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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Probably been asked a million times before but how do I up my milk production????

31 replies

squidgeymiller · 04/07/2006 21:45

I know this has probably been asked a million times before but....
DD (7.5 wks) seems to be feeding constantly recently but keeps draining my breasts and I sometimes have to swap 2 or 3 times per feed (she sometimes feeds for up to an hour). She's also feeding very frequently (sometimes every hour) which means she's almost permanently attached. I have read various other threads that say this is normal for her age so I'm not too concerned at how often she's feeding and for how long, however, I am concerned that my milk production doesn't seem to be increasing in line with her needs.

Is there anything I can do to up my prouction??

I've tried expressing to find out how much she's getting per feed and it seems to be about 2.5 - 3oz max.

My mum said she used to donate 1 pint of ebm per day to the premie unit AND feed my sister (!!).

There must be something I can do - any suggestions would be great!

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
kiskidee · 04/07/2006 21:49

you sound like you are already doing what is right for your milk production. let your baby feed, feed, feed. it won't go on forever eventhough it can feel that way.

Overrun · 04/07/2006 21:50

Some people struggle to express, so don't judge your supply by that.

the basics are drinking loads yourself, particularly in this heat, have a pint of water with you as you feed, eating well and resting (ha ha).

Relaxing is important, as that used to affect my milk supply, believe in yourself, it might take a few days of building it up (and a grizzly baby ) but it will happen I am sure.
Funnily enough my hv suggested Guinness at this point to build me up, and therefore my supply, I just mentioned it in another thread.

Hope this helps

FrannyandZooey · 04/07/2006 21:50

Put baby to the breast frequently and for as long as she wants to feed

Carry her, use a sling

Co-sleep and feed at night (top way to boost supply IMO)

Your dd sounds normal - exhausting but normal! If her weight gain is ok and she is having both wet and pooey nappies try not to worry too much. Expressing is not indicative of the amount she is getting per feed.

moondog · 04/07/2006 21:52

Normal
All good advice so won't repeat it.
I could never express much either,but b/fed for 31/2 years in total.

TicTacsMum · 04/07/2006 21:55

Hee hee moondog - I read it that you bf for thirtyone/two years!!! Impressive!!!

Snafu · 04/07/2006 21:56

She did...

mears · 04/07/2006 21:59

If you can express 2.5 - 3oz inbetween feeds there is absolutely nothing wrong with your milk production . Remember that babies love to breastfeed for comfort - not only for hunger. There is nothing more lovely for a baby that being attached to a lovely breast. You will find that as you get more confident you will know when to end a feed to get on with other things!

mears · 04/07/2006 21:59

If you can express 2.5 - 3oz inbetween feeds there is absolutely nothing wrong with your milk production . Remember that babies love to breastfeed for comfort - not only for hunger. There is nothing more lovely for a baby that being attached to a lovely breast. You will find that as you get more confident you will know when to end a feed to get on with other things!

hunkermunker · 04/07/2006 21:59

All fine. It's hot, she's enjoying bfeeding, she's doing just the right thing to up your production.

If you're not otherwise concerned about her, go with it.

And what you can express is no indication of how much you're producing - there's not a pump made that's as good at getting milk out as a baby, and as MD says, some women never get the hang of expressing but can feed whopping babies quite easily.

moondog · 04/07/2006 22:00

lol
Too much even for moi!!

LeahE · 04/07/2006 22:03

Your DD's ahead of you on this one -- she's already doing exactly what she needs to do to increase your milk supply.

I could never express more that 2 oz (I was dead chuffed if I got that much) but still bfing DS at 17 months. It didn't mean I didn't have enough milk for him -- the two things are quite different really.

Original poster
squidgeymiller · 04/07/2006 22:21

Thanks so much everyone - very reassuring, and will definately try having a guinness to up production (I'll try anything - well, that's my excuse anyway!)

OP posts:
crumpet · 04/07/2006 22:22

Squidgeymiller, if it helps, ds is nearly 8 weeks and doing exactly the same. Before this hot spell he'd started to go longer between feeds, but is feeding far more frequently at the moment. He generally has long feeds in the morning/evening, and seems to snack during the day. I read somewhere else on here that in the hot weather babies tend to snack on thirst-quenching foremilk - no idea if that is right, but seems a good theory!

LeahE · 04/07/2006 22:27

Yeah... chocolate, and ... umm ... shopping ... are good for production too. And being bought sparkly pretty things (heck, if it works for Guinness it's worth a try )

Original poster
squidgeymiller · 04/07/2006 22:35

sparkly pretty things??? Fantastic - will make sure DH is well aware of that one (although don't think it'll get me far, he bought me a very sparkly diamond solitaire necklace as a "ma-ternity" present).

OP posts:
Original poster
squidgeymiller · 04/07/2006 22:35

lucky me

OP posts:
wavybaby · 06/07/2006 11:11

Drinking Fennel/fennel tea is meant to help milk production, as well as the usual copious amounts of water in the heat. Do try to keep your blood sugars up, (can you eat foods that stay in your system like oats/pulses/beans/wholewheat etc?). I managed to breast feed for 2 years (with a lot of fretting!. An NCT breast feeding adviser was a godsend and I would have given up in the first few months if it wasn't for her. She explained that your boobs become more efficient at milk production after the first frantic few months and you often think that they aren't producing enough - that is not the case apparently. Do try and ask your health visitor for local breast feeding groups, my health visitor was pretty hopeless at advising on breast feeding though so don't expect too much advice from yours!
Good luck
ps the feeding might subside a little after the weather cools down, must be hard work being so little in this kinda heat!

olek · 06/07/2006 14:11

on really hot days i have offered cooled boiled water in between feeds

pippette · 06/07/2006 14:46

Squidgeymiller, my son was a very hungry baby as well and seemed to be permanently attached. My milk production didn't seem to be enough to meet his needs. I was advised by my local breast feeding clinic to give him formula top-ups to tide him over and to give me a rest. My breasts were sore from him being attached all the time. As much as I hated the idea it really worked. I found as well that drinking loads of water and eating healthily helped a great deal.

welshmum · 06/07/2006 14:51

Fennel tea and Green and Black's white chocolate always helped me....while putting my feet up and reading a good(ish) novel

jammyanj · 06/07/2006 15:06

Lots of liquid, lots of rest, Guinness, Ovaltine, malt loaf, Shreddies - I found all these proved very good for breastfeeding.
As others have said though, the heat means you and the baby need more liquid than usual. Hopefully, the heat also means you're happy to sit still with your feet up!
Keep up the good work!

Bibliophile · 06/07/2006 17:13

You don't need guiness, fennel tea or chocolate or ANYTHING to get your supply up. Your supply is absolutely fantastic. You may fancy those things, but that's a different story. Neither do you need to rest or anything else. You have lots of milk, your baby just likes breastfeeding and is hot and probably thirsty. It's all fine. You CERTAINLY don't need formula or water.

Boojumhunter · 06/07/2006 21:56

Most has been said -rest and keep your own fluid intake up. Breast feeding also gets more efficient as the baby gets bigger. It takes way less time (sometimes 5-10 minutes) and is produced at the time of the feed, rather than constantly. It almost feels like you have lost your milk as alternating exploding alternating with empty feeling goes. Hang in there, it gets easier and easier.

chubbleigh · 07/07/2006 01:13

My SIL is a HV and she gave me a copy of Breast is Best when I was bf. It was a great book and as I recall it had a 3 or 4 page list of things to do to boost you milk supply, an exhaustive list. It was quite an old book but beleive that it has got a revised version. Of all the books on bf that I have looked at it was the best, I would really recommend it.

Sadiebelle · 07/07/2006 18:40

Hi,
My 3 week DS is doing same - breastfeeding counsellor suggested powdered brewer's yeast to boost production if really necessary but said that weather was most likely cause for constant snacking