Breast Feeding

Tips for Increasing Breast Milk Supply

Mom and Baby Breastfeeding can be a wonderful time for mothers to bond with their children. However, sometimes mothers experience difficulty producing enough milk for their breastfeeding babies. Here are some tips to try to increase your milk supply:

Start pumping with a good electric pump, both breasts simultaneously, every 3 hours in the daytime and every 4 hours at night.
Drink at least 64 ounces of electrolyte-containing beverages such as Gatorade, Propel or juices daily.
Avoid wearing underwire bras.
Try to nap for 1 hour every afternoon.
Warm your breasts with warm, moist compresses for 5 minutes before each pumping or breastfeeding session.
Put the baby to the breast several times per day and pump afterwards.
Finally, try taking 2 Fenugreek capsules (610 mg each) 4 times per day for at least 2 weeks or for as long as needed. This may cause a maple odor to the urine and loosen the stools, which are benign. Do not take Fenugreek if you are diabetic or if you are taking any anticoagulants. If a rash or headache occurs, you should stop the Fenugreek and consider asking your physician for Reglan, which is a prescription medication.

If these tips are not successful in producing more breastmilk, you may want to discuss this with your physician or a lactation consultant.

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Last Reviewed: Feb 08, 2007

Jeanne L Ballard, MD, FAAP, FABM
Professor Emeritus, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati