Low breastmilk production?

Question

My daughter was born 15 weeks early. She is getting my breastmilk through a feeding tube so that means I have to pump my milk. In the last 2 weeks I have noticed a big decrease in the amount of milk I produce from when I started pumping til now. Any one have any suggestions?

Answer 1

1) Drink a lot of fluid

2) Pump often

3) Take Fenugreek. You can get it in vitamin shoppe or you can just soak fenugreek and swallow it.

4) I am not sure whether this will work or not but record your baby's voice and listen to it when you are pumping. Someone suggested that to me but I never tried.

Answer 2

Stress will slow your flow.  De-STRESS!

Caffine will increase your flow but will wire you and baby.

Drink plenty of water/fluids.

Be sure your intake of calories is up (making milk is a calorie zapper).

Answer 3

one problem you are going to have is that only pumping will decrease your milk supply. The baby nursing release hormones that trigger milk production. You cant nurse so talk to the ped dr or your dr the routinely pprescribe meds to aid in lacation, I am on one of the meds just to keep my low milk supply present.

the herb funagreek didn't work for me just made me smell like maple syrup and the tea didn't work either it taste like black licorice

Answer 4

are you drinking enough water?

for every feed you are supposed to drink 3 glasses of water

Answer 5

First option: pump more often.  It's all about supply and demand.

Second option: ask your doctor if it's okay for you to try a homeopathic remedy like fenugreek.  There is a great organic tea called "Mother's Milk Tea" that I drank to increase my milk supply.  It wasn't a drastic difference, but it helped a noticeable amount.  You can find it in a quality supermarket or health food store. (It tasted terrible, but was more palatable if made into iced tea with some sugar.)

Good luck!

Answer 6

3 capsules each; 3 times a day

google it if you have any questions

fenugreek and blessed thistle  

Answer 7

If you can't increase it soon, you can ask your doctor for medication that helps increase the milk supply.

Answer 8

Yes!  I am breastfeeding my first child now and at first I was producing so much milk- now I am back to work and pumping and it has slowed drastically.  I know you need to increase your fluid intake and pump every 2-3 hours.  I would even wake up in the night at least once and do it because they say your milk production is greatest while you sleep.  Also, once she learns to latch on good, her actually feeding directly from the breast as opposed to pumping will stimulate your milk production better than pumping.   It's basically a supply and demand system.  The more you feed/pump, the more you will produce.

Answer 9

Make sure that you are pumping every two hours, even if you need to do it through the night. With your baby being premature, I am sure that you are stressed out, and I don't blame you. But stress and lack of sleep can affect your milk supply drastically. Also smoking, alcohol, and caffeine decrease milk production. When your milk first comes in, you usually have much more than you need, then it tapers off to what is being demanded. A pump cannot express as much as your baby could, which requires that you pump as much as you possibly can. Try and get as relaxed as you can while you are pumping because it helps your body release more milk. Try taking some fenugreek capsules, they help quite a bit. Contact the La Leche Legue, they do breastfeeding consultations, classes, and more for no charge. You can go on their website and get the personal cell phone number of a consultant in your area. They may be willing to come and meet you at your home or the hospital. Good luck to you and your little one. The website is - www.lllusa.org  

Answer 10

pump more often if you can. talk to your doctor and see if you can get something to stimulate your milk production.