Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

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

Increasing milk supply

10 replies

fuzz77 · 18/12/2007 00:29

Hi, ds is 2 weeks old and has had an issue with tongue tie, he hasn't gained weight as a result, because he can't empty the breast properly. I am taking him to the paed on weds, but am just worried about my milk supply and how i can increase it? does anyone have any tips? i'm hoping that once he has the snip on weds he will be able to suck properly- but because he hasn't managed to so far, i feel that my breasts have become less full and that i won't be able to give him the amount he needs.

OP posts:
jamila169 · 18/12/2007 00:43

I wouldn't have thought you'd have enough time to impact much, so I'd concentrate on after the snip, have a bit of a babymoon, take to your bed with him and feed frequently, making sure someone is bringing you plenty of drinks and snacks (I hear chocolate is good [wink}).it shouldn't take long

MarsyChristmas · 18/12/2007 00:48

Feed him whilst lying down. He'll get more of your breast in that way. To increase supply feed more often.

fuzz77 · 18/12/2007 15:12

Thanks for the replies. Problem is that I have been feeding him around the clock- sometimes over an hour and a half, and because he can't get the milk properly- 15 minutes later he is desperately hungry again stuffing his hands down his mouth and not settling at all. On the advice of my midwife i have been topping up with formula since Friday-BIG MISTAKE- because last night when offering him the breast he was really fussy and refusing, and then when he did get on he destroyed my nipples! I felt guilty about giving in to the bottle for top ups, but i really felt i had to, he still has jaundice at day 18 and the docs suggest that a proper feed is the only way ds can 'flush out' the system...I'm just hoping sorting the tongue tie will help us to get back to purely breast feeding.....

ps..any suggestions for very sore nipples? (the lanolin isn't working- have used it for 2 weeks!- probably due to the fact that it doesn't really stay on long enough!)

OP posts:
foxythesnowman · 18/12/2007 15:32

Can you express?

I expressed after every feed and gave lo a bottle of hind-milk at the end of the day as a top-up. This was my GPs advice to increase milk supply.

I have an Avent hand pump which I put the lid on and keep in the fridge until the next feed. Apparently its OK to do this so you don't have to sterilise it time after time.

Lansinoh cream really is the best stuff for sore nipples. Not cheap, but it works quickly. Also recommend breast shields to help the healing process.

foxythesnowman · 18/12/2007 15:38

Oh, and have you discovered Kellymom.com? best breastfeeding website, answers all your questions.

Breastfeeding Heaven do products to increase milk-supply. I'm taking More Milk.

Neals Yard Organic Beauty Oil was recommended to me as it contains all the necessary Essential Fatty Acids to maximise your breastmilk. Its rank, but has the side effect of giving you a lovely glowy complexion

Health-professionals don't always offer the best advice. My HV told me to give formula (we have weight-gain issues), I refused and she wouldn't see me anymore - told me to go to GP. Luckily my GP is very pro-bf and gave me the expressing option. Worked a treat.

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 18/12/2007 15:44

Firstly, the sore nipples: are you using proper lansinoh? It really is the best stuff, most midwives/health visitors have sachets they can give you for free. Lansinoh works by wet healing, you just shove a load on religiously after every feed. They'll probably toughen up all of a sudden, I know it sounds silly but try doing your labour breathing while he latches on, I remember how excruciating the first few seconds were.

My baby had jaundice for the first month, in the end he had to go in for lightbox treatment on day 9, for nearly three days. They were thinking about doing more treatment on him when it finally went, but I did end up giving him topups because I wanted the jaundice gone asap. A lady on the LaLecheleague helpline said that it was actually the fat in the milk not the fluids themselves which helped shift the jaundice iirc, so it's the hindmilk he needed.

He didn't have a tonguetie but when I got my latch checked they told me he had only been getting the foremilk because everytime he closed his eyes I was taking him off the boob thinking he was finished Once I realised he was still feeding he started to put on weight rapdily but of course by then I had come to rely on the topups. It was a shame really.

Don't concentrate on how full your breasts feel, they won't always feel fit to burst even when you're producing more than ample for your baby's needs. And don't pay too much attention to how much you can express either. Breastpumps simply aren't as good as babies at collecting all the milk.

As somebody else said, just feed feed feed. The first few weeks of establishing bf are hell imho, sitting on the sofa almost 24/7, it's sore and boring and frustrating but if you accept that it's like that for most women you stop feeing like it's going "wrong" so much! Just remember to drink enough fluids, oats help increase supply so porridge etc is good, get LOTS of rest (you make the most milk when you're asleep) and get as much help as you can, get your meals and drinks brought to you even. Ask your other half to remind you to eat, drink and rest.

Hope the tonguetie snip goes ok.

fuzz77 · 18/12/2007 23:32

Thank you for your suggestions- I am so determined to continue with the bf- so i am willing to tough it out! i will try to express more often- and once he is in the 'safe' zone for the jaundice i am hoping i can ditch the bottle and not need to do any top ups!

OP posts:
Sanguine · 19/12/2007 15:52

Fuzz - we're in identical situations! my 2 week old had tt snip this morning. It was a very tight one so he had difficulties transferring milk. He didn't even bat an eyelid when they did it, although he's a bit fussy now. hosp told us to give him calpol but pharmacist won't sell it to us cause he's not two months yet. So, top tip - get them to give you a prescrption for the calpol if they tell you to use it!

I've been expressing and taking domperidone to increase my supply (my milk never properly came in, probably due to the tongue tie).

Good luck with everything. I too am prepared to tough it out, although that's easier to say at 4pm than at 4 am!! God bless and good luck...

Sanguine · 19/12/2007 17:35

Blimey... little one just had a feed and literally hoovered the milk out of me in half the normal time! I hope this is a sign of improvements on the way. Fingers crossed...

5goldrings4MONKEYBIRDs · 19/12/2007 19:27

Wow Sanguine, the tongue tie snip sounds like a result?! Good luck to both of you...

New posts on this thread. Refresh page