Archive for the ‘Increase Breast Milk’ Category

Are You Having a Breast Milk Crisis?

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

Need to Increase Your Breast Milk Supply?

Pumping often is important, but pumping longer is really important too, when you want to increase your breast milk supply fast.
Add 5 to 7 minutes to your pumping time.  When you get the last drops of milk, extend pumping 5 to 7 minutes longer.
Do this every time you pump for 2 to 3 days.  This will trigger the hormones that increase breast milk.
Make sure to do this even at night, “especially at night”.  Pump a minimum of 2 times every night while breast milk supply is low.
You will very likely see an improvement in one day, maybe even by the first morning pumping following the day you started.
Frequent and longer pumping sessions, along with increasing liquid intake, have a powerful impact on increasing breast milk supply.
 Contact Toni at GotBreastPump.com is you have questions. I will be glad to help you personally, if you need more support.

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Surprisingly Quick & Easy Way to Increase Your Breast Milk Supply

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Massage your breasts often, to produce “let down”

Massage – Massage – Massage!
“Let Down” affects hormones that increase breast milk supply. Massaging your breasts often will create “let down,” even if you don’t get any drops or sprays of milk.  Massaging is just like when a baby touches and massages the mother’s breast; it causes ‘let down’. Massage will increase breast milk supply with your breast milk supply is low.
Do this often, even every half hour, when your want to increase your breast milk supply.  Sit in a comfortable chair, in privacy to massage, get in the shower to massage, massage every time you go to the bathroom.  The more often you massage the quicker you will increase your breast milk supply.
Keep your regular pumping schedule, but massage often between.
Lots of moms will “power pump to increase breast milk. The basis of power pumping is to pump every half hour or so.  Most moms don’t get a lot of breast milk each pumping, but activating ‘let down’ is the important thing that happens during power pumping.
You can increase breast milk supply with massage, similar to the effect you get with power pumping.
So, Massage – Massage – Massage!
Contact Toni at GotBreastPump.com if you have any other questions. I’ll be glad to help.

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Surprisingly Quick & Easy Way to Increase Your Breast Milk Supply

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Massage your breasts often, to produce “let down”

Massage – Massage – Massage!
“Let Down” affects hormones that increase breast milk supply. Massaging your breasts often will create “let down,” even if you don’t get any drops or sprays of milk.  Massaging is just like when a baby touches and massages the mother’s breast; it causes ‘let down’. Massage will increase breast milk supply with your breast milk supply is low.
Do this often, even every half hour, when your want to increase your breast milk supply.  Sit in a comfortable chair, in privacy to massage, get in the shower to massage, massage every time you go to the bathroom.  The more often you massage the quicker you will increase your breast milk supply.
Keep your regular pumping schedule, but massage often between.
Lots of moms will “power pump to increase breast milk. The basis of power pumping is to pump every half hour or so.  Most moms don’t get a lot of breast milk each pumping, but activating ‘let down’ is the important thing that happens during power pumping.
You can increase breast milk supply with massage, similar to the effect you get with power pumping.
So, Massage – Massage – Massage!
Contact Toni at GotBreastPump.com if you have any other questions. I’ll be glad to help.

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Maybe the Most Important Thing You Can Do, to Increase Breast Milk. But You Won’t Like Hearing It

Friday, May 1st, 2009

Once you get your breast milk supply going good, it is troubling when you begin to see a drop in the amount you pump.  You used to get 5 ounces per breast during most feedings, then it dwindles to 3 ounces and sometimes only 2 ounces.
This is fairly predictable, unfortunately. Finally, your baby is sleeping from 10 PM to 3 or 4 AM.  You take advantage of this sweeeet opportunity to rest your abused and exhausted body.
Then, you sit down and pump as usual, but you are getting less breast milk.  Why?  You think, “I’m doing all the same things I did before.  Why am I getting, less milk?”
Blame mother nature.  She cruelly created a hormone called Feedback Inhibitor.  This nasty hormone pays attention to changes in breast milk production. When you catch those extra Z’s when your angel is sleeping through the night, Feedback Inhibitor rears its nasty head. 
Here is how Feedback Inhibitor works.  If it notices a time when less milk is being used, it signals the mammary glands to make less milk. This will affect the amount of milk you make all day long.
It is a good hormone when you are weaning, but it is not smart enough to know that you are just trying to get some much needed rest.  It only knows that less milk is used, so it keeps the milk supply lower.
So, here is how to fix Feedback Inhibitor.  And you can’t shoot the messenger.
Start pumping or breast feeding at least one time between 12 and 3AM.  This will begin to get it back, but it may be slower than the next option.
If you are determined to get your supply back to normal, pump at least 2 times between 10 PM and 4 AM. 
The moms who breast pumped or breast feed for 12 months or more will tell you that night pumping or feeding is super important.
I wish I could tell you that you could sleep through the night.  It has been a couple of decades since I had my last baby; I still remember how much I desired a full night’s sleep. 
This is the truest example of delayed gratification.  Your reward will be a healthy, happy child. 
Remember to take good care of yourself. Take your vitamins, eat well, ask for help and rest anytime you can sneak in a little shut eye.

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Double the ‘Let Down’, Double the Milk

Friday, April 17th, 2009

Double the ‘Let Down’, Double the Milk
More milk, more milk, how do you get more milk? Baby is 6 months old and needing more milk almost everyday.
You’re eating enough oatmeal to clean your arteries for a life time, and drinking enough water to fill the kiddie wading pool.  Still, after pumping for 25 minutes, you’re still getting 3 ounces from each breast.
What now?!
A super suggestion I’ve read about on a bunch of mommy blogs is to get a second let down.
Here’s how it goes.
Pump for 10-15 minutes, then turn your pump off for 2-3 minutes, then pump again for another 5-6 minutes.
Moms have reviewed this process and said that it really does help.  Based on understanding how breast milk is produced, it makes sense.
It sets up certain hormones that trigger increased breast milk production.  So, not only do you get more milk during these pumping sessions, but it will go a long way to increase your over all milk production too.
Some breast pumping moms don’t actually feel ‘let down’, but if you have produced any quantity of milk, you have a ‘let down’. This is the point in pumping when  the milk really begins to flow.
Try it and let me know what you think.

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Double the 'Let Down', Double the Milk

Friday, April 17th, 2009

Double the ‘Let Down’, Double the Milk
More milk, more milk, how do you get more milk? Baby is 6 months old and needing more milk almost everyday.
You’re eating enough oatmeal to clean your arteries for a life time, and drinking enough water to fill the kiddie wading pool.  Still, after pumping for 25 minutes, you’re still getting 3 ounces from each breast.
What now?!
A super suggestion I’ve read about on a bunch of mommy blogs is to get a second let down.
Here’s how it goes.
Pump for 10-15 minutes, then turn your pump off for 2-3 minutes, then pump again for another 5-6 minutes.
Moms have reviewed this process and said that it really does help.  Based on understanding how breast milk is produced, it makes sense.
It sets up certain hormones that trigger increased breast milk production.  So, not only do you get more milk during these pumping sessions, but it will go a long way to increase your over all milk production too.
Some breast pumping moms don’t actually feel ‘let down’, but if you have produced any quantity of milk, you have a ‘let down’. This is the point in pumping when  the milk really begins to flow.
Try it and let me know what you think.

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Moms are Full of Great Ideas on Breast Pumping and Returning to Work. 4 Days of Tips

Monday, March 30th, 2009

Day 1 Tips

Plan ahead if possible. Get a freezer stash of breast milk going before you go back to work. Do not just pump at work.

Pump at home on your days off and before and after work.

Pump while nursing. Pump on one side while nursing on the other.

Find a good place to pump, where you are comfortable and can relax.

Make sure everyone at work knows how important breastfeeding is and not to interrupt you.

Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Drink a large glass of water about an hour before you are going to pump. Try to drink at least ten to thirteen 8oz cups of water each day

Use a good quality double breast pump with adjustable speed and vacuum.

If your supply is dwindling try renting a hospital grade pump for a month.

Find other moms to talk to that are breastfeeding and pumping.

Do not get discouraged if you don’t pump a large volume at once. Many moms pump around three oz, or less, per pumping, from both breasts during the early pumping stages.

More great tips tomorrow. Check us out.

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Moms are Full of Great Ideas on Breast Pumping and Returning to Work. 4 Days of Tips – Day 1

Monday, March 30th, 2009

Day 1 Tips

Plan ahead if possible. Get a freezer stash of breast milk going before you go back to work. Do not just pump at work.

Pump at home on your days off and before and after work.

Pump while nursing. Pump on one side while nursing on the other.

Find a good place to pump, where you are comfortable and can relax.

Make sure everyone at work knows how important breastfeeding is and not to interrupt you.

Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Drink a large glass of water about an hour before you are going to pump. Try to drink at least ten to thirteen 8oz cups of water each day

Use a good quality double breast pump with adjustable speed and vacuum.

If your supply is dwindling try renting a hospital grade pump for a month.

Find other moms to talk to that are breastfeeding and pumping.

Do not get discouraged if you don’t pump a large volume at once. Many moms pump around three oz, or less, per pumping, from both breasts during the early pumping stages.

More great tips tomorrow. Check us out.

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Dosage and Effectiveness of Fenugreek

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

Hi Toni,

I am unsure of the dosage and how quickly fenugreek works, can you help?

Hi New Mom,

With the natural breast milk enhancer, fenugreek, the breasts seem to increase production only when breasts are emptied following each pumping or feeding. The milk response to fenugreek can to be somewhat dose-dependent. Three capsules of ground fenugreek seeds taken twice daily seem to be an adequate dose for most mothers.

At GotBreastPump.com, we recommend that mothers do their own research and/or speak with their doctor before taking supplements, because some people react differently to different supplements or medications.

To jump start a very low milk supply, some mothers will take four or five capsules at one time.  Please note, that some women will experience moderate engorgement about 36 hours later. Three capsules a day are not enough. The dose may need to be adjusted for each mother. Fenugreek can also be taken in tea form. Fenugreek’s mechanism of action seems to be related to its’ propensity to increase sweat production. In case you don’t know, the breasts are modified sweat glands.

Some mothers, who do not sweat much, may produce less milk. The sweat that is produced while taking fenugreek smells of maple syrup. If there is no sweet odor, the fenugreek dose is not high enough to affect milk production. Changes in fenugreek dosing affect milk production about 1 to 2 days after the change.

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My Milk Supply is Low and Has Been Low Since the Beginning

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

Hi Toni,

I just have a quick question for you. I am a FTM nursing my 9 week old, and have had supply issues from the start. I have tried fenugreek and am currently 1/2 way through a prescription without much change. I am currently pumping about 4 oz each time. Do you think that it would be worth it to try the  More Milk supplement? How many would I take and how often? Please let me know what you think. Thank you!

Hi New Mom,

Good work so far.  Nine weeks means you have made it through a couple of breast pumping milestones.  Your concern is familiar to a lot of moms. There are most likely some important hormone changes at this time, also There are still a number of things that new mothers can do to bring your milk production up.

The mothers who use the More Milk Plus Capsules swear by their effectiveness of this  natural breast milk supply booster.  We find that there are mothers who begin ordering these galactagogues from GotBreastPump.com, at birth, and use them until they wean.

I am attaching the hot link to the video I did to share information about the More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsules. Just click on the link below.

More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsules

Here is a schedule that other mothers have used to make ample milk.

Breast Pumping Schedule

You can adjust this schedule to you biological clock. (earlier waking or later bed time)

Waking AM to Noon

6 AM, 9 AM, 12 Noon

Afternoon to Midnight

3 PM, 6PM, 9 PM, 12 Midnight

Wee Hours (A Must!)

3 AM

What you will notice, as early as tomorrow morning or the next morning, is the first wake up pumping session in the morning will be your best milk supply of the day.

Next, night feedings are critical to increasing milk supply.   Most successful pumpers state that although they would love to stop night pumping, but they do it usually 2 times per night, even if they pump for a year or more.  There is good reason for night pumping.  The hormone Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation (FIL) signals the mammary glands to slow or stop production when large gaps exist in pumping/feeding times, especially at night.

Using a massage technique, will get the “hind milk” out. The massage technique is to start at the side, under the arm and press forward toward the nipple.  Try to feel the mammary glands and apply gentle pressure where you feel full glands.  Do the same under the breast lobe and again gently apply pressure toward the nipple.

Do this once you feel “let down” or if you don’t feel “let down”, once milk begins to flow.  Continue all during each breast pumping session.

Within a few feedings, you should notice a difference in the amount of milk you produce and with the hind milk you get to the higher fat content and nutrients that will satisfy your baby better.

Doing these things consistently will normally get mothers back to ample milk production.

Also, take a look at our 10 Ways to Increase Breast Milk Supply

After trying some of the techniques listed, let me know how you are doing.  I really like to hear back from moms.

Make sure to take good care of yourself.

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