I need to up my milk supply for my nursing 10 month old.

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Replies

  • DancingYogini
    DancingYogini Posts: 377
    Oatmeal!!! Good for you and increases your milk. My kids only had solids to experiment with until they were one, then mashed up fruits and veggies. No juice, only water!! They love water today, even my almost 13 year old. My daughter's favorite food was (and still is) fresh avocado right out of the fruit :smile: i nursed my daughter the longest, till she was almost 3 (much to my mother's horror :laugh: ). Up your calories, look at getting some mother's milk tea (at health food stores). Go to Whole Foods if you have one, and look in their supplement section, I am sure they have something that you can take to increase your milk. You are doing awesome mamma!! Seriously, the best thing ever for your little one, and also decreases your risk of breast and ovarian cancer :drinker: And yes, I was/am a baby wearing, extended nursing, co-sleeping, cloth diapering hippie :bigsmile:
  • DancingYogini
    DancingYogini Posts: 377
    And, no, I am NOT judging anyone else for their child raising beliefs/techniques...these are just mine!!
  • merflan
    merflan Posts: 216 Member
    Congrats on nursing for so long. The best way to increase your supply is to feed more often. After that, drink lots of water. Every time you sit to nurse, have some water. Oatmeal (not instant, whole grain) can help. Fenugreek is best at the beginning - you also have to take a lot of the pills, and you will smell like maple syrup if you're taking a lot of them. Not sure if you're familiar with Dr. Newman, but I did give mashed avacado to help with my infants weight gain. Eventually, I had to take Domperidone. Also remember, growth charts are based on formula fed infants, infants who are breastfed often gain slower than formula feeders. I believe WHO has breast fed growth charts on their site, as well as the LaLeche league.
  • fitterpam
    fitterpam Posts: 3,064 Member
    I agree with your pediatrician, You can't expect baby to gain weight on breast milk alone. Since your child is approaching a year old (and is whole lot more active at this age than in the earlier months) its time for something solid. I breastfed for 8 months and to tell you the truth it just wasn't enough to just breastfeed. He had to have soild food and he pretty much weaned himself . He always ran under the national weight average for his age but when solid food was introduced he picked up more weight. Breast milk can only provide so much. Its time for a solid meal and you can always supplement with milk.

    Also take in consideration how fast breast milk is digested in their systems, a lot more faster than formula even. If baby is super active, is breast milk really enough to sustain his/her activity?

    Not that I'm a Mom (yet!), but I can tell you that children can live quite happily on breastmilk alone and get all the nutrients they need. My husband's cousin's kids were both breastfed exclusively until age one and then supplemented for another few months. The eldest little guy was a very busy 50lbs at a year old!!! He's now 7 and hasn't put much more on....He's just shot up 3 feet. He's never sick and is incredibly active.

    I commend your decision to continue it as long as you feel that your son needs it.
  • DancingYogini
    DancingYogini Posts: 377
    My niece is an exclusively bf 6 month old and is a healthy and happy 20lbs! You should see her cute little fat rolls...isn't it funny that it is cute on babies, but not so cute on grown ups? :laugh: I loved avocados, cause you could just throw a whole one (I cut it but didn't open it and had it in a ziploc) into your bag and go, and you could eat it too...baby food, in general, tastes kind of gross, if you ask me, but I have a sophisticated palate :laugh:
  • theresnoeggs
    theresnoeggs Posts: 188 Member
    1st of all congrats on making it so far! It takes a lot of work to make it through the booby traps-which some of these women are placing in front of you.

    To increase your supply w/o medication, vitamins or herbs:
    *Water!!!! Drink a glass during each feeding and one in between feedings, and before bed, 1st thing in the morning.
    *oatmeal- not instant, get old fashioned rolled oats-can sweeten w/ syrup, fruit, yogurt, honey, etc. I like adding granola and berries.
    --Google lactation cookies-3 a day really help!
    *Mothers Milk Tea-drink 4-6 cups a day according to directions-add sweetener like honey
    *3 day nursing sabbatical: basically stay with your baby, non stop, offering the breast constantly, if possible with your breasts exposed the whole time. Usually works w newborns, but have seen success with older babies.
    *frequent pumping.
    *hand expressing after each feeding and an hour after each feeding,


    Herbs and Medication:
    *Brewers Yeast
    *Fenugreek-9 a day.
    *Blessed Thistle
    *Reglan
    *Doperidone (sp?)



    While I had fed both my boys solids very early on, I understand your side, as I held off with my daughter. I did introduce solids at 6-7 mos, but it was only to be introduced, not as a primary source of income.

    And for those saying BFed babies need food, get your facts straight and don't use growth curves to back yourself up. Just because your child is smaller than the 50th percentile doesn't mean anything is wrong, lets face it, take just 10 healthy exclusively breastfed babies, 2 will be perfectly in the middle, 4 will be larger than average and 4 will be smaller. Thats the point AVERAGES! Doesn't mean if your baby is below 50 they are malnourished or about 50 they are super strong.
  • DancingYogini
    DancingYogini Posts: 377
    Oh, and one more thing...I agree that the weight charts are based on formula fed babies, so bf babies are always going to seem like they are "skinnier" or lower on the charts (but not always). My first was always under 30th percentile for weight (but 95th for height), and now is almost as tall as his dad at almost 13, and will probably top 6'2" or more. My others were both little butterballs :heart: and, are healthy, tall and fit 10 and 6 year olds. Doctor's, unfortunately, do not have a lot of coursework in nutrition...so trust what your mothering instincts are telling you. Check with La Leche League. Also, juice in sippy cups, has the tendency (not always) to cause cavities.
  • DancingYogini
    DancingYogini Posts: 377
    1st of all congrats on making it so far! It takes a lot of work to make it through the booby traps-which some of these women are placing in front of you.

    To increase your supply w/o medication, vitamins or herbs:
    *Water!!!! Drink a glass during each feeding and one in between feedings, and before bed, 1st thing in the morning.
    *oatmeal- not instant, get old fashioned rolled oats-can sweeten w/ syrup, fruit, yogurt, honey, etc. I like adding granola and berries.
    --Google lactation cookies-3 a day really help!
    *Mothers Milk Tea-drink 4-6 cups a day according to directions-add sweetener like honey
    *3 day nursing sabbatical: basically stay with your baby, non stop, offering the breast constantly, if possible with your breasts exposed the whole time. Usually works w newborns, but have seen success with older babies.
    *frequent pumping.
    *hand expressing after each feeding and an hour after each feeding,


    Herbs and Medication:
    *Brewers Yeast
    *Fenugreek-9 a day.
    *Blessed Thistle
    *Reglan
    *Doperidone (sp?)



    While I had fed both my boys solids very early on, I understand your side, as I held off with my daughter. I did introduce solids at 6-7 mos, but it was only to be introduced, not as a primary source of income.

    And for those saying BFed babies need food, get your facts straight and don't use growth curves to back yourself up. Just because your child is smaller than the 50th percentile doesn't mean anything is wrong, lets face it, take just 10 healthy exclusively breastfed babies, 2 will be perfectly in the middle, 4 will be larger than average and 4 will be smaller. Thats the point AVERAGES! Doesn't mean if your baby is below 50 they are malnourished or about 50 they are super strong.

    ITA...and LOL at "booby-traps"...freudian slip or tongue in cheek humor??
  • sbilyeu75
    sbilyeu75 Posts: 567 Member
    I agree with your pediatrician, You can't expect baby to gain weight on breast milk alone. Since your child is approaching a year old (and is whole lot more active at this age than in the earlier months) its time for something solid. I breastfed for 8 months and to tell you the truth it just wasn't enough to just breastfeed. He had to have soild food and he pretty much weaned himself . He always ran under the national weight average for his age but when solid food was introduced he picked up more weight. Breast milk can only provide so much. Its time for a solid meal and you can always supplement with milk.

    Also take in consideration how fast breast milk is digested in their systems, a lot more faster than formula even. If baby is super active, is breast milk really enough to sustain his/her activity?
    Adding solids=baby losing interest in nursing=baby weans self.
    I'm not going to do that. I'm sorry. I may sound like a complete ***** but I am asking for ways to up my supply. I am NOT looking for everyone to tell me "give solids". PLEASE stick to answering the advice I asked for- not pushing your opinions on me as far as baby foods (you as in the general you, not you as in only you)

    But yet, you are sounding like one. She was just stating her experience.
  • theresnoeggs
    theresnoeggs Posts: 188 Member
    1st of all congrats on making it so far! It takes a lot of work to make it through the booby traps-which some of these women are placing in front of you.

    To increase your supply w/o medication, vitamins or herbs:
    *Water!!!! Drink a glass during each feeding and one in between feedings, and before bed, 1st thing in the morning.
    *oatmeal- not instant, get old fashioned rolled oats-can sweeten w/ syrup, fruit, yogurt, honey, etc. I like adding granola and berries.
    --Google lactation cookies-3 a day really help!
    *Mothers Milk Tea-drink 4-6 cups a day according to directions-add sweetener like honey
    *3 day nursing sabbatical: basically stay with your baby, non stop, offering the breast constantly, if possible with your breasts exposed the whole time. Usually works w newborns, but have seen success with older babies.
    *frequent pumping.
    *hand expressing after each feeding and an hour after each feeding,


    Herbs and Medication:
    *Brewers Yeast
    *Fenugreek-9 a day.
    *Blessed Thistle
    *Reglan
    *Doperidone (sp?)



    While I had fed both my boys solids very early on, I understand your side, as I held off with my daughter. I did introduce solids at 6-7 mos, but it was only to be introduced, not as a primary source of income.

    And for those saying BFed babies need food, get your facts straight and don't use growth curves to back yourself up. Just because your child is smaller than the 50th percentile doesn't mean anything is wrong, lets face it, take just 10 healthy exclusively breastfed babies, 2 will be perfectly in the middle, 4 will be larger than average and 4 will be smaller. Thats the point AVERAGES! Doesn't mean if your baby is below 50 they are malnourished or about 50 they are super strong.

    ITA...and LOL at "booby-traps"...freudian slip or tongue in cheek humor??

    http://www.bestforbabes.org/breastfeeding-booby-traps/ :wink:
  • theresnoeggs
    theresnoeggs Posts: 188 Member
    Oh, check out KellyMom.com for amazing help for any and all breastfeeding and breastmilk questions!


    And if interested: http://www.justmommies.com/forums/f30-breastfeeding/970448-3-day-nursing-sabbatical.html


    Also, the justmommies.com message boards are amazing here is the link to their breastfeeding board:
    http://www.justmommies.com/forums/f30-breastfeeding/

    Without them and the girls in my January 2008 playroom I would not still be nursing my almost 13 month old, as I fell victim to the booby traps early on with my two boys. :smile:
  • thefallguy
    thefallguy Posts: 23
    Ok... my reply was misunderstood. I said ONLY drink breast milk or formula as in you should not feed tablescraps or foods before 6 months. In other words they should be on the bottle or breast till at least 6 months before weaning. No need to get ugly, we were all just trying to help.... We're not attacking you. I think I even commended you. I'm a nurse BTW, so I'm not just saying random information without justification. Good luck on your experience. Let's all be nice, that's the point of this site. :)
  • bpayne78
    bpayne78 Posts: 249 Member
    I did not nurse any of my boys (i have 3) but with our third now he's 20 months old he drink stage 2 formula so if your worried mybe you could try supllementing with some formula.
    I've never even heard of stage 2 formula- but formula is not an option. I want my child getting breast milk only.

    First off I applaud you for making it this far with the nursing and please stay with me to the end while I write this. The stage 2 formula could be for supplement.....for instance, you could do one serving of baby food, one serving of stage 2 formula, then nurse the rest of the time. Your child would still be getting the majority of his calories and nutrients from you but the rest would be practice and extra calories. If the juice concerns you, water it down. We sometimes do that with our preschoolers at work. Do half water, half juice.....or you could do 3/4 water and 1/4 juice. Again, added calories but not all the sugar. Drinking juice will NOT cause diabetes nor contribute to the onset (if it's in the DNA for him to develop it, it will happen whether you give juice or not, it's not dependent upon).....I drank juice when I was younger and I'm not a diabetic. However, my sister is Type 1 insulin dependent and my dad, aunt, and cousin before he pass are all Type 2. I've lived with diabetes since my sister was diagnosed 25 years ago.

    I'm not trying to attack or try to get you to do something you're uncomfortable with. I'm just trying to give ideas that you can do that will fit with both what you want and what the pediatrician told you. I would have loved to have nursed my boys longer but I couldn't get them to latch and I pumped as long as I could. I would get suction blisters from the pump (not fun at all :noway: ).

    One thing you might try is to either get him to nurse more often (increase demand to increase supply). Or if he doesn't want to, you could pump between feedings, save the milk and give it to him later either in a bottle or a sippy cup. He's still getting it all but your increasing supply as well. I also agree about making sure you eat enough. When I did Weight Watchers years ago, nursing mothers got extra points per day simply because they are nursing. So maybe try to up your cals a little and increase demand by either getting him to latch more often or pumping and hopefully that will increase your supply. If that doesn't work I definitely suggest calling a lactation consultant, they would know what to tell you.

    I hope this helps and Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do. :flowerforyou:
  • x3mommy
    x3mommy Posts: 73 Member
    older post, but glad I came across it, I just started working out and logging my calories, and I have an almost 4 month old and feel like my supply is diminishing.... I am looking for any tips! thanks gals!
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