How to increase your supply

Like I mentioned in my previous post, everyone’s bodies are different. What worked for me might not work for someone else. However, for anyone that is struggling with their supply there is hope! You can rebuild it. It just takes a lot of dedication and patience. I started by going back to the basics, we would do skin to skin whenever we were together. We cut out all pacifiers and the nipple shield, anytime Grady would cry I would offer the breast to him. After every time I would feed him, I would immediately pump and would not go more than 3 hours without pumping or feeding him, that also means in the middle of the night! I also did power pumping sessions where I would pump for 20 minutes break for 10, pumped for 10 minutes break for 10, and pumped for 10 minutes again. Another way you can power pump is by pumping every hour for about 15 minutes. I would power pump as often as I could so once when I was at work (I would just bring my computer to my pumping room and work) and once right when I got home. After I would get done feeding Grady, if he was still hungry, Chad would give him a bottle but other than him getting a bottle at daycare I would always offer the breast first. It is also important to note that if someone else can feed them a bottle HAVE them. You do not want them to get nipple confusion by them seeing you feed them a bottle and then try to breastfeed. I would also try to relax as much as possible I would draw me a bath with some beer (I like wheat beer) and try to relax as much as possible. Also, I don’t know if this is proven but I could always notice that my supply would increase after being intimate. Sorry if that’s TMI, but I just had to throw that in there. When I went to meet with the Lactation consultant I rented a hospital grade pump and it has helped tremendously. I would get so upset when I would pump and only get an ounce or a drop but I learned to be grateful for every drop I did get. Stupid I know but I would tell myself good job after every time I would pump even if I did just get a drop or 2, it helped me from getting too upset. Below are some other things I tried to increase my supply.

Gatorade – Stay hydrated!! It is so important. We stocked up on Gatorade and I would have a bottle once a day but when I wasn’t drinking Gatorade I was constantly drinking water.

Fenugreek & Blessed Thistle – I took these everytime I would pump and still do

Mother’s milk tea – I cut out all caffeine and stuck with this tea. It takes a little bit to get used to. If you don’t care for tea there’s the upspring drink mix you can buy. I had a hard time with the powdered drink mix and of course I was determined to get my supply back to I downed it 3 times a day

Oatmama bars – I cannot say enough about these granola bars. They taste amazing and I can always tell a difference in my supply after I eat one. They ship quickly too which is an added plus

Hospital Grade pump – I actually still use this pump cause I’m scared to go back. It has increased my supply so much. Call your local hospital for rental information

Flanges, valves, membranes – Make sure you have the right size of flange, I ended up going up a size to a 27. And change out your valve and membranes regularly. A good tip is when you put the membrane on the valve and turn it over it should not separate from the valve if it does change it out!

Disclaimer - There is nothing wrong with formula and I am by no means against it. I have experienced losing my supply simply when I was not ready to give it up and it devastated me. I hope that these pointers help someone else that isn't not quite ready to throw in the towel with breastfeeding.