Hi guys, Melissa here.
Talking today again about breast milk supply, such a huge issue for breastfeeding mothers,
such a lot of work, something all of us struggle with, me for many, many years, and I'm answering
a question from a viewer.
Ties into a video I just published last week, so check that one out as well.
Here's what this viewer has to say, "Hi Melissa, I'm a mom to a two month old baby boy.
I've been having issues with my breast milk supply.
In each pumping session, I produce only .5 ounces from the left breast and a few drops
from the right breast.
I am taking fenugreek seeds and other supplements but nothing seems to make a difference.
Any suggestions?
I really want to breastfeed my baby, currently supplementing with formula.
I've also been to a lactation consultant, also I've rented a hospital grade pump."
Ok, so as I said, please check out the video I did last week.
In essence, I'm recommending three things, actually four things that worked for me.
Number one, plenty of rest, plenty of fluids, and very good healthy food.
Number two, having a good system for when you nurse so that you fully empty one breast
getting the hind milk before you go on to the other breast.
Number three, pumping using a hands-free bra for five to ten minutes after each and every
time you nurse.
No matter how much milk this produces, this is encouraging your breasts to produce more
milk.
Don't worry about what's in the bottle.
A friend of mine even offered the idea of putting tape over the bottle so that you wouldn't
look at it and get worried.
It's really not just about how much milk you're making, it's about continuing to encourage
your body to produce milk.
And number four, hold that baby.
Keep that baby as close as possible to you.
Physical proximity helps us to produce more milk, it actually encourages the letdown that
you'll feel when you begin to nurse.
You also asked about pumps, and I have to say I really agree with almost every single
thing you're doing.
I did rent the hospital grade pump, I rented the Mendela Symphony and I found that it was
much more efficient, that it had much more umph.
I just though it was more powerful and quicker, so if you can afford to do that, keep that
pump rented, keep it in like a little pumping station in your house where everything is
all ready for you, your shield, your bottles, your tubing, all this stuff that you�ve
cleaned is sort of sitting there ready and waiting for you.
Now, for when you're going to work, going home on the weekend to visit your parents,
going away, you certainly might need a transportable pump in style type pump, but I do agree that
the hospital grade pump is really an amazing solution.
So anyway, those are my ideas when it comes to increasing milk supply.
The main point being that milk supply goes up and down, it's very, very common.
A lot of factors influence it, and as long as you're continuing to produce milk, my personal
view is hat you can boost your milk supply and bring it back up.
A lot of people talk about, you know, drying up and I had no more milk once the baby was
four months and it never came back.
I had serious lulls but I was able to stick with it and get my milk supply back up.
So that is my experience and I want to tell you, hand in there.
Because I think that if it's really important to you, you can get your milk supply back
up.
And, if you end up supplementing with formula, terrific, your baby has also gotten all that
amazing fresh breast milk before so that's a really, really great thing.
So don't worry so much about how much milk you're making, keep it up, great job.
Thank you so much for writing in to CloudMom, and I will see you next time.