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Milk production increase with the help of herbs.
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Anonymous
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Did anyone experienced a milk production increase after certain time taking natural medicine, such as herbs in caspules or drops? I'm curious to know because I've been taking drops 4 times a day during a month but I don't see much improvement yet. I'm 32 weeks and would like to breastfeed my baby boy as much as possible. I was told by a lactation consultant I will have to give him formula to complement.
Thanks! |
Anonymous
I don't understand. Unless your LC can see into the future this doesn't make sense. As soon as you give birth, your body will release prolactin (a natural hormone) which stimulates milk production. Right now, your body is just "making room" for the milk - notice your larger boobs, more blood vessels, etc.? After the colostrum, your milk will show up (day 2 or 3). If you still have problems with milk supply THEN consult with an LC for great ideas (phenugreek, oatmeal, drinking a ton of water, etc.). Until then...don't worry. You really can't do much at 32 weeks to alter something that hasn't even happened. |
Anonymous
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OP here. Sorry for the typo "Did ...experienced", I'm eliminating the "ed".
I told the lactation consultant I had breast surgery many years ago, she did an assesment of my breasts and recommended me start taking herbs, like goat's rue. I made an appointment with her to see my chances of breastfeeding. |
Anonymous
| I'm still confused - are you trying to have milk produced now while you are still pregnant? Otherwise I am not sure what "improvement" would mean? |
Anonymous
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Do you mean that you had a breast reduction? Some women who have had a breast reduction do have a difficult time producing enough milk. However, it is impossible to tell at this stage in your pregnancy. Most women don't produce anything at all while they are pregnant! It is the birth of the baby and the release of the placenta which prompt the body to begin making milk. Did your LC talk to you about what you should do immediately after the baby's birth to encourage a good milk supply? I'm sure it is fine to start taking herbs now, but the truth is that you CAN NOT know how easily your breasts will produce milk until after the birth.
Who is your lactation consultant? Is she an IBCLC? If not, you should seek out the assistance of an IBCLC. As soon as your baby is born, you should put him to the breast and allow him to suck, unlimited, for the first few days. You should always hold him skin-to-skin, even when you are not nursing. And, make sure that immediately after the delivery you start on the herbal regimen to encourage a good milk supply. There are also drugs available by prescription, which you could have and start taking as soon as he is born. Additionally, if you are planning on circumcising him you should delay it for one week. Sometimes circumcision interferes temporarily with a boy's ability to breastfeed, and you do not need ANYTHING standing in your way of developing a good breastfeeding relationship in that first week. There are other tips that your LC should be able to help you with. |
Anonymous
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Just to clear your confusion, PP: I'm trying to produce more colostrum, so my baby boy will have the "golden food" from the start and hopefully I will produce more milk. Improvement= more colostrum production since I started taking the herbs.
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Anonymous
| Do you realize that you are not supposed to be making anything at all right now? If you can pump or express anything at all right now, I'd say you are doing fantastic. Some women leak a little before the baby is born, and some women really don't start producing colostrum at all until the baby is born. Whether or not you are making colostrum now has nothing to do with whether or not you will make it once the baby is born. I hope the LC explained this to you! |
Anonymous
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No offense, OP, but your LC sounds a little wack-o.
She obviously didn't explain colostrum/milk production and the body's natural release process. You may surprise yourself and have a plentiful supply (especially if you nurse a lot which it sounds like you intend on). At 32 weeks, I would NOT take any herbal medicines. I would only stick to the pre natal vitamins. And no, you should not be lactating (it's even a little early for even a few drops) at 32 weeks preg. You have another 2 months to go! Worry about BFing, latching, pumping (if necessary), and maybe supplementing (your pediatrician should be the one to evaluate this based on birth weight lost/regained) once the baby comes and not BEFORE hand. It is silly otherwise. Still concerned? Take a BF class by a registered LC. |
Anonymous
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OP, also bear in mind that nipple stimulation, which produces oxytocin, is frequently used to bring on and/or augment labor. At only 32 weeks, you may want to go easy on this for fear of getting things going far too early.
I highly recommend reading "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding." And make sure to talk to your doc/midwife (and the nurses at the hospital) about how important it is that you're able to hold and nurse your baby immediately after birth. This "golden hour" is one of the keys to establishing a good nursing relationship. (Not that you can't do it w/out this time, of course, but we want to stack the deck in your favor as much as possible.) |
Anonymous
I was thinking the same thing. Read all you can now and take a class if you think you want to (I found the reading to be more helpful than the class I took at INOVA). You really can't do anything until after the baby is born. If you have trouble after that try the More Milk Plus drops, which is what my LC recommended and seemed to work somewhat for me. |