What worked for you to increase your milk production?

right now I am just eating oatmeal every morning.  I am trying to keep up with my little one, I am back to work and pumping during the day.  I am pumping every hour and getting some but not a lot of milk at a time.  Will this increase if I just continue to  pump often? 

The best thing that helps with supply is to up your fluids. I know people who swear by oatmeal, fenugreek, brewer's yeast but I have never used anything bu****er and tea. The first year I drank 120oz a day. Now that he is 17 months old, I average about 70 oz a day but he doesn't rely on me for all his nutrition anymore. I never supplemented at all but at the same time after Riley got out of the CCU I never had to pump again. My pump schedule was every 2 hours from 8am to 8pm and every 3 hours from 11pm to 5am. I was getting 2 oz out of the left and 1 - 1.5 our of the right side but that was the first 5 days of his life. I doubt I could get that much now.

Hey friend…I have been a bad angel and not keeping up… *sorry*

Hard to believe how much time has already passed.

I also had issues with supply when I BF Emad and he was a *light* eater compared to others…at most 5 oz at a time, but that was maybe why he ate more too.

Anyhow, I did use the Fenugreek pills, the Oatmeal Lactation Cookies, and also Brewer’s Yeast Pills which is in the cookies. I also tried to drink a lot because that does help. Watch the coffee, tea, and soda and any other caffeine as well.

The more you pump also helps to increase supply as well. I would BF in the morning before Emad went to daycare, 3 times at work, and once in the evening. If I could I would have pumped more but it was hard. The more you pump and feed with the other rules should help you increase your supply.

Hope that helps.

I really agree with the poster that says fluids are the key.  I so agree.  I lost my milk when I started drinking diet soda.  I think it's because it has caffeine which dehydrates and because it took the place of water that I would have been drinking.  If you can help it, don't drink any caffeine and just keep drinking as much as you can.  If I hadn't screwed it up, I'd probably still be pumping now...instead I now have a formula baby.  She doesn't mind, but sometimes I feel guilty about it.  I tried fenugreek and other stuff, but it didn't help.  Before I drank soda, I had enough milk to feed two or three babies.

Well right now, I have been pumping for the last two weeks. I only drink water, no caffine or anything eles.!!! so far I pump like every two hours no more than three hours. I pump some times 5 oz from the left and 2-4 from the right, and some times 2 oz from both but never less then that. So far so good. I dont BF at all, she hasnt got the latching thing down pack yet. but she has went from 5 lbs 5 oz last week to 5 lbs 8 oz today, so shes doing good. She only eats 2-3 oz at each feeding so i have alot of milk in the freezer. But to answer your question, I have heard of people using different things, however nothing eles other then water, but you might wanna talk to you MD, good luck, and take care 

I'll pass on some advice the lactation consultant gave me (she has been great and I have sought her advice for so many reasons).  The first few days you may see a decrease in milk supply, which is stress induced.  Pump in a comfortable spot away from distractions.  Gaze at photos of your baby.  Take deep, relaxing breaths before and during pumping.  Drink plenty of water and other decaf beverages (but don't overdo it, because that can actually reduce milk production).  Make sure the flange is the right size for your nipple and breast--not too loose and not too tight.  Focus on a book or magazine rather than watching the bottles.  Once the milk has let down (for me it started spraying), turn the pump from the fast quick suction (can't remember the technical terms--the one that brings the milk in), to the stronger, slower suction--set it on the strongest suction you can comfortably tolerate.  Pump more in the early to late mornings when you produce more milk.  When at home, pump an hour before the baby nurses (the baby is much more efficient than a breast pump and will get plenty of milk).  While pumping, change to the fast suction for 20 seconds or so periodically.  Don’t press the flanges into the breasts, let them rest on the breasts (and they should be should be down and pointed slightly outward.  Stroke gently from the outside of the breast (especially under the arm) to the flange.  At work, I pumped three times rather than four and began producing more milk.  I pumped for 10 minutes max because I only had one letdown and my milk came in fast and furious and then petered out.  One side always produces more milk than the other.  Also, breastfeed the baby as soon as you get home and frequently during the evening.  It seems there was so much more advice.  Good luck!  You’ll be just fine when you find what works best for you.

I had such little milk supply last time that I've been reading up on it for the twins this time.  I was LUCKY if I got 2oz total from pumping so I can only imagine what little Kellen was getting. 
I read that if you've had PCOS or any kind of insulin resistance, it can cause your milk supply to be very little.  Goats Rue is supposed to help tremendously along with Fenugreek.  So, I'll be trying that this time.  The thought of buying formula for twins sounds so pricey!!  I'm up for trying anything this go 'round.

Good luck!
Sandy