The Breastfeeding Shoppe, Inc.
2155 FM 1960 Rd West  Houston, TX  77090
281-444-5115  
Toll Free 866-877-2670
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Low Milk Supply

Is your milk supply really low?

First of all, is your milk supply really low? Often, mothers think that their milk supply is low when it really isn't. If your baby is gaining weight well on breastmilk alone, then you do not have a problem with milk supply.

It's important to note that the feel of the breast, the behavior of your baby, the frequency of nursing, the sensation of let-down, or the amount you pump are not valid ways to determine if you have enough milk for your baby.

What if you're not quite sure about baby's current weight gain (perhaps baby hasn't had a weight check lately)? If baby is having an adequate number of wet and dirty diapers then the following things do NOT mean that you have a low milk supply:

  • Your baby nurses frequently. Breastmilk is digested quickly (usually in 1.5-2 hours), so breastfed babies need to eat more often than formula-fed babies. Many babies have a strong need to suck. Also, babies often need continuous contact with mom in order to feel secure. All these things are normal, and you cannot spoil your baby by meeting these needs.

  • Your baby suddenly increases the frequency and/or length of nursings. This is often a growth spurt. The baby nurses more (this usually lasts a few days to a week), which increases your milk supply. Don't offer baby supplements when this happens: supplementing will inform your body that the baby doesn't need the extra milk, and your supply will drop.

  • Your baby nurses more often and is fussy in the evening.

  • Your baby doesn't nurse as long as she did previously. As babies get older and better at nursing, they become more efficient at extracting milk.

  • Your baby guzzles down a bottle of formula or expressed milk after nursing.Many babies will willingly take a bottle even after they have a full feeding at the breast. Of course, if you regularly supplement baby after nursing, your milk supply will drop.

  • Your breasts don't leak milk, or only leak a little, or stop leaking. Leaking has nothing to do with your milk supply. It often stops after your milk supply has adjusted to your baby's needs.

  • Your breasts suddenly seem softer. Again, this normally happens after your milk supply has adjusted to your baby's needs.

  • You never feel a let-down sensation, or it doesn't seem as strong as before. Some women never feel a let-down. This has nothing to do with milk supply.

  • You get very little or no milk when you pump. The amount of milk that you can pump is not an accurate measure of your milk supply. A baby with a healthy suck milks your breast much more efficiently than any pump. Also, pumping is different than nursing, and can be very dependent on the type of pump. Some women who have abundant milk supplies are unable to get any milk when they pump.

Increasing your milk supply

Milk production is a demand & supply process. If you need to increase milk supply, it's important to understand how milk is made-this will help you to do the right things to increase production.

To speed milk production and increase overall milk supply, the key is to remove more milk from the breast and to do this frequently, so that less milk accumulates in the breast between feedings.

OK, now on to things that can help increase your milk supply:

  • Make sure that baby is nursing efficiently. This is the "remove more milk" part of increasing milk production. If milk is not effectively removed from the breast, then mom's milk supply decreases. If positioning and latch are "off" then baby is probably not transferring milk efficiently. A sleepy baby, use of nipple shields or various health or anatomical problems in baby can also interfere with baby's ability to transfer milk. For a baby who is not nursing efficiently, trying to adequately empty milk from the breast is like trying to empty a swimming pool through a drinking straw - it can take forever. Inefficient milk transfer can lead to baby not getting enough milk or needing to nurse almost constantly to get enough milk. If baby is not transferring milk well, then it is important for mom to express milk after and/or between nursings to maintain milk supply while the breastfeeding problems are being addressed.

  • Nurse frequently, and for as long as your baby is actively nursing. Remember - you want to remove more milk from the breasts and do this frequently. If baby is having weight gain problems, aim to nurse at least every 1.5-2 hours during the day and at least every 3 hours at night.
  • Consider pumping. Adding pumping sessions after or between nursing sessions can be very helpful - pumping is very important when baby is not nursing efficiently or frequently enough, and can speed things up in all situations. Your aim in pumping is to remove more milk from the breasts and/or to increase frequency of breast emptying. When pumping to increase milk supply, to ensure that the pump removes an optimum amount of milk from the breast, keep pumping for 2-5 minutes after the last drops of milk. However, adding even a short pumping session (increasing frequency but perhaps not removing milk thoroughly) is helpful.

  • Consider a galactagogue. A substance (herb, prescription medication, etc.) that increases milk supply is called a galactagogue. Some forms of galactagogues include Fenugreek, More Milk Plus, Blessed Thistle and Mothers Milk Tea. 


 

Pumps to Use for Increasing Milk Supply:

Medela Symphony

Medela Lactina

Hollister Elite

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

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 galactagogues. 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.   

Mother's Milk Tea

This tea is a very mild galactagogue containing fenugreek.  Some women find that drinking several cups a day is all that is needed of fenugreek to boost their supply.  An easy way to drink it is to brew a few cups very strong and cool it.  It can be drunk either iced straight or mixed half and half with apple juice.  

Mother Love Products:

Motherlove's liquid extracts can help! We offer several effective herbal combinations to increase breast milk within 24 to 48 hours. These certified organic herbs have been used to increase milk supply in countries around the world for generations. These liquid extracts are tested for bacteria, lead and heavy metals. These products are gluten-free.

Any ingested food has the potential for allergic reaction. Fenugreek and goat's rue are in the legume family, as are soy and peanuts. Those with allergies to plants in this family, please use with caution. Discontinue use if side effects appear.

We work closely with lactation consultants, hospitals and health care professionals. We recommend you discuss the use of these products with them.


Fenugreek
  180 capsules  $11.50  Buy Now

Mother Love More Milk Plus

  60 capsules $23.95 Buy Now

Mother Love More Milk Two--SAFE WHILE PREGNANT
  2 oz Bottle  $21.95  Buy Now

Mother Milk Tea

  16 Tea Bags $6.50  Buy Now

Blessed Thistle

  60 capsules  $8.50  Buy Now

Mother Love Goat's Rue
One of the most potent herbs to increase breastmilk. Stimulates the development of mammary tissue to help adoptive mothers to successfully breastfeed, as well as women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and breast reduction surgery. Also used to increase breast size in nonlactating women. 
  60 capsules $24.99  Buy Now

Mother Love Special Blend
Specially formulated at the request of lactation consultants, this blend helps women with special needs, such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, breast reduction surgery and adoptive moms, to build mammary tissue as well as the supportive herbs in More Milk Plus.
Not for use during pregnancy.
  2 oz bottle $19.95  Buy Now

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