Breast Feeding Questions....

I was told that you must drink lots of fluids and eat well all day for the production of & supply of good milk. Worries and stress can cause you not to produce milk. Good luck! :)

here is a list i made when i was still breast feeding..hope you find some helpful tips in it for you..and if you are not using a hospital grade pump then you won't get as much milk.

1. rent a hospital grade pump..Medela Classic is what i'm using..it's
$3 a day and totally worth it! OR better yet buy one off ebay and
when you're done you can re-sell it on ebay and get your money back.
i bought one and it works great..the medela classic is supposed to be
the best pump out there.
2. get the Easy Expression bra www.easyexpressionproducts.com it
holds both cups over you bb's and it's better to pump 2 at a time
3. eat oatmeal ....get the healthy kind i add bananas also i would
think pasta would be good b/c it retains water
4. Take "Lactation Supplement" by Gaia Herbs you can find it at the
health food store
5. try to pump at the same time every day...also try power pumping..
10 minutes pumping..then stop for 10 then 10 again and then stop and
so on. even pump if you aren't getting anything.
6. Make sure the white membrane thingies that attach onto the cups
are fairly new ..over used ones affect how much milk you get
7. Drink lots of fluids including Nursing Mom's tea or Mother's Milk
tea or the tea i prefer is www.breastea.com ..also drinks with
electrolytes like Recharge...Smart Water...Gatorade i notice on days
i drink a lot of fluids i have more milk
8. Eat barley..Barley Grass supplements are great. also..they have
barley bread at Trader Joe's if you have a Trader Joe's where you
live..or just buy barley. I buy a delicious barley tea at the
japanese market and i drink a couple of cups a day..it's decaf and
yummy.
i also drink Healthy Mom's drinks by Ensure
9.A warm wash cloth helps too ..apply to breasts before pumping or
try the breast heating pads that you heat up in the microwave.
10. Keep taking your prenatal vitamin..not getting a lot of milk
could mean a vitamin deficiency
even if you pump just a little ..save what you get and start adding
them together and then supplement with the milk that you pump..that's
why it's also good to pump after they've gone to sleep..then you help
build your supply and you also have more bb milk for baby..
11. nurse nurse nurse..triple up on nursing..you're going to have to
dedicate a week to it
the more you pump the more milk you'll begin to make.
12. LOTS OF REST..nap if you can ..milk builds when you rest
13. DHA supplements also are great for lactation..also found at the
health food store*
14. Alfalfa supplements are also great.
i think that's it..
15. Try a whey protein powder drink.. i use "Whey to Go" by
Solgar..you mix it with milk add some berries and a banana. it says
to check with your doc before using if you're bfing..so ask your
doc..i only drink one a day and i add a some Motherlove's "More Milk
Plus" to it.
16. Again you should double pump when you're pumping so make sure you
get the bra to make it easier on you!
17. Goat's Rue herb is also supposed to help boost
honestly drink LOTS of liquids
keep yourself moist ...don't take any birth control pills.
18. there is also this stuff called Motilium aka DOM a lot of mom's
use this ..it's for reflux but it builds up your supply.. you can
read about it on Kellymom.com http://www.kellymom.com/newman/19a-
domperidone1.html
and you can buy it here... http://www.inhousepharmacy.com/general/
motilium.html

I know my milk did fluctuate every now and again but I actually found THE BEST organic herbal tea to drink and it REALLY helped my milk supply. I saw a humongous difference within a couple of days and I drank it about 2 or 3 times a day. It can be drank hot or cold and I think it tastes good with a little bit of honey in it. It is called Milkmaid Tea and I bought it at Central Market but I'm sure it is at Whole Foods as well. You can read about it on this website: http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/breastfeeding-support/m...
If for some reason you can't get that, I've heard fenugreek tea is great too and it's probably easier to come by. I just don't know what it tastes like.

All of these things are normal. How old is your baby? Have you started your cycle again after having him/her yet? If not, then you may be getting ready to start. I always noticed a big dip in my milk supply when I was on my period.

Do you have a lactation consultant that can help you? I had a day where I was unusually stressed, didn't get enough fluid intake and skipped breakfast and I pumped out significantly less. When was the last time you breastfed your baby compared to the other days? Do you have any pain with pumping? My lactation consultant would go as far to check my breasts and taught me how to avoid blocked ducts. I have been told that as long as you aren't stressed, continue suction, maintain fluid and food intake within balance, there should continue to be milk production. Maybe if you pump in a relaxed environment with a picture of your baby it may help? Depending on your health insurance, you may be covered to be able call a lactation consultant to help you out.

Everything you are experiencing is very normal. Keep doing the job. But just remember, pumping is not the same than having your baby on your breast. Babies are the masters in sucking the milk out.

After having my babies, I began spewing milk like no tomorrow. I always had MORE than enough milk. However, when I returned to work, even though I pumped at the same times each day that I had been nursing (& had a really nice pump), I just could NOT keep up. I was devastated & pumped to the point of bleeding! My DR said the stress from work & not directly feeding my babies could be the cause. I eventually had to give it up & my girls got formula for the 1st time at 6 months. I still nursed them whenever I was home (before/after work & on the weekends). Looking back, however, I wish I hadn't pushed myself so hard. Formula is an amazing invention!

Fluctuation is super normal, as is the one stream. Mine is just one story, I wish you the best as you decide what is best for you!

Yes, fluctuating suppy is normal. Be sure to drink plenty of water during the day. Going back to work is stressful to get into a new routine. Don't stress about it and it will come back.

It will fluctuate a little from time to time. Esp towards the end of the week when you haven't been nursing directly as often. Just make sure anytime you are with her to nurse her. Eat well, drink alot, get as much rest as you can. Sometimes if you kind of move your nipple around inside the flange of the pump you can get the milk to come out of more places because it puts different amounts of suction on different areas....sometimes there's only one, sometimes there's 5....who knows? Keep up your pumping (I did 3x a day for 8 hr day until my older boy was eating solids really well). If you have a freezer stash use it for those days when you don't get so much. On the weekend and at night, nurse, nurse, nurse. If you are having a regular stretch of problems with supply, there is also an herb you can take which should have you making more within a couple days
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html

I had similar issues happen when I started pumping. If you keep pumping you should not dry out, but may continue to produce less than you produced before. If you nurse your child when you are home that should help. Also, make sure you are drinking a lot of water and are eating consistent meals. It's easy to get away from doing so because of trying to play catch up. If your milk supply does not increase, there are things you can do. Different people have had good responses to all of these things: Mother's Milk Tea (by Traditional Medicinals), More Milk Plus, or even Fenugreek. I did see some improvement with these, but not enough. I eventually purchased Motillium on-line from a pharmacy company in England and had it shipped over. It really did the trick. My milk supply has doubled. I purchased it from a place my pediatrician recommended called In-House Pharmacy. Unfortunately Motillium is not sold in the US, but it is the only medication that gives the results without the side effects. If you want more info. please feel free to e-mail me back and I will help.

it should be very normal especially when you started pumping for 2 weeks only. Due to my shape of nipples, I can't bear with the pain when I breastfeed my babies, so, i changed to pump after a while. The beginning of pumping the level of supply was fluctuated much more. After like few weeks, it became much more steady and difference will be only around 1 oz (I can pump around 7-8 oz each time). Just have to pump frequently at the beginning, like every 2 hours, then change to 3 or 4 hours, depending on your supply.

Remember to eat healthy and drink lots of fluid, I had lots of soup, water and eat well, never let yourself feel too hungry.

Good luck.

http://www.yummymummycookies.com/Lactation_Cookies.html

lactation cookies! supposed to help your milk supply...

I used a Medal Pump N Style and loved it. I am almost done breast feeding as my little one is older now. Some days, I did notice a change in how my breast milk was being pumped out. I often tried to readjust the suction cups to get them firmly on the breasts. Your breastmilk also will vary depending on how often you pump since they are for the baby and they pump according to demand. I hope that helps. If not it is always a good idea to check out your local hospital's lactation consultant which typically is free depending on your state or you might want to check out a breastfeeding support group.

relax its fine. Drink plenty of water through out the day. I am assuming that your LO is about 8 weeks? Your supply will fluxuate as he/she grows. just keep doing what you are doing don't stress it makes it harder for the let down process. Let your body adjust to you working that is all that is happening right now. but dont stop doing what you are doing. Mine did the same thing. good luck.

I am betting that you're body is probably getting ready to start cycling again. I strongly reccomend taking a calcium/magnesium supplument from the time (approximately) of ovulation through the first few days of your period. The drop in supply is caused by low blood calcium. My cal/mag supplument that I take is 1000 mg calcium/500 mg magnesium.

Pump more frequently even if nothing comes out. It's a supply and demand system. :)

I had this problem too, about a month into going back to work. I freaked out, bought Mother's Milk tea, Mother's Milk capsules, pumped desperately. But I didn't give up, but I did force myself to relax. I stopped stressing about it, laid off the caffeine (I'd gone back to drinking regular coffee and Cokes when at work) and nursed only while at home. My supply went back to normal and even seemed to increase in advance of my son going from 4-ounce bottles to 5-ounce bottles, allowing me to build some reserves in the freezer. My supply is fluctuating again, actually, but just stick with it, don't stress out, make sure you nurse directly when you can and lay off the caffeine and other dehydrating stuff. Water's important in general, but I don't think you have to drown yourself.

Your milk will fluctuate but should hold somewhat consistent. Here are some tips I learned from my own experiences.

Drink LOTS of water...no fluid in you, no milk out of you. I really felt like I needed to drink more than I did when I was pregnant in order to keep up my supply.

Stress and illness will mess with your supply, so try and stay healthy and rested...I know, easier said than done!

And...pump at the same time everyday. Don't miss pumping sessions. Nurse your baby as much as you can in the evenings and on weekends to keep things up.

Good luck!
-M

Try eating an orange or any succulent fruit while you pump. It will help stimulate your salivary glands and causes a similar effect on the milk ducts. Also, try to keep up your water intake since you may be getting dehydrated while at work.

Keep your baby's photos handy to ensure let down. Give yourself a warm massage in the shower to stimulate milk flow and clear any blocked ducts.

Hi there! I'm no expert, but I did experience a drastic difference in my milk supply when I too returned to work. I was desperate, I tried drinking more water, taking herbal supplements (Fenugreek), etc. It helped a little, but nowhere near the supply I had when I was home. As soon as I got home I would nurse the baby and nurse all weekend, eventually my milk dried up. My doctor attributed my stress of leaving my baby and going back to work to the drastic drop in my milk supply. I wish I had better news...but it is different for everyone. Good luck with your efforts. I wish you the best.

lots of water, no caffiene, try real oatmeal with fake maple syrup, it helped my supply dramatically. also, i dont know what pump you are using, but try turning the thing on your breast, with my hand pump that was the best way to get all the ducts, i could see each one empty like you said, then turn it like hands of a clock and see it empty each one in turn...