More Milk Plus: Herbal Tincture to Increase Milk

http://motherlove.com

If you've struggled with producing as much breast milk as you or your baby would like, I'm sure you've heard of all of these supplements already:
-Fenugreek
-Blessed Thistle
-Oatmeal
-Brewer's Yeast
            etc.


I've tried all of these & in great amounts to not much avail.  You see, Elias went on a "nursing strike" about a month ago once his little gummies started hurting because of the dreaded impending teething *shudders*  So it was really difficult getting him to the breast.  He was fighting, hitting, screaming, all of the good stuff!  I got a lot of help from the most wonderful lactation consultant, Susan Fischels, and she recommended the Fenugreek +blessed thistle supplements.  I had always had my doubts to their potency, but I tried them anyway.  The changes were very small, but I still kept trying.


Then I stumbled upon this product by MotherLove called More Milk Plus  It's a tincture of Fenugreek, blessed thistle, nettle & a proprietary blend of herbs used for centuries as "galactagogues" (foods/herbs that increase breast milk production)  After spending copious amounts of money on a ton of remedies, I thought what most people think in this situation: "What do I have to lose?"  Here's the rundown: A tincture is an alcoholic extract of plant material.  This product is no exception.  The alcohol used in extracting the compounds from the herbs is grain alcohol, 42-52% alcohol.  So not only does this stuff taste gnarly, it burns the back of your throat! This worried me because it seems any amount of alcohol gives me a headache and, of course, I am nursing.  Good news!  All you take is 1mL per dose, 4 times daily.  Unless you have a serious disorder making you unable to metabolize alcohol properly, you & your baby should be fine :)


If you do have any issues with alcohol, they do offer a glycerin-based version that I'm sure burns a lot less going down, but the taste sure isn't pleasant as I've heard.  I can't exactly tell you the efficacy of it since I'm not taking that kind, but I've heard the extracts --both alcohol & glycerin-based-- work better than less-expensive pill form.  I'm sure you'll be tempted to buy the pill version since it's cheaper.  I was as well, but all the research I did yielded the same results:  If you're having a lot of trouble with your supply, the pills aren't really a bargain since they don't work as well.


WHERE DO I GET IT?
I purchased mine from http://www.thedoulastore.com Without shipping & tax the 2 oz. bottle was $18.  Doula Store is awesome because you get free gifts & 5% off if you sign up for their newsletter.  However, you can purchase this stuff directly from their website, but the price isn't really that different.  They come in 2, 4, & 8 oz. bottles, but I'd recommend you purchase the smallest one first to see how it works for you, then purchase a larger bottle if you end up needing more.


The taste is... HORRIFYING.  But if it helps you breastfeed you won't mind that, I'm sure.  If you absolutely can't stand the taste, find something called "empty gelatin capsules" online or at a health food store.  They are exactly what they sound like; empty versions of those plastic-looking capsules used to contain medicine.  Choose your size according to your dose of the extract.


WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS SUPPLEMENT
One great piece of advice that should be advertised more is that "natural" or "herbal" does not mean safe.  Just because it's over-the-counter, all-natural, organic, or herbal, does not mean that it can't cause you any harm.  People can react just as differently to supplements as they would with prescription medication.  That is also why you should always consult your lactation consultant or doctor if you decide to try a new kind of supplement.  You should know your risks of a reaction to the product.  For example: pregnant women should not use any kind of galactagogue, regardless of the product.  Also, people with diabetes or hypoglycemia can experience sudden drops in blood sugar, so they should carefully monitor their blood sugar.  Fenugreek can also be an appetite suppressant, so remember to eat.


HAS IT WORKED?

http://motherlove.com

So far it's been about a week & I've seen a little bit of difference.  I notice a lot more difference on the days I have enough time to pump every hour (yes, every hour) & when I drink a lot of water.  Do I think it's worth it?  Absolutely.  I've already ordered my second bottle so it will get here before I run out.  I've also tried "Mother's Milk Tea" but I'll write something about the effects of that on another blog :)  They also have another version of this extract called "More Milk Plus Special Blend" & it includes Goat's Rue.  It works for women who have had breast surgery, no breast growth during pregnancy, or even adoptive mothers who want to nurse.  They both have rave reviews --other than the taste!


If you're still having problems, contact a lactation consultant or try going to http://www.drjacknewman.com  He is a Canadian doctor who is like the Messiah of breastfeeding, so you can find tips & tricks there.  I was referred there by Susan so it's midwife-approved!  Remember, this is just something that has helped my issues, if it doesn't work for you perfectly you may have another underlying problem.  I may too!  It's just trial-and-error, just don't give up!


Peace, Love, & Breastfeeding


-Elias's mommy

Don't let sleeping babies lie! (keeping up milk supply)

I’m not a lactation consultant, nor am I a midwife, but I could definitely tell you what not to do while breastfeeding!  From a dwindling supply to a poor latch, I’ve experienced some of the crappiest parts of breastfeeding from the day Elias was born.  Yes, breastfeeding can be easy for some & your baby may take to it like a duck to water, but more-often-than-not it will be a bit tough, especially in the beginning.  Never fear though, the bonding & health benefits seriously outweigh the frustration of a “lazy baby” or your milk supply going down.

Step 1: Don’t let sleeping babies lie

As a severely-exhausted mother of a 5-month-old, I can tell you how easy it was to let my little man sleep through the night.  I even have a lot of help from Drew, but any amount of sleep I can get is golden.  However, when my milk supply began to take a nosedive, I realized one of the reasons was because I wasn’t nursing in the middle of the night.  I would either give him pumped bottles or he’d just sleep through his feedings.  Once your breasts feel like they don’t have to produce during that time, they’ll begin to stop making as much milk.  Breast milk is pretty smart; your body will automatically adjust to your baby’s needs & when milk doesn’t seem to be needed as much it will quickly change to suit baby.

Step 2: Don’t use a pump too much

Though this did help me a lot when Elias was first born –he wasn’t latching at all & a few rounds with a bottle seemed to help him suck a little better.  Poor guy was in the NICU for a few days for fluid in his lungs— I took advantage of the convenience & ease of pumping breast milk.  I had always read that breast pumps stimulated the breasts & helped women produce more milk, but lo & behold I think that was clever marketing.  Not only are the cheaper breast pumps not effective enough to mimic a baby’s suckle, even the priciest ones are no replacement for the baby stimulating the breasts early on.  Once I stopped using the pumps as much, my supply actually did go up!  I heard this from my lactation consultant early on in the game & I’ll bet she was super-frustrated that I didn’t seem to listen.  I don’t doubt for a second that my exhaustion played a big part in me not nursing him at the breast more.  I also heard this from his pediatrician.

Step 3: Don’t formula-feed/”supplement” unless absolutely necessary

Many pediatricians are quick to say “you need to supplement” when your baby isn’t gaining exactly what he/she should be.  There’s nothing scarier than the prospect of a “failure to thrive” label for your baby, so you listen when the doctor says your baby isn’t big enough.  How could you not?  You’d feel like a horrible mother if you didn’t do everything you thought was right!  If you are presented with this suggestion (or order!) don’t be afraid to ask if it’s absolutely necessary.  There might be another solution to your baby’s weight gain.  Also, breastfed babies are naturally skinnier than their bottle-fed counterparts.  Breast milk changes from thin & watery to slightly thicker & fattier during feeding, formula is just fatty through-and-through, so of course it makes chubby babies.  That’s about the only nutritional benefit to formula, and who said that was a benefit at all??  Obviously if you have concerns about your baby’s development you should talk to your pediatrician.  Hopefully you’re one of the lucky ones who have a pediatrician who is just as committed to breastfeeding!  I listened & supplemented, as I thought a good mother should.  WRONG!  Still regret doing that.

Step 4: Don’t diet after giving birth

After baby is born, the first thing you might want to do is go on a diet to lose all of that baby weight ASAP.  You don’t feel like  yourself because you’re still not back to your pre-baby weight, but just let it go for now.  You’ve spent months feeling like a whale, you can go a little while longer feeling a bit pudgy.  If you lose too much weight too quickly, your body will start to cut what it feels like are non-essential resources such as breast milk.  It’s no surprise that when your body goes into “starvation mode” it will stop doing things that make it burn even more calories –such as breastfeeding!  Believe me, you’ll be running around & doing so much stuff the pounds will melt off.  Breastfeeding alone burns about 200-500 calories per day!  Of course if you were overweight or obese before you were pregnant, you need to talk to your doctor about the risk/benefits of losing weight while nursing.  If you are nursing you should not consume less than 1500 calories a day; sometimes no less than 1800.  Again, I made that mistake.  I didn’t eat nearly enough & noticed a drastic change when I stopped eating as much & ESPECIALLY not drinking enough water.

Step 5: Don’t nurse when you’re frustrated

Babies are rather intuitive when it comes to their mommy’s mood.  If you decide to nurse when you are too frustrated, chances are the mood will shift to baby & he will forget that feeding is supposed to be a wonderful bonding experience between the two of you.  Nursing will no longer be “fun.”  I didn’t nurse when I was frustrated, but I was told by a nurse while feeding in the NICU that I need to offer my son lots of praise, stroking his hair, kisses, etc. while he is feeding so he will enjoy himself.  Also, if you start to associate nursing with frustration you’ll be less-likely to do it as well!  It seems like a no-brainer to hug & kiss your baby while nursing, but during things like colic, post-partum depression, your period returning, you sometimes don’t feel like loving on anyone.  And no, you’re not a bad mother for that & you’re not crazy.

So how in the WORLD am I still nursing after making all of those mistakes??  I am taking Fenugreek, drinking “Mother’s Milk” tea (which can be found in health food stores & online), and Blessed Thistle as well as drinking lots of water.  I also spoke with my lactation consultant who gave me further instructions for pumping & supplementing with a feeding tube.  I would share those things, but in the case of a severely-reduced supply, you need to speak to a doctor/midwife/lactation specialist yourself so they can tailor a plan to your needs.

Okay, so here’s a list that will probably get a few eye-rolls because it’s nothing most women don’t already know.  Here are some BIGGIES when it comes to what not to do when nursing & trying to keep up your supply:

-DO NOT SMOKE.

-LIMIT CAFFEINE INTAKE.

-ALCOHOL: VERY LITTLE TO NONE AT ALL.

-ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THE RISK/BENEFITS OF TAKING ANY MEDICATIONS WHILE BREASTFEEDING, INCLUDING WHETHER THEY WILL REDUCE YOUR SUPPLY.

-DO NOT USE A FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL THAT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR WOMEN   WHO ARE NURSING.

Peace, love, & breastfeeding!

-Elias’s mommy

Note: These suggestions are meant as tools to help you keep up your supply & are not intended to be used as a substitution for seeking professional help.  If you are having severe problems with breastfeeding or pain in your breasts contact your doctor/midwife/lactation consultant.


Midwife/Lactation consultant: Susan Fischels; Trover Center for Women's Health
Midwife: Sarah Almon; Trover Center for Women's Health
Pediatricians: Dr. Rennan Quijano & Dr. Angell Suarez; Pediatric Health Group

(These are just the names of the specialists from which I received advice. This is not an endorsement by them.)