Boosting milk supply

[hayesgirl]

I have 3week old twins. In hospital I tried breastfeeding but for a number if reasons decided instead to give them bottles of expressed breast milk. Everything was going well until the weekend when they hit a growth spurt and became impossible to fill! Over the course of 12 hours they used up all the milk stores I had in the freezer and we're then drinking what I was expressing that evening. Since this growth spurt their daily intake has literally doubled and I am nearly keeping up with them. They have had the occasional formula too up feed.

Whilst I am completely fine with giving them formula and have no problem with stopping the breast milk or combination feeding, and most certainly am not going to stress about it, I would prefer to be able to give them breast milk for at least the next 3 weeks so they get the full benefit of it.

I am expressing every 3 hours day and night but if anything my supply is dwindling rather than getting stronger. Does anyone have any tips for increasing milk supply by expressing?

You are doing really well to have kept up with them so far, I had given up by three weeks.

The things I tried before that though were: Prescribed tablets to increase milk supply ( domperinon - May not be spelled like that but it is a very similar name!), that helped at first but the effects seemed to wear off after a few days. I think it works well for other women though.

Drinking ridiculous amounts of water helped a bit as well and finally, chatting to a friend on the phone whilst expressing! I discovered that one by accident. I think it was because I stopped concentrating & worrying about the milk, so I produced double the amount I normally did.

The main advice I was consistently given though, was to put them to the breast as that stimulates milk supply far more than expressing. My twins really struggled to feed though, and I just didn't have the time/energy to do a frustrating half hour each on the breast, before giving them the expressed top up. So I can understand if that isn't really an option for you.

Good luck

Fenugreek capsules work for me - get them from Holland and Barratt etc. Mother's Milk tea is a herbal tea with a blend of herbs that help milk supply. Oats are another food that is supposed to help - an excuse to eat flapjack!

Agree that putting babies on the breast helps, as does skin to skin. It's really hard though, you are doing really well. I posted here a few weeks ago about nearly giving up bf at 2 weeks - we're still going a month later. Take each day at a time and congratulate yourself for every EBM feed they have!

Flaxseed & fenugreek are supposed to boost milk supply. The simplest way is to add a handful to your diet - fenugreek seeds can be cooked (they do taste bitter, but once lightly toasted/fried they are crunchy). Flaxseed can be had easily by sprinkling it on your food.

Are you eating properly? My consultant said food was as important as liquid.

I agree with putting them to the breast and having the babies around (I know that sounds stupid) if you can. A warm shower beforehand can help as can massaging your boobs for a couple of minutes before you start to express. Good luck.

Fenugreek, domperidone, gallons of liquid and expressing through the night as well.