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I'm currently taking Fenugreek to build up my supply since I start back at work next week and I know my milk will take a hit. It is working but I've been taking it for over a week already. It can supposedly take up to 2 weeks to have an effect. I built up from 2 pills 4X/day and am currently at 6 pills 4X/day. It hasn't been a major jump in my production but it did increase. Another way to increase milk supply is to pump either before or after every time your baby nurses. Over time your body will think it needs the additional milk and will increase production. That is a huge time commitment though and is not a luxury I have right now and I imagine you may not either.
Believe it or not, oatmeal is supposed to help.
@brighteyedgirl: Not a mother but went to visit a friend of mine this weekend who was worried that she wan't producing enough after 10 weeks. She had a few beers and she perked right up!
I used Fenugreek when I was trying to increase production to store up milk for a trip and it worked well. You have to take A LOT of it thought! This is a link I used for dosage amounts:
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html
Also make sure you are staying really hydrated.
I've heard oatmeal works too. I eat it a lot - but had to tell if it works :)
Something else I learned recently at La Leche League is that looking at a picture of your little one while pumping might help increase the amount. It helps with letdown or something? I still need to try this!
oatmeal, avocado, water, power pumping
Do you have a good pump? Can you afford to rent a hospital grade one for a week if not?
My supply temporarily dropped off, but I think it was from stress. I ate oatmeal for 4 days in a row and did some add'l pumping, and it is back. I am lucky though, bc DS is already 7 months, so I really feel for you having to have surgery.
You can also look into getting milk from a milk bank in the meantime. Your Dr. could write you a prescription for it. I know my milk bank requires donors to have bloodwork, follow many rules then pasteurizes the milk. I'd also ask the doc about fenugreek. My milk bank won't let donors take fenugreek, but I know many people have used it with doctor's approval. I just worry with your LO being so young.
@MUI831: I was amazed when I heard about it, actually. My FSIL told me about it, after she had her son/my nephew. I wish I had known more when I had my DD (4 years earlier), because my milk never came in, and she was exclusively bottle/formula fed.
I am currently taking drops of something called "more milk plus" by motherlove as well as drinking lactation tea and i have seen an improvement. but i am definitely going to try oatmeal!
@MrsH1010:My milk supply dropped at 4 months. While I tried Fenugreek (although I don't think I took enough) otameal, frequent pumping, I just couldn't get my supply back. I only tell you this because I felt so guilty that I wasn't doing enough, but our bodies don't always do what we want, and it took me a while to accept that I needed to use formula.
that said, try it all!! I think the very best thing you can do is nurse as frequently as possible - nothing gets the body to make milk like a hungry baby (it stimulates better than a pump). Another option is to get a hospital grade pump - I have friends who struggled from the beginning with nursing, and hospital grade pumps do a much better job than even the best personal ones. Lastly, a certified lactation consultant - or even a specialist doctor - can help provide you personalized advice that could be very helpful (eg how often to nurse/when to pump/ etc etc).
Good luck!!
I'm studying to sit for the lactation consultant exam. Not quite there yet.. buut, I would suggest Blessed Thistle and Fenugreek. You will smell like a giant pancake, but it's soo worth it.
Nurse frequently (8+ times a day.. and more if baby will nurse more), drink lots and lots of water, make sure you're getting adequate nutrition yourself, and pump after feedings. Try not to go the whole night either. I know sleeping through the night is tempting, and once you get your supply re-established it will be fine, but for now, try to wake up once or twice and wake baby to nurse.
Also, get involved in your local La Leche League. They are an amazing resource!
Here's a good website that talks about "switch nursing" that can help stimulate you too, as well as the best ways to use your pump to your advantage.
I've read things about maca root being good for milk production, but I'd do a lot of research because I know maca affects hormone production, as well.
One warning about Fenugreek, it can cause stomach cramping in both you and the baby. The dosage recommendations say to keep increasing it until your skin smells like maple syrup. By the time I got to that point I had bad cramping and then my little man started frequently crying and having diarrhea. I did some research and realized it was from the fenugreek.
Just something to watch out for. Also I had the best luck using power pumping and lots of water!
So I attempted taking the lactation tea and the herbal supplement "more milk plus" which increased my supply slightly, but my body became dependent and when I stopped taking it (due to finances--almost $20/week, same as formula) I was apparently dependent because my supply went back down. Now I am trying beer and oatmeal, and so far, no results. I think I am going to go back on the rx...
Try power pumping...that seems to have worked for me...
10 minutes on 10 minutes off for an hour a couple times a day for a few days...even if nothing is coming out your breasts are still being stimulated so don't quit early :)
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3 weeks after giving birth to my little angel, I had to have my gallbladder removed. Since the surgery, I went from pumping 3oz every two hours to 1/2 to 1oz every 3 hours. My OB prescribed me Reglan to build my supply but my supply seemed to have stayed the same. I was thinking of drinking the Mothers Milk tea or taking Fenugreek to build my supply back up. Does anyone have any experience with this?