Foods that improve breast milk supply

[Thejoyfulstar]

I tried looking for a breastfeeding board but couldn't find one. I have another thread running at the minute, about how I am under a lactation consultant following a plan to improve my supply and help my baby gain weight.

I know that the only real way to improve supply is by frequently removing milk from the breasts, which I have been doing as per the plan. I also know that no food has been really proven to increase supply but I am willing to try anything to get my supply up.

What worked for you? I already drink a huge amount of water (am very thirsty!). I am taking two supplements advised by my LC but not exactly sure what's in them, so it's actual food (or drinks) that I'm interested in.

Has anyone tried non alcoholìc beer, or powerade? Anything to avoid? I remember temporarily drying up after consuming huge amounts of sage and onion stuffing with my last baby!

I hope I'm allowed to have 2 threads at once: I just wanted a separate one for foods I could try to eat.

Thank you!

Oats and fenugreek had me producing pints and pints of milk (I exclusively expressed). I noticed a huge difference if I didn’t have them daily. (Flapjacks work as well as porridge etc.)

Fenugreek

Feeding on demand will increase supply - honestly. The more you feed, the more milk you’ll produce.

I used to drink fennel tea, no idea if it helped.

Thanks everyone! Some good ideas!
@FrancescaContini she is on a plan where I feed and pump very regularly to get my supply up so am just looking for something extra that I can do aside from the 'supply and demand' side of things.

Oats and fenugreek (although this made my DD very fussy as apparently the taste can pass into the milk). You can buy breastfeeding cookies that contain both but fenugreek capsules are best. I got mine in holland and barrett. You take A LOT!

Are you drinking enough water? That also makes a huge difference. You should be drinking water every time the baby feeds - i was on about 3.5l a day.

I had a baby that dropped below 0.4th centile due to my rubbish supply and we ended up bfing + formula top ups until she was 6months. I haven't seen your other thread but the other thing that worked for me was hiring the hospital grade medela symphony pump as my infant feeding team said home pumps are not good enough to increase supply (only maintain).

I was also offered domperidone, but the evidence on this was mixed and by the time we were talking about this, DD was 4months and we were in a good routine with bfing, pumping and top ups so i was ok not to try it.

It's been a long time for me but I seem to recall rescue remedy was meant to be good, as well as fenugreek

I took the fenugreek by the handful. I stank of it. 😂

@custardbear

It's been a long time for me but I seem to recall rescue remedy was meant to be good, as well as fenugreek

Rescue remedy is mostly brandy, isn’t it?!

I took fenugreek supplements and they were great.

Hobnobs worked for me.

A lactation consultant recommended fenugreek, nettle tea and oats when I was struggling. Eggs are also good.

The key thing for me was staying well hydrated, well fed and breastfeeding lots... switch nursing was helpful for a while.

Kelly Mom is a very useful source of information (recommended to me by a midwife).

Oat milk helped me. I drank cartons of the stuff. Think it helped that you could get chocolate flavour

Came on here to say oats and fenugreek too

Porridge and chickpeas (not together!) - I really noticed it if I had chickpeas the day before

Thanks everyone! I remember oats helping with my last baby but not seeing the improvement as much this time. Each morning I have porridge oats made with milk, topped off with cream served with fruit and nuts/seeds. I bought the oats milk today and necked a pint of it :-D Chickpeas are on the shopping list or I might just try some hummus.

I have a Britta water filter jug that I refill every hour. The amount of pint glasses that I go through are well into the double figures. I always loved water and have been guzzling down litres and litres. I refilled the Britta jug 3 times before 11 am this morning andkept going through the day.

My baby is starting to put on weight so my supply is increasing but I am still at the do I/don't I need to top up after this feed? and would like to stop doing this. The top ups are under the direction of my Lactation Consultant and are just temporary until my supply increases. I am doing everything to ensure this happens.