Home     Breastfeeding     Baby & Toddler     For Moms Only    Community    Medical Professionals 
 

All AboutFenugreekHow to Increase Your Milk Supply

 
 
 
 
 

How to Increase Your Milk Supply

 

By Cheryl Taylor, CBE

When in the course of a happy breastfeeding relationship you notice a supply change, it can cause momentary panic.  The first course of action should be to assess a few basic things.  Are you resting enough?  Getting a good night's sleep? Taking a nap if necessary?  Are you drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day?  Are you eating a good, healthy diet?  These are some of the basics of a nursing relationship that have to be maintained to the very best of your ability.  Our bodies aren't necessarily so forgiving of being pushed to the limit when we're nursing.  They tend to give us a clear signal.  One of those ways is with a dip in supply. Listen to your body and take some action.


Make sure you are:
 
Rest...
Resting adequately
Liquid intake...
Drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day
Eating...
Eating a nutritious diet
Sleeping...
Choosing a night time sleeping arrangement that allows for the best sleep for all involved
Feeds...
Nursing frequently


Make sure you are not doing things that can inhibit supply, such as:

Smoking
Allergy medications
Sleeping on your stomach - compressing the breasts at night
Wearing a bra that is too tight 
Wearing a sling with the rings pressing back against the breast instead up near the shoulder

After having gone through the above steps and getting those things in line, you may still find your supply is not what you feel it should be.  The next step is to see how often your baby is wetting.  Often what is perceived as a supply problem really isn't a supply problem at all.  Observing how much your baby is wetting will tell you whether it is reality or merely a perception.

Another thing to remember has to do with pumping.  There are times when you see a drop in what you are able to get at the pump.  This may not be so much a drop in supply as it is a change in your reaction at the pump.  The baby may have no trouble at all getting letdown, but the pump just isn't fooling your body into one as well as it once did.  Making some changes at the pump in the way of heat, massage prior to pumping, positioning, or several other options may do the trick for you.

If you are supplementing, even a single bottle a day, and are struggling with your milk supply, you need to consider ceasing all supplementing.  For some women, supplementing even one bottle a day will have a drastic effect on their milk supply.

If all the above has been tried with little success, it may be time to consider using a galactagogue (a substance that increases milk supply is called a galactagogue).  Galactagogues are a wonderful tool, but should NOT be considered until the above measures have been taken first.  It is always prudent to remember that, on the whole, your body knows what it is doing in responding to your baby and providing adequate milk.  Galactagogues are a wonderful thing when they are truly necessary but they should be a last resort.  There is often an assumption that since herbs are natural, they are safe.  That isn't always the case, and in fact, some herbs can be quite dangerous.  Please use caution when using herbs and observe your body's reaction to them carefully.

Some of the more common galactagogues (and there are many used over the centuries) are:

Fenugreek
Fenugreek is one of the most commonly used galactagogues.  It works very quickly in most cases.  It can be taken in capsule form with the recommended dose being up to three capsules three times a day.  It can be used in conjunction with Blessed Thistle, again working up to three capsules three times a day.  The dosage needed varies according to the mother, so experimentation with lesser doses and increasing them if needed is a good idea.  One capsule three times a day may be enough to boost one mom's supply when another may need three capsules three times a day.

It is important to be aware that fenugreek can affect blood sugar levels, so much so that it is effectively used to treat diabetes.  Knowing this, a nursing mom with hypoglycemia or diabetes needs to watch blood sugar levels if fenugreek is her galactagogue of choice.

The only side effect to make note of is mild gastrointestinal distress when fenugreek is taken in high doses.  Typically that would be seen in the mother, but in rare cases it is seen in the infant with an exhibition of some gastrointestinal difficulty which can be as mild as gassiness in the bowels.  Animal studies have found fenugreek essentially non-toxic.

Fennel
Fennel isn't actually a galactagogue, but rather it assists with triggering the letdown reflex.  It is particularly useful for working Moms who have found that they've stopped responding well to the pump.  Fennel is best as a tincture, 2-4 ml up to three times a day, but can be taken in capsule form.  Caution should be used with fennel because it can act as an appetite suppressant.  Keep a careful eye on your caloric intake. Also, fennel contains phytoestrogens which if taken in excess can have a negative effect on your supply.

Rescue Remedy  
This is a homeopathic remedy that is useful for triggering the letdown reflex.  You take four drops under the tongue up to five minutes before pumping or nursing. Rescue Remedy can have a slight sedative effect, so use with caution.

Ignatia 6x  
This is a homeopathic remedy that can work well in combination with a mild galactagogue.  Dosage would be two tablets three times a day.



 

 
 

Our Sponsors


 



 

Community


 
Breastfeeding.com Community
Find thousands of women who will share their hard won wisdom.  If you're one of those wise women, share your knowledge with others.

 

 

Tell A Friend