What can I do/eat to increase breast milk supply?

Hi!

I am about to give birth to baby #3. This is my first totally raw pregnancy. At any rate, I had minor surgery on my breasts when I was a teenager and I swear milk ducts were severed b/c I just do not produce enough milk. When my other kids were born, I took loads of fenugreek, pumped and nursed all the time, in an attempt to increase my supply, but it was never quite enough. I am really hoping there is something else I can do or eat this time to help up the supply. Any thoughts or suggestions? Does anyone know any secrets on this subject? I’m hoping that being totally raw and healthy this time around will, in itself, be helpful, but I want to do everything I can. Thanks!

Comments

  • emtpdmomemtpdmom Raw Newbie

    Casserole—I’m so happy to see more women choosing to breastfeed. The hours I spent nursing are without a doubt among my happiest memories of my boys as babies. I can’t speak to nursing and eating raw, as those were long before my raw days. I relied heavily on the advice of the LaLeche League, since no one in my family had ever nursed. Their website has a FAQ section with information on increasing milk supply. Here’s the link:

    http://www.llli.org/FAQ/increase.html

    I hope this is helpful. The best advice I can give is to remember that this is a supply and demand system. I always allowed my babies to nurse on demand. In the meantime, I’m sure some of the younger gals with more recent nursing experience will hop on board and share their knowledge with you.

  • AKAAuburnEyesAKAAuburnEyes Raw Newbie

    I don’t have kids, so I cannot say this from my own personal experience, however I have a client who I recommended green smoothies to. She had recently had a baby and the weight wasn’t coming off quite as fast as she had hoped it would so I suggested having green smoothies for breakfast instead of her yogurt/grains/fruit. She began losing weight and told me that her breast milk production went through the roof and that she had been trying to increase it by drinking lots (to no avail) of water but the smoothies really did the trick.

  • There is a nursing tea (by yogi I think) that has a lot of herbs to help increase milk supply. Eating fennel and the fenugreek should help too. Look up some recipes for fresh raw salads that include lots of fennel and small amounts of healthy fats (avocado, coconut oil, olive oil, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds). Incorporate lots of smoothies with all your favorite greens and fruits. Continue drinking 1/2 gallon water a day. Make sure you are getting lots of calories. Nursing takes an additional 500 calories! I’ve heard lecithin granules help. However, I don’t know about the lecithin from personal experience. Yes, La Leche League would be a good bet in support and ideas.

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