Breastfeeding Question

[peachafrye]

The only thing I would say is that when I was pumping at work I started to notice my milk supply decreasing, so #1 I would exclusively nurse on the weekends and days off and #2 a friend told me that if you eat a piece of bread it will increase you supply? Sounds crazy but I tried it and it did help. Hope it all works out for you. I'd say it was the best decision I ever made and would do it again a million times over.

[MrsPinecone]

Bread has yeast (as does beer, which is also supposed to help).

I personally eat a bowl of oatmeal every day-- REAL steel cut or old fashioned, NOT instant. It helps your supply, and has the added benefit of keeping your cholesterol down.

[VivaciousJewelz]

Originally Posted by MrsPinecone Bread has yeast (as does beer, which is also supposed to help). I personally eat a bowl of oatmeal every day-- REAL steel cut or old fashioned, NOT instant. It helps your supply, and has the added benefit of keeping your cholesterol down.

I hate oatmeal. Like seriously, HATE it. Does whole wheat bread help? I can stomach eating some of that every day.

[MrsPinecone]

Wheat is not a galactologue. Oats are.

[carisal]

Traditional Medicinals' Mothers Milk Tea really worked for me, I know it works for some and not others. but I could tell a difference for sure. I didnt like the taste of it though, so I would use 1 bag of it + 1 lipton bag that made a gallon, and drink it throughout the day.

Oatmeal also seemed to help,
...and if you have a pump you can do the 10-10-10 method which helped me more than anything - however it requires patience, LOL.
(pump for 10 minutes, dont pump for 10 minutes.... repeat.... repeat....)

[Nitenites]

Originally Posted by regbyandjulie I hate oatmeal. Like seriously, HATE it. Does whole wheat bread help? I can stomach eating some of that every day.

No, but what about oatmeal cookies? Those work!

Honestly, the best thing to help with milk supply is NURSING. Nurse whenever the baby wants to nurse. The amount of milk that the baby demands will help increase your supply. Baby will go through growth spurts when s/he'll want to nurse more -that's because s/he is trying to increase your supply. It's normal, and doesn't mean that you've suddenly stopped making enough milk. Don't watch the clock (as in, don't wait to nurse every three hours if your baby is hungry) watch the baby for signs of hunger.

And don't think that if you're not pumping a lot that you're not making enough milk. Pumps can't get as much milk out of you as a baby can.

And lastly, don't think that if you give the baby a bottle right after nursing, and the baby sucks down the contents of the bottle in two minutes flat, that it means that your baby is starving to death or super hungry. Milk is easier to get out of a bottle than out of a breast, and so it could mean that the baby just had a need to suck - that is a strong need in babies! Let your baby nurse, nurse, nurse, especially in those early weeks. That's the best way to get a good nursing relationship started, and a good milk supply established!

[loladooder99]

Thanks for all the info guys. Can't wait till I get pregnant with baby number two. But it will have to wait for awhile since im moving soon. Whoopie.
**Hoping for a VBAC***

[cpaige]

REGBYANDJULIE~ Thanks for asking this question!!! I have just read tons of wonderful pieces of advice and it has all been very helpful!! I'm still on the fence about breastfeeding so this has given me tons of info!!! Thanks to all of the moms as well!!

[livinlovinsavin]

I just wanted to add to the pumping advice. A bit graphic but it works:
If you are not getting a lot of milk stop a couple of times during pumping and massage the breast. The whole breast. It seems to help empty all the milk ducts. Also, I think because my son would only feed in one position on my right side that the nipple needed a different kind of stimulation from the pump. I moved the cone so that it only partially covered the areola. It mimicked his latch and it was the only way I could get any milk from that side.
Best wishes to you! Congratulations on your decision to breastfeed!

[VivaciousJewelz]

Originally Posted by cpaige REGBYANDJULIE~ Thanks for asking this question!!! I have just read tons of wonderful pieces of advice and it has all been very helpful!! I'm still on the fence about breastfeeding so this has given me tons of info!!! Thanks to all of the moms as well!!

Lol, at the very least, I can always be counted on to ask incessantly questions. I've read sooo much info on breastfeeding versus bottle feeding, and I have to say that even though it will be difficult, the benefits for both me and my future DD are innumerable, so I'm going to work my darndest to do it.

Have you checked out "The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers" by Newman and Pitman? LOTS of info in there, and answers to most questions one could have about breastfeeding.