Getting desperate! Trying ALL the supplements! If you can think of something else I should try - let me know!
Currently only getting 13 oz from pumping 40 minutes six times a day. 11 weeks pp.
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Good Luck! Sorry I'm no help here. My supply was terrible and I eventually gave up. My bad. I sort of wished I kept trying but with all the other stresses going on at that time I don't regret my choice.
My thoughts are with you and your efforts!
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All the recommendations would say to pump 8x until at least 12w. I know it's super hard, but that's what I'd try. You could also try a power pump though I've never done it. Check it out in kellymom.
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@Mrs Green Grass: Omgoodness, 8x? I'm worn out over 6 times
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These supplements are weird!
The tea tastes like licorice - yuck!
MMP needs to be taken with less than an oz of water?
And, the MMP tells you to take more if you weigh more? So silly -
Are you nursing too or exclusively pumping? I think mrs. gg is right about nursing/pumping at least 8 times a day. That's the only thing that keeps my supply up.
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@yellowbird: Exclusively pumping. I guess I new to rework my pumping times to get an extra 2 pumps
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Do you pump overnight??
I nurse my LO but started pumping a few times a day around 4 weeks pp to build a stash. I found that when I gave up my middle of the night pump my supply went waaaay down!
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@yellowbird: Right now I pump at 6 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm, and 9 pm
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@Mrs Green Grass: this! It really sucks but it definitely helped me when I was EP. I also drank tons of water, Gatorade and ate oatmeal. Goodluck!!!
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@swurlygurl: I'd try adding a middle of the night pump in, even if its only 10-15 minutes. Just set everything up before you go to bed so you don't have to think about it!
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seconding the suggestion to pump at least once overnight!
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Prolactin levels are highest in the night and early morning. My favorite LC suggested trying to nurse around 1am/2am or pump then to get an extra boost. You can get domperidone via inhousepharmacy.biz-- sounds totally sketchy, but it's not, I promise. The More Milk Special Blend is also worth a try if you at all suspect you may need to develop more mammary tissue (if your breasts didn't change much during pregnancy, that might be an indicator). I also agree with pumping more frequently; you need to be mimicking what baby would be doing, so since baby would still be at the breast lots to signal to make more milk, that's what you need to do with the pump. Do follow the directions for the MMP. It does make a difference to take with less water/increase dosage based on weight. And if you aren't seeing much for results you might increase to the higher dose just because. There are also other teas you could try, and not all taste the same, so you might find another's flavor more appealing: http://breastfeeding.blog.motherwear.com/2012/03/review-five-nursing-teas.html Good luck!
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i ep'd with charlie and i pumped at least 10 times a day for the first month. but eventually i got down to 5 pumps a day, so it's not something you'll have to do long term. i would try pumping shorter durations (maybe 20 min), and going for 10x a day. the frequency really helps! it took me over a month to boost my supply but i went from 2 1/2 oz to as much as 12+ oz per session. i would most definitely add at least one middle of the night session.
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Have you tried lactation cookies? They really help me, it's the brewers yeast that's the biggest active ingredient, I think.
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@swurlygurl: @travelgirl1: I second brewers yeast, but try mixing it with nut butter instead of making the cookies. In order for the brewers yeast to work you need to consume 1-2 T a day.. Thats a lot of gross cookies.. (Brewers yeast tastes pretty nasty IMHO)
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Those are all the supplements I used. Individually they didn't do much, but once I took them all together, my milk supply went up dramatically. I also increased the # of pumping/nursing sessions to at least 8, with at least one overnight session.
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I also agree about pumping in the middle of the night. I get double the amount in the night compared to during the day. I would also suggest not stressing about it. I know its hard, but I really believe that by relaxing and stopping the high stress, your body can do what it needs to do. Also would suggest pumping with a hospital grade rental if possible.
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How is the quality of your pump? I know someone who's supply was messed up because her pump wasn't sucking enough. Could you get it looked at by a LC?
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I went through a low supply phase about 4 months and again around 6 months after the birth of my daughter. I took similar supplements, and I would second much of what's been said. I sympathize with your stress! For me, I had much more successful pumping when I tried to totally disconnect from the pumping - close my eyes, deep breathing, ultimately trying to relax. It was really hard, because I was concerned about supply, but I do think it helped.
I also had a dr. that prescribed one round of domperidone at one point. From what I understand, it is not FDA approved for milk production, but it did help.
Good luck!
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@swurlygurl: I know it sounds ridiculous, but follow the MMP instructions religiously. I did and I went from 2-3 oz each session to 5-7 (i could get 10-13 in the mornings). Also, wait for the second letdown before turning off the pump.
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@LaineysMom: I didn't know that, that sounds like a good alternative. I LOVE the cookies though, they're very moorish with choc chips : )
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9pm to 6am is a loong time! Try not to go more than 4 (ideally 3) until your supply picks up.
You can read more about ep'ing at kellymom and babyceneter or I village both have ep'ing groups.
Good luck!
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@travelgirl1: I need to get your cookie recipe! I only put 2 T of brewers yeast and that was all I could taste. :(. Almond butter has so many calories so I'm looking for alternatives (not that cookies are going to be better).
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I agree with adding a middle of the night pumping session. I saw an increase of about 4oz a day when I added oatmeal to my diet. I don't like hot oatmeal so I do the following: combine 1/2c thick cut oats, 1c skim milk, 1 T raw sunflower seeds, 1 T dried cranberries, 1 T sweetened coconut flakes; let soak overnight in the fridge then eat in the morning.
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@Mrs. Bee: I would cry huge tears of joy if I got up to 12 oz in one session!
@travelgirl1: @LaineysMom: Where do you buy brewer's yeast? Is it at the regular grocery store, or a health food store?
@MamaBehr: I'm pretty sure my pump is a good one (Ameda). I had a hospital grade rental for a while, while waiting for this one from insurance. I don't notice a difference in output or the way my breasts felt after pumping (feel completely emptied). I have been wondering if I should have a LC look at it to see if the flange is the right size... I've heard of women improving output by finally getting the correct size flange.
@Mrs Green Grass: Woke up last night to pump... The things I'll suffer through for that sweet baby!!
Thanks for the website recommendations - going to go check all those out.Going to alter my pumping schedule today to get 8 pumps in (and then 1 in the middle of the night). Thanks so much everyone for all your input!
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@purrpletulips: That sounds delicious! I could definitely suffer through that meal
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@swurlygurl: I am not a fan of oatmeal but it has become my goto weekday breakfast; it is indeed very yummy but not too sugary since the only sweetness comes from the coconut (i use unsweetened dried cranberries but you could use craisins, raisins or other dried fruit).
I would also suggest getting your flange size checked. I was told by the LC at the hospital that I needed to go bigger when in fact I needed to go smaller.
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@swurlygurl: I have the same pump was able to eek out a little more with the smaller flanges insert.
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I exclusively pumped and my supply was crap the first month. My supply eventually picked up. I pumped between 8 - 10 times a day.
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You're definitely going to have to try and wake up to do a pump session overnight, at least until you get a supply established. Your supply is highest at night. Do you try and hand express after pumping or massage your breasts during? I'd give that a try if you don't. I had good luck hand expressing afterwards. Even if your breasts feel empty, you can get more with your hands.
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@swurlygurl: I bought it at the vitamin shoppe. I think you can also buy it on Amazon. Be warned though.. It doesn't taste good.
My thoughts are with you and your efforts!
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