My Baby is 4 weeks already but i don't have enough milk!!!

baby is 4 weeks already but i don't have enough milk!!! My breast have never increased size even after i delivered my baby. Any stuff can increase my size and increase my milk supply.

If your babyis satisfied after feeds and putting on weight, that's the goal...not to end up an F cup! Some women don't get so much bigger, a friend of mine only went up to a C from a B whereas I went from a DD to an H cup.



Try raspberry leaf tea and you'll produce more milk than your average jersey cow! I swear by the stuff. You can also take it in capsule form but I figure you may as well enjoy a nice cuppa at the same time!


Make sure you're hydrated all the time. Also be sure to switch sides so you use each side as equally as you can. Perhaps invest in a small hand pump and at the end of the feed, pump out the rest of your milk to freeze for emergencies (like if you get sick and have to go on meds that are incompatable to BFing). This will also stimulate you to produce more milk as the biofeedback tells you you need to feed all you can produce. If all of that fails, see if the doctor can screen your blood prolactin levels but then again, without a base level it's just an arbritrary figure.



Best of luck...x

adele78 has good advice. As she said: Get a breast pump and pump frequently. This will increase supply.

What makes you think that you don't have enough milk?


I second adele's advice that if the baby is growing nothing else matters. Lots of mothers' breasts don't increase in size [mine did with the first but not with the second -- and the second definitely got enough to eat as he went from the 50th to the 95th percentile in length in the first 6 weeks]. And there are also lots of women who have trouble expressing milk -- I tried several pumps both hand and electric without any luck, but obviously the baby was growing so I didn't worry about it too much.


Aside from that, let your baby nurse AT LEAST every 3 hours and make sure that you get enough rest and enough fluids. Nighttime nursing is particularly powerful in increasing milk supply -- just make sure that you are getting to bed early enough to get enough rest. Leave a list of stuff that needs to get done for the baby's Papa and go to bed with the baby. Pretty much every Papa I know would be delighted to spend a couple of hours in the evening doing the stuff on your list rather than getting up with the baby every time it needs a diaper change and a feed.

But if your mummy tissues haven't grown during pregnancy, you might neet goat's rue to help. Moreover, you should drink more water......and balance diet.

Fenugreek seeds does magic to my milk flow, you can get it in health shops. I got mine from GNC in Singapore. Ask any indian friend and they have fenugreek seeds, you can boil it as tea if you can't get a tablet form.

Thanks a lot for all you. you are so kind!!

my baby is puting on weight but she is far under average. I feed her every 3 hours but she is still crying afterward. I did breast-message, drink Chinese papaya fish soup or peanuts chicken feet soup every day, black bean tea, Fenugreek seeds (about $100 per 60 capsules, too cheap so not function well ? !) ..... Anyway, all methods are no help to me.

Her wet diapers are less than 4 pcs every day. After visiting health clinic, nurse said that my posture and bb sucking method are correct. As the number of wetting diapers are less than 6pcs per day and baby growth is below average, she suggested me to give her formula milk at least once or twice per day. As my breast is still 32" and never has any swelling feeling after gave birth, she agreed that my mammary tissue might be not well-growth.

From motherlove website, i read that she has an on line shop agent in hong kong. I think i will try both Goat's rue and more milk plus ASAP.

Breast pump. Cannot recommend this enough.

Meinbaby, I am going to repeat what I said on the other thread of yours.


First of all, you should know that the size of the breast has nothing to do with the milk supply. There are about 15-20 glands in the breast which every woman has- its a matter whether those glands can be activated or not.


Second, about being under average.....my son is and has always been under the 25% percentile- he is the happiest and most active kid on the block. He is right on the growth curve and is gaining weight consistently. Consistency is the key. At this stage, you should get the baby weighed every week to be sure. If she is still crying right after a feed, perhaps she has gas? and perhaps she wants to be fed every 2hrs. My son did when he was 4weeks, again at 6 weeks- he was having a growth spurt. The more you feed her, more your glands will get activated.


Having water before a feed is good, it doesn't increase the supply but milk flows better. And in any case, since with breast feeding you are losing a lot of water, you should religiously have 8 glasses of water anyway.


As Cara mentioned, talk to a La Leche League (LLL) leader. I have talked to is Sarah- 2548-7636. She is great. Also visit this website- www.kellymom.com It has really useful advice for everything related to breast feeding including how to increase milk supply.


Dont give up just yet. Don't be pressured by others to give formula and don't beat yourself up unnecessarily either. I can't tell you how easy it becomes very soon. Good luck!

i write one more time: if you still want to go ahead for 100% nursing mom and are not willing to give him any formula , go to buy more milk plus (content fenugreek seed & blessed thistle) + Goat rue capsules to boost your milk. Such herbs combination is the best for breastfeeding mom. You can get them in hong kong from the company called www.mamabbshop.com online that is more or less the same price as buying in USA. they work for me. Good luck!

"there are some definite pluses for using formula, one of which is that daddy/granny etc can help with the feedings."


Now now. I could do that with expressed milk too. ;)

Hi Meinbaby


I hope things are easier for you now, but if they're not, let me just add a quick comment.


I had problems breastfeeding my daughter after only 2 weeks - she was rapidly losing weight, I had very little milk and I was very worried - I wanted to continue breastfeeding and was under immense pressure to do so and to do all those things you're supposed to do to create more milk...use the breast pump, drink more water, take herbs and potions - and it was just too much - I was shattered and I simply couldn't do everything that was required of me...


Eventually I used formula - it took me a couple of days to get over the ridiculous guilt I felt but then I was fine with it - and I honestly think it was the best thing I could do for her and for me - if only because I became a more relaxed mum...


So all I'm saying is if you want to continue breastfeeding, then great but if you're struggling and/ or feeling guilty then don't feel bad about going down the formula route


best of luck

dear all moms, Thanks a lot for all those useful information. I decided to 100% breastfeed my baby at least 6 months or 1 year old if possible and would do everything which is the best for her. I have been taking Motherlove More Milk Plus and Goat's rue for 4 days from some moms suggestion. It is really amazing because i got 50% more milk. Though i still need to give her formula milk once per day, i believe that i can quit it very soon. THANKS a lot again!!

Meinbaby,


Are you pumping as well as putting your baby to the breasts? My concern has always been - how much is my baby getting from the breasts. Pumping seems more "accurate" account of what the baby is getting.


HF

Again, depends on the mother. Pumping just doesn't work for me -- seriously, once I am hooked up to the machine I can get maybe about 10-20ml in 45 min and it is quite painful. I can hand express about 40ml in 15 min-- either before or after I feed the baby, but that is quite hard on the back [as it is hard to catch the milk unless you are leaning over the container]. Clearly not a problem of too little milk [I used to feed on only one side at a time b/c my kid spit up so much], just a problem with pumping.


Another thing to check -- make sure that you are using the WHO guidelines for how much weight a baby should be gaining. With my first, the pediatrician we were seeing really freaked me out that my baby wasn't gaining enough weight, but she was using a China-specific chart that must be extremely right-tailed. Changed peds too...

Meinbaby


Happy that you can breastfeed your baby finally. Breastfeeding is the more beautiful thing a mother can do with the baby. I breastfed my first child for 3 years old and my second child for 2 1/2 years because I know breast milk has all the best things for my babies. Even though I need to travel around, I kept my breastmilk in the fridge. You don't need to worry how much your baby ate from your breast. If your baby is hungry, she / he will keep giving your signal. Putting your baby to your breast is the best way to stimulate the milk production.


Don't give up. Support you all the ways !

Z,

for me, I did hand Express my milk before but it is really hard time for me. Not only the back but also my hand and neck were painful. I use Medela Swing now. It is really perfect!! Less Time with the same amount!! Please try! you can surf internet and pump milk at the same time!!


such more milk plus and Goat's rue make a miracle to me!!

I love Motherlove stuff I am also eating both of them!! 100% organic and 100% nature!! they mades me become a 100% breastfeeding product!! here is the cheapest place to buy : http://www.mamabbshop.com/index_ecat.php?charset=eng&cPath=15

Well, try drinking herbal medicines or medicines itself to increase your milk production. Try searching the net for me informations. And also, make sure you are hydrated[drink 8-10 glasses a day].


Here are some tips to increase your milk supply that I searched:

1. Reduce your stress level. Probably the most overlooked factor of any change in the body is the lack of quality relaxation and a stress-free environment. Delegate tasks, put projects to the side until the breast milk supply is back under control. When nursing your baby, do so in a quiet room with no distractions. This is your opportunity to put your feet up for a few minutes and relax. The simple act of relaxing will encourage letdown; and at the same time there is nothing to distract the baby and make him stop nursing before he's actually full.


2. Drink plenty of water. A body that doesn't receive enough fluid intake is going to have a problem producing fluid! Drink at least a gallon of water a day. A good habit is to do this while baby is nursing; so that you do not forget.


3. Massage your breasts often. Babies will naturally knead the breast, triggering letdown. Take the time to massage your breasts while in the shower or bath, periodically throughout the day - such as when you're in the bathroom, and especially while baby is nursing. Even though the letdown may not produce a leaking breast or a spray of milk, it will still occur. This will signal to the breast that the baby is nursing more often, even if in reality he isn't. The breast will increase supply accordingly.


4. Watch your diet. A diet that consists of quick-fix food and loads of caffeine isn't good for mother or baby. As well as needing plenty of fluids, your body also needs lots of nutrients to provide a nutritious meal for your baby. For a quick snack, grab some fruit instead of a candy bar or fast food. For a nutritious, yet time-saving meal, throw something into a crock pot in the morning. At dinnertime the meal will be cooked and ready, without you having to spend time watching over it. Vitamin-rich vegetables, protein-filled meats, and hundreds of different casseroles can be prepared in a crock pot with little or no effort, saving you plenty of time.


6. Use natural herbs. Even major chain department stores now carry various types of herbs in capsule form; freshly ground herbs can be purchased at health food stores and online. Fenugreek is an excellent herb to help increase milk supply. It is an expectorant and has no side effects other than causing your milk to have a maple syrup scent. Milk Thistle is another wonderful supply enhancer, although not quite as effective as Fenugreek. There are also many brand-name teas available, such as Mother's Milk, or Mother's Milk Two for pregnant mothers who are nursing.


All of these things can increase a diminished milk supply greatly, even to the point of restoring the powerful spraying letdown if a mother is especially determined. The single most important factor, though, is letting the baby nurse on demand rather than on a set schedule. Allowing your baby to determine how frequently he needs to eat is key to coordinating an appropriate supply of milk. If you can, carry your baby next to your body in a sling while you go about your day, so that a breast is readily available whenever the baby needs to nurse. Even if the baby is just nursing for comfort, an incredible bonding technique that formula does not provide, the breasts will see this as more demand and adjust their supply accordingly.


I hope this is useful for you! =) Good luck!