Herbs for increasing milk supply

A little background, with my first, I never really produced milk. I tried to breastfeed her for 2 weeks but had to supplement after about 4 days. I had her weighed after a feeding and she wasn't gaining weight so I kept trying but having to supplement. My breasts never got engorged. I pumped as well as putting her to the breast and I never got anything more than mist. I also tried mother's milk tea as well as fenugreen which I could tell no difference. I had a hard delivery which ended in a C section and then a horrible incision infection which resulted in hospitalization for a week. With all of this going on, I stopped trying to breastfeed. I never had to do anything special with my breasts as my milk never even came in.
Now this time around, I'd really like to breastfeed but I'm wondering if I will be up against the same issues. I spoke with a lactation consultant who believes I have insufficient mammary glands and will more than likely have a low milk supply. She gave me some information on different herbs to try and a couple of them were alfalfa and goat's rue. I was curious to know if anyone has any experience with these herbs or having the same issues with milk production.
I'm a little discouraged about breastfeeding, but I want to try as it's supposed to be so healthy for baby and me.

The fallacy is that lactation consultants are always more educated that what they really are. I'm not doubting your LC but be wary of them as well, make sure they are certified http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/bfhelp-find.html

It's possible she is telling you the truth, but it's also posible it was from the high stress situation you were in, and it is possible it was from the c/s as well.

Read through the KellyMom.com site. It has a lot of beneficial information on there for breastfeeding moms. Also try and find a Le Leche League group near you http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html and find a leader as they can help you along too.

Really read this page: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#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.

http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/herbal_galactagogu e.html
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html

I personally don't have a problem with milk supply, I just have problems nursing in general, but I've worked things long enough to have even exclusively pumped for my babies in the past. I am seriously hoping I'll be able to nurse this one without too many problems. My fingers are crossed for both of us!

She is certified. I had so many different people telling me different things with my first pregnancy that I made sure to have a certified lactation consultant this time. The kellymom website is one she gave me too. She said she does think that the stress from that delivery caused more problems with breastfeeding, but she still believes I have hypoplastic breasts. With my first pregnancy my breasts never even got sore, let alone bigger. This time, they have been very sore, but I haven't noticed any change in size. She did say I was already producing colostrum, after squeezing my nipples (ouch), so that's a good sign. I am just a little weary about taking any pills/herbs. I am one of those people that don't like to even take a tylenol if I don't have to. But I will take a wait and see approach.

I've never heard of the herbs your LC suggested but my sister and aunt who is a Public Health Nurse both swear that fenugreek works miracles!  You can take it in capsule form and it is supposed to increase your milk supply.. Good luck!

I took them with my first pregnancy but I'm not sure I took enough of them. I've heard you're supposed to take so much that you smell like maple syrup. Well, I never smelled that, so maybe I didn't take enough.

I'll confirm with my sis how many caplets a day she was taking (I think it was 6 to 8 a day) but yes, once the fenugreek is in your system, it makes your milk taste sweet... She once had me taste it after she'd pumped and to me it tasted like the leftover milk from the bottom of a bowl of sugary cereal LOL

I'm not a huge fan of pills for any reason but if I need to, I plan on taking this as I really think breastfeeding is best and would prefer to put all possible chances on my side...

I had low milk supply at the begining as well. I take More Milk Plus which has fengreek in it asa well as other herbs. I have goats rue but have no experience with it.  THis is a site my LC gave me,,,,,
http://lowmilksupply.org/. I did have to supplement a little bit at the begining because my lo didn;t have a good latch and wasa lazy nuser, lol. But other than the first couple weeks we have been going strong for 6 months now. I have been told that I the second time things can be totally different so hang in there and hope for the best. Just remember it isnt easy at first and it takes time and practice for you both to get the hang of breast feeding. Let me know if you have any more ?
HTH
KIm

Thanks. Yeah, my LC gave me that website as well. I've been researching which herbs might be best for me. Hopefully this time around, I won't have as many issues cause I think that definately contributed to me being unsuccessful at breastfeeding last time.

Tami~ Just a word of encouragement. Each pg is different. I had similar issues with my first. 28 hour labor with emergency c-section...then she was in nicu for several days and the day she was released I was readmitted for the wound opening and infection. We didn't have the time to bond and trying over and over with lc and on my own, she never latched. (she also had a bruised jaw from the forcep/c-section delivery and couldn't suckle.) Anyway... I pumped for 4 months before my supply dried. I tried fenugreek, goats rue, mothers milk and even prescription reglan. They think my issue was one exclusively pumping is not as effective as bf for your milk to let down and two is my PCOS which affects hormones and from what I was told milk supply.

That being said my second pg was so much better. I had the c-section, but was with my baby in the recovery room within the hour. Bonded right away, latched right away. I exclusively bf him for 4 months and started pumping and bf when I went back to work. I was able to get 2 more months before my supply started to dwindle. My family had the flu and I wasn't sleeping for like a week...and the stress and not ebf was all she wrote.

I feel proud that I gave it my all with both pg's. It would have been so easy to say, well it didn't work with number 1 so I will just formula feed number 2. It is worth the effort to try. By no means is it the end of the world if you need to formula feed...but give it a shot... it could go much better this time around.

Also a tip. The herbs and script never made a difference in my supply....but the key for me was oatmeal. Every time my supply started to jump off I would eat a big bowl of oatmeal or make a batch of sugar free oatmeal cookies and it would bounce right back up. That and water.

Good luck okay and just give it a true effort and that way you won't look back and wonder what if and have regrets for not trying. Shari

My LC told me that it could be much different this time. I am about 80 lbs lighter, this will be a scheduled C section so I shouldn't have to be so physically exhausted from labor, and this pregnancy my boobs have been sore unlike last time. I just want to give it more of a try than last time. I was feeling so miserable last time (cause of infection) but I didn't realize why for 2 weeks! I gave up way too early too, so this time I'm hoping things will go smoothly and I can really give it my best shot. I want to have a plan in case things aren't working, so I can try the herbal route before stopping completely. I will have to give oatmeal a shot too, I have heard about that but just assumed it wouldn't be as effective as herbs or other drugs.