I was literally mommy moo for the first 3 months after I gave birth...pumping and feeding round the clock. Then I noticed my milk supply dropped drastically after I accidentally took the wrong allergy medicine (Allegra)! I was freaking out because once my reserve supply ran out I only had my boobs to rely on. I have nothing against formula, in fact I give a little to Luca once in a while because he's a little hungry hippo and I can't keep up with his demand. However I would like to breastfeed as long as possible. I tried everything to increase my supply and finally found what worked for me: Mother's Milk tea, More Milk Plus by Mother Love, loads of water and eat a lot of soups and clams.
My daily routine includes More Milk Plus (4x a day) & the Mother's Milk tea (2-3x a day). Those two products have really increased my supply. More Milk Plus ingredients include: Fenugreek Seed, Blessed Thistle Herb, Nettle Herb & Fennel Seed. I would recommend the drops vs pills because personally I feel like the drops are more effective. The tea contains a bunch of natural herbs that also promote milk production. You can find both at Whole Foods. As for the soup and clams...that's all my mom's Filipino tricks. My favorite soup thats filled with loads of nutrients is called Arroz Caldo aka Lugaw. It's also a great meal to blend for your little one when they're ready for proteins in their solid foods! I'll share that recipe with you in another blog :) I was a little skeptical at first about the clams but then I had some and OMG HELLOOO MILK! It helps to add loads of garlic & ginger to the pot. Lucky for me, my hubs know's how to whip up some delicious steamer clams:
Another tip: Mom's who breastfeed burn 300-500 calories a day which means you need to EAT, EAT, EAT. I make sure that I at least 3,000 calories to keep my supply up. I have no clue what 3,000 calories look like but all I know is that when I'm hungry, I need to eat which is practically all the time. Eating more doesn't mean eating more junk food. I make sure to eat nutritious foods for my milk like fruits, veggies, nuts, & yogurt...in addition to my normal meals. Don't get me wrong, I still indulge in chocolate chip cookies and ice cream! That's good fat, right?
Oh and I drink looooads of water. I always have my 32oz Hydroflask with me and I probably drink 2-3 re-fills of that bottle a day. I've tried lactation cookies (which are delicious) but I felt like they only lasted for a few days after you baked them. Click HERE for the recipe. Also, make sure you buy brewers yeast and NOT nutritional yeast, they're not the same nor do they have the same effect.
I want to send a big thank you to my mom, my girlfriends Farzana & Nhiki and my doula's Molly & Laura for all of their mommy advice, especially during this time when I felt so defeated with the whole breastfeeding fiasco. They have been a wealth of knowledge for this first time mama and I am so grateful for their love and friendship :)