Author Topic: Nursing mothers (Read 3832 times)

PenitentWoman · « **on:** July 13, 2012, 10:07:21 AM »

I'd ask this on a secular board but I am really trying to avoid them so I hope this okay to ask here.

Does anyone have any suggestions for keeping milk supply up? In the past several weeks I've noticed that my supply is really dropping. I take fenugreek, try to stay hydrated, and I've been eating lots of steel cut oats. Is there anything else that has worked for you?

Little one is 9 months and I have just barely started her on solids (even though her daycare is pushing me to allow more) so she has a little bit of homemade brown rice baby cereal and I've pureed some fresh steamed green beans which she loves. Food seems to help keep her satisfied, but I wonder if it is making the supply problem worse.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2012, 03:33:33 PM »

The only suggestion I have is when you're going to feed solids, nurse first and then bring out the "real food". So, she'll get as much breast milk as possible for that feeding and then be topped off with the other foods.

I've never nursed past a year, so I don't have any tips for you in keeping your supply up for the "long haul". : )

catherineofsiena · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2012, 03:42:10 PM »

Stress will decrease the supply. Not sure what you can do about that.

momofmany · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2012, 06:43:08 PM »

Quote from: PenitentWoman

I'd ask this on a secular board but I am really trying to avoid them so I hope this okay to ask here.

Does anyone have any suggestions for keeping milk supply up? In the past several weeks I've noticed that my supply is really dropping. I take fenugreek, try to stay hydrated, and I've been eating lots of steel cut oats. Is there anything else that has worked for you?

Little one is 9 months and I have just barely started her on solids (even though her daycare is pushing me to allow more) so she has a little bit of homemade brown rice baby cereal and I've pureed some fresh steamed green beans which she loves. Food seems to help keep her satisfied, but I wonder if it is making the supply problem worse.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Are you Co-sleeping and nursing at night?;

Are you pumping during the day/

Drink one good dark beer in addition to the fenugreek and oats. Make sure you are staying well hydrated in this heat.

songbird · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2012, 07:33:06 PM »

If you pump, the brain recognizes this and thinks that you have dropped a feeding. The brain will try to set the fertility back in motion. So, that could be why there is less milk. Cervical mucus will come and go because the brain is trying to figure out if should start the mechanism up again. Cervical mucus is a sign that the ovaries are being stimulated. So, if you desire more breast milk, stress is number one and number 2 would be to stop pumping. otherwise that is all I say.

songbird · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2012, 07:40:23 PM »

Babies are given food when they want to be more satisfied. Once food is introduced and less breast the brain knows and like I said the mechanism for fertility will begin. I would suggest, since the baby is in day care, to allow the baby to go formula and food. It is difficult to breastfeed and have day care. It can cause frustration all around. It is better for the mom and baby to decide breast or formula at this point. But I must say, 9 months is very good and if you read up on the benefits of breast milk, you will see that for the time you gave breast milk the baby is well immuned even after you stop breast feeding.

ora pro me · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2012, 08:17:10 PM »

I shared this OP with a daughter of ours who has been very successful in nursing well past a year. Here are her recommendations:

Staying hydrated is the biggest thing especially in the summer (as has already been mentioned). Drink a glass of water every time you sit down to nurse since that is a good time to help you to remember the water.

Continue to nurse frequently whenever you can during the day and take the baby to bed at night or at least keep her crib close so that you can nurse during the night.

She echoed Mater's suggestion that you nurse each time before you give the baby solids or formula.

She says to make sure you eat a good diet and she thinks that protein several times a day helps. She eats toast with peanut butter when she's in a hurry.

Finally she suggests that you look up La Leche League for your area of if you don't have one in your area you may be able to find a lactation consultant at your baby's doctor or the local hospital. The La Leche League Leaders are volunteers and many of them have nursed well past the year mark and are very supportive and can give you tips over the phone.

We have often thought that our grandkids didn't get as sick as others especially when they were still nursing. When they did get sick, they would be getting the immunities and hydration from mom to help them get better faster.

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2012, 08:43:36 PM »

I've nursed 7, most of them about 2 years.

Introducing solid food will decrease your milk supply because that feeding replaces your nursing. Nurse first, then offer food. I wouldn't give a hoot what the day care says. Nurse first, then food.

Night nursing will keep your milk supply up.

Drink beer. You need carbohydrates to make milk. Low carbo diets will decrease your milk in a minute.

When I had #4, I went on the Zone diet and within a week my milk was decreased and my baby was hungry! I called Le Leche League and the first to go was the low carb diet.

My 20 month old daughter has just about weaned herself---too busy to nurse. 3 days without nursing, even at night, so we are about done. (Sad and glad at the same time.)

You can also check our kellymom.com. Lots of good information on there.

Hope this helps...

Tiffany · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2012, 08:55:57 PM »

I would ask first why do you think your supply is decreasing? Is she losing weight to where the pediatrician is concerned? Let her nurse as long as she wants to when you are with her. Keep her in bed with you at night.

The daycare teacher needs to follow your decisions, you can tell them no solids.

I entirely disagree about weaning her because she is in daycare and not to pump. Women with babies in the NICU pump for months at times. Fertility returning does not mean there is no longer milk. Many women tandem nurse. Women have successfully nursed under great stress. The way "stress" is so quickly attributed to drying up milk supply is wrong. In this culture we view nursing as "special" with many ifs, instead of a bodily function like other ones. If you pump or have a baby sucking frequently you will produce milk.

theology101 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 14, 2012, 12:42:40 AM »

My mom nursed me for two years and she did drink beer at least once a week. I also agree with above who said pumping or suckling causes production- this is true even if you do not have children, the body responds to the nursing action. Do not ask how I know this. Sorry to comment on you ladies' discussion, im very bored tonight.

Tiffany · « **Reply #10 on:** July 14, 2012, 05:03:20 AM »

I second the idea of contacting a lactation consultant if you have a problem. I would contact a lactation consultant before La Leche League. If you look for a board certified lc she will be a professional. LLL is a lay volunteer group and can offer you emotional support but they aren't going to diagnose a problme. You can call the OB floor of a hospital and they can page a lc to speak with you.

PenitentWoman · « **Reply #11 on:** July 14, 2012, 09:12:42 AM »

I don't think she is losing weight (I'll find out at her appointment Monday) it just seems like she isn't as satisfied and when I pump I am getting noticeably less.

I have to pump while she is at daycare. I'm getting just barely enough now to be able to send her what she needs for those hours. When I pick her up we go home and I allow her to nurse on demand (even just for comfort) until her bedtime. I also co-sleep and nighttime nurse, but on the nights that I work my second job, by the time I get her settled at home it is 3 a.m. so she doesn't get as much comfort nursing those nights. I do try to get away and pump once at this job but it is sometimes difficult to do so.

I have had two periods now, but I am not entirely sure if they were preceded by ovulation or not. Obviously it makes no difference to me if I'm fertile again, it just makes me think that something is up.

Thanks for the idea to nurse first and then give solids. Maybe that is where I am going wrong. I've heard the beer idea before but had forgotten about that.

I try to eat healthy but I could do better and add more carbs. I aim for about 72 oz of water a day. Maybe I'll up that even more.

If it gets worse and the doctor doesn't have any ideas then I will call the lactation consultant that I used when she was a newborn. My goal has been to make it a full a year.

Thanks everyone!

momofmany · « **Reply #12 on:** July 14, 2012, 09:43:35 AM »

I can forward any questions you have, PW, onto my friend who is an IBCLC. She has been a huge help to me as this baby, #10, has had issue after issue. Thanks to te
chnology I could even send her videos, she is in CO and I am in TX.

It sounds to me like you are doing everything right and all you is nurse as much as you can and pump as much as you can. And FYI, it is normal for your supply to drop during your period.

PenitentWoman · « **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2012, 05:41:53 PM »

Okay so I've decided I'm not a fan of dark beer. At least not Guinness. :thinking:

Momofmany, thank you for the offer! I'll message you if I have any questions. Any suggsstions on increasing milk are appreciated. :smile:

wallflower · « **Reply #14 on:** July 15, 2012, 07:05:30 PM »

I can only ditto all the excellent advice already given, especially increasing your water intake and nursing before meals.

You're also nursing on demand which is huge. I successfully nurse my babies until they are two and I believe the biggest contributor to my success is nursing on demand, no matter what, no matter where. The second year is laxer since they don't depend on me 100% anymore, but for the first year my babies are with me 24/7 with very few emergency type exceptions. No pumping for a day out shopping sans babe, no pumping so I can drink for whatever occasion, no pumping so someone else can bottle feed overnight or to give me a break or for the babysitter etc... I've known many moms who take advantage of the convenience of pumping and then can't figure out why they are losing their milk. Nursing is a very "use it or lose it" function and the body's reaction to pumping vs nursing a real, live baby is very different. Long term nursing can be done with pumping but it's much more challenging.

I realize you have no choice when it comes to daycare but if you are not making exceptions other than that and you nurse as much as possible and as regularly as possible at all other times, you will be better off and have a higher chance of keeping up.

If you don't like beer there are lactation cookies that are made with brewer's yeast so you don't have to drink beer. There are many recipes online, if you google you'll find one that looks good to you.

There's also Mother's Milk tea. http://www.vitacost.com/traditional-medicinals-organic-mothers-milk-herbal-tea

The good news is if your goal is to get to a year, you just have a couple more months to hang in there!