Expert: ruth kraft - 7/30/2009

Question
I have a 10 week old baby and I am back to work. About two weeks ago I pumped like crazy to increase my supply and was about to get between 5 and 7 ounces per pump.  I get to bring my baby to work with me and I feed her 3 or 4 times during the work day. I usually give her two bottles at 4 ounces each and nurse her twice. The problem is, my milk production has gone down. I am only able to pump maybe 3 ounces every 3 hours.  After I feed her, I only get a few drops on each side.I want to start creating a supply to freeze but I need help. Are their supplements I can take to increase my milk supply? Or what kind of schedule should I get on so I can nurse my baby 6 times a day and get three to four bottles? Please help!

Answer
Hello, you can try mothers milk tea and fengugreek to try to increase milk. Start with those as many people have good success with those. you can get into others  like blessed thistle or dark colored thick beers to help increase some too...  the best way is stimulation. and although you might not be getting much right now while pumping, if you continue to pump it will build your supply. Also remember the baby is far more efficient at nursing than the bottle ever dreamed of.  Try pumping more in the mornings. your milk will be more plentiful then  and goes down more as you go through the day. this is because that is how our bodies like to digest food... big meal in the am and smaller ones at night.  keep nursing, pumping, and take some herbs and you should be good :) when you start going off the herbs, wean off them, dont just stop them all of a sudden.

good luck!  also make sure that every 6 weeks or so you replace the valves on the pump. they weaken and will cause you to get less milk.

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