;3 I appreciate the kind words!! I need them this morning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1154560 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 09:14:09 +0000 heartonastring 1154560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: doesn't sound defeatist or dramatic at all. I am in awe of all the American bees who go back to work and continue to BF. You ladies are all rock stars and I don't think I could do what you do. You have done your absolute best and if it's not working anymore it's not working. I firmly believe that being happy and having a good relationship with your baby is far more important than what you feed them. </p> <p>Please don't feel guilty, you have done an amazing job thus far for your baby, and you will continue to do a good job if you switch to formula. Being a good mom is about WAY more than how you feed your babe :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1154511 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 09:00:49 +0000 vnvdvci 1154511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just had a supply dip around the 5.5 month mark. She went through a growth spurt and started demanding a lot more both night AND day which I couldn't cover with my pumping at school. I took the mothers milk plus supplement which I'm not sure really worked. </p> <p>I think what did work though was lengthening pumping sessions to 30 min, and adding an evening pump session (so it was 1 in morning before leaving, 2 at school, then 1 more at night). </p> <p>Also, don't forget to relax during pumping. I got a little complacent and was thinking "oh maybe I can just catch up on case readings" while pumping...literally had NO let-down when I tried that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1154467 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 08:50:46 +0000 Smurfette 1154467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: I hear you on that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1154456 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 08:47:32 +0000 Bookish 1154456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: Very true.. DH reminded me that we are the first parents in 3 generations of our family to BF past 3 months, and that's something. And you are right, happy mom and happy baby is more important. I know I've told many Bees the same thing! It's funny how we can't take our own advice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1154449 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 08:45:46 +0000 Smurfette 1154449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: You are doing everything you can. What is there to fill guilty about? Sometimes our bodies just don't what we want/need them to do. Happy Mom and baby are more important. If pumping and supply issues are stressing you out, then in my opinion it isn't worth it. Or maybe just nurse in the AM and PM..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1154442 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 08:43:07 +0000 Bookish 1154442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I may start trying to do that on the weekends. Usually what I do in the mornings is pump for about 10 mins or until I have 2 oz, then stop and nurse G. Problem is, the last two mornings, she's had to nurse for 30 mins, and is *still* hungry afterwards. We ended up giving her 2 oz of formula to fill her up :( </p> <p>@Smurfette: Thank you &lt;3 </p> <p>@heartonastring: No I hadn't heard of the blessed thistle, I'll have to look into that. Eggh that figures with the tea... it tastes terrible anyways so I wouldn't be sad to give that up! I haven't really looked into domperidone...I guess that's just my line in the sand, if that makes sense. It's starting to really grate on my sanity to worry about this every day/cry about it every night, and I think having to get a prescription might just be a bit too much for me. That probably sounds very dramatic/defeatist...</p> <p>At this point I might just let it happen. I hate being so upset every day when I pump, and I hate that I burst into tears this morning when G was starving after nursing. I really wanted to get to at least 6 months, and maybe I still can with supplementing, but even so...I'm trying very hard not to let the guilt consume me :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1154230 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 07:08:17 +0000 heartonastring 1154230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: Were you taking blessed thistle along with the fenugreek? Try adding that in. I saw the biggest difference when I was taking them in tincture AND capsule form. 3 doses of each tincture 3x/day and 3 capsules of each herb 3x/day. I wouldn't bother with the tea...my LC says you'd need to drink 20+ cups of it each day to make it even come close to the tinctures and capsules.</p> <p>Have you considered domperidone? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1154226 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 07:00:08 +0000 Smurfette 1154226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: :sad: I am sorry that the supplements aren't helping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1154215 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 06:40:15 +0000 Adira 1154215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm... the only other thing I can think of suggesting is pumping after you nurse as well (especially on the weekends). When I nurse Xander in the morning, I then go pump before going to work. Then I pump in the evening after nursing him too in order to get the amount I need. At first you probably won't get much, but just by adding in more pumping sessions, you're telling your body to start producing more milk.</p> <p>Another suggestion that MIGHT work is pumping a little bit BEFORE you nurse your baby. Babies are a LOT better at emptying our boobs than pumps are, so if you pumped a little BEFORE nursing, you might get some extra ounces you need without if affecting how much your baby is getting. I wouldn't suggest pumping for a full 20 minutes or anything, but maybe an ounce out of each boob before offering them to your baby.</p> <p>Also, I hate it, but I pump after every nursing session on the weekend. Those extra ounces over the weekend are the only thing allowing me to meet Xander's 15oz/day quota for daycare because I usually can't pump QUITE enough during the day at work.</p> <p>I've heard it can take a couple weeks for fenugreek and stuff to kick in, so it makes sense you haven't noticed an increase quite yet. Just keep taking them and hopefully you'll see an increase soon! &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1154205 Thu, 17 Oct 2013 06:25:10 +0000 Bookish 1154205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As an update...</p> <p>Almost two weeks ago I started taking fenugreek twice a day as well as 2-3 cups of mother's milk tea, in addition to upping my water and oatmeal. </p> <p>Hasn't worked. I'm down to 5-6oz a day, and LO is now demanding 16oz at daycare. She's already on one formula bottle and once my stash runs out in a few days we'll be upping it to 2. I'm pretty upset about it but I do know I tried a heck of a lot of things....my boobs just don't want to keep up. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1099969 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 22:48:56 +0000 Ellie 1099969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm still on my increase journey. I take domperidone, drink the tea, lots of water (but still not enough, I'm sure), try to eat oatmeal regularly, and I'm increasing my pump sessions.</p> <p>It's a lot of work and it may just be me and my screwed up boobs, but I'm not getting a ton of results. In 3 weeks my guess is my output went up about 0.5oz per breast, if that. :(</p> <p>Good luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1099925 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 22:00:29 +0000 lepamplemousse 1099925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took MMP, Fenugreek (twice the amount that's recommended on the bottle), ate oatmeal, and drank lots of water or Gatorade. I also pumped more for longer periods (i.e. 5 times a day for about 30 min). Once my supply went up I cut back to 3 sessions for maybe 20 min. I don't know exactly how much my supply went up but DS had went from eating three 4 oz bottles to three 8 oz at daycare and I was able to have a bit of a surplus. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1099907 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 21:48:56 +0000 fairy 1099907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped on the breast my lo wasn't nursing on, and it really helped create more "demand" :) I bought some of the yogi nursing mother support tea, but didn't drink it regularly (def not as much as they say to on the box) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1090517 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 14:31:58 +0000 Mrsbells 1090517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ate lots of oatmeal, drank plenty of water and TRIED not to stress </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1090511 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 14:30:39 +0000 mrsjyw 1090511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookish: Yep, I'd a combo of whatever of the above, thawed milk, nurse anyway as scheduled. I also added in a pump session or two at work, even if I wasn't getting anything, just promoting the lactation i think is what brought me back up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1090474 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 14:21:32 +0000 autumnlove 1090474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Water and pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1090457 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 14:14:40 +0000 Bookish 1090457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: I definitely need to drink more water! That's something I can fix fairly easily. I've never tried power pumping. I could do that on the weekends, but then do you nurse in between, or give frozen milk to LO, or what? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1090395 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 13:59:44 +0000 mrsjyw 1090395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>power pumping! </p> <p>i also took a supply hit when AF came back at 4.5 months pp. i started talking MMP, fenugreek tablets, calcium+magnesium. </p> <p>the thing that worked the MOST was power pumping every hour for a few days and drinking a TON of water. </p> <p>now every month around AF, i take the above supplements and (dont power pump) and am able to maintain DS' milk intake. but this is also due to the fact that his intake has decreased now that he's on solids! (ds is 9/5 months) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-did-you-do-to-increase-supply-did-it-work#post-1090385 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 13:57:12 +0000 Bookish 1090385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My supply has taken a hit in the last couple weeks, between AF returning (after 8 weeks, totally unfair) and starting work. I had just gotten LO off her one morning formula thanks to my stash, and now it looks like I can't pump enough during the day to keep up with her! She takes 14oz during the day, and I only pump 7-9. </p> <p>I nurse in AM, pump 3x at work, then nurse in PM. I tried pumping again at night but I barely get 1oz. </p> <p>So, I think I'd like to try to up my supply! I've heard things like Fenugreek and Mother's milk tea thrown around HB, but do they actually work? What were your experiences in upping supply? </p>