Rubbish milk production

[DebH1975]

My LO is currently 1 week old and in SCBU cause she was born early. We are trying to breastfeed but it's going to be a gradual process until she gets a bit bigger I think. In the meantime she is getting top up feeds via a tube but I can't produce enough milk via expressing to meet demand.

Has anyone got any tips to help boost milk production?

Hello, congratulations. How early was she? Most prems can't suck till about 35/36 weeks I believe. (My 34 weeker took longer - till about 37/38 weeks - but turned out she was tongue tied so that's probably why)

My tips to boost milk production:

• use hospital pump as they are much better (assuming you are past the colostrum stage, if you're still on colostrum then hand expressing is best)
• pump every 3 hours in the day and at least once in the night, twice if you can
• pump by side of cot, or looking at pics of your DD, it helps bring the milk on if you feel emotionally connected. Even just thinking about her may help
• make sure you're getting a LOT of food and as much rest as you can, basically in between feeding/pumping sessions try to either eat or sleep!
• taking fenugreek is supposed to help increase production
• domperidone is a drug for reflux (your DD may be on it!) however it is also supposed to help women produce more milk if they take it. Ask the hospital about this

Many thanks for this. She was born at 34+5 ... Now 35+5. Not sucking massively yet - she starts off ok but gets tired very quickly.

I am pumping every 3 hours etc. the only thing I'm not doing is eating or sleeping enough. Trying to force down some dinner as I type.

Determined to persevere - I know people say I shouldn't but can't help feeling like a bit of a failure when they have to give her top up feeds with formula

Don't worry about eating loads, it doesn't affect your milk supply like that. Just eat when you're hungry, drink when you're thirsty.

Expressing as often as possible and putting baby to the breast even for a wee go are the best ways to stimulate supply.

Hopefully an expert will be along to explain how often you need to express tokeep supply going if baby can't nurse, I've got in my head at least 8 times a day/night?

Kellymom'com is a great resource for breastfeeding info, it also has a section on expressing.

Hope you get on ok and congratulations on your wee one. :)