Making the Most Out of Low Milk Supply
As many of you already know from My Story, I struggled with low milk supply when I first started nursing my son, Connor. Due to a breast reduction that I had when I was 17, I knew breastfeeding was likely to be a challenge, but I was totally unprepared for the frustrations that lay ahead and how to deal with them. There are many reasons why women struggle with low milk supply, but there are resources out there to help. I wish I had all this information at my finger tips from the start, but I’m hoping this blog will encourage you to get the help you need to continue nursing your babies. With the right help you are well on your way to a successful and fulfilling breastfeeding relationship with your child.
Diana West is the founder of www.bfar.org, a website and forum dedicated to supporting moms out there with low milk supply. BFAR (pronounced bee-far) stands for Breast Feeding After Reduction. The purpose of the site is to”provide information and support to mothers who wish to breastfeed after breast reduction surgery and to provide information to health care providers about the feasibility and protocols of breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery.” Although the focus is predominantly on women who have had breast reduction surgery, there is a section dedicated specifically to those with low milk supply for any reason. I highly recommend this resource, especially the forums, where you meet moms struggling with the same issues and can share the highs and lows of your journey together as well as cutting edge information on how to increase milk supply and to hear what is working for others out there.
I was turned onto the website by a lactation consultant who also recommended Diana West’s book Defining Your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery. It shares experiences of those struggling with low milk supply following breast reduction surgery and how you will feel during this trying journey. It teaches you how to prepare yourself and maximize your milk supply as well as how to supplement, should you need to. Diana has recently published a book called The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk and specifically addresses issues related to low milk supply. Diana now also runs a site to support those struggling with low milk supply at www.lowmilksupply.org
Galactagogues, any medication, herb, or food that increases milk production, are another effective way of increasing your milk supply. I was guided by the BFAR forums and my lactation consultant in my choice of galactagogues. She recommended I take More Milk Special Blend by Motherlove, which builds mammary tissue and helps to increase milk supply. It contains goat’s rue, fenugreek seed, blessed thistle, nettle leaf and fennel seed. When the herbs didn’t provide enough stimulation, I added Domperidone (brand name Motilium), generally used to treat gastrointestinal disorders. It is a prescription anti-nausea and stomach emptying drug which increases milk production as one of its side effects. This happens because the drug suppresses the neurotransmitter dopamine which is a prolactin inhibitor, thereby stimulating more milk production. Domperidone, in particular, gave me a huge boost and I ended up achieving a 60% breast milk supply up from my initial 30%. To find more information about dosage and research related to the drug go to http://www.lowmilksupply.org/domperidone.shtml. On the BFAR forums I also learned of another supplement called Shatavari, an Ayurvedic medicine popular in India and China. It is also called “hundred husbands” and is used for infertility and to increase milk production. Once I weaned off Domperidone, I started taking Shatavari to maintain my supply.
As I never achieved a full supply for Connor, I was forced to supplement him with formula. This was a difficult decision for me as I am so pro-breastfeeding and didn’t want to compromise my supply by offering formula. Both my pediatrician and lactation consultant agreed Connor required supplementation. Although I had initially used bottles for the formula, my lactation consultant introduced me to the Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) , an at-breast supplementer, which helped Connor to take formula from tubes taped to my breast so that the sucking action would further stimulate my milk supply and increase Connor’s time at the breast. Another option for at-breast supplementation is the Lact-Aid. An alternative if you prefer not to use formula is to get help from a milk bank where mothers donate their breast milk for those who are unable to provide breast milk for their babies. I have to admit my own personal resources were so tapped at the time that I didn’t look into this option, but I hope it provides an alternative for mothers out there.
I hope that the resources I have shared give you hope you can breastfeed your baby even if you have supply issues. I want you to know that no matter how little milk you are able to make, you can breastfeed your babies. Even it you are only able to give your baby a teaspoon of breast milk a day, those drops of liquid gold are worth it and the time your baby spends at your breast will be a gift more valuable than you can ever imagine. Breastfeeding really is about far more than just milk. I hope that My Story helps inspire you to know that despite the odds you can breastfeed your baby. Good luck on this exciting journey!
