Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

Original poster

Foods/supplements to boost milk supply?

15 replies

Janos · 17/12/2004 17:48

A quick question? Do any MNetters have any suggestions on how to boost your milk supply? All suggestions gratefully received (the tastier the better of course, )

OP posts:

tiktok · 17/12/2004 18:12

Janos, you will hear about funugreek and oats and other stuff - but the only surefire way to boost your supply is to have a frequently, effectively feedinbg baby! The more often milk is removed from your breasts, the more milk you make

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 17/12/2004 18:21

and a little bit of chocolate won't hurt will it tiktok

jane313 · 17/12/2004 18:29

one of my friends sister in laws who is a bf counsellor swore by turkish delight! So if you like the stuff its an excuse to eat some! I'm sure it couldn't make any difference. I forced myself to eat some when I had a 3 day break when my sone was 7 months because of strong medication I was on but then I spent hours feeding too which was lovely as we both kept falling asleep.

throckenrobin · 17/12/2004 18:36

fenugreek capsules definitely work - you can get them from health food shops - they don't taste remotely nice though

But I agree with tiktok - you do need to combine it with upping feeding. I used it when I was expressing exclusively so needed all the help I could get.

mears · 17/12/2004 18:46

Why do you ask Janos?

tiktok · 17/12/2004 18:47

Chocolate and turkish delight are just fine : )))

Nimme · 17/12/2004 18:51

Just a quickie Janos: in Sweden, Denmark and Germany they do not recommend eating chocolate. Don't know whether that was what made her scream for 2 hours but better safe than sorry. I will try to re-introduce later - just wouldn't be christmas without.....

Original poster

Janos · 17/12/2004 19:26

Meras, I'm asking becaue I'm worried about having enough milk. My DS is 6 weeks old and seems to feed wuite erratically - sometimes he will have a 'snack' and not be on for very long, sometimes he will drain both breasts and one feed! He tends to feed more often when snacking -for example today he had a snack (about 20 mins) at a quarter to ten, then again at about half 11 and again at one, all feeding from one side only . He then had a slightly longer feed (about half an hour) at 3 o clock, draining one breast and is still asleep.

Also, I have just got BF established (touch wood!) after an uphill struggle, as he was 4 weeks premature and just would not latch on to start with. He ended up feeding using expressed milk from a cup, then a bottle, then BF using nipple shields (recommended by a BF counsellor). Then I tried him last week without the nipple shields and he is latching on well most of the time.

Having put so much work in to BF him I would really like to keep it up. he is also a very hungry baby, and has put on a lot of weight - he was 6lb at birth, now weighs over 9lb.

OP posts:

Original poster

Janos · 17/12/2004 19:27

PS Sorry about the spelling mistakes - am typing quickly cos I expect him wake up any minute!

OP posts:

aloha · 17/12/2004 19:28

He's absolutely normal! That's what little babies are like. If he's gaining weight fast, then rest assured, you have enough milk. It's the single best way to tell.

xmashampermunker · 17/12/2004 19:36

He may be feeding more frequently around now because he's having a growth spurt - from his weight gain it doesn't sound remotely like you don't have enough milk. DS was satisfied by one side only at a feed till he was several months old - it actually never occurred to me to swap him and he was settled and full of milk.

I tried fenugreek the other week as I was having to express lots for when I went to work and I was finding it hard work. Didn't really do anything except make my wee smell horrible (sorry if tmi!), then I was really really thirsty all the time and I had the worst period I've had since DS was born eight months ago (OK, only had two, but still...!). Not sure if it was all linked, but I stopped taking it and felt much much better!).

Since I stopped, it's been easier to express. The things we do, hey?!

But I do like the sound of Turkish delight...and Tiktok's said it's OK...hmmm...Merry Christmas!

Original poster

Janos · 17/12/2004 19:44

He is still asleep after his 3 o clock feed!!! He has had a couple of 5 hour sleeps before.

OP posts:

throckenrobin · 18/12/2004 08:37

Janos - sounds typical for a breastfed baby of that age ! Well done for persisting so far.

Hamper - fenugreek usually takes 2-3 days to make a difference and then you have to juggle the dose to figure out what suits you - usually they say 2-3 capsules 3 times a day. It can make your wee smelly and make you sweat more - apparently the milk ducts are modified sweat glands (ugh) and fenugreek works on that bit.

mears · 18/12/2004 09:02

Janos - he sounds totally normal. You have done brilliantly well so far. Babies are notorious for having growth spurts at this age. The more you feed, the more milk you will make. He has gained weight well and sounds as though he is beahing as most 6 week old babies do. Sounds as though your milk production is absolutely fine. By all means take a supplement if it makes you feel better but your breasts are doing a really good job on their own

highlander · 19/12/2004 03:37

can I just add that erratic feeding doesn't necessarily coincide with growth spurts. My DS occasionally goes through phases of snacking (5 mins/feed and lots of feeds/day) for a couple of days then would cut down the number of feeds but feed for longer. As long he is sleeping, happy and gaining weight, I never try to find a reason for his strange ways

Flip