increasing breast milk

[kazzie-bo]

hi again
following on from my last post, it seems adam is not satisfied with my milk....i certainly don't seem to be producing as much as i was and he is draining the breast in about 5 mins and then seeming really frustrated as if he wants more and it is not there. so my question is can i increase the amount of milk i produce and how? shall i express after each feed to stimulate it more, have tried this a couple of times and produced no milk but will it help in the long run? or shall i keep puting him on? have also tried this but he ends up screaming at me and bobs on and off until i put him down to play. i have also tried 5 mins on one side (or until he is done) then swap to other side until he is done then back to first side then back to second side and keep swapping every time he screams at me.

i am eating loads of oats and a quite healthy diet, but not getting as much rest as i should as i am working loads and adam has decided to feed every hour during the night (prob cos he is not satisfied??)

any advice?

thanks
kaz x

 

[kelsey]

Hey, to increase supply you should keep putting him on.

If he's gainiing well and has plenty of wet and dirty nappies he's probably fine.

It's normal for babies to nurse often, suddenly increase the frequency and/or length of feeds. to start being fussy, change habits.

 

[charlie84]

Hi

Your baby is probably at the 4 month growth spurt hun and they dont half make a fuss of it.

Keep offering the breast, as this will increase milk for you.

When Calleigh went through it i would literally be pulling my hair out as she would bob on and off whinging as if there was no milk. But there is always milk they just have to work hard to get it and we just have to keep swapping sides for them until they are satisfied.

I found the growth spurt so draining but we got to the other side eventually.
I found oats to work wonders for me, and i made sure i drank enough water too.

 

[purple13]

good advice from charlie & kelsey as always

you could try fenugreek/fennel tea/blackthorn juice to get your supply up to.

 

[Charlie:-)]

You mention that youre not getting as much rest as you should be, maybe that has something to do with the decrease in your milk.

Its so important to have plenty of rest and I also try and drink lots of water at least 2 litres a day and sometimes more depending on my level of activity for the day.

 

[kalia]

Obviously how your baby reacts tells you lots but I just wanted to make sure that you know that whereas to begin with your breasts would be painfully swollen and rock solid when there was about 30ml in each breast, now they re unlikely to feel that full even with 250ml in each breast. Strange, but true! I produce over a litre a day by expressing 3 times but my breasts are a bit smaller than when it was just 250ml a day.