Can I increase glandular breast tissue?

[MedicBaby21]

I am just wondering if there is anything I can do now, once I wean, before I become pregnant again to increase glandular breast tissue so I don't encounter low supply issues for subsequent nurslings?

[Megan73]

Check out the book "The Nursing Mother's Guide to Making More Milk."
From memory, I think progesterone and goat's rue are suggested during pregnancy to build glandular tissue but keep in mind that previous nursing and pregnancy itself do the same thing. You'll also go into nursing your second knowing more.
I nursed DS1 until 18 months with domperidone and a small amount of formula a day in a Lact-Aid. Things were rough at the beginning with DS2 but I knew to start the dom, pump after feeds and supplement at the breast (and had lined up a scale, hospital-grade pump and had the Lact-Aids washed) so we were able to get to EBF within a few weeks then wean off the pumping. Another useful trick I'd learned was to hand express colostrum in the first few days (before pumping is very effective) to ramp up supply and head off the "sleepy babe" problem I'd had with DS1.
HTH

[Petite Mama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megan73 

Check out the book "The Nursing Mother's Guide to Making More Milk."
From memory, I think progesterone and goat's rue are suggested during pregnancy to build glandular tissue but keep in mind that previous nursing and pregnancy itself do the same thing. You'll also go into nursing your second knowing more.
I nursed DS1 until 18 months with domperidone and a small amount of formula a day in a Lact-Aid. Things were rough at the beginning with DS2 but I knew to start the dom, pump after feeds and supplement at the breast (and had lined up a scale, hospital-grade pump and had the Lact-Aids washed) so we were able to get to EBF within a few weeks then wean off the pumping. Another useful trick I'd learned was to hand express colostrum in the first few days (before pumping is very effective) to ramp up supply and head off the "sleepy babe" problem I'd had with DS1.
HTH

Congratulations on being able to EBF your 2nd baby!! I'm currently experiencing VERY low milk supply, this is my first baby. She is 9 weeks & we've been using an SNS & Lactaid. I just started Domperidone and I'm hoping the Dom gives a big boost to my supply, I currently produce maybe a couple ounces per day. You mentioned heading off the "sleepy babe" problem... could you explain that further? The reason I ask is because my daughter constantly falls asleep while eating. She has done this since birth. I had an unmedicated homebirth so I know the sleepyness had nothing to do with drugs given to me during labor.
 

[Megan73]

Originally Posted by Petite Mama 

Quote:

Congratulations on being able to EBF your 2nd baby!! I'm currently experiencing VERY low milk supply, this is my first baby. She is 9 weeks & we've been using an SNS & Lactaid. I just started Domperidone and I'm hoping the Dom gives a big boost to my supply, I currently produce maybe a couple ounces per day. You mentioned heading off the "sleepy babe" problem... could you explain that further? The reason I ask is because my daughter constantly falls asleep while eating. She has done this since birth. I had an unmedicated homebirth so I know the sleepyness had nothing to do with drugs given to me during labor.
 

It was a vicious circle with DS1 as a newborn - he was too sleepy to nurse then not getting enough to eat made him weak and sleepy. It was so frustrating trying to wake him for feeds. We'd strip him, put cold compresses on his head, tickle his feet, etc.( DS2 never seem to have that problem - I'm not sure if it was just that they're all different or hand-expressing and feeding him the colostrum really did help.)
At nine weeks - if she's gaining well, 5-7 ounces a week - that may not be the problem with your babe. It's normal for a nine-week-old to sleep every two hours or so. Could that be what's happening?
Good for you for supplementing at the breast! I hope the dom works out for you.

[Petite Mama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megan73 



It was a vicious circle with DS1 as a newborn - he was too sleepy to nurse then not getting enough to eat made him weak and sleepy. It was so frustrating trying to wake him for feeds. We'd strip him, put cold compresses on his head, tickle his feet, etc.( DS2 never seem to have that problem - I'm not sure if it was just that they're all different or hand-expressing and feeding him the colostrum really did help.)
At nine weeks - if she's gaining well, 5-7 ounces a week - that may not be the problem with your babe. It's normal for a nine-week-old to sleep every two hours or so. Could that be what's happening?
Good for you for supplementing at the breast! I hope the dom works out for you.

She is gaining well with supplementation. In the first 3 days of her life she would spend an hour at a time on the breast but would often fall asleep during that hour. Those first few weeks are a blur now, it is amazing how sleep deprivation can mess with your mind. I had wondered if her sleepiness is why I'm experiencing low milk supply but my guess is that the problem is me. I never got engorged or felt like my milk "came in". I do have milk but I didn't have a moment where I felt it come in... if that makes sense.
 

[tincia]

It is common for babies to fall asleep on the breast if they are not getting as much as they would like. I have read a lot of research that suggests that the work u put in with each baby increases your supply with the subsequent babe, so everything u do this time is helping you increase your supply for this baby and any future ones. I believe this to be true as i have been able to get double or even triple what i got with my last one. Domperidone can also do wonders!