Breastfeeding Moms-----PLEASE HELP!!!!

I had a problem with supply. I actually had taken advice from my great aunt and had a beer a day. It is OK if you drink it directly after the baby nurses so it is out of your system by the time you nurse again so the baby is not getting it. The hops and the yeast is GREAT for supply. It worked great for me and my so is a very happy, healthy baby. We had an issue with him not gaining weight, and then I started that and the Dr surprised with the weight gain!

Some people do not like that idea but I did had to do what I had to do!

Thanks!  I've heard about the beer and was told the same thing....that if I drink it after the baby eats, it would be out of my system by the time he fed again!  She also told me to stop drinking the beer (even if it was half a can) if I started to feel the effects of the alcohol....as if I can feel the effects, then baby could too!  Did you drink a regular beer or light beer?

I know as RNY patients, we tend to feel the affects before "normal" people do. I would drink one whole beer and just sip it. I drink a regular lager. The calories also help with supply. My favorite is Killians cause the calories are higher, but that is just me

Good luck I hope it works for you. Just as long as you drink it right after a feeding, it should be fine. I noticed that I feel the effects, but I was completely back to feeling normal by the next feeding.

Hi


I had problems too with my milk. I was losing weight aswell we had a look at my diet and I wasn't eating enough carbs & cals for me and Ellie. Have you sat down and counted your intake over a few days? I really thought I was getting enough in and I wasn't. I also drink Powerade. Powerade/Gaterade will increase your milk supply. I make my own and have it half strengh as I started to gain with full strengh drinking 64oz per day.I also eat raisin & oat cookies or Anzac cookies everyday. I don't really follow how I ate before as I just get the cals in and I'm doing what I can for Ellie. I have been EBF her for nearly 3 months now

Does Bub seem happy after a meal or still looking for more? alot of the time we think we don't have enough milk when we do. Maybe the latch is off abit and that can stop Bub from getting all the milk.

Best wishes

Crystal

Thanks for your advice!  I might have to try the powerade/gaterade if the mothers milk tea and fenugreek dont seem to work.  As far as the latch, if he gets fussy, I've tried the football hold.....we are working on it!

 I second fenugreek and trying to increase your "demand" with pumping.
I always drank a guiness at night during the time I nursed. I know there is some controversy as to whether beer actually helps supply or not, but I think it did (and if it didn't, it helped mama, lol).... Also, if he is a "lazy sucker" (falls asleep, sucking weakens, etc), try undressing him to a diaper and/or tickling his feet while he nurses to keep him more alert.. My oldest was a lazy sucker, and if he had a stitch of clothing on while nursing, he was asleep within minutes and he'd unlatch (only to cry for my boob again 10 minutes later!)... it can be very frustrating!  
Also, have you had a lactation consultant or your pediatrician check his tongue? If he is a little tongue-tied, he could be needing to work very hard to nurse and tiring himself out early. My friend's baby had this and it resolved after she had the tongue-tie snipped. Good luck, and good for you wanting to exclusively breastfeed--- kudos! :) 

-V

Thanks for your advice. I've been doing most of what you mentioned and he seems to be doing better!

I absolutely agree with the combination of fenugreek and pumping.  If he continues to lose weight, the other option is to ask your midwife for a tube and syringe.. as baby sucks, you can slip the little tube into his mouth and give him a little extra milk that way.  We had to do this with my son because I couldn't supply enough while he was drinking the first few weeks and he was losing weight.  It worked great and saved us from having to use a bottle or supplement with formula!!!

I think I took 2 fenugreek 3 times a day and it worked great after about 4 days or so of taking it.  If that doesn't work, talk to your OB or midwife.  There are things we can prescribe to increase milk supply as well.  But, no one likes to go that route until all other measures have been tried!!

Hope it works out!!!  Try not to get discouraged too!!  : )

Thanks!  I'm doing both with some supplementing here and there!  I hope to increase my milk and cut out the supplements!

I eat a bowl of oatmeal every day sometimes two bowls a day and lots of water, if I go under 100 oz a day, my milk supply drops.  Hope this helps :)