QUESTION: My doctor at the time, when asked why my son was experiencing awful tummy problems, told me my milk was upsetting him. He then advised me to wean him. Well, come to find out my baby was having tummy aches because he had a bad case of thrush. So, since there was no reason too, I decided NOT to wean the baby. But I had already been giving him supplemental bottles for about a month and my milk production had decreased considerably. So, I read up on how to get it back to normal and did everything I was told time and time again, but my milk has never built back up. Am I still doing something wrong, even though I followed instructions? Or did I wait too long to try to build up? What's wrong!!??
 

It would be best if you could find your local La Leche League Leader or a local International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and get personal help. I can offer you some suggestions for increasing your milk. There are herbs & medications available for increasing your milk supply. Ask your physician about fenugreek, fennel, and the prescription drugs Reglan or Domperidone.

See:

http://www.erols.com/cindyrn/fenuhugg.htm
http://www.erols.com/cindyrn/feungr.htm
http://www.erols.com/cindyrn/24.htm

You may want to ask your local LLL Leader and/or IBCLC about purchasing a Medela Supplemental Nursing System (SNS), this device is used by adoptive moms, and moms who are relactating. It is a bottle, that hangs upside-down, you wear it between your breasts. It has tiny tubes that you tape so they are at the length of your nipples. This way, your baby can get supplements while still nursing at your breast. Your breast will get better stimulation.

Here are the suggestions for increasing your milk:

** The easiest way to increase your milk is to nurse your baby more frequently, and to pump more frequently. How old is your baby? Think of it this way - Your total capacity of milk production = 100%. What your baby takes on a day to day basis is about 80%. That leaves a "residual" of about 20%. As a baby eats more solids and slowly weans, he takes less than the 80%, so the mother's supply decreases slowly. You are trying to increase your milk, so you will need to dip into that 20% residual with extra nursings with baby and extra pumping when you are away.

** Here are some websites with helpful information about increasing your milk:

http://lalecheleague.org/bfsupply.html - Milk Supply Issues
http://lalecheleague.org/FAQ/FAQincrease.html - Increasing your milk

It's hard to say if it is too late. Personal attention will be more valuable to you than most anything I can do for you via email.

I encourage you to contact a La Leche League Leader (LLLL) or International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in your area. You can find an LLL Leader and LLL Group in your area by calling 1-800-LALECHE or at their web site - La Leche League International (http://www.lalecheleague.org); or How to find an LLL Leader near you (http://lalecheleague.org/leaderinfo.html). To find an IBCLC in your area, call your local LLL Leader and ask for a referral, or contact the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) (http://www.ilca.org) or the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) (http://www.iblce.org/). Try to look for an IBCLC with a background as an LLL Leader -- they really are the best in the business!

Sincerely,

Andrea Eastman, MA, CCE, IBCLC

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