Serenity

I welcomed my son in 2004 after several years of infertility. I’d done all my breastfeeding research and was ready to go! In the hospital he latched right on and everything seemed good. But my milk didn’t come in until day 5, and when it did, it was just a trickle. So I launched myself into all the ways of increasing a low milk supply.

Instead of ditching up my dream of breastfeeding, I set out on a quest to increase my milk supply. I dug up just about every tip on breastfeeding and milk production I could find.

It turns out there are quite a number of ways to increase a low milk supply when breastfeeding. I spent hours researching and I tried pretty much EVERYTHING that seemed safe. My son was losing weight rapidly and I knew the benefits of breastfeeding were huge, so I was determined to do everything I could.

Here’s what I tried to increase my milk supply — I’ll share my results later, too!

Ways to Increase a Low Milk Supply

• Drink a lot more water.
• Use herbs (like fenugreek)
• Eat certain foods (like oatmeal and molasses).
• Drink beer (in small amounts).
• Get a breast and lymph node massage.
• Pump several times a day
• Increase the number of times you nurse each day.
• Take domperidone (requires a prescription from doctor).
• Use a hospital-grade breastpump.
• Use a supplemental nursing system for more at-breast stimulation.

What Worked to Increase Milk Supply and What Didn’t

Did any of these tips work to increase my low milk supply? I’m pleased to report that they did indeed. I tracked every feeding and everything I tried. I went from 2.7 ounces of breastmilk (per day) three weeks after my son’s birth to 6 ounces. 

While I never made enough to provide all of his nutritional needs (he needed 20-25 ounces per day), I made enough to give him the benefits of breastfeeding. 4 ounces of breastmilk a day is enough to get the full benefit of its antibodies and immunities.

The things I noticed that helped me increase my supply the most were:

• Water. Gotta have that water to produce milk.
• Oatmeal. I made myself some oatmeal breakfast bars and they seemed to make a huge difference. I loved those things!
• Pumping with a better breast pump — I rented a hospital-grade breast pump from a local store and used that.
• Nursing with a supplemental nursing system to encourage natural stimulation.

What didn’t seem to make a difference?

• The breast and lymph node massage. It was just pricey and weird.
• Domperidone and fenugreek.

 

Why Increasing a Low Milk Supply Was So Important

My low milk supply caused some major issues for my son initially. At his first pediatrician visit, we got some bad news. My son was losing weight. Most babies do lose weight after birth,. But most babies regain the lost weight within a week. My son, however, dropped from 9lb. 4oz. at birth to 8 lb. 14 oz. upon discharge, to 8 lb. 6 oz by the next day. After three days, he was down to 8 lb. He’d lost over a pound!

My pediatrician told me it’s not atypical for a baby to lose up to 10 percent of their birth weight during the first week. A weight loss of 5 to 7 percent is more common. The thing was that my son was down 13% of his birthweight. According to Newt (Newborn Weight Loss Tool), my son was quite a bit below the 95th percentile for weight loss.

I will admit I did think about giving up breastfeeding when I learned about this.

But I didn’t give up. We kept it up, I increased my milk supply, and I supplemented with formula using an at-breast supplementing system (lots of tubes!). And my son began to thrive again. At the next weigh in, he was just about 10.5 pounds (almost 11 in his clothes). We had done it!!

When all was said and done, I increased my milk supply to 8-9 ounces per day. That’s a 300% increase! This was twice what he needed for his daily immunity supply. It was also enough that I could nurse him once a day without having to supplement with formula.

Thanks to all this, my son was able to get all his nutrition at the breast. We spent 30-60 minutes at each breastfeeding session—I know he would haven’t gotten all that bonding time with just a bottle. Breastfeeding was very rewarding. I’m so very grateful I stuck with it.

The Secret to Success with a Low Milk Supply

You know what I think the secret to successful breastfeeding with low milk supply is? It’s just persistence. Continuing to try safe remedies, sticking with what works, pumping and nursing, and just not giving up. It’s true that I wasn’t able to produce a full milk supply and I was giving my son more formula than breast milk, but I was still feeding at the breast.

And it was all worth it. My son is very healthy, resilient, and an awesome kid. He rarely gets sick, and I feel it’s due in part to those early antibodies I passed on to him as a baby.

I hope these tips give you hope! Keep at it — you CAN increase your milk supply!

Hugs and kisses,
Serenity

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I knew long before my children were born that I wanted to breastfeed. It helps that my mother nursed me, and her mother before her. But not all mamas-to-be were raised in an environment were breastfeeding is natural, and may not be sure of whether to go breast or bottle. If you’re on the fence, I want to encourage you to consider breastfeeding for its MANY benefits!

As a new parent, you may be battling between the choices of bottle-feeding and breastfeeding. While you’re weighing your options, you should know about all of the benefits that come from breastfeeding – from convenience to long-term health. You may be surprised by all of the advantages provided by Mother Nature.

Breast milk is more than just a form of food. It is actually made of living cells that can have huge benefits for your child’s health. One of the most crucial components of breast milk is colostrum. This substance is produced early in your baby’s life and is full of antibodies that help your baby’s immune system to develop in the first days of his life. By breastfeeding your baby, you provide this protection that can’t be matched by a commercial formula.

On top of the immune boost that breastfeeding provides, breast milk is also easier for your baby’s developing digestive system to process. Your baby will have fewer problems with constipation, diarrhea, and even have fewer food allergies.

Breastfeeding also helps your baby’s brain to develop because it’s rich in fatty acids that protect the cells of the brain. It also helps your baby to develop strong muscles because breast milk provides the perfect mix of proteins for building muscle tissue. Finally, in a time when obesity is a major health problem around the world, breastfeeding can be a great way to help your child maintain a healthy weight. Babies who are breast-fed have a smaller chance of becoming obese later in life.

While breastfeeding has a huge impact on your baby’s development, it can also have a dramatic effect on your body. If you choose to breast feed, you’ll open up a world of benefits for now and for the long-term. The immediate benefits of breastfeeding can be very powerful. After you give birth, breastfeeding actually stimulates the contractions that help you expel the placenta. It can help your body to recover more quickly and painlessly.

Breastfeeding also burns major calories! What better way to burn off the baby weight without having to hit the gym? It will also prevent your body from having a period for several months if you feed your baby exclusively breast milk. In addition, breastfeeding provides a natural method of contraception. In the long-term, breastfeeding can provide disease prevention power. Women who breastfeed their babies have a lower risk of developing breast and other cancers throughout their lives. They’re also less likely to have problems related to osteoporosis.

One of the best reasons for breastfeeding is a benefit for both mom and baby. When you breastfeed your baby, you help to develop the bond between the two of you. This provides comfort and improved mental health for both of you. When you’re weighing the decision of whether to bottle feed or breastfeed, make sure to consider the overall well being that comes from this natural process.

Hugs and kisses,
Serenity

Want to remember this? Share these Breastfeeding Benefits to your favorite Pinterest Parenting Board!