I need help to increase my milk

[Brillbryant]

Me and my hv think my ds is hungry. It appears I'm not producing enough milk. I've been ill and just generally don't take time to eat and drink. Looking back this is very obvious that I need to eat to produce but I'm a busy mum...tips please!!

How old is your little one?

It is ideal to eat well and drink well when breatsfeeding but equally you can breastfeed and produce plenty of milk without those things!

DD fed every 2 hours and I lived on hob nobs and had enough milk

Why do you think you aren't producing enough?

Best way to boost supply is skin to skin, plenty of feeds every 2 - 3 hours and feeding at night is importnant for maintaining a good supply as well

Hope I can help (I am a breastfeeding counsellor).

Eating and drinking is irrelevant - honestly. No matter how much you eat or drink, your milk will be fine, and quantity (which is what you're concerned about) is unaffected by your diet. There is a lot of research showing this.

The quantity of your milk is increased by the frequency and effectiveness of breastfeeding - that's what drives supply.

You don't say how old your baby is, or why you think he is hungry, so the following is general only.

• feed often, day and night
• use at least both breasts at each feed, and then switch back to the first and then the second again, if your baby is still interested
• respond to feeding cues promptly so your baby does not have to cry to be fed

there are other things, too, but the above are basic, without which nothing else will work :)

What do you think?

Sorry for lack of info. My ds is just under 5mnths and has been deeply unhappy. Crying all the time. He had a tongue tie released when he was born and appears to be a very efficiant feeder. He fusses very quickly until I take him to other breast. I just never feel my breasts are 'full'. I can't believe that food and drink are irrelevent. I really did neglect myself, surely if I eat well, my baby will benefit!?

IIRC they go on a bit of a feeding frenzy at this age - just around 20 weeks which is why people think about weaning at this age

You breast may not feel full, but they don't run out

At this age frequent feeding iscgood to boost supply

My DD was very efficient at feeding - 10 mins per feed at this age

They fuss at the breast as they are terribly distractible at this age too - the world is very interesting to them

Food and drink is really not that big a deal WRT milk supply - eating well makes you feel better tho

Could he be crying all the time due to teething? My ds is also 5 months and is very grizzly at the moment, but I think his gums are bothering him.

My breasts haven't felt full since about 4 months btw - not even first thing in the morning. My ds is also a 5 minutes each side feeder now too, and an absolute nightmare to feed at all out of the house - very distractible.

I think your supply is pretty robust by 5 months, so you should be able to meet your ds's demands.