Did you know there are vitamins and herbs out there that can boost your milk supply? Most are fairly inexpensive and can be found at your pharmacy or local health food store.
Always talk to your doctor before adding any vitamins or supplements into your daily routine.
These are the herbs I have personally used and have had success with:
Prenatal Vitamins:
Yep, it is still important to keep taking your prenatal vitamins even after baby is born. Nursing sometimes feels like your baby is sucking the life out of you (especially at 2 am)...prenatal vitamins will help you get the important nutrients YOU need to keep up.
Fenugreek:
This is a milk supply miracle! I filled my freezer by the time my baby was 6 months old with milk, milk, and more MILK. It boosted my supply from 25 oz a day to 60 oz in a matter of weeks. My doctor recommended I take 2-3 pills 3 times a day.
Gee Wiz! Fenugreek is used as a flavor aid in syrup. You WILL smell like maple syrup and if you don't, you aren't taking enough.
Seriously, if you don't smell like Aunt Jamima, then you aren't taking enough and probably won't see an increase in your supply. The smell fades after a few weeks... or maybe I just got used to smelling like pancakes. Either way, it's worth the boost in supply!
Lecithin:
Lecithin helps prevent the dreaded clogged duct.
1 pill 3 times per day, and after a few weeks she cut back to 1 pill twice per day, and then eventually 1 per day. If I feel a clog coming on, I double up to 2 again for a few days and that normally takes care of things. Best kept secret in the world!!
More Mommy's Milk Plus:
This product has saved many a nursing mom.
Here is one success story:
"After having an overabundance of breast milk, I made a decision (with my doctor) to start birth control. Since I had SO much milk we did not think it would effect my supply too much. We were WRONG. My supply went from 8+ ounces per feeding to 1/2 an ounce. I was DEVASTATED, but determined to do whatever I had to to get my milk supply back and continue to nurse my daughter for the full year.
My lactation specialist suggested More Milk Plus. Make sure get the PLUS because it is more potent. WARNING: It tastes TERRIBLE. Imagine the worst shot you have ever taken. Now x10. That is how bad this tastes. But, by taking this product, along with Fenugreek and lots of skin-on-skin your milk supply will increase."
WATER:
Drink it like its your job, because if you're nursing, well... it is!
Happy Nursing!
