I desperately need to increase milk supply.?

I had to start supplementing with formula this week because I am not producing enough milk supply. I have been non stop pumping and having my baby nurse since Tuesday and am EXHAUSTED. She is 11 weeks old now. I also started fenugreek Tuesday to see if that would work. It seems as though my milk has decreased even more. Is it time for me to throw in the towel? I spoke to a lactation consultant and she said it should only take about 24 hours but its been 4 days. I do not want to give up on my baby but we cant have a life because I am nursing her, making a bottle of formula, and then pumping. This is at least an hour and a half process. Im getting so discouraged and am ready to give up. Any more ideas at all?

my best friend had the same problem and her aunt is a lactation consultant and she told her to drink a beer..worth a try, right?

I usd fenugreek and it seemed to help, but just a bit. I took about 6 a day. I was in the same situation but my daughter would not latch on for anything. She would literally push away from my breast. Pumping and feeding a bottle and trying to breastfeed was exhausting. I wish you the best of luck girl.

Feed the baby some formula on top of the breast feeding. If it is a big hungry baby, sometimes production cannot keep up. Don't kill yourself over it. If you are generally thin, it may factor.
Be sure to drink alot of liquids, including milk. Good luck.

There are lots of things that inhibit milk production. Antihistamines, sage, oregano, black walnut come to mind right off the bat. Double check what you're eating and taking, get lots of rest and try Mother's Milk Tea.
Also, my babies seem to need a pacifier or they can nurse 40 mins out of every hour. I know they say not to, but I use one now and then and it helps!

Demand = Supply. Make next weekend (or whenever is convenient) an all out nursing marathon. Do nothing but lay in bed and have your baby nurse, nurse, nurse. Have hubby be supportive and take care of all your needs while you relax and meditate on how beautiful your baby is and your desire to nourish him/her. Try this for at least 2 straight days. You can look this up on the internet or ask the LC.

different mothers produce milk differently, some over produce and make enough to feed starving african nations and others cant, my suggestion is to continue breast feeding before formula and top her up with formula, if it ends up that your supply ends then give formula, your babies health and your mental emotional health are primary for the both of you.

this doesn't mean your a bad mother, it just means that this particular baby you didn't make all that much milk.

If you are already on fenugreek, drink a beer.

It works, I promise! Don't get drunk, just one beer, and not the light stuff either.

If you do supplement with formula, do not offer it in a bottle, do it in a cup (like a medicine cup) or by spoonfuls.

Yes infants can drink from a cup. Even preemies can drink from a cup (which is preferable because they save a lot of calories by doing that).

If you feed from a bottle, your baby might experience nipple confusion and decide that your breast is too much work and refuse it from then on. If you offer formula from a cup the baby cannot get confused as the mechanics are totally different.

And yes, do what the other answerer said. Just lay there with your baby nursing her non stop for a weekend. Drink PLENTY of liquids, eat well, relax, have a beer, fenugreek and make your baby suckle and you might get over this slump.

Hi -

The best thing that worked for me is to drink alot of water and eat like a total pig. I also took fenugreek - I think I took it 4 times a day, I forgot the amount....

Try to eat alot of high calorie foods! :)

I've always heard that if you supplement with formula it will slow the production of milk. If you're nursing and then pumping, is there still milk in there to pump? If there is let the baby nurse some more instead of giving her a bottle. Some babies need to nurse for 20 minutes or more on each side per feeding. I would try sitting around for a day and only nursing the baby and drinking lots of fluids. Housework and laundry can wait. It's not going anywhere!! Good luck.