[metted]

My DS is now 3 months old and has never received any supplements. His weight gain has been good so far. However....the thing is that I almost from the start have used Mothers Milk tea (which I steep for a loooong time so it's strong) to up my supply. Every time I drink the tea, I notice a nice increase in my supply at which point I stop drinking it. The effect usually lasts for a few days and then my supply dips down again to the point where I nurse many, many times a day in order to keep DS reasonably satisfied. On those days, I hear so little swallowing in the late afternoon and early evening that I really can't imagine that DS gets even 1/2 an ounce. I'm certain that he eats more on the days where my supply is more plentiful and I have to imagine that a big reason for his nice weight gain is because of the days with good supply.
I don't understand why my supply won't stay up. He was born full term and i've always nursed often. His latch is a little funny, but I had two LCs evaluate it and they both said that it didn't seem like he had a problem transferring milk. Could my supply not have been well established because I started the tea so early on? I'm confused and hate to be so dependent on the tea. I also worry that it won't be effective in the long run.
Any input is greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!!

 

[muckemom]

I wasn't able to breastfeed... but I pumped for DS and after awhile my supply was seriously dwindling... someone here told me to eat a ton of oatmeal, after like three or four days of eating it every single morning.. my...er... cup overfloweth so to speak... it really worked.

 

[alegna]

It sounds like your body never got to regulate without the extra help. I think I'd try a couple of weeks without the tea and let babe nurse like crazy and see if it evens out.

-Angela

 

[metted]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alegna It sounds like your body never got to regulate without the extra help. I think I'd try a couple of weeks without the tea and let babe nurse like crazy and see if it evens out. -Angela

Do you think that I can still regulate my supply? I shouldn't have started the tea in the first place - I really didn't think that it was having much impact on my supply and it took me a while to figure out that the ups and downs in my supply were due to the tea.

 

[alegna]

Sure! Just be a little patient. Plan a few days with nothing to do but nurse eat and drink.

-Angela

 

[metted]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alegna Sure! Just be a little patient. Plan a few days with nothing to do but nurse eat and drink. -Angela

Thanks for the encouragement!!!!!! I'll do just that.

 

[alegna]

Let us know how it goes! Drink plenty of water, and add some oatmeal.

-Angela

 

[TurboClaudia]

or perhaps there is something in the tea that your body is lacking when producing milk and the tea is making up for that...??? i know it's spendy and a pain to have to drink the tea, but if it's working, what is the reason you want to stop it?

i second the oatmeal/oats suggestion. they contain inositol, a building block for milk production, and many women find their milk supply benefits from eating it. it can be in oatmeal form (whole grain like scottish oatmeal or steel cut oats are best, rolled oats being next best, quick oats a distant third, and instant oatmeal a very distant last best) or in cookies or muffins or anything else like that.

i think i disagree with the logic behind not allowing your supply to build up enough without the help of the tea... watch your babe for hungry signs during your experiment and you might consider putting the tea back into your routine if you notice babe getting frustrated at being hungry...

sending you milky vibes...

~claudia

 

[metted]

Claudia - thanks for taking the time to respond.

The reason that I would like to stop the tea simply is that I know that I may need something to boost my supply later down the road (when baby sleeps through the night, when solids are introduced etc) and I'd like to have the tea in my arsenal for those situations, but if I'm using it already now - well, then I won't have it for later and may have to resort to something "stronger" by then. I guess I feel that the simpler, more natural I can keep the relationship at this early point the better.

I've been eating quick oats - maybe that's why it didn't seem to make a difference for me. Thanks for spelling out what oats to get.

Finally, I've wondered a lot about whether it's important for the supply to build w/o the assistance of a galactagogue. I'm not sure whether there's a difference b/t building w/ or w/o one. I'd love to know.