what foods help increase milk supply other than oats

[kittenbaby]

any tips ?

[hunkermunker]

How is your baby? Happy? Alert? Weeing and pooing? She's gaining a fine amount of weight in a week - yes, go to the baby cafe because it's nice to have RL support, but why are you seeing the GP?

[mare]

I never got much useful advice on Bfeeding from HV or midwives. Nobody tld me how much I needed to DRINK!. THey said 'plenty' I took that as a couple of extra glasses a day. I know everyone is different but I found that drinking LOADS of water - I mean a pint every time you got the chance really helped. I didn;t work this out til DS1 was a couple of months old. Once I had sussed it Bfeeding was miles better -Revolutionised actually! Also make sure you eat meals high in protein. My fave was cottage pie - Loads of meat - No good for vegetarians though! Read that in G.Ford! (Not sure if I am allowed to mention her) Really worked!

Haven't read whole post so this has probably been said before but just KEEP FEEDING through those growth spurts! One day you feel like you haven't got wnough. Baby constantly hungry - Feed as often as the baby wants ot and your milk supply will increase in response. Next week you are overflowing again!

[kittenbaby]

i m just seeing gp for my 6 week check up at 7 weeks because i want to see a certain dr
she seems alret and healthy to me but jsut like shes hungery all the time
i will try that drink more and eatting high protein
i feel a bit like im not sure how much longer i can stick with this bf i really really want to but its just not becoming any easier

[hunkermunker]

Don't feel you have to drink more or eat different food - eat and drink to feel comfortable. It won't affect your milk either way.

The first six to eight weeks are the hardest, physically, imo and ime.

You're doing really, really well, you know. I could throttle your HV for undermining you so much.

Instead, I will hug you for being so good at bfeeding in the face of this pressure from someone who should be there to help and support you though {{{KB}}}

[hunkermunker]

Also, she might be hungry a lot, but she's also keen to be near you - six weeks ago she was part of you and she's just learning about being a person. She's still very, very new at this, same as you. It's not a bad thing to feed her when she asks for it, but if you're getting overwhelmed, can you get somebody to take the baby for a walk in the pram and you have a bath and/or a sleep? She's likely to sleep the whole time she's out and you'll relax more if you're not waiting for whimpers.

[pregnantbabyelephant]

yeah i could get dh to tak dd out for a walk in the pram

[lailasmum]

its so knackering those first few weeks it can all feel like its going wrong when you just need to allow yourself to practise these new skills and rest. Try to stop judging yourself and just relax. Your baby sounds fine.

[naturopath]

Hi Kittenbaby, I have exactly the same issue as you - was going to post same question but saw yours first. Seeing paediatrician tomorrow about his weight etc. so will let you know if I have any advice then!

[naturopath]

what I mean is, my DS also started on 50th centile, now dropped to btwn 25th and 9th. Not leaking milk any more (used to in the mornings), and feel I leave him frustrated and wanting more after some feeds. Also under a lot of pressure from family members who want me to give him formula - I really don't want to but equally don't want to exclusively bf to the detriment of his health and development..

SO, will let u know what paed has to say tomorrow.

[hunkermunker]

Naturopath, how old is your baby? Perfectly normal for some babies not to follow centile lines - they can be finding their natural weight.

[naturopath]

7 weeks today

[naturopath]

but he also has some reflux issues.. hardly brings up any feeds )about 5 in total) but sometimes screams in pain.. sometimes I don't know whether it's teh reflux or hunger.. also lots of green poos recently - what does that mean??

[hunkermunker]

Is he weeing a lot? When you say green nappies recently, has he had mustardy ones? How often does he poo? I don't have much experience of reflux, I'm afraid. What happens when he screams? Will he feed again?

[naturopath]

He seems to be weeing fine, and lots of poos (almost all nappy changes). They used to be yellow/ mustardy but green for about a week now. When he screams, he sill usually feed again, but I suspect this is to comfort himself and soothe his throat. The reflux seems to come and go..

[Anonymama]

I remember green poos around 8wks, just for a short period of time (looked a bit spinachy). Read somewhere it was related to development of their gut. Also, a mate has a 8wk old with reflux, and is plugging away at BF-ing having been told that breastmilk is digested more quickly than formula, so some nutrients will be absorbed before it comes back up again. However, no direct experience of reflux, but I hear it's tough. Hopefully your baby will grow out of it, but stressful in the meantime if you are agonising over his weight gain.

All the advice re. just doing nothing but breastfeeding your little one in these early months might help you get your milk supply up. Good luck. These little babies with mums who are really trying to give them such a good start are very lucky.

[hunkermunker]

Have you had reflux diagnosed for definite?

Green poo can just be the normal colour of the poo for the baby at that time.

How about giving one of the breastfeeding helplines a call? The numbers are all on my profile.

[elkiedee]

kittenbaby, don't wait to call the helplines, you need their backup sooner rather than later in the face of this appalling health visitor. I wasn't able to reestablish breastfeeding after early hospitalisation, but my baby was severely dehydrated as well as jaundiced, it wasn't just his weight.

You've got support of the "loony left wing brigade" on mumsnet (!) (ok, I'm definitely one and sadly I'm not breastfeeding) - does she also consider the Department of Health to be part of such brigade? - they advise that bfing until 6 months is a good thing. Try and get some rl support.

Ask if there is anything else apart from weight, which shouldn't be the only thing they look at - if your baby otherwise seems healthy and responsive, and clearly she is gaining weight now, then commonsense would surely suggest she's just fine.

I agree with everyone who's suggested you should complain, this woman shouldn't be in her job if she can't support women making different choices in bringing up a healthy baby. It's not her role to force formula on you just because it would have been her preference. Really, I'm shocked by this.

[naturopath]

GP said it was probably reflux, and prescribed Gaviscon, which I have been giving after the feeds where he seems to have those attacks. Will try to have confirmed either way with the paediactric gastroenterologist tomorrow..

[naturopath]

and thanks, hunkermunker - haven't called any bf helplines but will do tomorrow. He really does seem to need to feed more than any other babies I know!

[hunkermunker]

You're welcome - any time. He's still very little and for babies this age, it's not just about feeding for food, it's about being close to their mum, the skin to skin contact, the snuggly comfort of being with the person they love best in the world.

Have you got a sling? He might be soothed by being carried around close to you?

[JoyS]

Kittenbaby, it sounds like you are doing a great job in spite of your awful health visitor!

I've read that green poos can be a sign of diary intolerance in babies. If it continues you could try cutting back on your dairy intake.

[naturopath]

Thanks - haven't had dairy for about a month now so don't think it's that..

Paediatrician wasn't concerned about weight for now and advised to continue exclusively bf unless I want to give him formula.

Prescribed Zantac for the reflux.