Were any of you able to breastfeed successfully without taking any supplements such as fenugreek?
Were any of you able to breastfeed successfully without taking any supplements such as fenugreek?
20 votes
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
I think if I breastfed exclusively and didn't pump, my supply would have been fine. You just get a lot less when you pump than when your baby nurses!
But not pumping meant not being able to work or away from baby, so to me it was a necessity.
squash / 13199 posts
Oh I see, I kinda thought you would get more if you pumped! Shows how much I know.
pear / 1837 posts
I didn't need supplements till DS was about 6 months old- that's when I stopped being able to pump enough to feed him at daycare each day, and had to start digging into our freezer stash.
I think, like Mrs. Bee, if I'd breastfed exclusively and hadn't needed to pump (or if I'd only worked - and therefore pumped- part-time or something), I'd have been totally fine.
For the first several months of DS's life, I overproduced, and was banking TONS of milk. I attribute that in large part to being really hyper about pumping while on maternity leave- even though I was nursing full-time, I also pumped probably 3x/day, and I think that was great for establishing a large supply from the get-go.
pomegranate / 3008 posts
If I had been a SAHM and was able to be with my baby all day I don't think I would have ever needed supplements. It was once I went back to work and then when I stopped nursing him at lunch every day that supplements became necessary.
cherry / 230 posts
I suppose I was blessed, because my milk supply was plentiful, no need for supplements.
I will say that I think diet may play a role in milk supply and production. I have a friend who's vegan, and her milk supply was low in quantity and nutrition at first until her ped told her to start supplementing both for herself, and with formula until things straightened out.
grapefruit / 4800 posts
I've been staying at home with LO and never needed to take anything even through a case of mastitis. I have noticed if I eat oatmeal in the morning I leak more.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@Mrsbells: your supply does increase when you pump, but how much you're able to pump isn't indicative of how much milk you're producing. your baby will be able to get way more milk out of your breast than a pump will.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
I was home with LO for 3 months and never had to take any supplements or use any formula.
Now that I am back at work (third week) I am hoping that by pumping during the day and nursing at night I can keep up but will take supplements if needed later on.
pear / 1728 posts
@Mrsbells: I didnt know that either until I started BF/pumping. I can finish pumping until no more drops are even coming out, and Liv can still maange to latch on and gulp enough down to be full. I dont know how they do it!
grapefruit / 4110 posts
We have breastfed for 7 months exclusively while working. We nurse 5 times a day and he gets 2 bottles of expressed milk a day. I pump twice as well. some things that help are when I start to feel like I am not producing enough, I add an extra pump in at work. 2 or 3 days of that and I increase. I also make sure to encourage as much breastfeeding as possible on the weekend. I am so happy that we have been able to do this. My mother wasn't able to breastfeed any of us and worried we wouldn't be able to as well.
apricot / 260 posts
Well, I'm not taking supplements per say, but I'm eating 2 Major Milk Makin' Cookies a day and drinking healthy lactation tea occassionally. I don't think that I need any of it, but I do it because it makes me feel better.
cherry / 116 posts
@themcmom: What are milk making cookies? Sounds delicious!
I exclusively breastfeed and haven't had to use anything to boost supply. I attribute this to the fact that I'm a SAHM, and we got a really good start to BFing while in the hospital. I also pump once a day so that I have frozen milk for when husband and I eventually go on a date and I can have wine!
apricot / 254 posts
So far I haven't needed any supplements. I return to work in 2 weeks and I'm hoping not to need any then either. We shall see.
apricot / 260 posts
@mekarual: I hadn't heard of them either until someone posted about them on my local LLL FB page. Here's where I found my recipe: http://www.drmomma.org/2010/08/lactation-cookies-recipe-increasing.html
I found cooking them less than the time they say keeps them from getting dry. Also, they, um, clean me out so to speak, but not in an awful way though.
apricot / 321 posts
I didn't need any supplements until about 6 months and it was my own fault bc I had reduced my sessions thinking I was going to wean the baby soon. But it turned out he couldn't tolerate formula (kept throwing up) so I had to up my supply quickly. I used fenugreek but not consistently.
cherry / 202 posts
I exclusively pumped for my daughter and didn't need any supplements. She just had no interest in nursing.
For my son he preferred nursing but I went back to work when he was 4 months so he also was fed expressed milk in a bottle. I pumped until he turned one and didn't need any supplements. But I will say I had an over supply, I could pump more then 20oz in one session if I wanted to be completely empty.
apricot / 464 posts
I work 3 or 4 days a week and pump enough at work to cover the time I'm away. I'm realize I'm lucky to have good luck pumping....it seems to actually boost my supply more than nursing does, but I know I'm in the minority with that.
persimmon / 1465 posts
I haven't had to take anything to maintain supply. I have been lucky enough to stay home with LO who is now 7 months. Had i had to pump at work it may have been a different story, though when I have needed to pump I have been able to get 5 - 6 oz fairly easily so I think my supply was fairly good.
Today | Monthly Record | |
---|---|---|
Topics | 1 | 0 |
Posts | 0 | 1 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies