Oating & pumping

[Sweetpea91]

Hi ladies
I'm currently ebf my 10 week old son who's loving the boob. I ebf my daughter till she self weaned at 16mo. I am taking fenugreek & eating oats to try & increase my supply as I feel less 'full' this time than last time bfing. My supply seems to be increasing so I was wondering, if I can pump more than Baby needs could I give this to my daughter who's 2 now? Would it be any benefit to her?
Thanks for reading x

 

[SuffolkMum]

Hi hun,

Breastmilk definitely has benefits in the third year and beyond. I nursed my eldest until he was 3yrs 3 months and after I stopped he started catching colds and general common infections much more frequently. It's also gentle on the tummy when little ones are feeling poorly, so if your daughter is unwell she may be happy to take breastmilk when food is unappealing.

At 10wks, it's normal for your breasts to feel soft and like they did before pregnancy, especially with second babies - they are now quite experienced at doing the job. Your supply has regulated itself and is producing just as much as your baby needs. Please don't have any doubt that you are producing enough. It's entirely up to you if you want to pump a little extra for your eldest, but you'll need to do it consistently to ensure your breasts learn to make the increased amount regularly. However, if you're not fussed about giving your daughter expressed milk, there should be no need to supplement your diet to increase supply at this stage.