Supply Question

[RKeith]

What I mean is say a person's body produced, on average for about five months, 40oz a day. How long does it take, on average, for a person's body to produce more BM than originally produced?

[NewMum]

Your question is a little confusing. Are you asking how long it would take for you to boost your supply?

If I nursed DS more often one day, usually I'd notice a boost in one to two days.

[RKeith]

Yes. That's the question I was trying to ask. Thank you. My brain is haywire tonight.

[SingingMom]

Gee, I dunno. Everyone's different and the circumstances matter.

For instance, it is perfectly possible for one mom to make enough milk to feed twins. No problem.

If a growing baby has a growth spurt and starts cluster feeding to increase supply, it generally settles down within a week. (Unless you interfere by supplementing.)

For me, when a growth spurt hit (at least by the second baby) I got wise. I started getting extra rest, drinking more water and eating a bit more, right away. So I'd have the supply up within a day or two. At least, that's my assumption, since the cluster feeding would stop.

[RKeith]

Hmmm... Well the thing is I was about 140 to 150 lbs and am now a steady 160. My goal is to loose weight and up my supply. I'm trying to figure out what to do.

[NewMum]

I think eating healthy, getting some light exercise and upping your fluid intake would help drop any excess weight. Don't overdo it, though. No fad diets and no heavy work-out routines. I think trying to lose weight too soon could negatively impact yours and your children's health.

[RKeith]

Ah okay. Well, I was thinking of doing this to my deit. Take out high sugary foods and the like. Replace 'em with a nutrious low sugar additive type shakes and more salads.

[Amy_G_]

If you want to lose weight without impacting your supply, slowly begin to drop 100 calories a day for a week, then drop it further. If you suddenly drop the number of calories you intake, your body may "fight back" by decreasing your supply instead of decreasing your weight.

If you want to increase your supply, pump at the same time every day (different than your regular nurse/pumping) and do so consistently you should see an increase in about 3 days.

but that's general info, your mileage may vary.

[RKeith]

Okay. I think I will try that. Thank you Amy_G.

[BrandiJR]

Your question is a little confusing. Are you asking how long it would take for you to boost your supply?

If I nursed DS more often one day, usually I'd notice a boost in one to two days.


I asked the LC this one time and that is exactly what she told me! My supply was going down and I called to find out how to help it and she told me to pump after every nursing and that would make the supply increase in a day or two. What your ds is demanding today, your body will supply tomorrow...supply and demand :) A day late but hey it works LOL

[RKeith]

Thank you, BrandiJR. That is the exact thing I was looking for.

[whitnessforhim]

How are you twins doing?! I hope all is well.

[RKeith]

BFAK w/Kori: They're doing fine. WFH - message me sometime and I'll update ya.

[SingingMom]

I think eating healthy, getting some light exercise and upping your fluid intake would help drop any excess weight. Don't overdo it, though. No fad diets and no heavy work-out routines. I think trying to lose weight too soon could negatively impact yours and your children's health.

I agree that it isn't wise to diet- but exercising is not, in general, going to impact supply. Women train for and run marathons while nursing. You can exercise quite a lot and it won't impact your supply, unless you are eating enough or getting enough rest.

I clock in more than twenty miles a week and it doesn't hurt my supply at all.

[RKeith]

WoW. Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt if I was more active.

[NewMum]

I agree that it isn't wise to diet- but exercising is not, in general, going to impact supply. Women train for and run marathons while nursing. You can exercise quite a lot and it won't impact your supply, unless you are eating enough or getting enough rest.

I clock in more than twenty miles a week and it doesn't hurt my supply at all.


I do agree that exercise wouldn't impact her supply. I wasn't sure how old her babies were. I didn't think it a great idea to start a heavy work-out routine right away. I guess I was being overly cautious with advice. I have seen many new mothers go right out and start lifting weights and, in general, just overdoing themselves for the sake of losing a couple pounds of post-baby weight that will likely come off on it's own.

With any exercise routine, though, it is wise to start off slowly and build up to a heavier work-out.

[RKeith]

They are five months old gestationally this month. They were born six wks premie. They are officially five months and half right now.