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Boosting milk supply

5 replies

hayesgirl · 13/06/2014 03:34

I have 3week old twins. In hospital I tried breastfeeding but for a number if reasons decided instead to give them bottles of expressed breast milk. Everything was going well until the weekend when they hit a growth spurt and became impossible to fill! Over the course of 12 hours they used up all the milk stores I had in the freezer and we're then drinking what I was expressing that evening. Since this growth spurt their daily intake has literally doubled and I am nearly keeping up with them. They have had the occasional formula too up feed.

Whilst I am completely fine with giving them formula and have no problem with stopping the breast milk or combination feeding, and most certainly am not going to stress about it, I would prefer to be able to give them breast milk for at least the next 3 weeks so they get the full benefit of it.

I am expressing every 3 hours day and night but if anything my supply is dwindling rather than getting stronger. Does anyone have any tips for increasing milk supply by expressing?

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MorningTimes · 14/06/2014 09:39

You are doing really well to have kept up with them so far, I had given up by three weeks.

The things I tried before that though were: Prescribed tablets to increase milk supply ( domperinon - May not be spelled like that but it is a very similar name!), that helped at first but the effects seemed to wear off after a few days. I think it works well for other women though.

Drinking ridiculous amounts of water helped a bit as well and finally, chatting to a friend on the phone whilst expressing! I discovered that one by accident. I think it was because I stopped concentrating & worrying about the milk, so I produced double the amount I normally did.

The main advice I was consistently given though, was to put them to the breast as that stimulates milk supply far more than expressing. My twins really struggled to feed though, and I just didn't have the time/energy to do a frustrating half hour each on the breast, before giving them the expressed top up. So I can understand if that isn't really an option for you.

Good luck Smile

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FindingTwinsHard · 14/06/2014 11:21

Fenugreek capsules work for me - get them from Holland and Barratt etc. Mother's Milk tea is a herbal tea with a blend of herbs that help milk supply. Oats are another food that is supposed to help - an excuse to eat flapjack!

Agree that putting babies on the breast helps, as does skin to skin. It's really hard though, you are doing really well. I posted here a few weeks ago about nearly giving up bf at 2 weeks - we're still going a month later. Take each day at a time and congratulate yourself for every EBM feed they have!

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Artistic · 14/06/2014 15:07

Flaxseed & fenugreek are supposed to boost milk supply. The simplest way is to add a handful to your diet - fenugreek seeds can be cooked (they do taste bitter, but once lightly toasted/fried they are crunchy). Flaxseed can be had easily by sprinkling it on your food.

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mandy214 · 14/06/2014 23:11

Are you eating properly? My consultant said food was as important as liquid.

I agree with putting them to the breast and having the babies around (I know that sounds stupid) if you can. A warm shower beforehand can help as can massaging your boobs for a couple of minutes before you start to express. Good luck.

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idontlikealdi · 20/06/2014 19:28

Fenugreek, domperidone, gallons of liquid and expressing through the night as well.

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