After the death of my grandmother.. my supply went down.. and I started giving WIlliam formula.. well I hate it.. I know I need to nurse him.. I nursed my other two well past a year. I need help on bringing back my supply .. sadly .. I dont have money for a nice pump.. so that is out the question. Is there anything I can do to help ? I nurse him 2x a day now.. he is almost 6mths... please help.. I really feel bad about it now!:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :cry: :cry:
Manna00
02-08-2007, 08:48 AM
I've never been in this situation... but from what I know I think the answer is just to nurse, nurse, nurse and that should bring your supply back up. It's a supply and demand thing. Also, eat oatmeal and drink ovaltine.... for some reason, I've heard both of those help with supply! :)
As far as oatmeal goes, I don't like just plain ol' oatmeal.... but these cookies (also known as Preacher Cookies in the South) are amazingly good... I don't have supply issues... but WHOA.. get out the big bra after eating some of these!!
Even if you have a small manual pump, maybe try pumping a couple of times a day. That might help. And drink lots of water. Aren't there some herbs you can take to help increase supply? Check on kellymom.com.
Shyla
02-08-2007, 08:59 AM
Stop giving him formula and nurse him alot and I mean alot your supply will come back faster than you would think. If you keep suplamenting your body wont make the milk it needs because he is getting it elsewhere. So id try nursing alot 24-7 if need be and no more bottle ;) just my :2cents: and I know women this has worked for. You can do it :hugs:
deeannielannie
02-08-2007, 09:05 AM
Stop giving him formula and nurse him alot and I mean alot your supply will come back faster than you would think. If you keep suplamenting your body wont make the milk it needs because he is getting it elsewhere. So id try nursing alot 24-7 if need be and no more bottle ;) just my :2cents: and I know women this has worked for. You can do it :hugs:
i couldn't agree more. i've been there.
our bodies won't make milk if it's not needed, and if he's getting some of his nutrition from formula, that's that much milk you're not going to make. it gets scary, cause you worry you won't have enough in the beginning...but you probably do, and you can watch his diapers to make sure he's peeing and pooping enough.
good luck, mama. you really can do it!
For The Love Of Cloth
02-08-2007, 09:15 AM
Plan a nursing weekend, sleep (while breastfeeding) with him, get a good book or movies and do nothing else! Dr Sears says that the night nursings are the best for keeping up supply, and the quality of milk is the best at night.
EmnJJsMom
02-08-2007, 09:28 AM
I've never been in this situation... but from what I know I think the answer is just to nurse, nurse, nurse and that should bring your supply back up. It's a supply and demand thing. Also, eat oatmeal and drink ovaltine.... for some reason, I've heard both of those help with supply! :)
As far as oatmeal goes, I don't like just plain ol' oatmeal.... but these cookies (also known as Preacher Cookies in the South) are amazingly good... I don't have supply issues... but WHOA.. get out the big bra after eating some of these!!
Those work GREAT but make sure to omit the cocoa because the caffiene wont be good for your supply either!
Tad
02-08-2007, 09:40 AM
I agree with above suggestions of stopping formula ja just bf:ing a lot. Also, if you really want, you can rent a hospital grade pump. Call your hospital and they'll tell you where. I did this. You still need to buy the plastic part that goes to your breast (I think I paid $30?), but the pump is cheap to rent - maybe a dollar a day, if I remember right.
doberbrat
02-08-2007, 09:55 AM
Well, I wouldn’t just stop the formula. What I would do is to try and rent a pump – you should be able to rent one for $30-50 /mo and get a supplemental nursing system. A dr should be able to make a temp one from a large syringe and some tubing for you. Instead of giving him a bottle, nurse first. Then pour 75% of the amt of formula you would use into the sns and give it while ‘bf’. Then you can pump a bit afterwards.
Your supply SHOULD come back but the longer you go after birth the harder it is to build it back. And your baby may need to be trained to take the breast again as well.
Try calling your local lll for help
*hugs*
movaly1
02-08-2007, 09:58 AM
Also drink LOTS of water, oatmeal, you can try fenugreek tablets and there is always the mothers milk tea.
Manna00
02-08-2007, 11:41 AM
Those work GREAT but make sure to omit the cocoa because the caffiene wont be good for your supply either!
LOL... I've NEVER made the cookies with cocoa... so it didn't even cross my mind! But I agree...
Lizzy
02-08-2007, 11:56 AM
when my DS was new i had a lot of trouble with my milk, and even now, everytime i get stressed or don't eat or drink enough, my milk goes down. my sigestion is take fenugreek and try mommy teas- they bulked up my supply really quick. also, make sure when you nurse, he nurses till you are dry, then try nursing again sooner than you normally would- adding a few extra nursing sessions will build up the milk faster and after that, you can always cut back the number again. :2cents:
deejahd
02-08-2007, 11:59 AM
I've never been in this situation... but from what I know I think the answer is just to nurse, nurse, nurse and that should bring your supply back up. It's a supply and demand thing. Also, eat oatmeal and drink ovaltine.... for some reason, I've heard both of those help with supply! :)
As far as oatmeal goes, I don't like just plain ol' oatmeal.... but these cookies (also known as Preacher Cookies in the South) are amazingly good... I don't have supply issues... but WHOA.. get out the big bra after eating some of these!!
UGGGGHHH Amanda with the preacher cookies again!!!! I owe these last 5 pounds I've gained to you and those cookies....do not make them they are addictive....
Manna00
02-08-2007, 12:45 PM
LOL... hey man, misery loves company...
They are SOOO tasty though...I'm all about rationale though... see.. I eat the good cookies FOR MY SON.... yeah.. that's it....
EmnJJsMom
02-08-2007, 01:13 PM
We make those with both chocolate and without (for me and DD) I always use the excuse "I'm nursing, so I can have extra" when it comes to those cookies. But they DO help your milk supply tons and they taste great.
ocanfield
02-08-2007, 01:22 PM
I used Mother's Milk tea from Traditional Medicinals....the LC at my hospital also suggested taking Fenugreek capsules along with Blessed Thistle capsules 3x a day. You can get both in most vitamin/supplement stores. I never did that because the tea seemed to help me when my supply was low. I agree with everyone else too...try nursing him more...even just a few times more a day and your supply should increase again. Try and take time to relax too (yeah right)...the more you are tensed up, the more your body has to work to produce that milk!! Sorry for the loss of your grandmom...I just lost mine this week, and I know what you are going through...
laniesmommy
02-08-2007, 01:53 PM
Stop giving him formula and nurse him alot and I mean alot your supply will come back faster than you would think. If you keep suplamenting your body wont make the milk it needs because he is getting it elsewhere. So id try nursing alot 24-7 if need be and no more bottle ;) just my :2cents: and I know women this has worked for. You can do it :hugs:
ITA!
Good luck!!
mommyto2presidents
02-08-2007, 01:55 PM
I've never been in this situation... but from what I know I think the answer is just to nurse, nurse, nurse and that should bring your supply back up. It's a supply and demand thing. Also, eat oatmeal and drink ovaltine.... for some reason, I've heard both of those help with supply! :)
As far as oatmeal goes, I don't like just plain ol' oatmeal.... but these cookies (also known as Preacher Cookies in the South) are amazingly good... I don't have supply issues... but WHOA.. get out the big bra after eating some of these!!
OMG It's SO funny that you posted this recipe! I JUST had to look up the thread (my computer died and I lost my *Favorites* list). These are DELICIOUS and worked REALLY well when I made them last time. AF is here now (which seriously whacks out my supply), so I'm off to make some more.
OP, make these, they WILL help!!!
mommyto2presidents
02-08-2007, 01:57 PM
Those work GREAT but make sure to omit the cocoa because the caffiene wont be good for your supply either!
Oh yeah, I forgot that I left out the cocoa too! :mrgreen:
Manna00
02-08-2007, 03:13 PM
lol...I just made a batch of Preacher cookies....mmm....
Elphaba71
02-08-2007, 03:50 PM
My supply started dropping a few months back, serendipitously, I finally got the hang of the sidelying position (or maybe my son did) and started nursing him in bed with me so I could get more sleep and my supply shot back up. I definitely recommend cosleeping and nursing to help with supply.
sienna
02-08-2007, 03:56 PM
YOu could rent a pump, that would make a huge difference. drink lots of water, have skin to skin contact with the baby and nurse him at night too!
good luck with this!
you could look at www.drjacknewman .com and see what he says about relactating (it is possible to relactate up to a year after weaning, so this might be helpful for your situaiton.)
hth
s
lilmama2dsndd
02-08-2007, 04:02 PM
:hugs:
good for you for wanting to try & bring back your supply. I wanted to point out that Lansolin makes a wonderful double electric pump that is exactly like the Ameda Purely Yours and it sells at wal-mart for $150 (I have been using my Ameda for pumping for DD for 18 months while I'm at work and like it so much better than the PIS I use to use)
Have you been to the LLL forums? They have a wonderful relacation forum over there and lots of other mamas who are relactating and inducing lactation for adoption.
I would also recommed adding a SNS since it keeps baby at breast and helps to stimulate supply and teaches LO how to properly latch.
I have supply problems and have been taking Domperidone to her increase & maintain my supply but was also suggested alphalfa supplements recently (haven't tried it yet but I am going to).
Good luck!
Here are the cookies I use to boost my supply:
Housepoet's Famous Lactation Boosting Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip & Flaxseed cookies (created by Noel Pickett noel@clubmuse.com)
Ingredients :
* 1 cup butter or marg
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar (I sub both cups of sugar for 1 cup light Agave nectar)
* 4 tablespoons water
* 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal*
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups oats, thick cut if you can get them
* 1 cup or more chocolate chips
* 2 tablespoons of brewers yeast* (be generous)
Directions:
Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. Mix together 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and water, set aside for 3-5 minutes. Cream (beat well) margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mix well. Stir flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to the margarine mix. Beat until blended. Sift together dry ingredients, except oats and chips. Add to margarine mixture. Stir in oats then chips. Scoop or drop onto baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment or silpat. The dough is a little crumbly, so it helps to use a scoop.
