Need tips for boosting supply

[cartersmom]

I have just past 1 year of breastfeeding (Yayy!!). I have found within the last few weeks my supply has dwindled. I really do want want this to be the end! My son is not showing any signs of wanting to wean and is still very eager to nurse. I have been scoring the internet for tips but would be interested in anyone's 2 cents.

I nurse him about 3x/day during the week and more on weekends. I work full-time and pump at work so he will have BM for daycare. I have been doing this since he was 3 months old and so far it has been fine. The amount of milk I am pumping however has gone way down :( . Any tips would be appreciated. I am already trying fenugreek and blessed thistle.

[deesalie]

Are you drinking plenty? Of water that is.... ;) What are your stress levels like? Lactating depends on the production of the hormone prolactin. This is stimulated by feeding- which obviously you're doing. One hormone that can diminish prolactin is dopamine.

Does he feed overnight?

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

You know this but... when you breastfeed, at certain stages throughout that time, the baby is at you, at you, at you, because supply needs to be increased. With you being at work, that will not happen so much.

In breastfeeding my children, those "at me, at me, at me" times were: 6 weeks, 3 months, 5 months, 8 months 12 months 18 months. Because both babies had a gag reflex, neither even started solids until 13 months. The older one, never made significant inroads into "real" food until 2 years of age, and the younger didn't until 3 years of age, so in a sense, they relied on me, more than the average baby who is fed early solids. Something I'm not a fan of at the best of times.

If you want to increase your supply, you need to take a week off work, and let him feed on demand, all the time, to raise your supply. Some people find lecithin supplements help increase their supply. There are many natural things which supposedly do that, but the reality is, that in the natural order of things, babies usually do it manually. :D

[Dozytoes]

I have just past 1 year of breastfeeding (Yayy!!). I have found within the last few weeks my supply has dwindled. I really do want want this to be the end! My son is not showing any signs of wanting to wean and is still very eager to nurse. I have been scoring the internet for tips but would be interested in anyone's 2 cents.

I nurse him about 3x/day during the week and more on weekends. I work full-time and pump at work so he will have BM for daycare. I have been doing this since he was 3 months old and so far it has been fine. The amount of milk I am pumping however has gone way down :( . Any tips would be appreciated. I am already trying fenugreek and blessed thistle.


Might be a silly suggestion, but you aren't pregnant again, are you? That would put a dent in your milk supply...;)

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Being pregnant didn't do much for my supply, but it must have done something to the taste because the kids would give me the :alien: look, as if it had brussel sprouts in it :giggle::rolleyes:

[cartersmom]

I am def. NOT pregnant again!!

I do understand the to raise my supply I really need to take a nursing holiday like MT suggested, but unfortuneately I do not have this luxery!!
I cannot afford to take unpaid time off of work so I will keep at the natural things Im doing...the fenugreek seems to be helping a bit. I do need to drink more water and I need to chill out because I have been stressed!

Thanks everybody :)

[Dozytoes]

I do hope my question about pregnancy didn't offend? I had no such intention. :o

"Bartram's" suggests the followign herbs as galactagogues: agnus castus, aniseed, basil, caraway, centaury, cumin, fennel, goat's rue, holy thistle, nettles, raspberry and vervain. I have known of several people that have used fennel tea with good success, similarly raspberry leaf tea.

Is there anything herbal/natural you have been using that might have decreased supply?

[Barefoot]

Alfalfa taken as tincture or capsules should help stimulate breast milk too.

[cartersmom]

Alfalfa taken as tincture or capsules should help stimulate breast milk too.


Thanks! Ill give it a whirl ;)

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

I am def. NOT pregnant again!!

I do understand the to raise my supply I really need to take a nursing holiday like MT suggested, but unfortuneately I do not have this luxery!!
I cannot afford to take unpaid time off of work so I will keep at the natural things Im doing...the fenugreek seems to be helping a bit. I do need to drink more water and I need to chill out because I have been stressed!

Thanks everybody :)

I know you can't afford to take time off work, but can you persuade him feed a lot more at night and weekends if he wants?

[Quickening]

And take more pumping breaks at work. You do pump at work? They have to allow you if you are a breastfeeding mother.