Help - pregnant and need to boost supply

[ready2pop]

I am about 7 weeks pregnant and still feeding my 8 month old DS. I am exhausted all the time and my supply is dropping rapidly (flow also very slow now - poor ds is having to feed for 45 mins at a time). DS won't take formula and is still rubbish at eating solids so can't supplement.

Anyone know of anything I can do to boost production? Was thinking of takinf fenugreek but have been told it isn't safe while pregnant.

Thanks

Hi,

Full fat dairy products.

They help with your pregnancy tiredness and milk production and just think at the moment it one of lifes pleasures that you are actually allowed.

I drank breakfast milk and had full fat cheese and butter whenever i could, it made a big difference.

Oats are meant to be good. I ate loads of flapjacks and had loads of milk but could have just been all the calories! You could be healthier and try porridge...

Sorry girls but there is no evidence that either of your suggestions will make any difference.The only way really to make more milk is to feed more. Resting and eating well will make you feel better but won't affect milk supply.

Early pregnancy can wipe you out. Best bet is to rest as much as poss. and do a lot of feeds lying down.

Ready,

I found the product just for you here it is and it is called [http://www.breastfeedingheaven.co.uk/low-milk-supply/herbal-extracts/4oz-more-milk-two-alcohol-free /prod_44.html More Milk Two]]

Rest as much as you possibly can. My 2nd pregnancy was so so tiring i could have slept whilst standing. Continue to feed on demand and keep resting..

As for the full fat products? I agree with Moondog here - i have NEVER read any evidence to confirm that..

more milk two

Agree with feeding on demand (perhaps more than you would usually) and get loads of rest.
Feed lying down so you can rest while you feed.
And not sure about the oats thing but I have read that some people find that eating otas can help boost supply a bit.
www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/oatmeal.html
Worth a try?
And the tiredness does reduce after 12 weeks or so (IME).

lactogenic foods and herbs

Also a nice and easy cookie recipe too

No Bake choc cookies

2 cups sugar 1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk 1 stick butter

Boil the above ingredients for 2 minutes, remove from heat and mix the below ingredients in. Spoon onto wax paper and allow to cool.

1/2 cup peanut butter (if wished or replace with raisins)
3 cups of oats initially, add extra oats until mixture is very stiff
1 TSP vanilla

Lying down makes it easier for your body to produce more milk.

I agree with Moondog, better rest and spend more time actually nursing than spending time preparing or eating special food, unless you fancy it for other reasons of course !!!

I nursed though my recent pregnancy and I had milk thoughout which surprised me but can happen and I did feel 'dry' at times but I could hand express and my daughter still gulped when nursing.

I read the Hiliary Flower book on tandem nursing (here) and info on Kellymom ( here), both helpful sources of information.

All the best

BTW the rest, just for you being pregnant and all, as rest, diet etc won't affect your milk supply or quality

Babieseverywhere; have a look here

I'm going to be a party pooper here and say that it is worth investigating supplementing and solids a bit more IMO to be prepared. Some pregnant mums find supply drops dramatically with hormonal changes (as alveoli become literally leaky) and there isn't much you can do about it. I was feeding during pregnancy and found that supply just about held on and then once colostrum was in volume increased again. But I've known some mums who pretty much find their supply disappears even when only a few weeks pregnant.
I hope you are in the large minority who find they can continue bfing satisfactorily (about 30%) but I honestly think it's misleading to suggest your suppy may be fixable and it's better to look at other options alongside bfing due to your nursling's age (Mine was 2-3yrs so not quite the same thing).

Not, SamJam. it's not the same thing at all.
Solids and other liquids form the main part of the diet for a 2/3 year old child. This is patently not the case for an 8 month old baby

Couldn't agree more. Which is why it's imperative this mother look into alternatives if she isn't able to increase her supply due to hormonal reasons.

Thanks for all the suggestions, will definitely give them all a try - can't hurt can they and I will definitely enjoy the full fat dairy one!

It seems even worse today than yesterday though so I think I am going to have to work on getting DS to take formula.

He takes a bottle fine if it's filled with expressed milk but if it's formula he spits it out after one sip and then screams blue murder.

So I think the only way I am going to get him on it is to stop bf'ing altogether in the hope that he'll get hungry enough to take it. I really don't want to do that - too traumatic for us both - but if things don't pick up in a few days I think I am going to have no choice .

Could you try to feed him a bit earlier each feed than usual. Ie after 3 hours instead of 4. Change his routine a bit to get another feed or two into his day. This way he will not be so desperate for it, not so hungry so he shouldn't need to feed for so long and you will be latching him on more often over 24hrs so in theory should make more milk! Def feed lying down as much as poss!! Give it a go before you give up completely, as it doesn't sound like you want to give up!

readytopop, Have you spoken to a RL breastfeeding counsellor ? She could talk you though your options and talk though hand expression, formula top ups and there affect on your milk supply etc. The numbers are here on the right hand side of the page Hunker's Blog

What Kathryn suggests might work, although Hiliary Flower (wrote Adventures inTandem Nursing) suggests that the standard 'supply and demand' milk production doesn't work the same during pregnancy but YMMV.

Bump for Tiktok, she is Mumsnet's font of knowledge when it comes to breast or bottle feeding

Determination, ?!? LOL, I missed your point, point it out for me