your top tips for boosting suply please!

[obabadabobba]

I have a very hungry, little-and-often, ds3 (5month) at the end of the day my boobs feel very empty, I know all the basics but if anyone has any weird and wonderful tips I would try anything and be most greatful!
he is still feeding 3 hourly overnight but that is just fine by me (last baby syndrome
tia

[systemsaddict]

Oatmeal is good - I boosted supply when expressing with ds by having porridge every morning. And you don't feel like you're having anything artificial.

Lots of rest (ha!), lots of fluids ...

Have you tried block feeding if he's little and often, 3 hours one side then 3 hours the other, to make sure he's getting hindmilk? need to drain boobs well to ensure resupply.

Also the herbal one, fenugreek, worked too well for me, had to stop taking it bcos of engorgement - takes a few days to kick in but you'll know if it does! Think the advice on the kellymom forum is to take more than it normally says on the bottle but you should check it out before taking my half-remembered advice!

[Lulumama]

the breast is never empty, there is always milk there... this age is a bit of a growth spurt, the best thing you can do is keep putting to the breast as much as he wants to be there, so the supply grows with the demand.

the la leche book, the womanly art of breastfeeding is fabulous ! i higly recommend it

[obabadabobba]

oh wonderful, I have always just offered one boob per feed, I am quite happy feeding him all the time if I'm honest, he only feeds for 5 minutes not even that sometimes so it's not a problem, just that I'm aware my boobs are so much smaller in the evening than in the morning, dispite feeding throughout the night.

where do I get the fenugreek from? health shops perhaps?

I knew about the porridge but it had completely slipped my mind, ds 1&2 are going through a 'do we have to have porridge again mummy, can't we have something different'! so it's been off the breakfast menu for a while, will have to go on a porridge campaign. great. I love the stuff!
will look up that book thanks lulu and systems!

x

[3andnogore]

Holland& barret sells Fenugreek capsules ..

[Brangelina]

Fenugreek seeds can be obtained from Indian supermarkets if you can't get the tea. Just soak the seed in hot water overnight and drink the liquid the next day. Tastes foul but works. Cumin also has a similar effect so you could try a mixture of the 2.

Alternatively (and more tasty!) you could always just have a good curry, my boobs were overflowing the day after a curry. DD never seemed to suffer side effects either. One of her favourite weaning foods was lentil curry with basmati.

[laksa]

obabadabobba, can I ask a question, has your ds always only fed for 5 mins per feed, its just that I have a new baby who only does 10mins at most every 3 hours and I'm a bit worried about it. sorry to hijack your thread!

[moopymoo]

take baby to bed for the weekend and feed on demand and snooze lots! this used to work for us.

[cktwo]

I wouldn't be worried. Both my girls fed at different rates. DD1 liked a lond feed and DD2 would be over and done in 10 mins. I was worried about her getting enough but she was a big fat baby so she obviously was!

[tiktok]

oba - your baby sounds normal and your breasts sound normal and your breastfeeding sounds normal

Unless you have an issue with her weight then you don't need to do anything different as far as I can see.

Breasts do feel empty with established breastfeeding - it means mainly that the fat that is usually there when you are not pg or bf has been replaced by milk making and storing tissue.

Please, please don't start worrying about foremilk and hindmilk - this looks after itself and you don't need to engineer it unless you have a problem, which you haven't

Rest and fluids will make no difference, though of course you should drink to thirst for your own comfort, and rest for fun if you can

You do not need to 'drain' the breasts or 'block feed'.

Sorry, sounds as if I am getting at you, systemsaddict, but there's a whole lot of myth in your post

[systemsaddict]

Sorry tiktok - should have made clear I was just passing on advice I was given and things that I thought had helped me, am not a trained expert

[Tapster]

M&S flapjacks I swear by them. Makes you feel better anyway whether it increases your supply or not!

[determination]

ITA with tiktok,

You sound like you are doing perfectly well. No need to increase your supply.

Actually i would say that 3 hourly over night is "bloody good going!" By increasing your supply this likely wouldnt change this pattern anyway.

I have an over supply and letdown and always have with dd2 (complete reverse to dd1) and dd2 still nurses approx ever 2 hours overnight. That is just the way she is... i honestly think that even if she were ff she would still be up as much - if not more.

your doing great, just believe in your breasts, they know what they are doing

[obabadabobba]

thats great! thanks so much, I guess it was just the reassurance I needed. and yes, he is a great big chunky monkey, so they are obviously not empty!

you've just made me feel very good about myself and my boobages!

I'm just gonna go with the flow!!!


laksa - yes he has always gobbled it down in 5 minutes flat (he takes after his dad.. not that I bf his dad, you understand his dad wolfs down his dinner without it touching the sides) don't be worried, think yourself lucky that your dc doesn't spend hours on the boob each feed!


am loving mn atm