Tips to increase supply??

[Shazzzzz]

Hey, so im just looking for tips to help increase my supply 🤷🏽‍♀️

Im currently just expressing using the medela freestyle double pump. I think im doing ok but i can only get 3-5oz pumping every 3 hours. This is fine for now as DS is on 5oz bottles but im worried i wont meet the demand when he eventually wants 6,7,8oz

I pump once in the night and usually get around 9oz and i have been taking fenugreek for 4 days but havent noticed a difference yet.

Also when i pump eventually nothing comes out but i can still hand express quite a lot, has anyone else had this issue? I thought a pump would empty my breasts 🙁

How old is the baby?

@peachypetite he is 4 week old ☺️

Can you try and pump more frequently? kellymom.com/mother2mother/exclusive-pumping/
Kelly mom has loads of tips and advice. I started out pumping too because my baby couldn’t latch. She had tongue tie and is now breastfeeding with the help of a shield and it’s much easier than pumping!

@peachypetite Thank you i will have a read!

He has latched on a few times but only does a couple mins and then gets frustrated and cries until hes bright red in face, its quite stressful for us both 😫, do you hve a link to the nipple shield? I may try that too as i know breastfeeding can also increase supply x

@Shazzzzz do you think he has tongue tie? That’s exactly how my baby was. Also I found when I was stressed I pumped less so tey and relax! I found someone private here who came to my house, assessed my baby and did the procedure there and then: www.tongue-tie.org.uk/help-and-information-for-parents/

Nipple shields are medela and available on Amazon. I think she’s only matching with the shield now because she was bottle fed expressed breast milk and some formula for the first seven weeks.

@Shazzzzz

Hey, so im just looking for tips to help increase my supply 🤷🏽‍♀️

Im currently just expressing using the medela freestyle double pump. I think im doing ok but i can only get 3-5oz pumping every 3 hours. This is fine for now as DS is on 5oz bottles but im worried i wont meet the demand when he eventually wants 6,7,8oz

I pump once in the night and usually get around 9oz and i have been taking fenugreek for 4 days but havent noticed a difference yet.

Also when i pump eventually nothing comes out but i can still hand express quite a lot, has anyone else had this issue? I thought a pump would empty my breasts 🙁

Night pumping is the key. Sorry.

@peachypetite Thank you for your help! Im going to order some hopefully they help ☺️

@TitsOot4Xmas so basically pump more than once?

Every 3 hours. Day and night at this stage. So 8 times a day. It’s harder work pumping than breastfeeding.

Having baby near you helps too. And porridge oats. And loads of water.

Babies feed often in the evening and at night to up your supply, so extra evening and night time pumps will help. However pumps are not that efficient at fully emptying your breasts, which doesn't help with supply either. I would heartily recommend trying nipple shields. Nothing beats a baby for stripping all the milk out.

Also you could try cuddling some clothes of baby's while you pump and look at him or a photo of him. And loads of skin to skin.

Let him suck when he’s not hungry. Every 3hrs isn’t enough - at that age they’re on the breast constantly for hours at a time.

Are you massaging your boobs at the end to get the last few drops out This is important as when you are feeding a baby they sometimes literally suck you dry it hurts in your armpits as your boobs are so empty you need to pump 8 times in24 hours and once overnight It’s a good idea to do a session before dinner eat and do a session after To be honest expressing is flipping hard work so keep trying to get baby to latch at every feed they might just get it

Fenugreek... Works wonders

As much water as you can drink, and anything with oats in. Excuse to eat flapjack and hobnobs! And put baby to the breast as often as you can bear.

@happytoday73

Fenugreek... Works wonders

Covered by the OP.........

@TitsOot4Xmas i will do another pump in the night then, need to remember to drink more water i will have to set a reminder on my phone!

@Brenna24 i hand express after i have pumped and milk is literally still squiring out its so frustrating, i get fed up after around 15 mins though cause my hand aches 😫

@Glenorma he just gets frustrated after a few mins and then doesnt calm down , ive ordered some nipple shields so hopefully they will help and i will try this

@happytoday73 how long did it take for it to work? Im on the 4th day now and not really seen a difference yet 🤔

@EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide i am defo gonna try porridge for breakfast tomorrow 🤞

@Bessiebigpants i massage before, after i will hand express but it gets tiring after 10 mins

I really didnt realise how draining this was going to be!

@Shazzzzz are you in Northern Ireland by any chance? There is an amazing group on FB that saved my breastfeeding journey. There's a technique called "power pumping" that would help you.

themilkmeg.com/power-pump-your-way-to-more-milk/

@TripleSeptic ahh no im from the north of England!

I have looked into power pumping i have done a session today actually! I was thinking of maybe replacing more than one of my pumping sessions though! Hopefully i will see a difference with doing it 🤞

Also read about another power pumping which is pump every hour for 15-20 mins so going to try that too, guessing it will be really draining though

I sent you a wee PM

@TripleSeptic so just tried the nipple shields and they have worked wonders! Latched straight away and was on and off for just over half an hour 😁

@peachypetite was supposed to tag you in my comment above!

That's fantastic news. They got my wee preemie feeding when all else failed. I managed to wean her off them and she is still breastfeeding at 3.