Pumping to increase supply...doesn't seem to be working

[e_roehm23]

dd is 6.5 mos and we have been struggling since birth with nearly every bfding issue in the book. I'm currently pumping for 15-20 min w/ a Medela Freestyle Double electric every 2-4 hours. It seems like my supply is not increasing, though. I'm getting about 2 oz on each side per pumping session. I'm hoping to get dd off the bottle after this virus goes away, so I need to get my supply up quickly. I'm thinking about power pumping. I'm also taking More Milk Plus drops 4xs a day.

[GodLover]

more info on this ....

[sunshine987]

Keep doing what you're doing, pump as often as you can, try the power pumping, get as much rest as you can, eat oatmeal, drink plenty of water. I've even tried a Guiness -- it helped a bit.

By getting DD off the bottle, do you mean back to nursing? Nursing her will help increase your supply more than the pump will. Just plan on feeding quite often when you start nursing her again. Try not to supplement with bottles if you can help it. Obviously, do what you need to make sure she's not starving hungry, but even if you nurse every hour or so, you're production should bounce back to what she needs.

[seacat]

You are getting the proper amount. Kelly Mom suggests that at a normal pump you should get between 1-2 ounces per breast per pump. If you are wanting to increase beyond that you should be pumping every two hours on the dot. Brewers yeast does it for me. Nursing also helps the supply more than pumping ever could. I eped with DS1 and struggled with supply for the entire year I pumped. DS2 is a nursing hog and I pump about seven ounces per pump with him which is ridiculous. I am WOHM so I welcome the over supply because it means I can go to work without worry. Good luck!

[rubira]

Yeah it sounds like you are making enough milk! 4 ounces every 2-4 hours means you are making at least 24 ounces a day, that's a good amount as long as your DD is wetting and soiling diapers and not losing weight (weight gain slows for EBF babies in the second half of the first year). Also you can introduce solids soon if you haven't already and so your DD will be getting some calories elsewhere even if you don't supplement with formula.

You're doing a great job!

[bigmommylove]

Definitely keep up with the herbs. I've got low milk supply. I started using Breastea and I have seen an improvement. Sometimes it just takes time. Make sure to pump overnight too.

[palsmama]

Wow!! That's an awesome supply. Especially for being 6.5 months out. Technically your body ( general your) only makes a certain amount ever. 4 oz is great. I never made more than that maybe 5 oz at max when my lo was younger and we ebf for 2 + yrs. also, babies tend to take in less volume of BM after 6 months of age because the composition of your milk changes to their needs. Don't stress. You really do have a great supply!

[kai_e]

You can try power pumping - 10 on/10 off for about 30 mins a few times a day would usually give me a bump.

I also use to take a calcium and magnesium supplement about a week before AF started. Unfortunately, even though I was EPing and pumping at least every 2 hours, I got AF back at 6 weeks PP.

Around 8 months, I discovered Lactuca Virosa which really boosted my supply. More Milk never seemed to help as much as a galactagogue. So at points, I was taking: Lactuca Virosa, brewers yeast (usually in lactation cookies) AND calcium/magnesium.