Boosting milk supply??

Firstly, you are doing amazingly! And remember while you might not be able to get much out expressing, the girls will be much better at it once they're able to nurse properly.

Do you know if you're getting a letdown when you express? Could be that the milk is there but just not letting down properly - there are some tips for speeding up letdown on kellymom - most of those relate to breastfeeding but there are some tips for expressing too. My number one tip for increasing letdown is to relax, if you're tensing up waiting for it to happen then it delays it more - sorry easier said than done I know!

There's a whole bunch of herbal remedies for increasing supply (the official term is "galactagogues") - some info on the kellymom site again here.

Check out the Breastmates site too, she's got a couple of different breastfeeding teas and fenugreek seed supplements.

Are you expressing in your room or in the NNU?
I know in Welly they had this corner partitions in the nurserys where you could express.
I found this much better as I knew the girls were only metres away from me and it was less secluded than the dedicated expressing room/ or my cold empty room.

Also when I did the night express in my bedroom. I kept my camera close at hand so I could flick through the photos I had taken of the girls that day.

I found the Weleda BFing tea to be great. I'm sure NatroPharm do a homeopathic product called 'Milk-Flow' I used both these when I was trying to boost my supply.



Edited by tishy

i dont know how prem or anything your bubs are but was thinking that if you do that kangaroo care thingy then just after that might be a good time to express, your body might be feeling especially motherly and milk giving.. (hope that makes sense). and have you talked to the hospital staff about it - they should have some good ideas toos.

Well done on the expressing. I know just hard it can be when you've got to express for a little one in NICU. But in your case you've got two and you're doing so well!

Definitely go for the oats! I swore by a bowl of porridge for breakfast everyday but I didn't discover that trick until Emily was home and fully bfing and I wasn't expressing anymore. Wish I'd known sooner. But yeah definitely give it a go and porridge is so quick and easy to whip up and eat when you're in a hurry. Try to not get hungry and put off eating when you're in a rush because that can really affect milk supply. I found so long as I always kept plenty of snacks handy it really helped - pretty much what flutterby said - keep plenty of things like nuts, muesli bars, biscuits and fruit etc on hand to snack on during the day when you're at the hospital, plenty of water and milk drinks, and rest up when you can. Also meat and eggs for protein helps too if you are able to whip up some sandwiches the night before to take to the hospital for your lunch e.g. ham and egg, chicken/mayo, beef and pickle, egg and cheese - anything like that. The general rule of thumb - drink when you're thirsty, eat when you're hungry - even if that means you feel like you're constantly eating all day. Hope that helps

I don't have any tips I never had enough work and none of the 50 thousand remedies I tried helped. But I just wanted to say go you for persevering!

Domperodone is great for your milk supply and once you are feeding the girls on the breast, your body will begin to make more. When they first start feedign off you they will probably feed very very often, it is just natures way of getting your milk supply up, so don't be shocked!

If you can, get in touch with the multiple birth club and talk to someone from there, and also ring La Leche as they will probably be able to put you in contact with someone who has been in a similar situation. Well done and good luck!

Complan is great for milk supply, and blessed thistle capsules.

I took blessed thistle capsules and found they helped. Apparently it thickens your milk (rather than increases the supply). It can be quite costly. The cheapest I've found is the Vits-Fit brand which is around $13 for 80 tabs.

Good luck..sounds like you're doing a fab job! Hope your girls come home soon.

I found the Milk Flow helped when I was expressing for the gremlins, and when I was expressing for another bub and full time feeding lil miss.

Good on you for putting in so much effort! It's bloody hard work!