Question 1:

I am working full time and recently switched shifts. I was making a lot
more milk when I was working and pumping during second shift, and now
that I am working 1st, I am having trouble keeping up with my baby. I
thought I would try that "Mother’s Milk Tea" but am kind of nervous
about it. Is it TOTALLY safe for baby? Does it work? How long of
drinking it do you start to see a difference in the amount you are
making? My freezer supply is getting to a bare minimum and I am getting
freaked out. Which I am SURE isn't helping the milk making either. Oh
well. Answers and suggestions are greatly appreciated.”





“I haven't tried that, but I have tried Fenugreek, which I found worked GREAT!!



I went on it to make a good freezer stash, as I am going on a little mommy holiday and DH will stay home with ds.



I noticed a huge difference after taking it for 3 days. I felt fuller
in the mornings, and was able to pump an additional 2 oz more than
usual. Sometimes even more, depending on how much ds would nurse. I
also have been pumping after my evening nursing sessions, which I
wasn't able to do before. I managed to get a freezer stash of 70 oz
& counting in no time!! (which is a lot for me!)



I have read a lot about it and it is completely safe!!”





“I'm thinking about starting fenugreek too. So far I have definitely
found that eating oatmeal daily and drinking lots of water helps boost
supply. I also find that it comes and goes -- some weeks are lower than
others, just naturally. I'm learning not to get nervous about it when
it happens, and trying to freeze a bag here and there when supply is
up, so it's there when supply is down.



Also, the best way to boost supply is pump pump pump and nurse nurse
nurse. See if you can add a pumping session somewhere in your day. I
found that adding one in the morning helps. On workdays I nurse when
the baby wakes up, then shower, then pump before I leave for work.”





”Here's a link to some info on the Tea you're interested in.



http://www.kellymom.com/herbal-rem_j.html#milktea



I, too am a supporter of oatmeal; you can read more about it at this link.



http://www.kellymom.com/herbal-rem_n.html#oatmeal”





Question 2: Ideas for back to work



”I didn't have this problem when I went back to work in May so I'm not
sure what's up... I've been back teaching school for a week. I'm not
pumping even half of what I was getting during the summer months if I
had to pump. I'm nursing her at 6 am before I leave, then I pump at
9am. I pick her up by 1:00 pm. (I teach half-time.)



I've had to pump at that 9:00 time, and then at night an hour after she
goes to bed I pump a little more to get her enough for the bottle she
takes at the sitter.



Any ideas for how else to boost production?

Also, how much does lack of sleep effect this? I've been getting about 6 a night.



Any info you mamas could give would be appreciated... BTW, I don't think it's my pump... I have a double pumping Medela.”





“www.pumpingmoms.org
has a lot of info on it regarding supply boosters, etc. What I remember
is that you need to drink plenty (at least 8-10 full glasses of WATER a
day), cut down on caffeine because that can actually reduce your
hydration levels, rest enough (it doesn't sound as if you're getting
enough), and some supply boosters are Mother’s Milk Tea and/or
fenugreek (enough to make you smell like maple syrup). I also found it
helpful to concentrate on my baby (you could bring in a picture of her,
and/or a piece of clothing with her smell on it), plus massage my
breasts before pumping.



Since your baby is getting older, is she eating any solids yet? That
might put the pressure off you. You could also try pumping on one side
while she nurses when you get home, to take advantage of the let-down.



Keep in mind that it's much harder to let down for a pump than for a
baby, especially if you haven't been doing it for a while (over the
summer). Also, you're more likely to pump more at the beginning of a
week than the end, because you're usually more rested at the beginning.”





“Try fenugreek and lots of water. I think you can start fenugreek at
one every meal time and up it to 6 or 9 a day. I think I read somewhere
that oatmeal will help increase your milk supply, but can't remember
where. Also, you will pump more in the morning than at night.”





Question 3:



Here is the deal. Ds is 5 months old and I have nursed him on demand
except for two feedings a week when I am teaching my college course and
because he was not gaining weight I did supplement but only after he
had nursed for at least 15 minutes. He has not been gaining weight in
the last 2 months and I can tell that my milk supply is going downhill
fast (actually, over the last couple of days it has been almost
non-existent).



A few weeks ago I was told that my pituitary gland is not working
effectively, and guess what, that little gland is what secrets
prolactin, which is what stimulates lactation.



I am currently on mineral supplements and a booster for my pituitary
gland to help get me back into shape. I also ordered a drug called
motillium, which is used for acid reflux but is supposed to have a side
affect of increased lactation.



Anyway, after all of this rambling, what should I do? I seriously was
only able to nurse twice today and had hardly any milk left. Is it
possible to bring back my milk supply if it has dwindled this much? Has
anyone else tried this drug before? Will pumping while I am
supplementing help bring back my supply? Could ds's bottle
supplementations be affecting his sucking reflex enough to make my milk
supply dwindle?



If you were in my shoes would you take a drug to try to continue to
nurse or would you switch to the bottle? Supposedly, the drug will not
pass into my milk.



Any advice would be greatly appreciated.





“If it were me, I would take the drug and continue nursing rather than
not be able to breastfeed. Breastmilk has so many benefits; I want my
kids to have that.



I would pump and nurse as often as possible. As soon as your supply seems greater, I would wean baby off the supplements.”





“I second sticking to the nursing... pump and try the drug. Have you
been to the health food store? There are herbs that have helped
increase milk supply... Drinking a ton of water? Do you have a LLL
nearby? I’d be on the phone with a leader ASAP... what kind of pump are
you using? Also, does your son still like to nurse? Even a little
nursing would be better than none.....”





“Answers to your questions



Ds was fine with nursing up until the last two days. Now he screams when I try to nurse.



I have the Purely Yours breast pump by Hollister.



I talked to a LLL person but she is on maternity leave so she put me in
contact with another mom and that mom is who told me about the drug.



This is just really frustrating because I desperately want to nurse but
my son is extremely underweight and I am afraid that he may be
permanently affected if I can't start nourishing him properly.”





“Oh Dear!

First let me say, YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!! Try not to stress out about it;
stress can have a negative affect on your supply. Drink plenty of
water, eat a TON of oatmeal and get some fenugreek! I've never heard of
that other drug, but I know that fenugreek works wonders for most moms.
It sounds like you are going to have to continue to supplement, but as
SOON as your milk gets back up to speed, it would be GREAT if you could
cut the supplementing totally out.

Quote:

Is it possible to bring back my milk supply if it has dwindled this
much? Will pumping while I am supplementing help bring back my supply?
Could ds's bottle supplementations be effecting his sucking reflex
enough to make my milk supply dwindle?



The answer to all of those questions is YES!

I think a good goal for you would to get your supply back up enough to
pump BM for those 2 feedings and cut out formula all together.”



Suggested web sites:

http://pub80.ezboard.com/fbreastfee...icID=17.topic

http://pub80.ezboard.com/fbreastfee...icID=47.topic

http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_ab..._fenugreek.html

http://www.parentingweb.com/lounge/bf_herbs.htm

http://users.erols.com/cindyrn/feungr.htm

http://users.erols.com/cindyrn/notenough.htm





“You have gotten some very good advice so
far. If you wouldn't mind, I would like to know his weight history.
This will give us a better idea of what steps to take first.



If you can, please contact a IBCLC. She will be able to help you greatly.”









“DS was 7 lbs. 11 oz at birth and 7.7 when he left the hospital. We
don't vax so I don't have weights from well baby visits but we do weigh
him occasionally at home.



At six weeks I took him to our family doctor and he was 9 lbs. 4 oz.,
at 12 weeks he was 10 lbs. 5 oz., and now at 22 weeks he weighs 11 lbs.



I contacted my doula today and she is a licensed lactation consultant. I am going to discuss the situation with her tomorrow.



I am trying everything I can: fenugreek (6 capsules per day), oatmeal,
Mother’s Milk Tea, frequent nursings, and I just started taking
domperidone (6 tablets per day). I am also trying to nurse frequently
even though Ds does not want anything to do with nursing.



Due to my inactive pituitary gland and low amounts of prolactin, I am
not sure if these things will help me be successful or not but I am
willing to try.”





I'm so glad you got hold of your doula. With any luck, she'll have
experience in this matter. If she doesn't, she may know someone that
does.



I'm very proud of you for sticking with this and trying things to
increase your supply even though you're not sure it'll work. Either
way, in the end, you can be proud of yourself for putting in such a
great effort!



Try to ask her about using an SNS today. That may help keep baby interested in the breast.



From the numbers, I see that he obviously is progressing in weight
gain. However, he's a little under where he probably should be. I don't
feel he's so far off as to cause alarm, just keep getting those
calories in him!



If the mineral supplements, the fenugreek, domperidone and everything
else you're doing works....you're gonna have some kind of milk
production!!!