Remedies for low milk supply

Anyone who has been following this blog, knows that I struggled with low milk supply a lot when Destructo was small. (See this post for my breastfeeding journey.)   I got a case of mastitis when Kai was a month old and nursing had just started going well.  This caused my supply to tank completely just when I had finally started getting my supply to where it needed to be to keep up with Kai.  I ended up having to supplement with about 20 oz of formula at that time.

But it was a learning experience and thus here is what I recommend for low milk supply?

1) Fenugreek.  You can take a maximum dosage of 4 pills, 4 times per day and that is just what I did.  It makes everything, sweat, pee, skin smell like maple syrup.  Gag.  But it works really well at increasing milk supply.

2)  In combination with fenugreek, I took Blessed Thistle.  The maximum dosage is 3
 pills, 3 times per day and that is what I took.  This supplement helps increase the fat content of the milk.  I took both of these at the max doses for about two months and then I weaned off them completely with no decrease in supply.

3)  Steel cut oats are best, but any kind of non instant oatmeal can help.  I ate a bowl of oatmeal nearly every morning.

4)  Water, water, water.  Stay well hydrated.

5)  Rest when you can.  I always noticed a dip in supply when I had gotten a particularly rough night of sleep.

6) Mother's Milk Tea.  This tea wasn't horrible tasting, but wasn't my favorite.  I am not sure I think it helped a huge amount since it is just easier to take the fenugreek and blessed thistle, but I would use it as a pick my supply up occasionally when I was on my period.

7)  Lactation cookies.  You can buy them premade or bake them yourself.

8)  Power pumping.  20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for an hour.  This always helped me immensely.

9)  There are also prescription drugs that can increase milk supply.  I really don't know anything about these though, so you would have to talk to your doctor on that one.

Here are some links that I found helpful:
http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/herbs/fenugreek/
http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/low-supply/
http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/oatmeal/
http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/meds/prescript_galactagogue/
http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/herbs/herbal_galactagogue/


What tips do you guys have for moms wanting to increase their milk supply?

 This post contains affiliate links which compensate Adventures with Captain Destructo with a % of the sale. Using these links doesn't cost you anything extra, but it helps support this blog and my family. Thanks!